2023 FIM WSX Championship | Race Team & Rider List

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www.wsxchampionship.com

The FIM World Supercross Championship has shared an updated list of riders that have committed to compete in this year’s globe-trotting six-round series, a roster that brings new additions, familiar faces, and transfers among the chartered teams and fills more than half the gates in the SX2 and WSX divisions.

Here are a few quick notes about the series as it heads into its second year, details of the rider-team pairings, and the complete press release from SX Global.

– The current list is twenty-seven riders from six different countries (USA, France, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil). 

– During the press conference announcing Ken Roczen’s three-year commitment to the series, SX Global CEO Adam Bailey stated that all teams must have their original and full four-rider rosters entered to the series and FIM 30 days before the opening round (British GP at Villa Park in Birmingham).

– Bailey said the series intends to add to the schedule gradually over the next two years, with hopes of eight rounds in 2024 and ten in 2025. 

– Agreements with Fox Sports in the USA, Eurosport in Europe, and DAZN in Asia will beam the broadcast to 180 countries and 500 million households worldwide, and the series will continue to stream races and features through its WSX TV video pass.

– CDR Yamaha is the only chartered team with no riders in this list. 

– Round three, the Asian GP scheduled for September 30th, is still filed as a TBD.

– Wild Card riders can still be added to select events by promoters.

MOTOCONCEPTS
WSX | Cole Seely & Vince Friese
SX2 | Mike Alessi & Mitchell Oldenburg

Three riders from 2022’s pilot season return, but Seely has been bumped to the big bike. Longtime MCR rider Mike Alessi will continue his pro career with a stint in the SX2 division.

Honda Fire Power
WSX | Justin Brayton & Dean Wilson
SX2 | Max Anstie

Justin Brayton returns to Australian-American team and will join Dean Wilson and Max Anstie for a Supercross-only program, which should include the three-round Australian SX series and the Paris Supercross. One SX2 rider needs to be determined/announced.

PMG
WSX | Ken Roczen & Kyle Chisholm

Ken Roczen begins a three-year commitment to the series and defends the WSX title with the Suzuki squad that supported him through the AMA SX championship. Kyle Chisholm will be highly active with the team, as he plans to race WSX, select rounds of Pro Motocross, and the SuperMotocross Championship (Roczen also expressed his intent to do the SMX events during the press conference). There are no SX2 riders confirmed as of now.

Rick Ware Racing
WSX | Joey Savatgy & Colt Nichols
SX2 | Shane McElrath & Henry Miller

RWR sees the return of SX2 champion Shane McElrath, WSX runner-up Joey Savatgy, and SX2 racer Henry Miller. Colt Nichols, who intended to be with them in the SX2 category last year until a last-minute opportunity with Team Honda HRC, will be in the WSX category.

BUD Racing
WSX | Justin Hill & Cedric Soubeyras

French Supercross specialist Cedric Soubeyras continues with the French Supercross team and will be joined by Justin Hill, a new addition to the series. Both will be in the WSX category; no SX2 riders are listed.

Team GSM
WSX | Gregory Aranda & Thomas Ramette
SX2 | Maxime Desprey

The French team has filled three of its four slots with French riders that spend most of their year riding Supercross, with Aranda and Ramette in WSX and Desprey in SX2. One SX2 spot needs to be filled. 

Honda NILS
WSX | Jordi Tixier 
SX2 | Chris Blose & Kyle Peters

French rider Jordi Tixier returns to a WSX spot with the Italian team and will be joined by Americans Chris Blose and Kyle Peters, who will be in SX2. There is still an available CRF450R for someone to race in WSX.

MDK Motorsports
WSX | Cade Clason
SX2 | Justin Bogle

Justin Bogle will be very busy this summer, as he plans to race SX2 with MDK Motorsports and in Canada with the Kawasaki’s main team. Cade Clason is a recent signing and he will be in WSX. Matt Moss had previously announced he’d be part of the team in 2023, but that changed very recently and the team now has two openings, one in each category.

ClubMX
WSX | Matt Moss & Luke Neese
SX2 | Enzo Lopes & Cole Thompson

Where’d Moss go? The Australian took an offer from the team and will be alongside Luke Neese in WSX; Neese, an American, is a new addition to the team but a longtime member of the practice facility. The cultural diversity continues in the SX2 category with Brazilian Enzo Lopes and Canadian Cole Thompson. 

The 2023 FIM World Supercross Championship has continued to expand its global contingent of star athletes, announcing Colt Nichols, Justin Brayton, Vince Friese, Enzo Lopes, Chris Blose, and Kyle Peters, who have all been added to the six-round championship season.

With global sensation Ken Roczen recently announcing his return to WSX competition, SX Global CEO Adam Bailey said Roczen’s commitment and the growing list of international stars add further anticipation and excitement for fans attending this year’s events around the world.

“We’re building the World Supercross Championship for the fans first and foremost, and they are our motivation. There’s nothing more rewarding than witnessing their enjoyment when they experience WSX racing for the first time and get to see their heroes in action first-hand.

“You can feel the energy building for the season opener in Birmingham. If you’re a hardcore supercross fan or just looking to experience the most entertaining motorsport on the planet, you have to be at Villa Park on the first of July.”

“It’s fantastic to see so many of the top riders from 2022 returning and new faces joining WSX for our first official season. It’s been an enormous amount of work, but the increased depth of talent in 2023 proves we’re building a product that the world’s best athletes want to win, and I’m proud of that,” said Bailey.

2021 AMA 250SX East Region Champion Nichols makes the move to the World Supercross Championship for the first time. He joins Rick Ware Racing and is eager to test his mettle against the best riders in the world after a breakout season in the US domestic championship.

Henry Miller returns to Rick Ware Racing for a second season of international competition alongside defending SX2 World Champion Shane McElrath.

Debuting for the Honda NILS team is 2022 SX2 3rd place getter Chris Blose. Blose will be joined by World Supercross Championship newcomer and four-time AMA Arenacross Champion Kyle Peters, who will also compete in the SX2 class for Honda NILS.

MotoConcepts’ mainstay Vince Friese, who finished 3rd on the podium in the WSX class in 2022 after a controversial finish, will be joined by seasoned AMA 250cc and 450cc winner Cole Seely, who is stepping up to the premier WSX class.

In SX2, Mitchell Oldenburg also returns to the MotoConcepts squad alongside veteran racer Michael Alessi, who will make his return to supercross competition.

The Yarrive Konsky-led Fire Power Honda team further strengthens its competitive lineup with international supercross specialist and AMA 450cc race winner Justin Brayton joining teammates Max Anstie and Dean Wilson.

Justin Brayton has experienced great success under Konsky’s management in the Australian and AMA Supercross Championships. He moves across to Konsky’s WSX team to compete on the Fire Power Honda-built Honda CRF450R.

Having had a breakout season in this year’s AMA Supercross 250cc West Coast Championship, Enzo Lopes will give the Brazilian fans a reason to cheer. He’s returning to the Club MX FXR team and competing in the SX2 class.

Canadian Cole Thompson will join Lopes in SX2, while Matt Moss (making a recent switch from MDK Motorsports) and Luke Neese will represent the team in the WSX class.

The MDK Motorsports squad will see former AMA 250cc East Coast Champion and fan favourite Justin Bogle return to the team to contest the SX2 class and welcome newcomer Cade Clason, who will race in the WSX class.

Tickets for the 2023 FIM World Supercross Championship season-opening rounds are on sale now. Visit the WSX Championship website to find out more.