Pre-Race Interviews: San Diego
January 16, 2026
We're in San Diego for Round 2 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. We caught up with Craig, Ross, and Schwartz for some 1:1 interviews today at press day.
Christian Craig
Were you okay after your press day crash last week?
Yeah, I didn’t get hurt at all. It was more of a mental thing; I was just pissed. It was a stupid mistake that ended up unraveling. You try to avoid those at any time, especially on press day. But yeah, we’re in a good position: healthy and ready to go.
How are you adapting to the new bike? You had World Supercross to get used to it; do you feel fully ready now?
I am. Last week the setup felt a little off, but that could’ve just been me riding tight. Mentally, I wasn’t fully locked in. We changed some stuff up this week and brought my practice suspension here. I wanted it to feel like a normal Tuesday or Wednesday back home. The plan is to relax, have fun, and enjoy it.
Where is home for you right now?
Tallahassee, Florida. The travel is tough. I’ll take a red-eye Saturday night and then fly back Thursday. The first four rounds are pretty crazy, but after that it settles down.
The rest of the team is in FXR, but you’re obviously in Fox. That's your own deal?
Yes, I already had an existing Fox deal. When the team owner called me, I really wanted to make it work. I wanted to stay with Fox, and I plan on being with them for a long time. This is a family deal for me: they take care of me and my family, and I’m going to be with them for quite a while. I’m pumped we could make it work, and it fits well with the Honda side too.
Big picture: your 450 career maybe hasn’t gone exactly how you wanted so far. What’s your goal for this season?
I just want to be inside the top 10 every week. Looking at the field, there are literally 18 main-event winners or past champions, and 19 factory guys, which is wild to me. I was battling for the top 10 last week, and that’s the plan. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I do think I’m capable of more, but we’ll start there and improve each week.
Parker Ross
It’s a new team for you this year compared to last season. How are you adapting to the bike?
It’s been good. I’ve had a bit of a struggling offseason, honestly. It’s hard going to the practice track when you have guys like Dilan [Schwartz] going two seconds faster than you and you’re thinking, “Man, what’s going on?” But overall it’s been good. I’ve been working my butt off trying to get closer to those guys.
I know I’m a racer, so that’s always in the back of my head; like, I’m going to show up on race day. It’s been a lot about adjusting to the bike, and also just having guys to ride with during the week. I didn’t really have that before. Now I can go off Dilan, see his lines, see where he’s faster than me. Before, I was honestly riding by myself most of the time. So it’s been really nice having people to ride with, having a mechanic to wash my bike and take care of everything. I feel really privileged, and I’ve been loving the suspension.
It took me a bit to find a setting I liked. At first it was too soft, then we went too stiff, and now we’re right in the middle. I haven’t touched my suspension in two or three weeks, which has been really good. We’ve just been counting laps, and been training well. My off-the-bike trainer has us grinding on the cycles and in the gym. I feel really fit; I just need to show it.
Are you guys all based in California?
Yeah, we’re all based in Temecula.
Do you mostly ride at the Yamaha track?
Yeah, the Yamaha test track, and we also go to Pala. Elsinore is open a couple times a week too, so we get to ride there every once in a while.
It’s interesting you say you’re more of a racer; I noticed that last year; you had a few impressive top 10s. Do you feel like qualifying speed is something you’re still working on?
Yeah, for sure. It’s super frustrating because I feel like I’ve always focused on that in practice. It’s more of a mental thing; having the confidence or the willingness to go as fast as I want to in qualifying. I don’t know what it is. My lap times in the main event are usually faster than what I run in qualifying. That’s something we’ve been working on, and I think we’re moving in the right direction where I can start showing more speed in qualifying.
But it’s frustrating as a rider to go into a race qualifying 26th and then battling for the top 10 in the main. You’re like, “How does this even happen?” It’s frustrating, but I keep telling myself I’m a racer and I’m going to get a result no matter what.
What’s your goal for the rest of the season?
The goal is to be inside the top 10 and start creeping into the top five. If I can click off a few top 10s in the next rounds and then move toward that top five, that’s the plan. I know I can be a top-five guy. If I can be consistent in the top 10 and let the races come to me, using my fitness and my skill, I really think we’ll be in the top five for sure.
Dilan Schwarz
First off, congrats on the ride last week. I actually picked you as the most impressive 250 rider. It felt like a night-and-day difference compared to last year. Do you feel that way? Do you feel much better in Supercross?
Yeah, I do. I feel like I actually got a full offseason this time. Last year I got hurt, rode maybe three days, and then tried to race. That was a dumb idea. This year I got the full offseason, all the testing, all the motos, and I felt pretty good coming in. I definitely feel a lot better.
So a lot more Supercross prep?
Oh yeah, definitely. By far, it’s been the biggest change. Even just the practice days during the week feel different. I feel more natural on the track and more comfortable. I think the bike helps with that too. I feel like we’ve got the bike setup in a really good place right now.
You got a top 10 already. What’s next? Are you looking at top fives, podiums, or just taking it race by race?
I think I could definitely get into the top five this year. I feel like I’ve been riding well enough in practice to do that. Honestly, at A1 I didn’t even feel like I rode that well, and I was still able to get a top 10. If I put everything together and ride how I know I can, I should be able to be up there with those guys. It could be this weekend, or 4 more weeks, but whenever it happens, I’ll be happy. The goal is just to keep building.
Last week it looked like you started near the back and had to pass your way forward. Does that give you confidence knowing you have the speed to move through the field?
Yeah, for sure. My main goal this weekend is to get a good start and be up there with those guys early. If I can do that, then we’ll see what I can do from there.
