101 | SMX
With more than 50 years of experience in producing and promoting successful championships, Supercross and PRO Motocross have united to create the world’s first SuperMotocross World Championship™, combining the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing on the world’s most challenging tracks…all leading to the sport’s most coveted title and biggest prize.
31
ROUNDS
1 Ultimate World
Championship Title
$10 Million
Dollar Purse
How to Qualify
- A combined points tally is accrued through the Monster Energy Supercross and Pro Motocross seasons
- The top 20 points earners in 450 and 250 will automatically qualify and be seeded into the SuperMotocross World Championship
- Riders from 21st to 30th in combined points will compete in a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) race for the final two positions of the 22-rider field
- If a seeded, top 20 athlete is unable to compete in an event, an additional opportunity will be made available for a provisional racer to qualify through the LCQ
- Any racer outside the top 30 in combined points who also won a Supercross Main Event or Pro Motocross moto will also be eligible to compete in the LCQ race for the 21st and 22nd position
Points Reset
The point system for the SuperMotocross World Championship will be unique to the playoff. Points will be reset for the final three races, begin-ning with 25 points for the top seed, 22 for the second seed, 20 for the third seed, and 18 for the fourth, followed by single-point denominations through the 20th seed. All racers outside the top 20 in combined points will begin the playoff rounds with zero points.
Points System
Playoff 1 will feature the same point structure, while Playoff 2 will pay out double points. The SuperMotocross World Championship Final will pay out triple points, guaranteeing an unpredictable outcome for the title.
Moto Format
There are two divisions racing: the 450 Class and the 250 Class. Top riders like Jason Anderson, Ken Roczen, and Eli Tomac are in the premier 450 Class, and they ride 450cc four-stroke motorcycles.
The 250 Class is populated primarily by younger riders on 250cc four-stroke motorcycles.
The SuperMotocross World Championship will operate under a two-moto format for both the 450 and 250 divisions. Each moto will be 20 minutes plus one lap, in which Olympic scoring will determine an overall finishing position for each round. Championship points will be awarded in accordance with each finishing order.
The Bikes
Nine different manufacturers currently create 250cc and/or 450cc bikes in SuperMotocross:
- Beta
- GasGas
- Honda
- Husqvarna
- Kawasaki
- KTM
- Suzuki
- Triumph
- Yamaha
These motorcycles are highly modified versions of what you can purchase at your local dealership. The transmissions feature four or five gears, and the shift lever is by the left footpeg. The rear-brake lever is by the right footpeg, the clutch lever on the left side of the handlebar, and the throttle and front brake on the right side of the handlebar. Bikes can be any color, but teams generally stick with the same colors as the stock machines. Most bikes are four-strokes of either 250cc or 450cc displacement. A SuperMotocross bike can generate nearly 70 horsepower and weighs around 220 pounds, giving it a better power-to-weight ratio than a top-level NASCAR vehicle.
The numbers 250 and 450 refer to the engine size, as measured in cubic centimeters of displacement (cylinder bore x piston stroke). The 450s boast more power and torque than the small machines, but they’re also more difficult to control and weigh a bit more. The 250s tend to rev higher, while the 450s sound a little more “grunty.” The actual lap times between the two bikes are similar, but in a head-to-head race, a 450 can out-jump a 250 and make passes by accelerating harder out of turns– that’s why the fastest riders use the bigger bikes.
Terminology
- AMA American Motorcyclist Association
- CC Cubic centimeters (in reference to engine displacement)
- DISPLACEMENT The space covered or volume swept out by the engine piston at each stroke
- DISQUALIFICATION Unless otherwise specified, the forfeiture of all points, awards, and prizes earned during a particular race
- FLAGGERS Workers stationed at various points around the track to advise riders of track conditions via color-coded flags
- GET-OFF A crash
- HIGH-SIDE A crash where the rider goes over the top of the bike, as opposed to laying it down (or a “low-side”)
- HOLESHOT Taking the lead into the first turn of a race
- hom*oLOGATION The process of acquiring eligibility for a motorcycle to be entered in competition, with rules formulated to create parity among race bikes and maintain a level playing field for competitors
- LCQ Last Chance Qualifying race, where two top finishers advance to the Motos
- LINE A specific way around the track or through a particular part of the track; can vary with changing course conditions
- OEM Short for original equipment manufacturer OVERALL The final ranking of the two moto format
- PIT/PADDOCK Area primarily designated for the preparation and maintenance of race equipment, it may also include parking for transporters and other support vehicles
- PIT CREW Mechanics and/or team assistants
- PRIVATEER A racer competing without the benefit of a factory contract or major sponsor support
- PROGRAM The predetermined outline of events that make up a race day
- SEIZE Engine failure due to excessive heat buildup
- STOPPIE Riding on the front wheel only, usually under hard braking
- WHEELIE Riding on the rear wheel only, usually under hard acceleration
- WRENCH Slang for mechanic
Video Gallery
