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

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Image: Octopi Media.

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – Fourth: 
The first SMX didn’t go the best. I just didn’t have my starts down and need to go back to working on that. It was a tricky start, and I didn’t execute all day. The start was so key, since this track was so one-lined. The first race I didn’t have the best setup, but we made some changes before the second race and I was able to ride a lot better. I just have to put myself in a better position off the start in Chicago.

Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) – First: 
I definitely had a point to prove after the outdoor season; I was pretty disappointed with it. I was really happy when I got back on supercross testing because I felt like I picked up right where I left off. It calmed my nerves and let me focus on my riding. My preparation was good, and I was confident coming into today that I was going to be good. I know when I’m comfortable that I should be winning races. We’re not done yet–two more races to go, so let’s keep this thing rolling.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Third: 
It was a good day. I tried to improve every session and got two good starts, which was a big thing. I just rode solid, and I did the best I could. For the first moto, it was pretty good to be second at the finish. In moto two, it was a good start again, but I just made a small mistake in the turn and lost some positions. Then, it was a little bit tough physically for me. I think the fact that I didn’t really train after my crash at Ironman, I paid for it a little bit today with a little bit of lack in my fitness. So that could be better, but overall it was a good day. The bike was good, and I felt good. I just need to improve from today.

Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Eighth:
The race day was up and down for me. Practice was decent – I was second and then sixth overall, which was good. The first moto, I definitely didn’t ride very well. I got a bad start, and the track was really tricky to pass on today, and you kind of got stuck in a pace, and I feel like that’s what I did. In the second one, once again, I got a really bad start, which didn’t help, but I felt like I rode a bit better. I’m a little bummed with the overall result, but at least I know what we need to work on, and I think we made a good game plan on what that needs to be. We’ll work hard this week at the Star Racing facility and come back next weekend swinging.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – 16th:
I had a great time for the majority of the weekend, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us in the end. The silver lining is that I’m in good health and the upcoming race offers double points.

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Fifth: 
The SMX track was fun and the layout was something new for us, which I liked. I had some good battles with the top guys and ended the day in fifth. Now having a better idea of the SMX track layouts, we plan to do some more testing this week before playoff two in Chicago.

Justin Barcia (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) – Seventh: 
We really got thrown a bit of a curveball. Everyone has to deal with the same conditions on the track, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to find a happy medium between Supercross and Motocross with our settings, so we kind of fought it all day. We should have been near the podium, with how I felt body-wise, but I struggled with some arm pump today. We’re going to go home, regroup, try some stuff out, and come out swinging next week in Chicago

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Sixth: 
Charlotte was a wild one! The track turned into a really good race track – the split lane was interesting and, overall, I had a really good time today. We’re still in good position, so really, I’m just going to go back and do work. We’ll keep working and set our sights on another good outing in Chicago.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – Eighth:
It was a rough day in the office–we sucked. Two crashes today wasn’t ideal, especially one in each moto. It was a sub-par day. We need to go back and be perfect in the next two

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Ninth: 
It was great to get going with SMX. It’s definitely different. I like the format, but it definitely wasn’t one of my best days. I was expecting to be battling up front, but in the first moto, we had a crash, and in the second moto, we got shuffled around in the first turn, and we came back from pretty far back. Overall, it was a good day, though. I rode a lot better in the second moto. These races are going to be more important as we go, so we’ve got to get our butt in gear and get up front for these next two if we want a chance at this. If we’re going to struggle, this was the one to struggle at. We’ll put this one behind us and learn from it and keep our heads up.

Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Third:
We had a pretty big crash in qualifying but recovered from that one. The body’s sore, but we had to dig deep. That first moto went really well. I got a fourth-place start and moved into the lead. In the second moto, I was dead last after the start and made my way back up to fifth. I struggled with soreness today. My body was beat up from that crash, but coming out of the first round tied and with the red plate is a really good way to look at it. We’ll come back swinging next week at the second round.

Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Seventh: 
It was kind of a frustrating day for me. I came in feeling really good on the bike. I’ve been riding really well during the week, so I don’t know; I just struggled. Qualifying was decent, and the first moto was okay, but I got really sick yesterday, and I couldn’t keep any food down today. So I did what I could, but I really felt it in that second moto. I’m going to rest up and come out swinging at this next round.

Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fifth: 
It was a good day and good to be back at the races with the team and racing the boys. I didn’t get off to a good start in that first one. I got caught up in that first-turn pileup. I didn’t go down, but I was just buried and had to make a charge. I was really proud of myself for coming back to eighth. This was a hard track to pass on. In the second moto, I got off to a much better start and was right there in the battle; I just couldn’t make any moves forward. We’re going to go back and build off of what we have today and see if we can figure out how to pass next week.

Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – First:
Wow, what a feeling. I knew finishing 4-1 would be hard to bring home the overall, but as soon as the team let me know I won, the emotions began. This is what it’s all about and over the past couple weeks I have been enjoying riding more than ever. Thank you to the fans and my amazing team for their endless support.

Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Sixth:
The day started off great, taking the top qualifying spot, but it slowly began to go downhill. I had great starts, but costly mistakes put me in a spot I did not want to be in. I am glad I’m healthy and we will get back to the drawing board for round two.

Ryder DiFrancesco (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Fourth: 
I knew this time would come, my career best finish and a moto two podium! I cannot express how grateful I am for everyone sticking behind me and believing in me and my program. I am looking forward to the next two rounds.

Austin Forkner (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – 13th:
I had a lot of nerves coming into this race having to make it into the final race from the LCQ. The speed was there all day and moto one felt good to battle with my teammates. Looking forward to rebounding at the next round.

Carson Mumford (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – 20th:
Today was not how I wanted to go out, but after moto one, the team and I decided it’s best to recover from my sickness before it got too serious. I feel much better now and am grateful for this opportunity.

Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 11th: 
I felt like with my riding I could have had a good day. I just couldn’t find the starts or the position to get out in front. That was very costly on this track, probably the costliest it’s been all year. I’m fired up and I feel like I’m good enough to be up there, so I’ve just got to figure it out and get out front and I think I can stay there. That’s going to be the main focus this week, getting some of those old starts back. It’s double points next, and triple points for the final round, so I’m not out of it. I feel ready to go, I just need to put the work in.

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 14th:
Man, I kind of struggled all day. I missed the ball on comfort, and where I was on the bike. We’ll go back to work this week and I’m pretty confident we’ll figure something out to be more comfortable. I just didn’t have any comfort today and was just along for the ride. It’s a pretty embarrassing day but we have seven days and we’ll get back to it next weekend.

Talon Hawkins (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 18th:
It was a rough one. I know I have the speed, I’ve just got to get up there on the starts. I had a little mishap on the start in the second race so I had to come from the back. It’s hard to do when there’s not much separation. I’m looking forward to next weekend and, hopefully, a little more Supercrossy track. Let’s get those starts.

Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 11th:
I felt like with my riding I could have had a good day. I just couldn’t find the starts or the position to get out in front. That was very costly on this track, probably the costliest it’s been all year. I’m fired up and I feel like I’m good enough to be up there, so I’ve just got to figure it out and get out front and I think I can stay there. That’s going to be the main focus this week, getting some of those old starts back. It’s double points next, and triple points for the final round, so I’m not out of it. I feel ready to go, I just need to put the work in.

Maximus Vohland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 12th: 
Really disappointed with my starts today. I put myself in bad situations out of the gate, which meant I had to come from behind in each race, which is never ideal. I’ll go back to the drawing board this week and figure the starts out so we put ourselves in a better position for Chicago.

Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Second: 
I felt really good here in Charlotte, especially with this mixed track between supercross and motocross. There were sections where it was more supercross and others motocross, but overall, I was really happy with the circuit and my bike worked great in both conditions! I got a strong start in the second race and could really just focus on what I was doing – now I can’t wait for the next round in Chicago!

Pierce Brown (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) – 10th: 
For round one of the playoffs, it was a decent day. Qualifying went good, and I felt good in both motos. It was difficult in both motos to come through the pack. I finished tenth overall, so a decent day. It could be worse. We’re going to get back to work with only two to go, so we’ll make the most of it.