Image: Octopi Media.

Sweeping revisions to the 2027 Monster Energy AMA Supercross rulebook will reshape the championship next season, with 20-rider main events, a minimum competition age of 18, mandatory chest and back protection, and tighter sound restrictions among the key changes.

The reduction from 22 riders to 20 in main events headlines an overhaul of the qualifying format, with fewer positions available throughout the standard race program.

A maximum of 66 entries will be accepted per class, down from 80, accommodating three qualifying groups of up to 22 riders. The fastest 38 will progress to the night show, replacing the previous 40-rider format.

Each heat race will feature 19 riders, with the top eight transferring directly to the main event instead of nine. Four riders will continue to advance through the LCQ, completing the revised 20-rider gate.

Reducing the night show to 38 also ensures the LCQ remains within its 22-rider capacity. The smaller main event fields are intended to improve safety, ease lapped traffic and reduce track deterioration.

Championship scoring has been adjusted accordingly. The top four finishers will retain their respective allocations of 25, 22, 20 and 18 points, while fifth will receive 16 instead of 17. Points then decrease by one per position through to a single point for 20th.

The minimum age for professional competition rises to 18, with insurance considerations surrounding minors identified as the driving factor. Younger athletes will still be able to participate through SMX Next, which operates separately from the professional classes.

Chest and back protection will also become mandatory for every competitor, with riders permitted to wear the equipment beneath or over their jerseys. On the technical front, the pre-race sound limit drops from 112 dB to 109 dB, with a separate maximum of 110 dB applying to post-race inspections.

The manufacturer-backed initiative aligns American professional racing with the standard already adopted in MXGP, supporting wider efforts to preserve access to tracks and riding areas affected by noise concerns.