2023 SuperMotocross Championship | Confirmed Entry Lists

September 5, 2023

2023 SUPERMOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP | COMPLETE COVERAGE

The build-up for the SuperMotocross World Championship continues with the official points reset and the confirmation of competitors in both classes ahead of the three-round series. Feld Motorsports, MX Sports, and AMA Pro Racing have finalized and announced the 60 riders, 30 per class, that will line up this weekend at zMAX Dragway in North Carolina.

Each round will feature ten-rider LCQs, with four riders from the 250 Class and three from the 450 Class advancing to the point-paying motos.

250 CLASS

The 250 Class will continue an eventful season that saw multiple victors, defining moments, and brewing rivalries. A dominant year puts Hunter Lawrence at the top after the reset, and he’s got a handful of points over Haiden Deegan, Levi Kitchen, RJ Hampshire, Jo Shimoda, Tom Vialle, and Max Anstie, riders that all earned checkered flags and wins through 2023.

Seeded riders Jett Lawrence and Chance Hymas have confirmed they will not compete in the small-bore division. Lawrence will instead step up to the 450 Class, and Hymas will be sidelined by a knee injury. Their absences have added two gates to the LCQ, and four total spots are now up for grabs.

Multiple riders in the top 30 of the combined standings have withdrawn from contention. Injuries will keep Enzo Lopes, Jeremy Martin, Cameron McAdoo, and Nate Thrasher from racing, while Mitchell Oldenburg, Daxton Bennick, and Stilez Robertson have chosen not to do the LCQ at all three rounds.

The early declaration allowed Section 1.8.3, Point C of the newly-released AMA Pro Racing rule book to be utilized, which states, “Riders that are outside of the top 30 positions in SMX Combined Points may be granted an opportunity to submit an entry and attempt to qualify for the remaining gate choices at any of the SMX Playoff rounds, provided that fewer than 10 entries have been received from the Provisional Teams. Once accepted, Riders are eligible to participate in any of the remaining SMX Playoff rounds.”

Austin Forkner, Coty Schock, Preston Kilroy, Josh Varize, Michael Hicks, Hunter Yoder, and Luke Neese will be in the LCQ at all three rounds.

CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY LIST & POINT SEEDING

LCQ LINEUP

Chris Blose
Derek Kelley
Cullin Park
Austin Forkner
Coty Schock
Preston Kilroy
Joshua Varize
Michael Hicks
Hunter Yoder
Luke Neese

450 CLASS

The 450 Class entry list consists of past champions, riders with multiple wins on their records, and certified front-runners who will gladly go at it for a cut of the millions of dollars up for grabs in the end-of-year fund. Supercross champion Chase Sexton is at the top of the field following the reset, Aaron Plessinger is second, and Pro Motocross champion Jett Lawrence is third. Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen, and Justin Barcia, riders who won Main Events during the 2023 season, are ranked sixth, eighth, and tenth, respectively.

Eli Tomac is the only rider in the top 20 that cannot race, as his recovery from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon is expected to stretch into the early weeks of autumn. His gate will be available through the LCQs.

Seven riders who were ranked 21st to 30th overall in the SMX combined standings have stated they will not race in the new series. Christian Craig and Lorenzo Locurcio are both physically unable, as they are on the mend from injuries that required surgery, while Jose Butron, Derek Drake, Benny Bloss, Romain Pape, and Joey Savatgy are unable due to a lack of experience or support.

The 450 LCQ was significantly shaped by this. More than half of the confirmed riders were not among the top 30 at the end of the season, including Josh Cartwright, Jerry Robin, Jeremy Hand, Bryce Shelly, Jace Kessler, and Max Miller.

CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY LIST & POINT SEEDING