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I was skeptical at first. It seemed like a cheap strange offshoot and the term supermotocross still feels out of touch, but I’m looking forward to the final 3 SMX rounds very much. From what I hear in podcasts and interviews the riders are prioritizing showing up and finishing well too.
For all the skepticism, I’m happy to say that it really worked and is something really cool.
Its cool to have more high stakes races and a little mini series in the fall when we'd otherwise be in the off-season, but I don't get get hyped up for it the same way I do the start of SX/MX seasons.
I think it's the combination of the hybrid tracks and the fact that most riders are worn down by that point. It feels like there are only a few guys left in the hunt by the time it comes around. SMX needs whoops.
It only works cause of the amount of money to be made. Not saying it’s not working or not good but if the nbc money goes away smx will be a weird 5-10 year blip on the radar.
It is gimmicky, and I'm not sure I really care about it as a proper championship yet, but I do enjoy the extra racing, and I think they've done a good job at trying to make the tracks genuinely hybrid.
But even if you don't care for SMX itself, it seems to have gotten more teams and riders interested in racing the nationals again. There were a few years where the back half of the top 20 in 450MX was looking pretty light. Combined with the fact that it's gotten both series under the same network, I'd say it's been a big positive.
Awesome $ opportunity for privateers or "B" team riders who hover around the top 20 at nationals.
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That was the whole point. Who’d have thought professional racers would be interested in a series with big payouts?
It's also a clever way to bring MX/SX to strong moto regions that don't have national caliber tracks or stadiums that fit the traditional SX model.
I love the hybrid tracks. That’s the best part to me. They could replace sx with all hybrid tracks and I would be happy.
The season needs shortened up. Burnout and a higher level of injuries are a result of a season that is too long. Put all 3 smx finals on one single weekend. Also start the season later with a few back to back sx races on a weekend. Feld needs to payout more to the bottom 20 of the night program.
It works well enough, I think 3 rounds is the perfect amount. I do wish they could have better destination locations, Vegas is great, but some of the other locations are less interesting to visit.
The triple points at the last round makes it winner take all for the most part. I'm not sure I like that.
Am I the only one that would like to see SX and MX done in an alternating schedule? Every other, every couple rounds do outdoors then back to stadiums?? Maybe it’s just cause i am old and miss the idea of the Grand National that wins in multiple disciplines. Ya know like it used to be! I will be having my tea on the veranda now!🤣
Yea I know, I’m not throwing any shade towards the riders. I guess it was more a commentary on how it’s presented being so important by the broadcast. Saying how important the SMX championship is to them. And it’s not the title that they care about it’s only the $$$.
If you polled riders and asked them to rank titles they’d want to win regardless of purse money/bonuses SMX would be at the bottom of the list I think.
As an aside I loathe the day someone claims they’ve won the most titles and counts SMX titles in the total.
I love this idea. Give the SE and Texas an outdoor national when the weathers cool.
It’d be cool if nationals started in Jan/February. I think it’s much harder to get the stadiums in the spring summer and fall though so I don’t think we ever see SX in June-September
I like the racing…I don’t consider it a “real” championship though…
Exactly! They could load the series to match venue availability, but let’s get these guys engaged in both for an overall champ!
Just a stretched out MEC that the riders H A T E.... on f'cked up tracks that nobody makes suspension for.... when they are the most burnt out and banged up.... then it's called a "world championship"... despite it only being held in one country, and only 3 times per year.... absolute chit show per the norm for feld/MXS...
That's what we want - to have a final race that matters. But also make the other 2 rounds valuable as well. So far it seems to be working, and if we are going to have some sort of "playoff" I haven't heard any better alternatives yet.
You would think but there was a tie in points for the 450 SMX champ last year despite the single > double > triple points structure.
Call me crazy but I love it when the final race is a winner take all scenario. It’s not automatically who wins the third race wins the whole thing since you have to be good throughout all 3 and even the seeding has proven to be an actual benefit. Everyone knows the structure going into it. I think Deegan even won it last year without winning the last race? I dunno, I think they nailed it. It’s different from SX and MX and pretty exciting. Though I do wish they’d find better venues.
Pit Row
In any sport, a title or championship matters to the competitors either due to money or prestige/history. SX and MX have a lot of history, so that's why riders would prefer them to SMX outside of the money. But if SMX lasts a decade or more, maybe it will eventually become more important to the riders?
How important did riders think the SX championship was in the early days? That might even be a tough comparison, because the SX series was kind of vague for a few years.
I think the lack of duration of the SMX playoffs will always have it playing 3rd fiddle.
Probably true. I wonder if there is any more tweaking they could do, to make the championship more valuable, while also making sure the final round will most likely crown the champion.
I agree that it shouldn’t be counted among official AMA titles, although I think there’s a case for counting the race wins.
Get rid of the individual SX and mx titles. Points accumulate all year. That’s the one way I can see. Or reduce SX to 10-12 rounds and add 3-5 more smx rounds.
Post a reply to: SMX “Finals” Really Worked