Exclusive: Shane McElrath Focused and Ready to Defend WSX Titles in Vancouver

For two-time World Supercross champion Shane McElrath the goal to repeat in Vancouver, Canada comes down to being focused and present. 

The 31-year-old American, who has been racing for four years in the sport, said, “last year we started in Vancouver and we didn’t start off with a great start but came out with a win in Vancouver, but in Argentina [first leg of the World Supercross Championship (WSX)] I want to put my best foot forward and be ready to race.” 

The native of Canton, North Carolina wants to keep the momentum going into the North American part of the circuit feeling excited and energized to compete to the best of his abilities. 

McElrath, who is racing for Quadlock Honda Racing, said in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, “for me it is starting my mental preparation early and we are ready to go. It is like our home race being in North America being two hours north of Seattle we will have a lot of American fans there as well as Canadians.” 

Unlike other racing circuits, the WSX doesn’t have an age or points restrictions for its SX2 class making it open to a wider range of talent. This allows experienced riders to compete alongside up-and-coming racers. 

As for the racing format, the SX2 class follows the same event format as the 450cc class which includes practice, qualifying, and multiple main races per event to determine the Grand Prix winner. Further, as of 2022 the SX 2 classification was elevated to a world championship by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) allowing riders to compete for the title of FIM World Champion and a prize purse of up to 250,000 USD at each event. 

Ready to showcase his talents 

For the two-time World Champion to shine north of the border in Canada, he underlined the importance of being ready for the moment saying, “I need to keep away from the noise like the fans [and] focus on the three events and do those laps staying focused will ultimately win races.” 

He added, “the tendency is to look too far ahead and get caught up with thinking about a lot of what if’s.” 

McElrath, who won the WSX event in Canada, and Australia last season, feels the key to success is self belief and using the knowledge he’s gained as power moving forward. 

He said, exclusively to SportsBoom.com, “I get to use all the experience from all those [past] teams and I have met all these people and they are teaching me a lot and I’m learning and growing together. That’s what sport is about [it] is pushing to be our best.” He believes that the SX2 class is quite competitive and wants to do his best at each race and encourage his teammates to do well too since McElrath not only wants to capture the individual championship at season’s end but the team championship too for Quadlock Honda Racing. 

“Last year it was a pretty soft dirt and it was a little rocky and we had a little data from last year [so] we have a gameplan in place. It’s about getting ready and doing our homework. It makes supercross kind of technical due to the dirt and it is constantly changing each lap.” 

Demonstrating his passion and desire for the sport

For McElrath the love for the sport started early. 

“I got an opportunity as an amateur with Troy Lee Designs, who he was with for seven years, [and] as McElrath shared, “I grew up racing with my family and I was pretty good at it.” 

He added, “you don’t know your full potential till your given the opportunity.” 

Moving forward, he wants to get past the niggling injuries he’s had chalking it up to inconsistency on being on different teams and motorcycles for short periods of time but resonating and reiterating in his conversation with SportsBoom.com his joy and excitement for coming to Vancouver on Nov, 15th at BC Place. 

“Excited to be back in Vancouver” referring to the race, as a ‘home race.’  

The 31-year-old American’s attitude is one of staying focused and present moving forward past Vancouver as he looks ahead to the rest of the World Supercross circuit wanting to focus on the execution of the details in each race and passing that checkered flag and he wants to be in a good position come Vancouver. 

“I feel I haven’t reached my full potential but now I’m using all this experience and trying to show what I can do over these last couple years,” said the two-time World Supercross Champion. “It is a blast, and I don’t want to stop racing,” he concluded.