In Quotebook, a selection of riders detail how their races played out at playoff two of the 2023 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) at Chicagoland Speedway. 

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Image: Octopi Media.

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – First: 
I didn’t want another weekend like Charlotte. I came into this weekend with a lot of motivation for a good result. We worked a lot on starts this weekend, and I think that was the key today. I also feel like racing a more motocross-type track fits my riding style better, I felt a little bit more at home on the track this weekend, and it was much easier to try and find the correct suspension for this layout.

Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) – Third: 
It was nice to come home and race in front of everyone; I felt a ton of support all weekend long. Unfortunately, I just didn’t have it today. I wasn’t comfortable all day, and I’m not happy just to be on the podium. You’re only as good as your last race, and I feel like this lit a fire under me for next weekend. I’m excited to head to LA for more of a supercross vibe, and I’m hoping we can go out and finish this series off with a win.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fifth: 
It was a very difficult day and a tough start to the weekend. We started the Friday practice on the supercross setup, and it was way too steep. Every practice, we changed the setup and tried to be better, which was kind of a little bit difficult to manage mentally. There was a lot of frustration, but coming into the race, I just did my best and got two good starts. I was lacking pace for sure, but yeah, 6-5 for fifth overall. That’s the best I could do today, and I’m happy because in the end, I did the job and it wasn’t easy.

Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Seventh: 
Today was a very rough day for me. I woke up this morning with some kind of sickness and didn’t feel well all day. I had some stomach issues, and I just felt like crap. I slept as much as I could today; it was just a really rough day. The first moto I started where I finished and didn’t ride great. In the second one, I got a little bit better start and rode a little bit better, but I didn’t have the energy and the flow at all. It’s definitely a day I’d like to forget and move on. We’ll go back to work this week, get recovered, and start supercross prep for next weekend.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – 13th: 
It wasn’t a great weekend, but we are heading into the last round healthy. We are going back to work this week to prepare for LA.

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Ninth: 
A mistake in moto one kept me from the front, but we do have the speed to be up there. I’m ready for LA and to land my KX450SR on the box.

Justin Barcia (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) – Sixth: 
Chicagoland was a good day. I had good qualifying sessions, I was feeling good and had a good first moto. In the second moto I had a crash in the sand, and I was pretty stacked up from there, I couldn’t really make any passes and struggled a little after that. That was a tough second moto. But the first moto was really good so we had a few positives this weekend and I’m looking forward to getting back to California, doing a little bit of work before the last race, and going out with a good last race at the L.A. Coliseum.

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Fourth: 
I felt super-comfortable today here in Chicago! The team and I made some great set-up decisions on the motorcycle and I think it really showed. The starts weren’t quite there – I ate a lot of roost tonight – but I was able to charge hard during both motos and was going forward right until the final lap of each race. Excited with where we are at and the feeling that we achieved today! P4 in the standings, and with triple points next weekend, we’ll be fighting hard for the top spot in LA.

Ken Roczen (HEP Suzuki) – Second: 
We were on the board pretty much all day – the practices, the qualifying sessions, and then obviously in both motos. We made several little suspension adjustments throughout the event. The settings we had going into the first moto didn’t quite hit the nail on the head for the Chicagoland track. I went as fast as I could for what the set-up allowed me to do in the first one. I ended up third there. I was pretty happy with my riding, but I couldn’t move any further forward after a so-so start. For the second moto, we went to a suspension setting that I’d already ridden in qualifying two, made some slight adjustments on the sighting lap, and that actually did hit the nail on the head for the right settings for this track. I was able to ride to my full potential. So in the motos, I finished third, then I finished first. But at that point, I was in the second [overall] position already. I went for it, just riding super hard the whole main. I was really hungry to try and pass into first place. I ended up earning second overall. The team and I are super pleased with the effort and the riding. It was an exceptionally good weekend for all of us. I’m looking forward to next weekend and the SMX final.

Kyle Chisholm (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 19th:
My knee has been bothering me for a while and I wasn’t able to ride this week at all. I really tried to salvage through the weekend and just do the best I could. It’s frustrating not being able to go out and ride like I know I can. I’m going to try to ride one day this week then finish up the season with a good race in Los Angeles.

Freddie Noren (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 14th:
I felt like I rode well all day but I just wasn’t getting off the gate like I needed to. Everyone was fast, so it was hard to pass. I did make a couple of passes and overall I’m happy with my racing, just not content with my overall results. The track was different from the previous weekend, and it took some time to figure out the best settings. The whole crew did a great job today and I am happy I’m healthy and ready to finish off strong next weekend.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – First:
We had a much better night in Chicago than in Charlotte. We put a lot of effort into our starts this week and made some changes that worked out for the better. I’m happy to be leaving here with a win and right in the championship hunt. We knew that, as long as we were in the top three going into Los Angeles, we had a chance, with the way the points are structured. We just have to head into this last round with starts like today, and we’ll be just fine.

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – 12th:
It was a tough one. I qualified pretty well and felt pretty good on the track. In the first moto, I got caught up in a pileup, and my arm got pretty banged up. Someone ran it over, so from there I rode through the pain in the first moto. In the second moto, I somehow got a holeshot, so that was really nice. I led a few laps and then dropped back to sixth. It wasn’t the best, but at least we are out of here in one piece, and we can try to recover a little bit for next weekend.

Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Third: 
Today we just lacked speed a little bit, which happens. We’re still learning this year, but next year, that’s not acceptable. We were able to get a third today, which isn’t the ideal situation, but there are definitely a lot of highs and lows people don’t see outside of the races, and we made work of what we were dealt with today. Now it’s every man for himself at the last round. We are one of three guys that can win it, so it’s going to be exciting.

Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Eighth: 
I gave it my all but fell very short of my goals. My speed was very good, and to the point that I felt I could’ve battled for a win, but unfortunately, I never put myself in the position to do so. I’m ready to give it everything I have again next weekend!

Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Sixth: 
I struggled all day to find the right setup, and with the changing track conditions, that made it even more difficult. When it came race time, I stepped it up and rode pretty well. It was just a fall in each moto that kept me out of that front group. I ended up sixth overall, which wasn’t too bad considering, so we will get ready for the more Supercross conditions next week in LA!

Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Second: 
I had a good weekend at SMX. I definitely think we had an overall win in us, but the odds were not in our favor this weekend. We are still in a good place in the championship, and I’m looking forward to being in LA next weekend for the final round.

Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Seventh: 
It was a decent weekend. We remained consistent and are still fast in qualifying. I just need to carry that momentum into the motos. We have the speed, so it’s time to make it happen in LA next week for the final round.

Ryder DiFrancesco (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Ninth: 
I had high hopes coming into this round of SMX but it didn’t work out like I planned. I made a mistake in the first moto, and I was off pace in moto two. We will go back to work this week so I can be where I belong in LA.

Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 10th: 
Moto one was okay, but I would’ve liked to get more comfortable earlier on. That was P7. In the second moto, it was not a good start and I wasn’t riding too well and had a big crash at the end, so it wasn’t the best day but I still feel good and feel like I can run up there. I just need that start. All in all, I’m not broken up, so we’ll be good and continue to fight in L.A.

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Fourth: 
This was much improved from last weekend. Last weekend was such a struggle I was just looking for any type of positive from this weekend, and I came out and was P1 in practice… I believe that’s one of my first poles of the season, and then just two solid motos. I didn’t get great starts, but I didn’t get terrible starts, so fourth overall on the day. I’m not stoked on it, but it’s a huge improvement so we’ll take that into LA. next weekend where it’s a more Supercross track. Hopefully, my back heals from this track today, and then I’ll be ready to go next weekend.

Talon Hawkins (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 16th: 
It was a rough one, but there are positives to take away from it. It’s been hard to get the bike set up for these types of races. This is a brand-new thing this year, so I think everyone is struggling with bike setup. I think we’re getting there, we just need a few things. I’m looking forward to next weekend, and I want to thank the team for believing in me for these last couple rounds.

Maximus Vohland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Fifth: 
I felt really comfortable on the bike right away in Chicago. Struggled off the start in moto two and had to make a lot of passes to get into eighth, which was good. In moto two, I got a better start and went from 10th to fifth, so I had a really good ride. With triple points on offer next weekend, we’re still right in this thing and the plan for LA is to put the hammer down and finish the season strong.

Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 14th: 
Today was good! I finished fourth place in the first moto and we were all super-close, so it was fun to be fighting for the win. And then second moto, I didn’t get a very good start, but I came back really strong and was in P3. Unfortunately, I clipped a tuff-block, which broke my shifter with three laps to go, and I had to pull in, which was disappointing. This is motorsport though and now we have one more to go in LA, where we will finish the season strong.

Pierce Brown (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) – 11th: 
I felt a little under the weather all day. I just didn’t have what I needed, so we’re just going to rest up and get ready for the last round.

Dilan Schwartz (BarX Suzuki) – 13th:
It was definitely an improvement from last weekend. I felt more like myself, and that showed in the second moto. I struggled a little in the first moto but overall it was a good day and I’m looking forward to the final round next weekend.