Following a full 30 rounds of racing completed across the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) – comprising Monster Energy Supercross, Pro Motocross, and the playoffs – the SMX Final arrives in Las Vegas for Saturday’s decider across both 450SMX and 250SMX. With many narratives remaining in play, MotoOnline answers a mixture of bench-racing questions leading into the weekend.

Image: Octopi Media.

Q: What does the 450SMX title picture look like?

A: In what is almost a replica of where we were last year, the 450SMX championship fight is primarily between the Lawrences, with six points separating reigning two-time champion Jett from older brother Hunter. Given this weekend’s triple points format, nine points is the gap between a first and second-place finish, meaning that Las Vegas will effectively be a showdown between the duo, as was the case in 2024. Eli Tomac is still 16 points behind in third place, although the reality is, both Lawrence brothers have been on a roll since around midway through Pro Motocross. Hunter has made a substantial step to be the guy to challenge Jett in the class, with his St. Louis victory being an illustration of that. Is he prepared to park Jett if the opportunity arises for the win? Honestly, who knows. They have kept it clean, indicating that they will remain brothers long after racing has finished, although you have to think that the number 96 is pretty keen on a big bike title of his own. Not to mention, a sizable $500,000 is the value difference between P1 and P2 overall, meaning there is still a ton on the line.

Q: Can Haiden Deegan defend in the 250SMX division?

A: For sure, he can, although he is in a position now where it’s not entirely in his own hands. That’s because Levi Kitchen came in like a wrecking ball during St. Louis’ second 250SMX moto, cleaning both himself and the number one out. That left Deegan with an inspired 14th place result in the race – as he pushed through the field with no front brake lever – but a sixth overall for the round contrasted with Jo Shimoda’s victory left him at a consequential 10-point deficit, with only nine markers available between first and second this weekend. Therefore, if Deegan wins, he’ll need Jo to finish third or worse to seal the title, while Seth Hammaker lurks in the shadows in P3, 14 points from the lead. There is tension in the air entering Las Vegas, be that because of the Deegan and Kitchen contact, the fact that Haiden has spent the entirety of 2025 trash-talking his competition, or that a stack of cash is on the line to whoever sends it the hardest. Let’s say it’s a combination of all the above, which provides the perfect ingredients for fireworks.

Image: Octopi Media.

Q: How do the financials impact each series?

A: This is a big part of the whole SMX post-season, with a massive prize purse available across both classes. In 450SMX, one million dollars will be awarded to the winner, while in 250SMX, $500,000 is on the line for first place. The structure isn’t a winner-take-all, though, with substantial earnings a possibility right the way down to 22nd, which is why the word money has been floating around a lot lately. Whether it’s Kitchen’s reasoning for the takedown on Deegan, or Cooper Webb emphasizing the battle between fourth and eighth in 450SMX, each of these tussles is highly valuable financially. Digging into the Webb comment a little more, fourth place in the 450 class yields a $200,000 payday, while P8 is worth $100,000. Both are solid amounts, although you can do a lot with an additional $100,000! So, bear that in mind when watching the Playoff series or the season finale this weekend. There is a different motivation than that of the regular season, as a good night in Vegas could yield a sizeable payday for any one of these racers.

Q: How have the post-season events been received?

A: Pretty good, we would say. We’re in the third year of the post-season arrangement, and one of the bigger tasks that Feld Motor Sports – along with outdoor promoter MX Sports – has is to generate importance and emphasis on the SMX finals, as opposed to the more traditional Supercross and Pro Motocross title holders. Psychologically, that’ll take time for all involved, because we’ve been so used to it being one way for such a long time. It still feels like a 450SX championship holds more weight than the 450SMX title currently, which isn’t the case in the NBA – everything is effectively centered around the finals series. Again, this is likely a time thing, as well as the organizers continuing to legitimize the post-season through various avenues and initiatives. All things considered, it seems like we’re trending in the right direction, and it’ll be interesting to see how the post-season can be further enhanced from an importance standpoint, and eclipse the value of individual titles from both indoor and outdoor series.

Image: Octopi Media.

Q: What unique elements will the Las Vegas race track provide?

A: This weekend, we’re back in a four-lane dragway-type venue, which produces a vastly different race track from what we saw in St. Louis on Saturday. Contrast Charlotte with the layout inside The Dome at America’s Center, and you essentially have two totally different tracks. The hybrid circuits seem to be a real nightmare for teams and riders alike, as both motocross and supercross require pretty much the opposite setups. So, it’s more of a compromise than ever, with stiff suspension needed to navigate the big rhythm lanes, although when attacking the rough, whooped-out motocross sections, a plush, softer feel is essential. We heard that with Tom Vialle in the aftermath of St. Louis, with a softer setup between motos being the difference between a fading, 10th-place result and a convincing P1 performance an hour or so later. This is what the riders and teams are up against, but for viewers, it’s super cool to see the best in the world challenged, as well as many more options available in terms of setup.

Q: Have there been any surprises throughout the SMX Playoffs so far?

A: Nothing too out of the ordinary, for the most part. RJ Hampshire really showed us – especially after St. Louis – that his newfound premier class style translates well to Supercross, which has to be a relief to him. Maybe not a relief, because the 29-year-old seems adamant that he believed this type of riding was always a possibility, but he has blossomed since jumping aboard the 450 machine, beyond probably what everyone else had expected of him. Elsewhere, Seth Hammaker has been making some noise in the 250SMX division again, and it’s showing that he comes alive when we navigate towards the more technical Supercross-style tracks. Finally, Chase Sexton tanked quite badly in St. Louis, with a 5-10 result not what you’d expect from someone considered a heavy title threat. There really aren’t a lot of answers to this one, though, as rides like this just kind of add to the narrative that is Chase Sexton.