Slaw Dog
Welcome to the 2023 Slaw/VurbWes/Troy Dog Combined 250/450 Top Ten Power Rankings! Slaw, Wes, and Troy each have created their own list of who they believe carry the most power in the sport. They each have created their own categories and have weighted these people accordingly, whether its speed, following, SX skills, you name it.
Each week these rankings will be updated so that you guys can argue about how wrong they are in the comment section! Feel free to tell us if we’re right/wrong/or completely dumb.
Slaw Dog’s Pre-Oakland Power Rankings
Slaw: I will bullet point my thoughts so it is easier to read. Troy Dog has a hard time reading, so I’m making it easy for him to see how much better my rankings are.
- As I wrote earlier this week, Supercross is supposed to be hard, and the sand in Tampa was just that.
- Not our photo, but go here to see AP giving the double bird to the sand. Gotta love, AP!
- Good to see Paul back where he belongs.
- Name a better night of Supercross than Tampa? I dare ya! Two dramatic late wins. Insane night.
- H-Law with an ALL-TIME late win, so he gets my top 250 spot.
- Man, Sexton has to be feeling down after that.
- Not worried about Tomac. Still my title favorite.
- Man, Thrasher has to be feeling down after that.
- Roczen has been good on the yellow banana.
- Go sign up for World Mini!
Troy Dog’s Pre-Oakland Power Rankings
Troy: This week I had to put the Troy Dog Squad at the top spot. I’d like to do that every week but I’m afraid I would be shunned by all of you. I’m proud of my riders Grant Harlan, Justin Starling, and Derek Kelley. Harlan had a strong LCQ that put him into his second main of the season at Tampa. He’s had some big crashes the past couple of weeks and it was a nice rebound. Starling had a BIG one in Tampa during practice and took a foot peg to the chin. He will race in Oakland with stitches. Kelley is back racing in Oakland and currently sits eighth in 250SX West Region points. Only nine points out of fifth!
Stew was going to be number one, but you know, Squad. I have no problems adding Stew to the Squad for his ELITE commentary. I really enjoyed the broadcast with Weege and Ricky on there as well. The broadcast should have this every week.
Webb got his first win since 2021 and he was snubbed by Stew and the Squad! Sorry Coop, but you still owe me your title winning Supermini jersey from Loretta’s 2010.
It was an off night for Tomac who still holds the points lead. He will be back to battle for a win in Oakland. Sexton almost had that win and Plessinger got his first podium in a year, so they were easy to place. The Lawrence brothers are the only two 250 riders on my list (besides Kelley of course). Jett gets the nod because he has a bigger sample size of races and races won in 2023.
Jason Anderson is on probation, which doesn’t do anything because no one is afraid of probation in SX.
Rounding out my list for the week is the photo that Chad Reed put on his IG with RC and Stew. These guys haven’t posed for a photo together unless it was forced back in the day. It was cool to see them all in the same place and man I’d have liked to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.
VurbWes’ Pre-Oakland Power Rankings
Wes: First off, HUGE shoutout to my boy Jack Sipes. Complete and utter domination of the KTM Jr. SX Challenge last weekend in Tampa. He gets the vurbwes Power Rankings neck burn this week!
Which leads me to James (stradamus). The video Cole Beach Fitness posted of him predicting the 450 main was so epically badass. And to round that out, James kicked COMPLETE ASS on the broadcast. James wasn’t used to finishing second, I know, but Jackman was undeniable. Sorry, JS7, but you we know you saw this coming.
For my 450 Super Power Rankings – that all of you will say “make no sense” or “this shit again” – I love good racing. We all do. I’ve said it 1,000 times and I’ll keep saying it: I manifest the hell out off some solid battles. Therefore, after last weekend, gotta throw Coop and Sexton up top, BUT I think we see a mad-as-a-bumble-bee Ken Roczen kicking some ass this weekend to make a resurgence. Eli still gonna be right there, but AP ain’t playing around no more either. For better or worse, this is my prediction of top 5 finishing order this weekend.
Greenger G3, enough said. I seriously can’t wait to get my hands on some of these and have the most epic neighborhood battles. I’ll no longer be 36… instead the 16-year-old vurbwes will rise from the ashes and find some of the best developments this side of the Salmon River to shred.
Finally, we’re starting off the amateur season in style this week. While I’m heading to the Mesquite LLAQ, Spencer Owens is headed to the Mini Major at Glen Helen. So. Much. Coverage. coming your way next week…and all the weeks after.
Main image: Jessica Reed
