Cooper Webb claimed the 2025 SX Championship, and punters are now baffled as to why the Monster Energy Yamaha rider is priced as a longshot in the ongoing MX season. While both forms of dirtbike racing they are their own entities. So, what are the differences between Supercross vs Motocross, and how do they fit into the SuperMotocross World Championship? Let’s break it down from the track materials and lengths to the seasons they operate in.
Key Differences between Supercross vs Motocross
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Factor
Supercross
Motocross
Venue
Stadiums
Outdoor Natural Terrain Courses
Track Style
Tight, Technical, Big Jumps, Whoops and Rhythm Section
Long, Fast, Natural Hills and Elevation Changes
Surface
Soft Dirt With Deep Ruts
Harder Packed Natural Dirt
Season
Winter/Spring (January to May)
Spring/Summer (May to August)
Bike Modifications
Tight Suspension for Better Cornering
Suspension Tuned for Ground Contact
Venues
In the colder months, when Supercross is in action, they compete in stadiums, usually of a local NFL or MLB team. For example, the 2025 SX series stopped at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles in Round 13. Motocross follows the traditions of the sport operating on outdoor, natural terrain courses, like Fox Raceway in Pala, California.
Track Styles
Motocross tracks are more exposed to the elements, with no surrounding buildings to shelter them from the elements. Wind, rain, and humidity demand a diverse skill set to thrive, something Jett Lawrence has no shortage of. Elements aside, MX circuits feature longer straights, allowing riders to generate more speed. They also put the surrounding environment to use, taking advantage of natural elevations to increase the challenge.
The stadium tracks in Supercross are technical, tight, and loaded with man-made jumps for bigger air. A lack of natural elevation change on these courses leads track designers to employ whoops and rhythm sections for more difficulty.
Surfaces
Soft dirt and deep ruts are a common sight in Motocross, and it can wreak havoc for riders in a downpour. We experienced this issue in Foxborough in 2025, when riders became stuck in the mud and battled to get their bikes up the jumps. The softer material withers away the more riders land on it, making the surface unpredictable and an occupational hazard for riders. Motocross is raced on harder, more natural dirt, which is great for traction and speed when dry.
Bike Modifications
The narrow corners on an SX track require tight suspension for better cornering. Tightening your suspension provides greater traction to maximize speed and performance around those sharp corners, the downside is that it’s tough on the body. Over on the MX tracks bike suspension must be modified for better contact with the ground to hit those higher speeds on the straights, and enjoy control through the whoop sections.
Seasons
The Supercross Championship gets the year underway in the cold month of January and runs through to the middle of spring in May. Motocross hits the track in the warmer months, starting in May and ending in August, before the start of the SMX Playoffs.
How Do SX and MX Fit Into SuperMotocross
Supercross and Motocross have their differences, but riders must learn to thrive on both surfaces. Competitors contribute points to the SuperMotocross Championship based on their performances throughout the year in SX and MX. The top 20 riders in the standings at the end of the Motocross season, plus five wildcards, earn their ticket to the SMX Playoffs, a three-round showdown.
Riders compete on hybrid tracks to test their skills against all challenges and are awarded points in each round. First place earns 25 points, 22 units for second, and 20 for third. The points are doubled in the second playoff and tripled in the final. He who accumulates the most points over three rounds wins the SMX Championship, banking $1 million in the 450 class.
The High Point National, the next stage in the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship Tour, is building up steam following the thrill-filled race at the Thunder Valley National on June 17th. Held at High Point Raceway in the scenic landscape of Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, the fourth stop on the tour will see the world’s fastest riders …
At the iconic Unadilla MX, a crescendo of revving engines signaled the penultimate challenge in the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship. Jett Lawrence, the Australian prodigy, magnificently claimed the 450 Class title, extending an unbeaten season with a ninth straight 1-1 performance. His dazzling 17th and 18th moto wins, coupled with the Edison Dye Cup triumph, …
In the adrenaline-packed High Point Pro Motocross Round 4, the 450 class saw Jett Lawrence conquer the track with an electrifying 1-1 sweep. Lawrence’s initial lead in the first race was jeopardized after a fall, but he made a resounding comeback to secure the checkered flag. A returning Ken Roczen performed quite well, though a …
The bright lights of Las Vegas are set to illuminate the final chapter of the 2024 SuperMotocross Playoffs, as the sport’s elite riders prepare for a winner-take-all battle on the track. The first two rounds have delivered an action-packed prelude, setting the stage for a climactic showdown where championships will be decided, legacies will be …
Supercross vs Motocross: How Are They Different
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Cooper Webb claimed the 2025 SX Championship, and punters are now baffled as to why the Monster Energy Yamaha rider is priced as a longshot in the ongoing MX season. While both forms of dirtbike racing they are their own entities. So, what are the differences between Supercross vs Motocross, and how do they fit into the SuperMotocross World Championship? Let’s break it down from the track materials and lengths to the seasons they operate in.
Key Differences between Supercross vs Motocross
swipe to see more
Venues
In the colder months, when Supercross is in action, they compete in stadiums, usually of a local NFL or MLB team. For example, the 2025 SX series stopped at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles in Round 13. Motocross follows the traditions of the sport operating on outdoor, natural terrain courses, like Fox Raceway in Pala, California.
Track Styles
Motocross tracks are more exposed to the elements, with no surrounding buildings to shelter them from the elements. Wind, rain, and humidity demand a diverse skill set to thrive, something Jett Lawrence has no shortage of. Elements aside, MX circuits feature longer straights, allowing riders to generate more speed. They also put the surrounding environment to use, taking advantage of natural elevations to increase the challenge.
The stadium tracks in Supercross are technical, tight, and loaded with man-made jumps for bigger air. A lack of natural elevation change on these courses leads track designers to employ whoops and rhythm sections for more difficulty.
Surfaces
Soft dirt and deep ruts are a common sight in Motocross, and it can wreak havoc for riders in a downpour. We experienced this issue in Foxborough in 2025, when riders became stuck in the mud and battled to get their bikes up the jumps. The softer material withers away the more riders land on it, making the surface unpredictable and an occupational hazard for riders. Motocross is raced on harder, more natural dirt, which is great for traction and speed when dry.
Bike Modifications
The narrow corners on an SX track require tight suspension for better cornering. Tightening your suspension provides greater traction to maximize speed and performance around those sharp corners, the downside is that it’s tough on the body. Over on the MX tracks bike suspension must be modified for better contact with the ground to hit those higher speeds on the straights, and enjoy control through the whoop sections.
Seasons
The Supercross Championship gets the year underway in the cold month of January and runs through to the middle of spring in May. Motocross hits the track in the warmer months, starting in May and ending in August, before the start of the SMX Playoffs.
How Do SX and MX Fit Into SuperMotocross
Supercross and Motocross have their differences, but riders must learn to thrive on both surfaces. Competitors contribute points to the SuperMotocross Championship based on their performances throughout the year in SX and MX. The top 20 riders in the standings at the end of the Motocross season, plus five wildcards, earn their ticket to the SMX Playoffs, a three-round showdown.
Riders compete on hybrid tracks to test their skills against all challenges and are awarded points in each round. First place earns 25 points, 22 units for second, and 20 for third. The points are doubled in the second playoff and tripled in the final. He who accumulates the most points over three rounds wins the SMX Championship, banking $1 million in the 450 class.
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