SuperMotocross World Championship playoffs are back to even greater go-round in 2024
We’re going, Speedway Ridin’!
What better place to announce the tracks for the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff rounds than at Daytona International Speedway? Daytona as the official halfway mark of the Supercross season is where historically the cream starts to rise to the top. With the parity of the 2024 season, we’ll leave Saturday evening less sure of the front runners than ever before.
After a successful first season, the SuperMotocross Playoffs are back! During Saturday night’s broadcast of Daytona Supercross, Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart announced the three venues for the upcoming playoffs.
Last season saw two of the young phenoms of the sport take home the grand prize in both classes. Jett Lawrence won the 450 SMX World Championship and the million-dollar payday that came with it. Then, Haiden Deegan, also in his 250 rookie year, secured the championship after trailing going into the finale at Los Angeles Coliseum.
“Last year, we created a completely new off-road motorcycle racing playoff series that combined both disciplines of indoor stadium racing (Supercross) and outdoor motocross racing (Pro Motocross) that was fully embraced by the teams, athletes, industry, and fans,” said Dave Prater, Vice President of Supercross, Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“Collectively, more than 110,000 fans from all over the world made their way here to attend the inaugural three-round SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final. And for the first time in the sport’s history, witnessed the crowning of a true World Champion. The SuperMotocross World Championship is where the world comes to race.”
Here is how this year's playoffs are broken down:
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Round 1: zMax Dragway Charlotte, North Carolina
We start, like last year, at zMax Dragway in Charlotte, N.C. The track was the hardest for riders to adjust to since this was the first time Supercross and Motocross elements were incorporated together, most riders entered the race with their suspension too stiff and many paid the price, notably Jett Lawrence who lost a substantial amount of the lead that he built from his perfect Motocross season.
Tom Vialle leads Jo Shimoda during a race at zMax Dragway. Photo: Align Media.
While zMax was challenging, fans loved the racing, as it was a near-sellout even with the threat of rain.
“Last year, we transformed a four-lane drag strip into the ultimate off-road playground and fans were treated to a full day of action-packed racing at the opening round of the inaugural SMX World Championships,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Building on that experience, we’re excited to once again partner with Feld Motor Sports to bring together the top Supercross and Motocross riders from around the world at zMAX Dragway to put on a high-flying, white-knuckled show for the fans.”
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Round 2: Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas
The riders head south to the Lonestar State to race at Texas Motor Speedway. While Texas may have lost IndyCar for the 2024 season, the track and local fans will experience outdoor SMX for the first time. This year, Round 7 of Supercross at AT&T Stadium saw record crowds in nearby Arlington, Texas.
“All of us at Texas Motor Speedway are thrilled to have been chosen to host Round 2 of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and we look forward to welcoming an entirely new and energetic group of race fans, from across the country and around the world, to our world-class facility,” said Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Faber. “Supercross and motocross fans in the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex have proven for years how much they love their sport so we look forward to proving to them how much we appreciate them coming to Texas Motor Speedway.”
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Round 3: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada
Then it’s time for the riders to put it all on the line as they had to the notorious The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. While zMax is known as the Bellagio of drag racing “The Strip” is its granddaddy where four-wide racing was first featured.
"The pinnacle of two-wheel racing is making its return to Las Vegas, and we’re thrilled to crown the ultimate champion at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, surrounded by the passionate fans of Supercross and Motocross," said Chris Powell, Las Vegas Motor Speedway President. "In recent years, Las Vegas has emerged as the ultimate sports hub, making it fitting to include the SuperMotocross World Championship Final on the list of prestigious events hosted here."
With all three venues being Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) facilities, the events should run uniformly. And with each track being built on a large outdoor speedway or drag strip, the track builders have the freedom to let their imaginations run wild.
Since camping is heavily featured at all three locations, the camping aspect of a motocross weekend can be incorporated in all three rounds this year instead of just the first two.
The SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs will include the top 20 riders for 250 and 450 racing with combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points. With the double features of Motocross, the outdoor season’s numbers are inflated over Supercross wins.
After 17 Supercross rounds and 11 Motocross rounds, the final three playoff rounds are the ultimate battle of attrition as riders have to hit an internal next gear to make it through the high stakes and towards the offseason.
All rounds of the SMX season and playoffs are streamed on Peacock.