The 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross returns to Salt Lake City beginning this Saturday. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment, Inc
SALT LAKE CITY — The 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross returns to Salt Lake City this Saturday. Supercross was one of the first sports to create what is now widely known as a bubble environment and went on to become the first sport to complete its season after it came to an abrupt end by the pandemic.
The Salt Lake City 7, to which these races are now known, were the first in the sports history to not include fans as those races were made-for-TV.
A release sent out this week said the event is able to come to Rice Eccles Stadium on April 24 and May 1 largely as a result of the University of Utah, the Utah Department of Health Services, Utah’s former Gov. Gary R. Herbert and the Utah Sports Commission — which all played an integral role in making this happen.
The series is looking forward to going back to the “State of Sport” to the final two races of 2021 with fans in attendance.
“Last year’s monumental ‘bubble’ hosting of the final seven races of Supercross in Utah was pivotal to its return to sport last spring,” said Utah Sports Commission President and CEO Jeff Robbins. “Being able to allow fans to return to Rice-Eccles Stadium this year to cheer on the best riders in the world is going to add tremendous excitement to the final two races. The Utah Sports Commission is proud to be playing a key role in bringing Supercross back to Utah: The State of Sport.”
Local rider Garrett Marchbanks, from Coalville, Utah, will be racing on Saturday. Marchbanks is on the hunt for his first championship, hoping to claim the 250SX Class title this coming weekend on his home turf.
Marchbanks said he began racing when he was about 6 or 7 years old, and since then he said he has probably been to every state in the contiguous U.S.
“I don’t remember where my very first race was, I think it was on a dirt course in Utah. I started racing seriously about 6 [years old] and up, didn’t start doing the Amateur Nationals until I was about 7 or 8 years old,” he said. “By the time I was 10, I got a factory ride. When I was 16 I turned professional, and ever since then I’ve been a professional motocross and supercross racer.”
Marchbanks registered five top-5 finishes in just seven races during his 2020 Supercross 250SX East season. The highlight of his season coming in Daytona when he took the main event win over Chase Sexton.
Unfortunately, Marchbanks’ season was cut short after a crash in Round 8 that left him with a bruised lung and multiple torn ligaments. Marchbanks had a successful surgery following the crash and began a five-month healing process with his sights set on January to begin racing again.
– FanFest Opens – 11 a.m.
– Stadium Open for Qualifying – 1 p.m.
– Stadium Open for Race – 3:30 p.m.
– Opening Ceremonies – 4:30 p.m.
Salt Lake City Round 17 – Saturday, May 1, 2021
– FanFest Opens – 2 p.m.
– Stadium Open for Qualifying – 4 p.m.
– Stadium Open for Race – 6:30 p.m.
– Opening Ceremonies – 7:30 p.m.
Additional details for each race can be found on the event page listing at SupercrossLIVE.com.
A fan favorite, the KTM JUNIOR RACING SX Program will take place at both races in Salt Lake City.