On Saturday, the first round of the 2022 World Supercross Championship was held in the UK for the first time in Cardiff. The iconic Principality Stadium was transformed into the ultimate dirt track for the occasion. Prior to this, the supercross’ audience has been primarily found in the United States, so this event was the most anticipated of the motorsport season.
Before the race, I spoke to the UK’s own Max Anstie. “I’m excited to be here! It’s nice to be back at home for me – my mum and my family are from mid-Wales,” he says. “I’m definitely excited to put on a show and show the Welsh fans and the fans from all over Europe what supercross is all about”.
Anstie finished sixth on Saturday in the SX2 Class overall, racing among big – indeed world-renowned – names such as Ken Roczen, Eli Tomac, and Chad Reed. These lined up alongside the UK’s own representatives, Anstie and Dean Wilson.
With 10 teams and 40 riders competing for over £200,000, Tomac won the first round of the championships. The Colorado racer has previously won the Premier Class Supercross twice and the Outdoor Motorcross five times, among other accomplishments.
What transpired was an evening of tense races with multiple crashes, amazing freestyle stunts with bikes flying through the air and a great atmosphere in the crowd – the latter aided by DJ Hilit Kolet, who created the background beats for the evening.
There was even an intermission between races, comprising a live set from London rapper, singer, songwriter and producer AJ Tracey. A born crowdpleaser who regaled us with some of his most popular tracks – Ladbroke Grove, Seoul – a World Supercross audience might not have been AJ’s usual crowd, but he still brought swagger and stage presence to excite those in the stands.
The entire evening was highly impressive, eye-catching – and very American. Each stunt was paired with attendant pyrotechnics, fire flaming up into the stadium, and met with loud cheering. Very much an all-round evening of entertainment, with racing at the centre.
World Supercross Championships, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Sat 8 Oct
words AMY WILD
