In Quotebook, a selection of riders detail how their races played out at the final round of the 2023 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

450SMX

Image: Octopi Media.

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – First: 
Yeah, this sport is… on the track it’s a one-man show, but there’s so many people in the shadows that don’t get the credit. Guys doing work to the bike for Chase [Sexton] and I just to get us the best equipment and bike we can have, and that also goes into my trainer Johnny O’Mara and my dad, who are big keys in helping, also my brother Hunter [Lawrence]. Everyday we’re grinding and always trying to be better, whether it’s the bike or just me, myself. So just to get and get this done, it’s not just an awesome achievement for me, but it’s a big thank you to the people that support me and have helped me get to where I am right now.

Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Third: 
It was great to end the last SMX round with a podium. It was good to represent the team and end the year with a good result. I had some good riding and was able to accomplish a personal goal, so that was nice. We’ll go into the off-season and keep building and working to get back on top and contend for a supercross championship.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Fourth: 
It was a great weekend for us, ended kind of on a strong note. The last couple of weeks, and last couple of weekends, have not gone the way that I have planned. I think I came in 10th in points and am leaving with fourth overall and a sixth overall total in points. I got two good starts finally, my starts have been lacking a bit, really all year they haven’t been… I really need to get more consistent off the grate – I’m more of a dirt starter, if I am honest. But I rode well tonight, second moto I was able to push toward the end of the race, it’s a long time since I have been able to do that, so that’s great progress for me. I feel really encouraged, obviously getting to the end of the season was the big goal for me. I’m here, standing on two, healthy, mentally in a good place, just ready to get to work this off-season and see if we can make some gains and come out swinging next year.

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – 11th: 
Practice went good, I qualified P2 overall. In the first moto I was up the front, but I wasn’t doing that quad on and I kind of got… the top-three guys went past me until I started doing that. Then, then, the last moto I was up in fifth or something like that, got by Cooper, then I was trying to make a pass on Adam, and I pushed the front end and kind of slammed him a little bit, but it took my bike and sent it and ended my night. Glad to make it out somewhat okay and move onto the off-season.

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 12th: 
The last round of the SMX series here in Los Angeles didn’t quite go as planned. I tucked the front-end after the restart there in moto one and ended up on the ground with a pretty hard hit. Second moto, I did what I could to salvage a finish, which was good enough for sixth place. A mediocre day here at this round – that one big mistake cost me bad. All in all, a few too many mistakes on my end during this series, so we’ll go back to the drawing board, and get testing underway to come out swinging for next season.

Ken Roczen (HEP Suzuki) – Second: 
We were pushing every inch of the track. It had some tacky areas but it was super pebbly and slick in others so you just had to be so careful, but you can’t rest too much in the turns because you lose time. Overall I’m super stoked just to be able to be in the mix, be in the battle, and ride how I’m riding at the moment… A win would have been so nice, but I’m also, at the same time, still building… We still have a few races to go before Anaheim and for me, I’m just building every single weekend that I’m racing.

Kyle Chisholm (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 14th:
I’m happy to end the season healthy and with a better performance. It’s been tough not being able to ride and train like normal [with my knee issue]. Tonight was an improvement. I rode more like myself and ended up tied for 16th in points. That was good, but not exactly where I wanted to be. But all in all, despite dealing with my knee, it’s good.

Freddie Noren (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – Eighth:
I’m actually super pumped on the night. I had a strong start in moto one and rode really well. In the second moto, I started off the gate really well and came out through the corner in about the top ten. I’m really happy with my performance in moto two and ended up eighth on the night and 11th overall in the championship, which is great as well. I can’t thank the team enough. They’ve really done an awesome job providing for me and trying to help me be the best racer I can be. I’m really thankful for that and stoked to finish the year out well.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – DNS:
Bit of a sucky night for me, unfortunately, not being able to race. Just bigger picture, I was at the point where my legs were just giving way – the pain just shoots up your spine and down the back of your legs. It was kind of just, not a matter of will power or pushing through the pain, it was just my legs would give out… That’s just plain and simple what was happening. Obviously, the pain was pretty damn high, but it doesn’t matter at that point, pain is pain, whatever, you push through it. The chances of us, if it happened on a finish line or a triple, or something like that, was just what could happen. I wasn’t going to go out there to ride around for fourth or fifth, it made no sense. I don’t do it for the money, obviously, it’s a nice little payday, not going to lie, but it is what it is, we have got bigger and better things to come as well on the 450, the Nations in a week and a bit, so wanted to be strong for that.

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fourth:
I felt really good with the track all day. It really seemed like where you started was where you were going to finish. It was really hard to pass. I had trouble moving through the pack in the first moto, then in the second moto, I got a third-place start, and that’s where I finished. It was pretty uneventful. I had a lot of fun though, and now it’s onto the 450.

Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – First: 
Today was a dream come true. Qualifying went well, and then in the first moto, I got a little tight and finished fifth. It all came down to the second moto, and I knew I had to capitalize – to either win or just beat Jo and [Jordon] Smitty. This was a big goal of mine to win a championship during my rookie year, so all I can say is chase your goals and never give up.

Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fifth: 
I had a pretty good night of racing. I made a big mistake early in moto two, so I had to come back from last. In moto two, I ripped the start and rode pretty well! I’m glad to end the season strong.

Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Sixth: 
The last race of the year was a good one. I put it up front in the first race and had a shot for the overall with my win, but unfortunately, I went down early in the second moto. I made the best comeback I could from the back and finished 10th. Overall, I was happy with my riding, and I’m ready to build on this for 2024.

Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Second: 
It definitely sucks to be so close and see the championship slip away by just a few points. This was a crazy year starting out with injury and so I’m still thankful to have had the chance to compete for this championship. We really found a groove late in the year and I’ll keep working on myself over the off-season.

Ryder DiFrancesco (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – 16th: 
I’m thankful for this year, to gain the experience I did. There were plenty of great moments and I know I’ll be able to lean on those in the off-season. The team is passionate about doing whatever it takes to make you better and I can’t wait to keep working and have a good start to 2024.

Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Eighth: 
Honestly, this being the last round is a bit frustrating because I feel like I’m starting to find the groove and know what I can do. My starts were on point today, reaction-wise, and just getting off the gate with the bike. I ran third for a while in the first moto and finished sixth. In the second one, I felt I rode a lot better, but didn’t have the start to match. I just lit the rear tire up a bit on the super-dry stuff and it kind of messed me up. I just got a really bad start and came from the back. I have some things to work on for sure, but I’m a lot closer than I’ve been. I feel good but need a little bit of intensity. But all in all, it was decent. I was in the mix a little bit and left healthy…anytime you leave the track healthy you can put a smile on your face.

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Third: 
The last round was pretty solid. I felt good all day and had good qualifying (second). The first moto start was good, and I gave myself a chance to win it there at the end. I charged hard and felt really good on the bike. In the second moto, I didn’t get a great start and was just flat. I couldn’t really get going. But I’m stoked to end it on the podium for the race and the SMX Playoff overall. I’m really looking forward to the Motocross of Nations in France in a couple of weeks. I’ll go back home, recover a bit, do a couple of days of riding, and head over there and represent the USA. I can’t wait.

Talon Hawkins (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 11th: 
I was stoked to end it on a good note. I got my first top ten out of the three races. I’m looking forward to a little time off and then getting back on the bike. I’m so thankful for the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Team for giving me the shot this year. I turned pro early, but I made the most of it and did the best I could all year long. I’ve learned a lot this year, and have a lot of good memories. Thank you guys.

Maximus Vohland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Ninth: 
It wasn’t the worst result for me this weekend, being ninth overall and seventh in the final SMX points, but I didn’t ride to my potential tonight across the two motos. Qualifying was positive earlier on though and I learned a lot this season that will help me keep building into the future.

Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 10th: 
The night was pretty good until the second moto. I was leading the first moto and ended up third, so that was good and I felt great! I was also in good position in the second moto before another rider hit me pretty hard in the corner, so I was really unlucky there. I was pretty upset, because I could have fought for the podium and a good overall result, so it wasn’t what I hoped for. We were a little bit unlucky there, but it’s the way it is and now we look ahead to the nations and focusing on 2024 to be back again and as strong as possible.

Pierce Brown (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) – Seventh: 
The last round of SuperMotocross is done and dusted. All around it was a pretty good day. I qualified good. In moto one I had a bad start, but I ended up eighth. In moto two I got a better start, and I ended up fifth so I was happy with that. I feel like I was riding good all day…I’m happy with it. I’m ready to take some time off and then get back to work.

Dilan Schwartz (BarX Suzuki) – 12th:
The final round was fun! I went 12-11 on the night for 12th overall so improved from last weekend, and that’s the goal. Overall it was a good season for me. I was injury-free all year and ended up with decent finishes in the overall points.