Less than a week before the kick-off of the 2024 AMA Supercross season, in Anaheim 1 on January 6. The word on the street points this will be one of the deepest fields in years with a bunch of former winners ready to go and some interesting storylines like the debut of current MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado. But before getting into the details, today will take a look at some things you should know about AMA Supercross.
HISTORY:
The first motocross race held inside a stadium dates back to August 24, 1948, in France at Buffalo Stadium, which was located in the Parisian suburb of Montorouge. As motocross grew in popularity in the United States in the late 1960s, Bill France, a former Nascar driver and event promoter, decided to organize a professional motocross race during the 1971 Daytona Bike Week. The following year the race was organized inside the Daytona Speedway, on a track built on the grass surface between the main grandstand and the pit lane.
However, the event that paved the way to the supercross we know today was the “SuperBowl of Motocross” held in 1972 at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, where the final of SuperMotocross 2023 was held. As time went by, the number of races in stadiums increased, until 1974, when the first official championship was held consisting of only 4 races, and in 1977 the term Supercross was born.
RACE FORMAT:
Each class has a Main Event at night’s end—15 minutes + 1 lap for the 250 Class and 20 minutes + 1 lap for the 450 Class. A Supercross starting gate can only take a maximum of twenty-two riders, so fields must be whittled down. During the afternoon practice sessions, each racer’s laps are timed via electronic transponders, and the top forty in each class make it into the night program. Once there, riders take part in one of two Heat Races per class. Riders who qualify from the Heats go directly to the Main Event. Riders in the 450 Class who don’t qualify in the Heat Race go to a Semi Final race, and those who don’t qualify there get one last shot in the aptly named Last Chance Qualifier. In the 250 Class, riders compete in just a Heat Race and a Last Change Qualifier to seed the Main Event. Riders who don’t make it into the Main Event are finished for the night and will receive no series points that weekend.
TRIPLE CROWN FORMAT:
The Triple Crown is an exciting new racing format that was implemented in 2018 consisting of 3 races during the night, without heats. The top 18 fastest riders qualify directly into the evenings’ 3 races and 4 additional riders advance via an LCQ which takes place before the opening ceremonies.
The Triple Crown format uses an Olympic-style scoring System so 1st place = 1 point; 2nd place = 2 points, etc. The rider with the LOWEST SCORE gets 1st place and a full 25 regular championship points. 2nd overall pays 22 pts., 3rd overall pays 20 pts., etc.
- 250 = 3 races at 10 minutes + 1 lap
- 450 = 3 races at 12 minutes + 1 lap
The Triple Crown is also a “championship within a championship,” as a rider’s results from the three Triple Crown races at Anaheim 2, Indianapolis and St. Louis and will be tallied to declare an official 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Triple Crown Champion.
SUPERMOTOCROSS VIDEO PASS:
Watch every round of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Season, every moto of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Season, both SuperMotocross Playoffs and unparalleled coverage of the 2024 World Championship SuperMotocross Finals!
2024 SuperMotocross Video Pass Features:
- Live & On-Demand access to 28 Rounds of the 2024 SuperMotocross regular season
- Live & On-Demand access to 2 Rounds of the 2024 SuperMotocross Playoffs
- Live & On-Demand access to the 2024 World Championship Final
- Live & On-Demand access to ‘Race Day Live’ for the 2024 SuperMotocross full season
- Live & On-Demand access to Spanish Language Play by Play of all 2024 Live Races
- Extended Content including rider features, weekly news programs & extended archives
POINTS SYSTEM
Prior to the 2018 season, Supercross moved to award 26 points to first, 23 to second, 21 to third and so on. For 2024, it will revert back to 25 points for first, 22 for second and 20 for third. But or 2024 is back to a more traditional 25 for first, 22 for second, 20 for third, 18 for fourth, and then one point down from there, per position, until 21st place gets a single point, and 22nd (last) gets zero.
- 1º = 25pts
- 2º = 22pts
- 3ª = 20pts
- 4º = 18pts
- 5º = 16pts
- 6ª = 15pts
- 7º = 14pts
- 8º = 13pts
- 9ª = 12pts
- 10º = 11pts
- 11º = 10pts
- 12º = 9pts
- 13º = 8pts
- 14º = 7pts
- 15º = 6pts
- 16º = 5pts
- 17º = 4pts
- 18º = 3pts
- 19º = 2pts
- 20º = 1pts
- 21º = 1pts
- 22º = 0pts
WEST & EAST COAST
The West/East Coast division came in 1985 for the 125cc riders. And then in 2007 became the 250 class as we know today. Both championships compete in their respective rounds with two crowns for each champion. The coast clashes twice during the year with the Showdowns this year taking place in Nashville and then in the season finale in Salt Lake City.
250SX West Coast Provisional lineup:
- Max Vohland #20 | Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
- RJ Hampshire #24 | Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
- Garrett Marchbanks #26 | Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha
- Jo Shimoda #30 | Honda HRC
- Jordon Smith #31 | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
- Ryder DiFrancesco #34 | Red Bull TLD GasGas
- Talon Hawkins #35 | AEO Motorsport KTM
- Phil Nicoletti #36 | Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha
- Levi Kitchen #47 | Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
- Mitchell Oldenburg #55 | MCR Honda
- Nate Thrasher #57 | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
- Joshua Varize #87 | AJE Motorsport GasGas
- Mitchell Harrison #82 | Partzilla PRMX Kawasaki
- Max Miller #87 | BarX Suzuki
- Dylan Walsh #88 | Host Grindstone Kawasaki
- Anthony Bourdon #100 | BarX Suzuki*
- TJ Albright #116 | Manluk Rock River Yamaha
- Nick Romano #511 | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha*
- Julien Beaumer #929 | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing*
Note: Riders with * will be making their SX debuts.
RIDER NUMBERS:
The best way to identify any Supercross rider is by his rider number, which is acquired in a few different ways. Riders who have won national Supercross or motocross championships earn the right to single-digit career numbers, although they can also choose a two-digit career number. Riders who finished in the top ten overall in a combined Supercross/motocross season earn the right to claim permanent numbers as well. Beyond those, riders earn up to number 99 though total points accumulated during the previous Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season. Riders who don’t earn a number from 1 to 100, including rookies, can choose numbers between 101 and 999.
The Champs:
- #1 AMA Supercross: Chase Sexton
- #1 AMA Pro Motocross: Jett Lawrence
- #1 SuperMotocross 450SX: Jett Lawrence
- #1 250SX Costa Oeste: Jett Lawrence
- #1 250SX Costa Este: Hunter Lawrence
- #1SuperMotocross 250SX: Haiden Deegan
Full 2024 AMA Motocross / Motocross numbers:
- 1 450SMX — Jett Lawrence
- 1 450SX — Chase Sexton
- 1 450MX — Jett Lawrence
- 1 250SMX — Haiden Deegan
- 1 250MX —Hunter Lawrence
- 1E — Hunter Lawrence
- 1W — Jett Lawrence
- 2— Cooper Webb
- 3 — Eli Tomac
- 4— Chase Sexton
- 6 — Jeremy Martin
- 7 — Aaron Plessinger
- 9 — Adam Cianciarulo
- 10 — Justin Brayton
- 11 — Kyle Chisholm
- 12 — Shane McElrath
- 14 — Dylan Ferrandis
- 15 — Dean Wilson
- 16 — Tom Vialle
- 17 — Joey Savatgy
- 18 — Jett Lawrence
- 19 — Justin Bogle
- 20 — Maximus Vohland
- 21 — Jason Anderson
- 22 — Fredrik Noren
- 23 — Grant Harlan
- 24 — RJ Hampshire
- 25 — Marvin Musquin
- 26 — Garrett Marchbanks
- 27 — Malcolm Stewart
- 28 — Christian Craig
- 29 — Ty Masterpool
- 30 — Jo Shimoda
- 31 — Jordon Smith
- 32 — Justin Cooper
- 33 — Jalek Swoll
- 34 — Ryder DiFrancesco
- 35 — Talon Hawkins
- 36 — Phil Nicoletti
- 37 — Max Anstie
- 38 — Haiden Deegan
- 39 — Pierce Brown
- 40 — Dilan Schwartz
- 41 — Carson Mumford
- 42 — Caden Braswell
- 43 — Seth Hammaker
- 44 — Josh Hill
- 45 — Colt Nichols
- 46 — Justin Hill
- 47 — Levi Kitchen
- 48 — Chance Hymas
- 49 — Jose Butron
- 50 — Enzo Lopes
- 51 — Justin Barcia
- 52 — Derek Drake
- 53 — Derek Kelley
- 54 — Chris Blose
- 55 — Mitchell Oldenburg
- 56 — Jeremy Hand
- 57 — Nate Thrasher
- 58 —Cullin Park
- 59 — Daxton Bennick
- 60 — Lorenzo Locurcio
- 61 — Stilez Robertson
- 62 — Kevin Moranz
- 63 — Cameron McAdoo
- 64 — Austin Forkner
- 65 — Henry Miller
- 66 — Justin Starling
- 67 — Benny Bloss
- 68 — Romain Pape
- 69 — Coty Schock
- 70 —Jerry Robin
- 71 — Cole Thompson
- 72 — Jace Owen
- 73 — Robbie Wageman
- 74 — Josh Cartwright
- 75 — Marshal Weltin
- 76 — Michael Mosiman
- 77 — Preston Kilroy
- 78 — Josh Varize
- 79 — Harri Kullas
- 80 — Michael Hicks
- 81 — Cade Clason
- 82 — Mitchell Harrison
- 83 — Guillem Farres
- 84 — Anthony Rodriguez
- 85 — Hunter Yoder
- 86 — Luca Marsalisi
- 87 — Max Miller
- 88 — Dylan Walsh
- 89 — Luke Neese
- 90 — Hardy Munoz
- 91 — Devin Simonson
- 92 — Jace Kessler
- 93 — Bryce Shelly
- 94 — Ken Roczen
- 95 — Ryan Surratt
- 96 — Hunter Lawrence
- 97 — Tristan Lane
- 98 — Kaeden Amerine
- 99 — Jett Reynolds
FULL 2024 AMA SUPERCROSS CALENDAR:
| Round | Date | Venue | Coast | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 6 | Anaheim 1 | West | Main Event |
| 2 | January 13 | San Francisco | West | Main Event |
| 3 | January 20 | San Diego | West | Main Event |
| 4 | January 27* | Anaheim 2 | West | Triple Crown |
| 5 | February 3 | Houston | East | Main Event |
| 6 | February 10 | Glendale | East | Main Event |
| 7 | February 24 | Arlington | East | Main Event |
| 8 | March 2 | Daytona | East | Main Event |
| 9 | March 9 | Birmingham | East | Main Event |
| 10 | March 16* | Indianapolis | East | Triple Crown |
| 11 | March 23 | Seattle | West | Main Event |
| 12 | March 30 | St.Louis | West | Triple Crown |
| 13 | April 13 | Foxborough | East | Main Event |
| 14 | April 20* | Nashville | Showdown | Main Event |
| 15 | April 27 | Philadelphia | East | Main Event |
| 16 | May 4 | Denver | West | Main Event |
| 17 | May 11* | Salt Lake City | Showdown | Main Event |
