During the offseason heading up to the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship season, Red Bull / KTM’s Marvin Musquin was untouchable, winning the Red Bull / Straight Rhythm, the Paris-Bercy SX and the Monster Energy Cup—also 1 million dollars for the sweep. For some, Marvin was the odds on favorite for the 2018 450SX Championship, and after he came from behind the win the 2018 Anaheim 1 SX main event, those odds got even better. But in an instant everything can change in SX, and just one week later, the Frenchman injured his shoulder in a crash in Houston and his Championship hopes were all but over.
To start the year, though, Marvin’s Championship hopes were not the only thing talked about. Over the last few years, Ryan Dungey, Marvin Musquin and Jason Anderson all trained together with Aldon Baker, and to everyone’s surprise it was quite the harmonious trio. But with the four time 450X Champ, Dungey, retiring and leaving the crown up for grabs, there were suddenly whispers about there being some trouble in paradise between Musquin and Anderson at The Baker’s Factory.
It was well known that Jason had opted to train in California for ’18 instead of in Florida with Aldon, Marvin, Broc Tickle and 250 rider Zach Osborne, but when asked why, Jason would always shoot down the rumors of any animosity between himself and Marvin and simply say something like, I’m still training with Aldon, but I just wanted a change. In every interview, they would both quickly dispel any negative rumors out there, but then came Jason’s dirty pass on Marvin this weekend in Oakland.
For years the #21 and the #25 have been battling for wins and podiums, but it has always been ultra clean between the two. In Oakland last night, though, Jason took Marvin high in a bowl turn and ultimately to the ground while they were battling for third. It was definitely something we have seen from El Hombre a million times, but never against any of his training partners. Jason went on to win the main, while Marvin finished fourth.
After the race, we caught up to Marvin to talk about his Oakland SX and while still upset about Anderson’s pass, he opened up a little about his training mate leaving Florida.
Marvin, decent night for you overall? You had some issues, but rode well and ended up fourth on the main. How are you feeling about your night?
I’m bummed because I was in a good position and [Jason] Anderson came in hot and didn’t really turn. I was all the way up in the berm and nowhere to go. I lost my balance and I crashed. He was really aggressive and I went down and lost a couple of positions to [Blake] Baggett or something.
Baggett and then Cole Seely because he crashed.
Yeah, then Seely crashed and I was right up behind him, and we passed each other a couple of times. I finally got around him and from there I was pretty much by myself. They were gone in front of me. I caught up to Baggett with I think two laps to go. It was hard to see because I was really focused on the ruts. At one point over the triple I looked and I wasn’t too far, but they stayed on two wheels—those three guys [Anderson, Ken Roczen and Baggett]. They could have made a mistake by the end. Fourth, I’m bummed. I was looking forward to getting back on the podium tonight. Overall, it was a good day. I had good practices, good starts and it was a positive day for sure.
You are known for being good on technical tracks—we all know that—but this was something else tonight. What did you think of this track, I mean, compared to other tracks you’ve ridden?
Oh, for sure every single weekend is going to be different. This weekend was really soft. Rhythm sections were pretty nice. It made it really tough because of the ruts and the soft ground, but that’s what makes it tough, technical and what makes it fun to watch for the fans, obviously. (laughs) Like I said, overall physically it was tough, mentally too. I wanted to be really consistent. Besides that crash with Anderson, it was different.
Is that aggressiveness from Jason something you have seen from him over the years while you guys are practicing together? Obviously, not in a race. We have never seen you guys get that aggressive with each other in a race before tonight.
He races for the Championship, but he’s not racing against me for the Championship right now. I’m not close to him in the Championship right now, but whatever. I guess “no friends on the track.” That’s how it is right now. (laughs)
How’s your health right now? How’s the shoulder injury you were dealing with after the crash in Houston?
Yeah, good. This week I was able to put in a lot of laps like I’m supposed to do on the program with Aldon [Baker]. I was happy. I’m still taping the shoulder to make sure it’s stable, but strength-wise it’s a lot better. Pain-wise: it’s nothing. I’m really happy. I missed basically two weeks of good riding. Obviously I can’t do too much at the gym with my upper body, but we try to keep up with the cardio and I can ride pretty good during the week. It’s not 100%, but it’s getting close right now, for sure.
How tough was that injury to swallow? You were unbelievable during the offseason. You won A1 coming from behind, and it was looking like this might be your season. How tough was that at that point in time?
It shows you that it’s a tough sport and anything can happen. I was in a great position winning Anaheim—like you said—and it was a dream come true. Then a week later, it was a nightmare. We never give up, we try our best and that’s what we are doing. I’m pretty happy to be back feeling like myself again.
You and Jason have been friends and training partners for years. Is that incident with him tonight something you talk with him later about or is that something you just let go?
Well, the relationship is a lot different this year when he decided not to ride with me in practice. We have the same trainer and we’ve been training together for many years, but this year not having [Ryan] Dungey is a different situation—not in my eyes, but it is in his eyes. He decided not to ride with me. Now, obviously, he’s riding a little bit dirty on me. I don’t want to keep talking about that; we see it on the track I guess. (laughs)
Alright Marvin, I appreciate the time and the talk. We’ll see you later.
Thank you. Have a good night.
Friday, February 9, 2018 at 2:39PM 
