What to Watch in Supercross 2023
Supercross is the biggest power sports event in the world, drawing both daredevils and thrill-seeking spectators alike. Each year it brings a different host, thrilling track layouts, and never-before-seen stunts that will keep spectators on the edge of their seats.
The 2023 season promises to be even more thrilling than its predecessors. Here are a few things to watch out for and mark your calendars so you don't miss any action-packed moments.
The battle for the title
The world's top off-road motorcycle riders race handlebar to handlebar on technical dirt tracks that test their skills and endurance. Fueled by passion for competition, they return to the track week after week for intense competition.
On the opening round of the 2023 AMA Supercross season in San Diego, Eli Tomac and Chase Sexton continued their battle for the 450SX title. Lawrence also put on a great performance to easily win the 250SX East Region opener in Houston.
After a red flag forced a staggered restart, Tomac took the lead with Aaron Plessinger pressing hard on his neck. Anderson and Sexton followed closely behind.
The West Region Triple Crown
Two years ago, the Monster Energy Supercross Series unveiled an innovative racing format called the Triple Crown. Instead of having just one main event, each 250 and 450 class raced three races to determine a champion with championship points awarded for each victory.
The Triple Crown has produced some thrilling racing, and a new era for the series is set to begin Saturday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
The 450SX class is packed with top-tier talent, as three Supercross champions will vie for another title - two-time defending world champ Eli Tomac, two-time world champ Cooper Webb and 2018 world champ Jason Anderson. Additionally, Marvin Musquin (France), Dylan Ferrandis (France), Chase Sexton, Adam Cianciarulo, Malcolm Stewart and Justin Barcia from America all compete in this division.
The riders' rivalries
In 2023, there will be 31 AMA Supercross and Motocross events to choose from - guaranteeing plenty of high-flying excitement. Plus, expect some intense battles between riders as their rivalries heat up.
Ricky Carmichael has earned himself a place of honor among American motorcross legends with seven AMA Pro Motocross Championships and five Supercross titles to his credit. In 2002 alone, he won 24 motos to cement his legacy as one of racing's all-time greats - if not THE greatest rider to compete on American soil.
KTM's Cooper Webb and Honda's Ken Roczen will go head-to-head for the 450 Class title. While their personalities and styles differ, their mutual admiration for each other remains undiminished.
New Manufacturers in the race
Supercross is entering a new era as Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing invest $10 million to launch the SuperMotocross World Championship. This new entity will bring together the strengths of both disciplines to create an unbeatable championship platform that promises success.
Riders will have the unique opportunity to compete for the largest prize purse in either sport's history, helping grow both domestically and abroad. All seven primary original equipment manufacturers - KTM, Husqvarna, GASGAS, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki - have confirmed their involvement in this series.
At present, team budgets are controlled by manufacturers - KTM, Husqvarna, Gas Gas and Yamaha are US-based teams while Honda and Kawasaki have global teams. While this system has served the sport well for decades now, it's time for a change.
The main event
From January through May in stadiums across America, AMA Supercross brings together some of the world's greatest off-road motorcycle riders for championship competitions. These daring athletes race handlebar-to-handlebar on custom tracks inside these prestigious indoor dirt bike racing championships.
These tracks take all the thrilling elements of outdoor riding - jumps, turns, bumps - and magnify them so they are right before your eyes. This makes the racing more entertaining for fans while making it more accessible for them as well.
The 450 Class is one of the most competitive classes in power sports. Two-time defending champion and ESPY Award winner Eli Tomac, 2-time world champion Cooper Webb and 2018 world champion Jason Anderson are just some of the top riders competing for a championship title in 2023.