With the start of any New Year comes the start of the first major motorsports championship in the United States. This weekend the AMA Supercross season begins in a familiar place, Anaheim, California.
There have been four different champions in the last four Supercross seasons. Supercross has not had five different champions in five consecutive seasons since an eight-season run of different title winners from 1979 to 1986. The top five from the 2024 championship are all past champions. There are plenty of capable riders competing, last season saw six different winners with ten different riders finishing on the podium.
Honda has produced the last two champions after going 20 years without winning a title. The Japanese manufacturer has not won three consecutive Supercross championships since its nine-year run of dominance from 1989 to 1996. For the other manufacturers, it will have 17 races to prevent history being made for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Schedule
After the Anaheim season opener this weekend, Supercross heads down to San Diego before returning to Anaheim on January 25 for the final California round of the season.
The first trip outside of California will be the first Triple Crown round of the season in Glendale, Arizona on February 1. Supercross heads across the country to Tampa for the fifth round of the season the week after that. From Tampa, Supercross will head up to Detroit on February 15, which has an afternoon start of 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The criss-crossing nature of the 2025 Supercross season will continue with Arlington, Texas hosting the series on February 22, the second Triple Crown round of the season.
March begins in Daytona for Bike Week on the first. Indianapolis follows on March 8, which leads into the one off-week for the series.
The season resumes with the final Triple Crown round in Birmingham on March 22. Seattle has the 11th round on March 29. Following Seattle, Supercross will have an eastern swing starting in Foxborough, Massachusetts on April 5 with a slightly earlier start of 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The series heads south to Philadelphia for a 3:00 p.m. round on April 12. East Rutherford, New Jersey will also be at 3:00 p.m. ET on April 19.
After Easter, Supercross returns to night races and it has its first new venue of the season. Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium will host Supercross for the first time on April 26. This will only be the third time Supercross has visited Pittsburgh and the first time since 1983 at Three Rivers Stadium.
As has become a new tradition, Supercross' season ends in the Rocky Mountains. Denver hosts the penultimate round on May 3 with Salt Lake City again hosting the season finale on May 10.
Team Honda HRC Progressive
Jett Lawrence: #1 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2024: Lawrence won the Supercross championship and the SuperMotocross championship. In Supercross, the Australian won eight times and stood on the podium ten times from 17 races. He won six of ten races in Motocross before a thumb injury ended his season. Jett won two of three SuperMotocross races to win that title on tiebreaker over his brother Hunter. Jett, his brother Hunter and Kyle Webster combined to win Motocross des Nations for Australia, the first Motocross des Nations title for the country.
What to expect in 2025: The best rider in the world is going to be the best rider in the world. Lawrence will be the man to beat. If he was not injured in the Motocross season he would have won that championship as well. Injuries do add up, but these are not going to slow Lawrence down at this point. He is bound to win seven or eight races. It will be up on the competition to keep him down. That is a mighty ask for the field.
Hunter Lawrence: #96 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2024: Lawrence failed to qualify for the first Anaheim race, but he ended up ninth in the championship with a pair of podium finishes, including a second to his brother in Denver. In the Motocross season, he won three times and he had 17 podium finishes but was second in the championship to Chase Sexton. He won the middle leg of the SuperMotocross playoffs, but Jett won the title on tiebreaker.
What to expect in 2025: Better than last year. The older Lawrence brother is due to win a round or two, maybe even three. Will it be enough to form some type of championship challenge? Possibly. Top five in the championship feels realistic for this Lawrence.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing
Cooper Webb: #2 Yamaha YZ450F
What did he do in 2024: Four victories placed Webb second in the Supercross championship, 15 points behind Jett Lawrence. Webb had nine podium finishes. In the outdoor season, Webb only contested Unadilla. In the SMX playoffs, he finished tenth, fifth and fifth over the three races.
What to expect in 2025: Webb gave Jett Lawrence a true fight during the 2024 season, but he could not quite keep up. Webb had his days, but he will need to go a step further and that could be a step too much. Webb will win a few races and be in the championship top five.
Eli Tomac: #3 Yamaha YZ450F
What did he do in 2024: Tomac scored one victory and five runner-up finishes in Supercross. A Bennet fracture to his thumb caused him to miss the finale and he placed fourth in the championship. Tomac was back for the final two rounds of the Motocross season, where he went 4-11 and 4-3. He had finished of second, fourth and third in the SMX playoffs. Over the winter, Tomac won the FIM World Supercross championship.
What to expect in 2025: Looking back over the 2024 season, Tomac did better than first thought, but for as close as he was to some victories, one felt representative of what he deserved for his pace. For what will likely be his final act in Supercross, Tomac will want to end on a high. His day will come, but he will have some races where he is not quite in the picture. It could be boom or bust with either a podium result or a finish in the back half of the top ten.
Christian Craig: #28 Yamaha YZ450F
What did he do in 2024: Craig ran with Husqvarna but only ran the first six Supercross races due to an elbow injury. His best finish was 12th. He ran the entire Motocross season and his best finish was seventh. He was 20th in the SMX playoffs.
What to expect in 2025: Craig has been brought in to help with the 250cc riders and he will get to run in the 450cc class as well. The key thing is to remain healthy because he has yet to complete a 450cc Supercross season in two tries. He should get some top ten results, but considering the riders Yamaha has, it will be tough to beat his teammates let alone the rest of the competition.
Justin Cooper: #32 Yamaha YZ450F
What did he do in 2024: Ending the season on his highest note, Cooper was runner-up in the Salt Lake City season finale, placing him sixth in the Supercross championship and giving Yamaha three of the top six. He was fourth in the Motocross championship with six podium finishes and 14 top five finishes. A bad race in Texas torpedoed his SMX playoff result despite finishing sixth in both the other races.
What to expect in 2025: Cooper had a sneaky good season in 2024. It was not brilliant, but he had a few good days. He should be the third-best Yamaha on a regular basis, but there could be a few more days he is the second-best Yamaha and he could steal a victory. A few podium finishes would not be a surprise.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Chase Sexton: #4 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2024: Sexton won twice and had nine podium finishes on his way to third in the Supercross championship. In Motocross, he won 13 races and he had 19 podium finishes with his worst finish being sixth as he won the championship. In SMX, Sexton was third and second in the first two races but suffered a hand injury in the first moto of the Las Vegas finale, knocking him out of the competition.
What to expect in 2025: For all the concerns about Sexton's consistency, he was rather consistent in 2024, but he was not at the same high level in his first year with KTM. Things should be better in 2025. Sexton should be in a tight knot between Webb and Hunter Lawrence for just behind Jett Lawrence. A few victories, some podium finishes, and somewhere in the top five in the championship for Sexton.
Aaron Plessinger: #7 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2024: Plessinger took a popular victory in San Diego, and he had three podium finishes and seven top five finishes from the first 12 races, but a practice accident in Foxborough ended his season with a fractured elbow. He was back for the Motocross season, contesting every race. There were no victories, but Plessinger did have 11 podium finishes and was third in the championship. He was fourth in the SMX playoffs.
What to expect in 2025: Good but not great. Plessinger can have his days and finish on the podium. No one would be surprised if he won again, but more often he will be just outside the top five. It will lead to a respectable championship finish somewhere in the top ten.
Monster Energy Kawasaki
Jason Anderson: #21 Kawasaki KX450
What did he do in 2024: Fifth was the place for Anderson in 2024. He was fifth in both the Supercross and Motocross championships. In Supercross, he had four podium finishes and he was tied with Tomac on points but lost the tiebreaker. In Motocross, he had three podium finishes and 17 top five finishes. Anderson did not start the first SMX round from Charlotte, leaving him tenth in the final championship standings.
What to expect in 2025: We know who Anderson is as a rider. He will run right around fifth in almost every race. Sometimes it ends with a podium finish. Other times he will be sixth or seventh. There could be one bad race. There could be one strong day where he wins. All is on the table, except it will not be bad.
Jorge Prado: #70 Kawasaki KX450
What did he do in 2024: Prado won his second consecutive FIM Motocross World Championship as the Spaniard won 16 of 40 races and 11 of 20 rounds. Prado also ran the first four Supercross races last season. His best finish was seventh in San Francisco, where he also won a heat race.
What to expect in 2025: As we saw in his four Supercross races last year, Prado will be learning but he will have flashes. On talent alone, he should figure it out and be able to win a race and maybe two. There is a world where it clicks and he could be a stunning championship challenger. I expect a few tough races, but things clicking and he finishing ahead of Anderson in the championship.
Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
Ken Roczen: #94 Suzuki RM-Z450
What did he do in 2024: Roczen won in Glendale and he had six podium finishes, but an accident in Nashville ended his season, and left him seventh in the championship. He only contested Unadilla in the Motocross season before he finished sixth in SMX. Roczen was second to Eli Tomac in the FIM World Supercross championship.
What to expect in 2025: As we have seen with Roczen in recent seasons, he has been quick, can win races, but an injury has slowed him. Last year, it was either really good or bad. If he is healthy, top five of the championship is in play. It does feel like the window has closed for a championship.
Rockstar Energy Gas Gas Factory Racing
Justin Barcia: #51 Gas Gas MC 450F
What did he do in 2024: After opening the season with only two top ten finishes in the first eight races, Barcia ended the Supercross season with eight top ten finishes in the final nine events, including three top five finishes in the final four races, lifting him to eighth in the championship. Knee injuries ended his Motocross season after five rounds despite having finished no worse than 11th. He missed the Charlotte SMX round and was ninth in that championship.
What to expect in 2025: Last season saw Barcia go winless and he dropped to eighth in the championship after finishing in the top five in each of the previous three seasons. I don't see it getting better. Barcia is good enough where he can put it together and compete with the big boys on a night, but that will not be a common occurrence.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Team
Malcolm Stewart: #27 Husqvarna FC450 RE
What did he do in 2024: Stewart could not break into the top five last season and he took tenth in the championship despite his best finish being sixth. Outdoors, he did not score a top five finish until the antepenultimate race of the season at Budds Creek. Stewart was sixth in the Motocross championship. He was outside the top ten in two of the three SMX rounds, placing himself 17th.
What to expect in 2025: After looking like he was on the cusp of winning a race in 2022, missing the 2023 season due to injury was a setback. Husqvarna is not at its strongest. This season appears set to mirror 2024. A top five finish would not be a surprise, but do not expect those to be frequent.
Phoenix Racing Honda
Dylan Ferrandis: #14 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2024: Ferrandis had a good start to the season with six consecutive top ten finishes and seven top ten finishes in the first nine races. A lung infection kept him out of the next five races, but he ended the season with three top ten results on the spin. He was seventh in the Motocross championship with one podium finish, and 11th in SMX with his best finish being ninth.
What to expect in 2025: As a privateer rider, Ferrandis did rather well in 2024. We saw him run consistently in the top ten. That should continue. There could be a race where he is in the right spot and finishes in the top five or even sneaks on the podium. That is unlikely but not unthinkable.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
Kyle Chisholm: #11 Suzuki RM-Z450
What did he do in 2024: In Supercoss, Chisholm failed to make six A-Mains and his best finish was 13th on two occasions. In Motocross, he was 20th in the championship with his best finish being 15th. In SMX, he ended up 22nd out of 25 riders.
What to expect in 2025: Not much different from 2024. Maybe he makes a few more A-Mains, but just making the show is only a minor bump. Any finish in the top ten would be incredible.
Colt Nichols: #12 Suzuki RM-Z450
What did he do in 2024: Riding for Beta, Nichols joined for the final nine races. His best finish was 11th, but he never finished worse than 15th though he failed to make two A-Mains. Nichols was a wild card entry for the SMX playoffs with the Twisted Tea Suzuki team. He was ninth and tenth in the first two rounds before finishing 17th in Las Vegas.
What to expect in 2025: Nichols should have better days than his teammate. If he was pushing the top ten on the Beta, he should get some top ten finishes on the Suzuki. He could sneak into the championship top ten or be just on the wrong side of it.
Liqui Moly Beta Racing
Mitchell Oldenburg #49 Beta 450 RX
What did he do in 2024: Oldenburg contested six races with his best finish being ninth in the Salt Lake City finale. He was fifth in the FIM World Supercross championship.
What to expect in 2025: Beta is still behind the other manufacturers. There were some good days last year, but plenty of growing pains. Oldenberg did well in his handful of races on the Smartop MotoConcepts Honda. Any top ten finishes would be welcomed.
Benny Bloss: #57 Beta 450 RX
What did he do in 2024: Developing the Beta, Bloss went from failing to qualify for the first two rounds to finishing tenth in two races, tenth in Daytona and eighth in Nashville. A collarbone fracture took him out of the final two races.
What to expect in 2025: Bloss got some impressive results on the Beta last year. I don't see much changing in 2025. There could be some top ten finishes, but not many. It will still be good to see and little victories for rider and manufacturer.
FirePower Honda
Shane McElrath: #12 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2024: McElrath ran Supercross with the Twisted Tea Suzuki team and he took a surprise fourth in muddy conditions in San Francisco. He was tenth at St. Louis and that was his only top ten results of the season as he was 13th in points. He ran the first eight rounds of Motocross with Suzuki before switching to the MaddParts.com Kawasaki Racing Team. He was 16th in the outdoor championship and 12th in the SMX playoffs. McElrath won the FIM World Supercross Championship in the SX2 class.
What to expect in 2025: FirePower had some good days with Dean Wilson last year, especially toward the end of the season, but those were still results fighting to crack the top ten. Things can improve and McElrath could still be 13th in the championship.
Joey Savatgy: #17 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2024: Unable to compete in Supercross last year due to the delayed Triumph bike, Savatgy was sidelined until the 250cc Motocross season. He was 12th in the championship with three top five finishes and 11 top ten finishes. He joined FirePower Honda for the FIM World Supercross season, and he was third in the championship behind Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen.
What to expect in 2025: Results not as good as the FIM WSX season. He has taken privateer bikes and gotten good results with them before when he was with the Rocky Mountain KTM group. Results should not be that good, but he could pick up a few top ten results.
The first round of the 2025 AMA Supercross season from Anaheim will be at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday January 11, and can be seen on Peacock.
