2026 Ridgedale SuperMotocross Photo Gallery

2026 Ridgedale SuperMotocross Recap

The 2026 dirt bike racing season wrapped Saturday with the finale of the SuperMotocross playoff series at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, MO as new champions in both classes were crowned with the titular title of this Monster Cup competition on steroids.

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In its fourth season, SuperMotocross replaced the wildly popular off-season Monster Cup event held annually in October with a three-round playoff series for a so-called "world championship." SuperMotocross combines rider points earned in Supercross and Motocross, resets them and in a three-round system with two Motos each round as points double in Round 2 and triple for Round 3 in a flashy attempt to put some meat behind the SMX Championship along with a payout of $1 million for the 450 class winner and $500,000 for the 250 class winner.

In the 450 class, Jorge Prado (5-1) entered the finale with the Red Plate and left a champion. His primary competition, in the form of a hyper confident rookie who won the first two SuperMotocross 250 Championships, easily took the first Moto grabbing the Holeshot and checking out. Prado finished fifth but needed third overall to claim total victory.

Prado, a Spaniard who left the MXGPs a couple of years ago after winning the equivalent of two 250 class and two 450 class titles in the World Motocross Championship, dialed in for Moto 2 grabbing the Holeshot, ever so briefly lost the lead after a missed take out by the rookie, but held firm for the win, securing second overall and the 2026 450 class SuperMotocross Championship.

"One year ago I wasn't even racing the SMX series and I actually didn't even have a ride," said Prado, who infamously battled nearly all last season on Kawasaki and worked his way out of his contract to return to KTM where he built his success overseas. "I prepped myself at home best I could and I bounced back. That's what champions do, right? They bounce back. Super happy about this title. It's my first title here in the states. I'm a four-time world champion for a reason and I think I showed them in these Motos, it's not over till it's over. I show you guys anything is possible."

Hunter Lawrence, fresh off a preeminent 2026 450 class Motocross title, finished third in both races for third overall and third in the series. Lawrence never made much of a dent in the SMX playoff race and comments earlier this month which he sort of, of kind of questioned the need for the SMX perhaps played a part. Or maybe he was content with his more respected 2026 Outdoor title.

Ken Roczen, who won the preeminent 2026 450 class Supercross title but stayed home for Outdoors, took fourth overall on a (2-5) day and fourth in the series. He opened the playoff with two second place finishes then won a Moto last week in Los Angeles only to finish fourth in the second Moto later admitting his fitness and lack of racing during the summer kept him from being more competitive. No word on whether the veteran will continue racing and defend his Supercross title for 2027 but most believe Roczen returns for one last go. Speaking of retiring...

Eli Tomac (13-11) raced for the last time finishing 12th overall. After four Motocross titles and two Supercross titles in the 450 class, the fan favorite veteran (and if you couldn't tell a favorite here over the years) planned to race on a Supercross only contract for 2027 but after a harrowing neck injury incurred on the first lap of the opening round of Motocross, he returned without the same fire and a few weeks ago announced his retirement.

Dylan Ferrandis (22-8) also raced for the final time announcing last week his retirement finishing 15th overall. Ferrandis won the 250 class Motocross title in 2020 and a year later won the 450 class crown as a rookie. He also won back-to-back 250 West Supercross Championships. Ferrandis, native of France, raced the MXGPs overseas starting in 2011 before heading to the states in 2017.

250 class

The big question in the 250 class was whether Levi Kitchen could hold on to and finish with the Red Plate. So many times in his career has he held the points lead, most notably this year in Motocross, only for something to happen. He held a slim three-point lead over Ryder DiFrancesco and with triple points on the line it was merely an illusion of security.

But Kitchen (2-2) got it done. Not one to grab the Holeshot, Kitchen took it in Moto 1 and held the lead for much of the 20 minute race until Cole Davies passed with 90 seconds on the clock. It didn't matter so much as Kitchen placed second to DiFrancesco's third. Davies crashed and did not finish Moto 2 in Los Angeles and though mathematically still in it to win it, he needed similar circumstances to ruin Kitchen's and DiFrancesco's races on Saturday.

In a rainy Moto 2, Davies, the reigning 250 Motocross and 250 East Supercross Champion grabbed the Holeshot and checked out. Kitchen, with a nine-point lead over DiFrancesco based on Moto 1 finishes, settled into second which would secure him the SMX title. DiFrancesco was near the back of the pack at the start as was Julien Beaumer who also had an outside shot at the title. DiFranceso worked his way up to 10th but Kitchen kept it on two wheels and easily finished in second for second overall and first in the SMX playoff.

"I'm a little speechless. It's been tough, getting close a few times," Kitchen said. "I just executed a great start and trusted my instincts from there. We had some rain coming down. Just embraced it, have fun, be smart. That's what I did. I brought it home. It's been a journey for sure, couldn't be more stoked."

Davies' sweep gave him his first overall win in SuperMotocross landing him third in the short series, just a point back of DiFranceso (3-10) who did enough in Moto 2 to slip into second overall for the playoffs. Beaumer (4-9) finished sixth overall for the third SMX round and fourth overall in the series. He will also replace Chance Hymas, who injured his wrist Friday, on Team USA for the Motocross of Nations on Sunday.

The Silly Season begins. Riders get a long break, if they so choose, with various one-off races happening around the world but the 2027 Supercross season begins in less than four months. Expect the schedule announcement soon.