Justin Barcia returns from shoulder, collarbone injury to the Unadilla Nationals
Justin Barcia will return to racing at the Unadilla Nationals this week after missing 10 rounds of Monster Energy Supercross and Pro Motocross competition due to a collarbone and shoulder injury suffered in a crash in Round 15 of the SuperMotocross World Championship.
"Back at it. See you guys at Unadilla MX," Barcia announced on Instagram along with a video of him riding his bike.
Barcia was fifth in the points' standings at the time and fresh off his first win of the season in a muddy round at New Jersey.
"It's been a process, for sure, a lot to think about," Barcia said in a press release. "We're past the injury now after two surgeries, lots of training and a lot of recovery, so I'm definitely excited to come back at my home race in New York for the fans and myself, just to get out there. There are no expectations set because I've been off for a lot of months, so I just want to go out there and have fun and build.
"Obviously, as a racer, you always want to be competitive, but I just need to get back to the races and enjoy being around the team, as well as my family and friends there. Unadilla's going to be a cool race."
MORE: Justin Barcia channels his inner Na’vi
Barcia has since fallen to 10th in the standings but was in no jeopardy of falling out of the top 20. He is currently 72 points behind Eli Tomac with Ken Roczen one point further ahead. With those two riders not currently competing in the outdoor season, Barcia has a chance to improve his seeding for the SuperMotocross World Championship to eighth if he averages about a ninth-place finish in the final six motos.
For the playoffs, riders earn points according to their seeding at the start of series and at this level, each position improved equals one point.
Barcia's return to the Troy Lee Designs GasGas team means Caden Braswell will be out of the lineup this week. Braswell has been riding in the 250 class with a best finish of 10th in the Southwick Nationals.
450 riders
Lorenzo Locurcio, shoulder
Cooper Webb, concussion at Nashville, banged up ahead of RedBud practice
Eli Tomac, Achilles tendon | It was just a freak deal | returning in 2024
Christian Craig, elbow
Marvin Musquin, wrist
Malcolm Stewart, knee | Signs two-year extension
Justin Barcia, collarbone and shoulder | returns at Unadilla
Chase Sexton, concussion | returned at RedBud
Jason Anderson, vertebrae | returned at RedBud
Dylan Ferrandis, concussion | returned at Pala
Aaron Plessinger, hip | returned at Salt Lake City
250 riders
Jordon Smith, wrist and thumb
Guillem Farres, arm
Jeremy Martin, wrist
Nate Thrasher, hip
Stilez Robertson, leg
Cameron McAdoo, shoulder
Stilez Robertson, knee
Austin Forkner, knee | returned at Spring Creek
Seth Hammaker, arm and wrist | returned at RedBud
Jo Shimoda, collarbone | returned at Atlanta
Jalek Swoll, arm | returned at Pala
