Adam Cianciarulo, the 2019 AMA Pro Motocross 250cc champion, was just out at Glen Helen Raceway in Southern California for the media launch of the 2026 Kawasaki KX250, Cianciarulo, who has enjoyed a collective 20-year relationship with Monster Energy Team Green, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki and the Monster Energy Kawasaki factory team, was out to post up laps on the new KX250. In between, the former factory racer turned broadcast commentator’s thoughts on his past, present and future in the sport.
“When I was going to be done racing, going into broadcasting, I was ready. Broadcasting SuperMotocross racing, that was a dream from the time when I was listening to David Bailey and Art Eckman back in the day,” he explained. “I always knew that I wanted to do that when I was done racing, so for me it was a lot easier to call it a career and move on because I knew I was going into something else. I’ve been very blessed and I am thankful for the opportunity from FELD to co-host Race Day Live with Justin Brayton. So that was really my main focus when I got done racing. I wanted to get my foot in the door. I did that. We got through Supercross this year. I had a ton of fun.
“And this summer, I really wanted to slow down. It was super busy. I was running around and doing a bunch of stuff. I hadn’t really stopped and kind of smelled the roses. This summer that’s what it was about. I think it can be easy when you have something that you look forward to. I think it’s a little bit easier to be completely content with yourself. It almost provides a distraction in a way from some things that bother you mentally.. With all of this stuff, your life completely changes. I think for a while, and because I was so aware of it, I almost assumed I had it all taken care of, if that makes sense. Some things can slide under the radar. That’s kind of what I meant this summer about not wanting to distract myself with anything. I was kind of building a new identity from the ground up. Don’t get me wrong. I mean, life has been great since I stopped racing, but just in general, I’m always trying to be the best I can be. Yeah, this gave me ample time to do that.”
Having devoted most of his life to the sport of motocross, what does he think about the body of work he created?
“I’m very proud of what I was able to accomplish in the sport,” he said. “Even when I watch these guys now on the weekends doing the job I’m doing, you don’t really realize what you’re doing in the moment because it’s just life and you’re focused on getting the results for yourself, for your supporters. That’s the driving force. But you don’t really have time to take a look around and be like, ‘Man, this is pretty cool. I’m a bad dude, you know?’ I really loved it.
“I think that if I didn’t truly love the sport organically, I think I would have quit or I would have retired a long time ago. Looking back, I mean I see things. There were a lot of missed opportunities and there were a lot of injuries, but I think that genuine love that I have for the sport and for riding, it carried me through. It carried me through the difficult times. I think I’m in a place now mentally where I can look back. I mean I’m human. The biggest thing for me was that there were times in my 250cc career where I know I didn’t realize how good I was at the time.
“That teaches me a lesson for where I am at in my life now. That’s just to believe in myself to be confident in my abilities. Of course I have had plenty of time to look back and kind of dissect everything. At the end of the day in my career, it was all about doing my best with whatever it was. And there was times when I did the wrong thing or I made the wrong decision, but it always meant he world to me. I never made any mistake out of laziness or lack of effort. In general, there are a lot of pieces that come with that. Unless you’re one of these freaks like Ricky Carmicahel or Ryan Villopoto or Ryan Dungey or James Stewart or Jeremy McGrath, almost everybody is going to look back and be like, ‘Oh, I could have done more! I want more!’
“I don’t think that I ever really showed my complete potential. You have to stay healthy for an extended period of time to do that. Because I truly did my best, I think that’s what allows me to look back on my career in a clear way and be happy with my body of work because, for right or wrong, I did the best I could. That’s all anybody can do in life. There are things that we can control and there are things that we can’t control. All you can do is keep showing up and doing your absolute best. And I did that. And I am blessed beyond belief. I really am. I think if there is anything I am struggling with in this moment, it is feeling like I deserve the life I’ve created for myself, you know? After scratching and clawing for every square inch, like you have to do in any sport, and especially in our sport, when that fighting is over with and everything is calm and you can wake up in the morning and just go about your business, it takes some time to get used to peace. It takes some time to get used to the quiet. If anything, that’s what I’m working on right now. It’s like, ‘Dude, you did this. You earned this. It’s OK to let yourself relax.’
And how is that work progressing?
“I don’t want to paint it like everything has just been perfect and I’ve been just unbelievably happy,” he said. “I’m very at peace and happy with my life, but for sure it has been hard. It’s hard for everybody. It just comes with the territory. And I knew that. I knew it was going to be a big adjustment. I mean you spend your whole life going after something and everybody revolves around you. It’s about you and how you’re doing and how you’re feeling and how you’re sleeping and how your energy level is. And to be honest, I thought I would miss the spotlight more. I think that I thought I would miss the spotlight more. Now I can show up for the people who care about me. That’s a really nice feeling. And the world just keeps turning.”