It feels like we blinked, and now it’s time to drop the gate for the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. The Anaheim 1 opener happens on January 10, marking the start of the first of 17 races in the initial Supercross portion of the SuperMotocross (SMX) World Championship.
2026 represents the fourth year of the SMX schedule, which concludes with three postseason Playoff rounds at three brand-new venues, following the end of the Supercross and outdoor Pro Motocross Championships. Ultimately, separate Supercross, Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross champions will be crowned. Jett Lawrence has already won all three SMX titles so far. Everyone on the gate is eager to knock Lawrence off the top and win all three titles, especially the biggie—the SMX title and the $1 million that goes with it.
The 2026 schedule includes a new stop in Cleveland, along with returning favorites like Houston and Nashville. The Seattle round is also much earlier in the schedule, serving as round six.
West Regional riders take to the track first before the East Regional Championship kicks off at round seven in Arlington, Texas.
Three East-West Showdowns are scheduled this year, starting in round 10 in Birmingham, then again in round 12 in St. Louis, and culminating at the series finale in Salt Lake City. The first of three Triple Crown events takes place at round four in Houston, followed by round nine in Indianapolis and round 14 in Cleveland. The SMX Next Amateur Championship also features five races this season: Anaheim 2, Houston, Daytona, Birmingham and Philadelphia.
The three SuperMotocross Playoff rounds begin a few weeks after the final round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship (August 29) on September 12. It all wraps up on September 26. The venues for the three Playoffs have not yet been announced.
2026 also sees the elimination of free practice from the race day schedule. Now riders have just two timed qualifying sessions to learn the track and set a fast time before the night show.
TEAMS | 2026 Supercross Preview
Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
The Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha team brings the heat with the defending AMA Supercross champion, Cooper Webb (1). Webb now has three SX titles to his name, more than Chad Reed or James Stewart, and he’s a threat to win at any point during the season.
With Eli Tomac departing the bLU cRU for 2026, Webb is the obvious team leader at Star Racing. He’s flanked by Justin Cooper (32) in the 450SX class. Cooper finished third in last year’s 450SX points and was the only rider to complete all 31 SMX rounds. No doubt he’s hungry for his first premier class win in 2026.
VIDEO | “I Am A Free Agent After This Year” – Star Racing SMX Team Lineup
Monster Energy Kawasaki
Monster Energy Kawasaki has an entirely new squad on the grid for the ’26 season with Chase Sexton (4) and Garrett Marchbanks (36).
Sexton makes the switch to Team Green with a new three-year deal aboard the factory KX450, leaving the Red Bull KTM behind after two seasons. After finishing a close second to Webb in last year’s Supercross title chase, the 2023 champion is hoping his new team will help catapult him back to the top step of the box once again. Marchbanks joins the factory 450 effort with a one-year deal after graduating from the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki 250 team. The Utah native has some previous 450 experience in the Pro Motocross Championship and feels that the larger machine better suits his taller stature.
VIDEO | “He Saved My Career” Kawasaki Team Talks SMX Preseason
Honda HRC Progressive
Honda HRC Progressive returns to the paddock with the same two riders in the 450SX class, Jett (18) and Hunter Lawrence (96).
Unfortunately for Jett, a preseason crash left him with a broken ankle, and a three-month recovery will likely sideline him for the entire Supercross season. Hunter, on the other hand, came on strong at the end of 2025 after recovering from an arm injury that cut his Supercross season short. The brothers entered the SMX finale in Las Vegas tied in points, and Hunter missed out on the $1 million purse to Jett with just two laps to go. With his biggest competition out of the picture, 2026 could be Hunter’s time to shine.
VIDEO | “I Don’t Think Anyone Has The Answer” Honda HRC Team Talks SMX Off-Season
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing returns with a refreshed rider lineup for the new year. Eli Tomac (3) switches to the Austrian team on a one-year deal after four seasons with the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha program.
Equipped with a one-off cable clutch system adapted to his 450 SX-F, Tomac looked impressive during the off-season WSX races and is always a rider to watch at A1. He’s joined by Aaron Plessinger (7), who won a main event in the mud at Foxborough last season. This marks Plessinger’s fifth straight year racing for the KTM Group. Jorge Prado (26) also joins the Orange Brigade after leaving his previous Monster Energy Kawasaki contract. 2025 was Prado’s first season in the States, but it was cut short due to a shoulder injury he sustained at Anaheim 2. The Spanish standout seems much happier after reuniting with the same brand that helped him earn two MXGP World Championships.
VIDEO | “I’m Not Moving Until I Get It” Team KTM Preseason Prep
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna sees the same two faces under its tent: Malcolm Stewart (27) and RJ Hampshire (24).
Stewart claimed his first career main-event win in the premier class in front of his hometown crowd last year in Tampa and raced nearly every round of the full SMX Championship. Notably, he also beat Webb and the Lawrences during this year’s Paris Supercross. Hampshire joins Stewart in 2026 for his first full-time season in the 450SX division after racing the Pro Motocross and SMX Playoffs aboard the larger Husqvarna FC450.
VIDEO | “Now I Want To Win More Races” Rockstar Husqvarna On 2026 SMX
Pipes Motorsports Suzuki
Pipes Motorsports Suzuki brings a three-rider card to the 450SX field with Ken Roczen (94), Jason Anderson (21), and Colt Nichols (45).
Roczen won the Daytona Supercross in 2025 and is still searching for that elusive SX championship. Anderson joins the Suzuki fold for ’26 and already looks comfortable on the RMZ as he added a WSX title to his name during the off-season.
Triumph Factory Racing
Triumph Factory Racing is set to make its 450 debut in Anaheim. Jordon Smith (20) bumps up to the 450 class for 2026, but a shoulder injury at the SMX finale will keep him off the bike until round seven. The team has since tapped Austin Forkner (33) to race “at least the first six rounds” on the 450 before likely dropping down to the 250SX Eastern Championship at round seven.
Liqui Moly Beta Racing Team
The Liqui Moly Beta Racing Team is back for another season with Benny Bloss and Mitchell Oldenburg. Both riders delivered consistent results in 2025, and this year brings further development to the Italian brand’s 450 RX machine.
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing also makes its highly anticipated entrance into the SMX League at Anaheim 1.
Both Justin Barcia and Dylan Ferrandis are enlisted to race the all-new Desmo450 MX for the first time in Supercross competition with essentially an all-new team and equipment. Barcia is a multi-time A1 winner, but an untimely collarbone injury will certainly hinder his preseason prep.
VIDEO | “I Couldn’t Ride The Bike” Ferrandis, Barcia, Bloss, Oldenburg On 2026 SMX Season
250SX | 2026 Supercross Preview
Haiden Deegan (1) returns to the 250SX West division aboard the Monster Energy Star Racing machine looking to defend his title from 2025. After the Supercross season concludes, Deegan will make his full-time debut on the 450 at the start of the Pro Motocross Championship.
On the West Coast, Deegan’s strongest rivals look to be Levi Kitchen (47) on the Pro Circuit Kawasaki, Ryder DiFrancesco (34) on the Rockstar Husqvarna, and Chance Hymas (29) on the Honda HRC machine.
2025’s 250SX East Champion, Tom Vialle, has since returned to Europe’s MXGP series and left the title for the taking. Look for Seth Hammaker (10), Cole Davies (37), Cameron McAdoo (124), Max Anstie (61), and others to make their way to the top.
Two 250 winners from 2025 like Jo Shimoda and Julien Beaumer are sidelined this year due to back injuries and are likely to miss all of the ’26 Supercross season.CN
2026 Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship Schedule
Click here to read the 2026 Supercross Preview in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
Click here for all the latest Supercross news on Cycle News.
Click here to see all the TV and Livestream Racing Listings on Cycle News.
