Super Motocross Playoffs Fire Off This Weekend: What You Need to Know

Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH — September 10, 2026

The road to the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final began in January in Anaheim, California, and concluded on Saturday, August 29, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The 17-round Monster Energy Supercross Championship saw Ken Roczen battle back from a 31-point deficit to defeat Hunter Lawrence in a nail-biting finish in Salt Lake City. Finishing second in Supercross, Lawrence took all that momentum into the 11-round Pro Motocross Championship and won his first premier class title.

The field is now set for the world’s top 20 athletes to compete for the sport’s ultimate World Championship title and the prestige that comes from overcoming adversity through a 28-round, dual-discipline (indoor and outdoor) season, plus two SMX Playoffs and a Final. Hunter Lawrence enters the postseason as the top seed in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points.

Following the final race of the Pro Motocross season, six-time champion Eli Tomac announced his retirement, which will take effect after the SMX World Championship Final in Ridgedale, Missouri. Sixteen years and three months after winning the Hangtown Motocross Classic in his Pro Motocross debut, Tomac will retire from professional offroad motorcycle racing. The most dominant racer in his heyday, Tomac’s retirement marks the end of an era.

Last year’s postseason run saw two of the sport’s brightest stars cement their place in the history books as Japanese athlete Jo Shimoda won his very first 250 SMX World Championship while era-defining Jett Lawrence successfully defended his 450 SMX World Championship and became the first athlete to win three back-to-back SMX titles in the premier class. Jo Shimoda will return to defend his title, but unfortunately, Jett Lawrence will have to forgo the postseason due to required ankle surgery.

Columbus sits at the heart of the Midwest, a region long known for its enthusiastic motorsports fan base and deep grassroots racing culture. Ohio has produced generations of riders and racing fans, making Historic Crew Stadium a natural fit for the SMX World Championship Playoffs. Every square foot of the venue’s expansive floor space will be utilized to create a unique SMX track layout that will include a large sand section, an elevated start, and use of an existing stage built into the stands.

Southern California is a staple in the Supercross and Motocross racing history books, making the area highly desirable for racing whenever the opportunity arises. The 2026 regular season began in California in January and, for only the second time in its history, will also include a postseason round late in the year. Situated in the greater Los Angeles area, Dignity Health Sports Park brings the Playoffs to a market with a long-standing connection to the sport and a strong motorsports and media presence. Sand will be integrated into the track design to create a more natural terrain environment.

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship will culminate in a special Final at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri, which has already drawn rave reviews as one of the most picturesque and jaw-dropping venues in North America. Set within a stunning natural amphitheater, Thunder Ridge Nature Arena presents a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience that promises to create unforgettable memories by combining the natural beauty of the Ozarks with the striking architecture that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding environment.

The SMX World Championship Final will offer world-class racing alongside a premier stay at Big Cedar Lodge, the Official Accommodations partner, which features championship-level golf, exceptional restaurants, and an immersive outdoor experience throughout its iconic resort. The natural terrain at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena will provide the most Motocross-inspired track design of this year’s postseason with natural elevation, rough sections, and one-of-a-kind viewing options close to the track that fans have come to expect.

Fans can expect a two-day experience in Columbus, Ohio, and Ridgedale, Missouri, as these rounds will offer both Friday and Saturday FanFests. Friday’s FanFest will feature access to the pre-race press conference, practice riding sessions, and the SMX Insiders Live show.

SMX Playoff 2 in Los Angeles will be a one-day event and will include access to all the race teams and athletes, along with experiential activities, in a one-day Saturday FanFest format.

How the Competitors Got Here

• 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 SMX World Championship
• Riders from 21st to 30th in combined points will compete in a Wild Card 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 Wild Card
• 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 Wild Card race for the 21st and 22nd position

The point system for the SMX World Championship will be unique to the playoff. Points will be reset for the final three races, beginning with 25 points for the top seed, 22 for the second seed, 20 for the third seed, and 18 for the fourth seed, followed by single-point increments through the 20th seed. All racers outside the top 20 in combined points will begin the playoff rounds with zero points.

450CC Points

Playoff Points

Playoff 1 will feature the same point structure, while Playoff 2 will pay out double points. The SMX World Championship Final will pay out triple points, guaranteeing an unpredictable outcome for the title.

Moto Formats and Bike Manufacturers Competing

The SMX 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, with Olympic scoring determining the overall finishing position for each round. Championship points will be awarded in accordance with each finishing order.

Ten different manufacturers currently create 250cc and/or 450cc bikes in SuperMotocross:

• Beta
• Ducati
• 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 is on the left side of the handlebar, and the throttle and front brake are 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 with either 250 cc or 450 cc 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.

Championship Payouts

A season-long, history-making purse of $10 million will encompass the entire 31-race SuperMotocross season, where $5.5 million will be on the line for the Playoff rounds of the SMX World Championship. A record $1 million will be awarded to the 450cc division champion, and $500,000 to the 250cc division champion. It’s the most prize money in the history of off-road motorcycle racing.

The Lasco Press will provide coverage of the SMX Playoffs with event reports published each Sunday Morning for the next three weeks.