Image: Octopi Media.

Highly-rated Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing prospect Daxton Bennick will miss the upcoming 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals series in a bid to regain 100 percent for next season.

After claiming a Monster Energy Supercross podium on debut in Detroit, the 18-year-old raced to P9 in the final 250SX East standings earlier in the year.

Bennick largely struggled through an unspecified illness this summer in his first full season of Pro Motocross, however, finishing 17th in points and unable to match the kind of form that he had displayed – with multiple top 10 finishes – in the final stages of last season when he joined 250MX midway through.

“I have been dealing with some health issues for the last month or so and haven’t felt like myself at all lately,” Bennick revealed. “Unfortunately, I will be missing the SMX Finals, but it’s important we put my health first so I can perform at my best for the 2025 Supercross season. I’ve got a great team behind me and we will be back stronger.”

The decision means Bennick will be absent from the first SMX Playoff race of the year next Saturday, September 7, to be hosted at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ZMax Dragway facility.