The first chapter of every Monster Energy Supercross is written—and spoken—underneath and around the Big A that hovers above Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

WORDS: DAVEY COOMBS
PHOTOS: ALIGN MEDIA

Ever since the first visit to Angel Stadium back in 1975 for something called the American Motocross Finals, Anaheim, California has loomed large in what is now known as the SMX world. Anaheim has been the home to more rounds of Monster Energy Supercross than any other venue, and has hosted more fans and more competitors than any stadium in the world. It’s been the sight of some of the most epic nights in the history of supercross, including the ’86 showdown between David Bailey and Rick Johnson, the first (1993) and last (’01) career wins for Jeremy McGrath, the “perfect storm” of 2005, and countless battles between everyone from Bob Hannah and Marty Smith in those early years, to Jett Lawrence and Eli Tomac in the current year. Because the series traditionally starts in Anaheim and then holds a second (and sometimes third) round there, it feels like its own season-within-a-season, complete with side races in between at nearby locales like Phoenix, San Francisco, Oakland, and this year San Diego. With much of the SMX industry still located in Southern California, Anaheim has long loomed large on everyone’s calendar. Going back to the late seventies, winning at the Big A has always meant more than winning any other single race anywhere else—for the riders, for the race teams, for the sponsors, and for the fans.