Lawrence and Davies are champions. Here’s what happens next with the play-offs

Hunter Lawrence (Honda) and Cole Davies (Yamaha) were crowned 450cc and 250cc motocross champions yesterday in Crawfordsville. However, the season in the US is far from over, as the action continues in September with the three SMX Playoffs.

The SMX Play-off dates

Die Strecke im Historic Crew Stadium von Columbus

Foto: SMX

Now it’s all about the money

The three SMX Playoffs are all about the money. In the end, millions will be handed out here. Details can be found in this article. The key point is that even riders who don’t have high-paying factory contracts can still win substantial prize money. For example, anyone who makes it into the top 10 in the 450 class will still receive USD 75,000.

Who is eligible to compete in the SMX Playoffs?

The top 30 in the combined SMX standings – comprising Supercross and Motocross – qualify for the play-offs. The top 20 are automatically seeded. Riders ranked between 21st and 30th in the overall standings must qualify via the LCQ. Cornelius Toendel and Valentin Guillod finished 25th and 26th respectively in the combined Supercross-Motocross standings. They are therefore not automatically eligible to compete and would have to try their luck in the LCQ.

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The SMX Playoffs points system

Hunter Lawrence scored 346 points in the Supercross Championship, which he narrowly lost to Ken Roczen. He finished first in the Motocross Final in Crawfordsville with 474 points. 346 + 474 = 820 points. These points are now converted into SMX points: 1st place – 25 points, 2nd place – 22, 3rd place – 20, and so on. Although Supercross champion Ken Roczen has not competed in a single motocross race this year, his 349 points from the Supercross season are still enough for 10th place in the combined standings, for which he now receives 12 SMX points. Roczen therefore trails the leader, Lawrence, by 13 points ahead of the first SMX Playoff, and these 13 points are easily make-upable when you take the SMX Playoff rules into account.

The specific rules of the SMX Play-offs

As in motocross, two races are held. The tracks are a combination of Supercross and motocross. The overall winner of the first playoff receives 25 points, the runner-up 22, and so on. In the second Playoff, the points are doubled: 50, 46, 40 and so on; and in the third Playoff, the points are tripled: 75, 69, 60 and so on. This means that although Hunter Lawrence goes into the first playoff with a lead, this advantage is offset with each subsequent playoff round due to the multiplication of the points on offer. And so excitement is guaranteed right from the start, as riders such as Ken Roczen now have every chance again and can even win the championship.

SMX Standings 450

1. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 820, 25

2. Jorge Prado (E), KTM, 590, 22

3. Cooper Webb (USA), Yamaha, 579, 20

4. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 472, 18

5. Dylan Ferrandis (F), Ducati, 444, 17

6. Garrett Marchbanks (USA), Kawasaki, 438, 16

7. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha, 404, 15

8. Eli Tomac (USA), KTM, 396, 14

9. R.J. Hampshire (USA), Husqvarna, 384, 13

10. Ken Roczen (Germany), Suzuki, 349, 12

11. Justin Cooper (USA), Yamaha, 347, 11

12. Chase Sexton (USA), Kawasaki, 298, 10

SMX Standings 250

1. Cole Davies (NZL), Yamaha, 638, 25

2. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, 541, 22

3. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Husqvarna, 490, 20

4. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda, 402, 18

5. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, 369, 17

6. Kayden Minear (AUS), Yamaha, 324, 16

7. Nate Thrasher (USA), Yamaha, 316, 15

8. Seth Hammaker (USA), Kawasaki, 314, 14

9. Carson Mumford (USA), Honda, 314, 13

10. Daxton Bennick (USA), Yamaha, 302, 12