Image: Octopi Media.

High-profile rookie Adam Cianciarulo has been ruled out of tonight’s 12th round of Monster Energy Supercross as a result of pain and a lack of strength in his lower-back.

The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider crashed out of SLC1 on Sunday and was confident he would be fit for tonight, but opted out following qualifying one.

Cianciarulo was a lowly 19th position at the end of that session earlier this afternoon, visibly uncomfortable and not able to return for the second qualifier topped by Blake Baggett (Team Rocky Mountain KTM WPS).

“It’s just been crazy-sore since the crash on Sunday,” Cianciarulo explained. “It’s my lower-back and unfortunately it’s not just the pain, it’s weakness, so I can’t really squeeze the bike and the impacts out there are really giving me a hard time.

“I thought I was going to be able to do it today, but it’s just not on the cards, so I’ve gotta take the smart play here – I don’t want to be a danger to myself or anybody else out there. I’m gonna have to sit this one out and hope to be ready Sunday.”

There will be an extended turnaround for Cianciarulo to improve by Sunday’s 13th round of the 2020 season, eager to get back aboard the factory KX450 and continue to gain experience over the next couple of weeks in Utah.