Racing with the Elements

 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Rally Team 2027 | KTM

2027 SMX Changes

The 2027 SMX Championship will introduce several changes, with the SMX League announcing an expanded SMX Next development pathway and a new 109 dB sound limit for professional competition.

The changes are aimed at strengthening the sport’s future, providing a clearer pathway for amateur riders to reach the professional ranks while also addressing noise levels and the long-term sustainability of motocross and supercross venues.

SMX Next Gets Global Pathway

The biggest development for aspiring racers is the expansion of the SMX Next programme, which will bring together Supercross, Pro Motocross and the newly introduced SMX Next Australia series to determine the field for the SMX Next World All-Star Championship.

From 2027, SMX Next will feature at 10 regular-season events, with five races held during Monster Energy Supercross and another five during Pro Motocross. Riders will earn points across both championships, and the top 15 prospects will automatically qualify for the postseason.

The fifth and final SMX Next race in each series will be a Showdown event, with the Supercross Showdown at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on April 3 and the Pro Motocross Showdown at Ironman Raceway on August 27.

Australia will also have a pathway into the international programme through SMX Next Australia, with up to three riders earning postseason qualification based on their combined points from SMX Next races held during the Australian Supercross Championship.

Four additional riders will be selected by invitation, creating a 22-rider field for the SMX Next World All-Stars, which will contest two postseason races at SMX Playoff 1 on September 11 and Playoff 2 on September 18.

The programme will also provide opportunities for amateur riders to qualify through six major American amateur events, including Loretta Lynn’s and Mini O’s, with results from the 2026 events determining places in the 2027 SMX Next season.

The expansion builds on the success of the programme, which has already helped develop riders such as Haiden Deegan and Cole Davies into established names in the SMX World Championship.

New 109 dB Sound Limit for 2027

Alongside the development pathway changes, the SMX League has confirmed a new maximum sound limit of 109 dB for professional competition, reducing the current AMA limit of 112 dB by three decibels.

The new standard will take effect from the opening round of the 2027 championship at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on January 9.

Developed in collaboration with the series manufacturers, AMA Pro Racing and the American Motorcyclist Association, the change is intended to reduce the impact of motorcycle noise beyond the track and help protect access to motocross venues, local riding areas and the communities surrounding them.

All manufacturers competing in SMX League events have committed to producing motorcycles that meet the updated standard, creating a common requirement across the championship.

The SMX League says the reduction is also expected to improve the experience for spectators at events, including better communication within stadiums and venues, while providing a more balanced sound for television audiences.

The new limit will require teams and manufacturers to prepare their machinery ahead of the 2027 season, with technical guidance being provided to help riders and independent teams make the transition.

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HOLESHOT - The SX Series Documentary

Dirt, adrenaline, hard-fought battles, and pure passion – welcome to the world of the 2026 SX-Series!

A Rare Spirit Needs Your Prayers

PRAYERS NEEDED FOR MXA’S JODY WEISEL & HIS FAMILY

By Tim Olson

Since 1977, Jody Weisel has been more than the lifeblood of Motocross Action Magazine—he is its conscience, its sharp wit and the beating heart of an entire sport. For nearly five decades, Jody has dedicated his life to a singular, unyielding mission: protecting and championing the everyday racer. He knows what it takes to wake up before dawn, load a beat-up truck, pay an entry fee with hard-earned money and wait on a cold starting line for the love of two wheels and the drop of a gate. Jody believes with every fiber of his being that racers deserve the unvarnished truth, whether it’s about a factory flaw, an overhyped part or a bike that simply isn’t ready for the track.

He doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t bow to advertising dollars, corporate pressure or the fragile egos of motorcycle manufacturers. If an engine bogs, a frame cracks or a component fails the working man, Jody says so plainly and fearlessly in black and white. Because of that relentless integrity, Motocross Action is far more than a monthly publication; it is the “Bible” of motocross, trusted by generations of riders who turn to Jody’s guidance before spending their hard-earned money on their passion.

A few weeks ago, Jody suffered a serious stroke—a sudden, life-altering event that has profoundly changed the world for him and those closest to him. Most of all, it has changed daily life for his beloved wife, Sally, cherished by readers for decades as Jody’s devoted “Lovely Louella.” Behind every column, every late night at the keyboard and every test session in the Glen Helen dust, Sally has been his anchor, his partner and his greatest source of grace.

To Jody, the global motocross community is more than a readership—it is his extended family, bound together by premix, bruised knuckles and mutual respect. Today, that family needs to stand shoulder to shoulder for him. We are asking the thousands of riders, mechanics, industry friends and devoted readers whose lives have been touched by his words to wrap Jody and Louella in love, strength, comfort and prayers. Jody has spent nearly fifty years fighting on our behalf; now it is our turn to lift him up as he faces the day-by-day challenges of recovery and rehabilitation.

Jody’s wisdom, values and uncompromising standards are stitched into the very fabric of Motocross Action. While his desk is quiet for now, the team he built continues to uphold the truth and passion he stands for. Above all the magazines, track designs and stories, our focus is on Jody and his family. We stand beside you, Jody, and we are with you every step of the way.

If you want to send messages and prayers to Jody and his family send them to mxaction@hi-torque.com.

Rocsen and Davies Win Down Under

Round 2 of the 2026 Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship, presented by Monster Energy, delivered an action-packed night of racing at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium, with international stars Ken Roczen and Cole Davies claiming the SX1 and SX2 overall victories, respectively, in front of almost 18,000 fans.

The current Monster Energy Supercross 450SX champion Roczen (Pipes Motorsports Group) and reigning 250SX East champion Davies brought further firepower to an already stacked field, presenting a significant challenge for the championship’s regular contenders as supercross made its return to New Zealand.

Their presence was felt immediately at the highly-technical Auckland racetrack, with Roczen clocking the fastest SX1 qualifying time via a 50.246s lap-time, edging out Townsville winner Christian Craig (Quad Lock Honda) and KTM Racing Team’s Luke Clout in the process.

In the SX2 division, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Davies was in a league of his own, capturing P1 in qualifying with a 51.626s time – which was over half a second clear of MXRP Yamaha’s Max Anstie. Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha’s Lux Turner completed the top three.

Roczen and Craig split the SX1 Heat Races, with Craig leading teammate Austin Politelli and Stark Factory Racing’s Vince Friese in Heat 1, while Roczen beat Cedric Soubeyras (Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki) and Clout in Heat 2. All six riders earned a position into Superpole.

Quad Lock Honda’s Kayd Kingsford won SX2 Heat 1 ahead of his brother and teammate, reigning SX2 champion Ryder Kingsford, with Michael Hicks (Stark Factory Racing) completing the top three. Davies continued his winning form in Heat 2, finishing ahead of Turner and Cameron McAdoo (Quad Lock Honda).

The ever-entertaining, one-lap Superpole dash featured the top three finishers from each SX1 Heat Race, with Clout holding the benchmark time until Roczen recorded a blazing 50.085s lap to claim P1. Clout settled for second, ahead of Craig in third.

The electric Triple Crown finals format featured three races in each of the SX1 and SX2 divisions, with riders’ results tallied across all three gate drops to determine the overall positions for the event.

Davies maintained his perfect record in the SX2 division, sweeping all three races to secure the overall victory in front of his home New Zealand fans. McAdoo was second thanks to 2-2-2 results, leading defending number one Ryder Kingsford to complete the podium.

Roczen was also perfect across the three races, fending off challenges from Craig – who finished second – to reign supreme in the SX1 category. Clout was third overall on the night, maintaining his standing as a title challenger following two rounds of Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross competition.

In SMX Next, Jack Deveson (Monster Energy WBR Yamaha) was the rider to beat throughout the three-race format, sweeping the division with a 1-1-1 scorecard ahead of Riley Burgess and Jack Nunn.

The championship now heads back across the Tasman to Australia, with Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium set to host Round 3 on November 7. With the title battles continuing to take shape across both divisions, another action-packed night awaits at the coveted AUSX Open.

Roczen Returns for 2027!

Ken Roczen Inks 2027 Deal, Will Return to Defend Monster Energy AMA Supercross Title

This is the news everyone wanted to hear: Ken Roczen is racing in 2027! This evening his team announced a new contract with the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross Champion with a short statement:

Suzuki is excited to announce that Ken Roczen will return to the AWM Fulfillment PMG Suzuki presented by Progressive/Cycle Gear team for the 2027 Supercross season to defend his championship title aboard the RM-Z450.

Until now, Kenny had not yet said if he would be racing in 2027 or not, but he did say that if he did return, he would approach it with the same fire and focus in which he raced in 2026. That means this isn't merely a farewell tour but a genuine attempt to defend his AMA 450 Supercross Championship.

Ken is actually in action this weekend down in New Zealand. People around the world are pumped to hear this news!

Billy Bolt Visits Spain

Bolts Spanish Adventure

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt ended his 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship campaign on a high, securing third overall at the final round, Hixpania Hard Enduro, in Spain. Competing aboard his TE 300, Bolt delivered a strong performance across the three-day event.

The Brit claimed victories in both Friday’s SuperEncierro and Saturday’s Campoo Xtreme races before rounding out the weekend with a podium finish in Sunday’s main race.

Billy made an immediate impact on Friday, taking the win in the SuperEncierro race to get his weekend off to a positive start. He carried that momentum into Saturday’s Campoo Xtreme sprint race, where he produced another impressive ride to secure his second victory of the weekend.

In a closely contested race, Bolt held off newly crowned world champion Manuel Lettenbichler by just 3.5 seconds after more than 74 minutes of racing, underlining his speed and determination throughout the event.

Sunday’s The Lost Road main race presented a final challenge, with Bolt once again showing strong pace to secure third place. After missing three rounds of the championship, the Brit could be pleased to complete his season with a positive result.

Billy finishes seventh in the final 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship standings despite his time away from competition, closing the outdoor season with a strong podium result in Spain. With his Hard Enduro campaign now complete, attention turns to the 2027 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, which gets underway in December.

Billy Bolt: “Overall, I’m really happy to come away with third place. Honestly, I was pretty dead in the first half of the race and didn’t have much in the tank, so I found myself in a battle that I didn’t really have the energy to be in. I managed to hang in there, find a bit of a second wind and start clawing my way back, picking off a few positions before making the pass for third on the final lap. Considering how things went at my last championship race at Abestone, I didn’t really have any expectations coming into this weekend, especially as I hadn’t ridden a 2-stroke since then. All in all, it’s been a really good weekend. My body, my riding and everything else are finally starting to feel like me again, which is a great feeling. Now it’s time to get back on the 350 and switch the focus to SuperEnduro.”

MX Large Interviews Ricky Johnson

American legend, Ricky Johnson was without question one of the all-time great American riders and a rider who loved travelling to race. I remember him telling me once, he did enough international races in one off-season, that he made more in the off-season, than his Honda factory contract.

He raced for Team USA in several occasions and won every single time he lined up for the American's and his victories at places like Fastcross, Bercy and all over the World set him apart from many others.

A seven time AMA supercross and motocross champion and without question, and along with Marty Smith, Jeremy McGrath and Jett Lawrence, one of the most charasmatic riders in the sports history.

MXlarge: What races stood out for you in your career?

Johnson: There are so many. I raced with the best racers in the world, and some days I beat them. The Motocross des Nations events really stand out. Also, racing in Texas, where it was over 100 degrees outside, and passing Jeff Ward with two laps to go, was satisfying. Winning the Carlsbad USGP on ABC’s Wide World of Sports program for millions to see was awesome. There were a lot of great moments. And because of a great career, I’m fortunate to be recognized with those racers I hold in such high esteem.

MXlarge: What about countries you visited?

Johnson: I liked every place that I travelled to. I love Italy for a lot of reasons. The food is amazing, and the people are passionate. They don’t pull any punches. If an Italian person doesn’t like you, then you’ll know. If they like you, then they are very welcoming. I love Paris, because it’s so crazy and foreign to me, and also because of the history. I’ve enjoyed going to Belgium and Holland to see all of the castles. England was cool, because it’s like the light version of Europe. They speak English, and though it’s different, it’s not too different from what I’ve known. Japan has such deep history, and the fans are very polite. The fans in America wanted everything from me, but in Japan, the fans actually brought me gifts!

MXLarge: What makes somebody great?

Johnson: That’s a tough question to answer. It all depends on how you measure greatness. For me, you can’t just measure greatness based on duration. The day that Jeff Ward won the Motocross des Nations in Sweden in 1984, everyone that was there still talks about how perfectly he rode that day. I had days, such as Daytona or Seattle, where I felt out of body. Everything felt amazing. No one was going to touch me. To be in the top 10 is great, but I know that I would take on anybody from any time when I was in my prime and healthy. For me, if I’m considered one of the 10 best, then I’m happy.

MXLarge: Is Ricky Carmichael the greatest of all time?

Johnson: I don’t believe that Ricky Carmichael is the greatest of all time. He is awesome. He is a great champion. But to say that he’s the best of all time. I don’t think that he would have survived had he raced in an earlier era. He was too small. He could not ride in the 1960s with Roger DeCoster and Joel Robert, because his style would have broken the bike. He would have been injured. Yes, he’s the greatest of his time, but not all time. I’m not saying that I’m better, but to put that label on him isn’t quite right with me.

MXLarge: What do you think of the current era?

Johnson: Where it’s at now is good, but it should be better. It would be better if the riders cared more about the sport than themselves. Many of the racers might not like what I have to say, but it is their job to make the sport a better place for the next generation. Roger DeCoster, Torsten Hallman, Joel Robert and Brad Lackey worked hard to make motocross a better place so that guys like Danny LaPorte and I could have a better living. The sport started with riders in the backs of vans. It wasn’t about the money. They were good spokesmen and represented their sport. Now a lot of these racers think that they are superstars.

Moto Power Rankings

 Best Riders to Never Win a Premier-Class Supercross Title

by SlawOctober 23, 2026, 7:00 am

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Winning a 450 Supercross championship is hard. Like, really hard. And sometimes, being one of the best riders in the world still isn’t enough. For every Ricky Carmichael or Jeremy McGrath who stacked championships, there’s a long list of ridiculously talented riders who came close but never managed to get their hands on the biggest prize in Supercross.

Some were victims of bad timing, lining up against the most dominant riders the sport has ever seen. Others had injuries derail their best opportunities. And a few? Well, things just never quite fell into place. But not winning a championship doesn’t mean you weren’t championship material.

So, we’re settling the debate. Who are the greatest riders in Supercross history to never win a premier-class title? We’re digging into the history books, looking at wins, consistency, competition, and the good old-fashioned eye test to rank the best to never do it.

And yes, we’re fully expecting some arguments over this one.

5. David Vuillemin

David Vuillemin picked one heck of an era to chase a Supercross championship. The Cobra arrived in America only to find himself going head-to-head with Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed and some of the greatest riders the sport has ever seen.

Despite the competition, the Frenchman managed seven career victories and twice finished runner-up in the championship. His best opportunity to capture the title came in 2002, when he held a 20-point lead over Carmichael before disaster struck.

During a TransWorld Motocross photo shoot on a weekend off, Vuillemin crashed and suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to miss Daytona. Carmichael took advantage, and what looked like Vuillemin’s best shot at a championship quickly slipped away.

Still, Vuillemin can say something very few riders from that era can: he beat both McGrath and Carmichael straight up for Supercross victories. Not bad company to keep.

4. Ezra Lusk

Imagine reaching the prime of your Supercross career only to discover that Jeremy McGrath had decided to rewrite the record books at the exact same time. Welcome to Ezra Lusk’s world.

The Georgia native moved to the premier class full-time in 1995 and quickly established himself as one of the sport’s top contenders. By 1996, he was third in the championship behind McGrath and Jeff Emig. A year later, he finished third again, this time with Emig taking the title over McGrath.

Then came 1998. Lusk finished runner-up to McGrath. In 1999? Runner-up to McGrath. Again. You starting to notice a trend here?

In all, Yogi collected 12 premier-class Supercross victories and two runner-up championship finishes. He had the speed, the talent and the consistency to win a title. Unfortunately, he just happened to spend his best years racing against the King of Supercross. Take McGrath out of the equation, and we’re probably talking about Lusk as a multi-time champion instead of one of the best to never win it.

3. Marvin Musquin

Another Frenchman. Another incredibly talented rider who spent his prime battling some of the biggest names in Supercross history. Marvin Musquin arrived in the premier class in 2016 after establishing himself as one of the best 250 riders in the world. It didn’t take long for him to become a legitimate championship contender, finishing third in the 450SX standings in 2017.

By 2018, Musquin was firmly in the title picture. He collected multiple wins and finished runner-up to Jason Anderson in Supercross, while also finishing second in the Pro Motocross championship. A year later, he was back in the fight, battling Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac before ultimately finishing third in the 450SX standings.

Unfortunately, that would be his last serious run at the championship. Injuries and missed seasons eventually took their toll, and Musquin’s final Supercross appearance came in 2023. When it was all said and done, Musquin had collected 10 premier-class Supercross victories and established himself as one of the most technically gifted riders of his generation. For a guy who made riding a 450 look so effortless, it’s a little hard to believe he never walked away with the biggest prize.

2: Damon Bradshaw

Damon Bradshaw might be the ultimate “what if” in Supercross history. Bursting onto the scene as a teenager, Bradshaw was already winning premier-class races at just 17 years old and went on to rack up 19 victories in a remarkably short career. All 19 came across just four seasons, including an incredible nine-win campaign in 1992.

Despite his speed and undeniable talent, Bradshaw never captured the 450SX (then 250SX) title. He finished runner-up in back-to-back seasons in 1991 and 1992, with the latter becoming one of the most heartbreaking championship losses in the sport’s history. Entering the 1992 finale, Bradshaw needed only a third-place finish to secure the crown. Instead, he faded to fifth while Jeff Stanton took the victory and snatched the championship away.

Bradshaw, who had previously won the 1989 125SX East Region title, was never quite the same. He stepped away from racing following the 1993 season and eventually returned, but never claimed another Supercross victory. For a rider who once looked destined to dominate the sport, his career remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in Supercross history.

1: Kevin Windham

Kevin Windham might be one of the most talented riders to never win a premier-class Supercross championship. Unfortunately for K-Dub, his career happened to overlap with a few guys named Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart and Chad Reed. You know, just four of the top five (Eli Tomac second all-time) winningest riders in Supercross history.

Despite going head-to-head with some of the greatest riders the sport has ever seen, Windham still managed to rack up 18 premier-class victories and finish runner-up in the championship three times. He also captured back-to-back 125SX West Region titles in 1996 and 1997.

Known for his effortless style, incredible bike control and ability to make riding a dirt bike look ridiculously easy, Windham became one of the most beloved riders in the sport. In just about any other era, it’s hard to imagine K-Dub not walking away with at least one premier-class championship.