The 2026 World Supercross Championship (WSX) takes off this weekend inside Calgary’s McMahon Stadium, marking the opening stop of a six-round global series. In this Top 10 feature, MotoOnline takes a look at the primary narratives to follow heading into Canada.

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1. Anderson defends SX1 title:
Pipes Motorsport Group (PMG) and Jason Anderson are set to defend the premier SX1 title in 2026, marking Anderson’s return to racing after stepping away from competition in February. The American was impressive throughout last year’s championship – his first aboard the Suzuki RM-Z450 – although he’ll face a tougher challenge this season, particularly with the arrival of three-time 450SX champion Cooper Webb.

2. The series debut of Webb:
Cooper Webb will make his full-time World Supercross Championship debut in 2026 after contesting last year’s Australian GP as a wildcard. The triple 450SX champion forms one half of Rick Ware Racing’s SX1 line-up and will campaign a Yamaha YZ450F at the opening Canadian round. With round two scheduled for Great Britain on October 11 – beyond the typical October 1 contract deadline for North American teams – it’s likely Webb will switch to a Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, given his impending departure from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing.

3. McAdoo starts for Konsky Motorsport Group:
A similar situation applies to Cameron McAdoo, who remains contracted to Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, but he is understood to be signed to Quad Lock Honda for 2027. He’ll contest Canada aboard a KX250 in a one-off lease agreement under the Konsky Motorsport Group (KMG) banner, before transitioning to a Honda CRF250 once his contract with the Mitch Payton-run team expires following the October deadline. The 2026 season marks McAdoo’s first WSX appearance, with the experienced American expected to be among the SX2 frontrunners given his credentials.

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4. Rick Ware Racing debut for SX2 champion Anstie:
Two-time SX2 champion and reigning number one Max Anstie enters the 2026 season with Rick Ware Racing after claiming last year’s title with GSM Yamaha and support from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. The move comes following the Englishman’s switch to ClubMX Racing on a deal through until 2028, bringing an end to his two-year tenure with the Star Racing organisation. Anstie first claimed the SX2 crown in 2023 with what is now the Quad Lock Honda team, before delivering a near-perfect title run in 2025. Always one to watch, the British rider has consistently excelled under the World Supercross format.

5. Quad Lock Honda aim for team title defence:
Quad Lock Honda was the epitome of consistency last season, recording strong results across a roster featuring Christian Craig, Joey Savatgy, Shane McElrath, Anthony Bourdon, and Wilson Todd. The team enters the 2026 opener with a revised line-up of Dean Wilson, Craig, Brodie Connolly, and McAdoo, while Savatgy is expected to return later in the season unless he and Wilson exchange commitments for the Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship in Australia. Regardless, the Yarrive Konsky-led organization will be aiming to defend its team’s title in 2026.

6. SX1 number two Savatgy to sit out Calgary:
Round one will unfortunately be without 2025 runner-up Joey Savatgy, who continues his recovery from a wrist injury sustained during Monster Energy Supercross. The American took the title fight down to the wire with Jason Anderson at last year’s South African finale, while also recording second-place finishes in 2022 and 2023. It’s an unfortunate setback for Savatgy, who had shown encouraging form throughout the 2026 American Supercross season up until the setback.

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7. Harrison and Clout spearhead Bud Racing SX1 line-up:
Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki fields an all-new full-time SX1 roster for 2026, headlined by American Mitchell Harrison alongside Australian Supercross veteran Luke Clout. The pairing has the potential to deliver consistent results throughout the championship if they can put together a full campaign, with the added benefit of competing aboard the familiar Kawasaki KX450 platform they each race elsewhere. That continuity removes one of the major hurdles they’ve faced throughout their careers, and it will be interesting to see whether it translates into stronger performances.

8. Stark returns for a second full season:
Electric motorcycle manufacturer Stark enters its second World Supercross Championship campaign with Vince Friese, Jorge Zaragoza, Brian Hsu, and Michael Hicks representing the team in 2026. Last season proved a significant learning curve for both the brand and its motorcycle in a Supercross environment, and the team enters this year armed with considerably more data and experience. There remains plenty of intrigue surrounding Stark’s competitive project, with attention on how much progress has been made since its championship debut.

9. Vialle announced as first WSX wildcard:
Two-time 250SX East champion and current MXGP contender Tom Vialle has been announced as a wildcard for the British GP, marking his first World Supercross Championship appearance. A variety of wildcards featured throughout last year’s series, and that trend looks set to continue in 2026. Where does someone like Vialle stack up? Given his proven stadium-racing credentials, you’d have to imagine he’ll be right at the front, especially with ample preparation time following the conclusion of the MXGP World Championship season on September 20.

10. World championship debut for 595 Racing:
Finally, Brazil’s 595 Racing joins WSX for the 2026 season, assembling a roster of Kevin Moranz, Gregory Aranda, Nico Koch, and Luke Fauser. It’s a competitive line-up for the team’s debut campaign, and if the riders can remain healthy throughout the series, they should be capable of delivering solid results.