Preview and schedule for the SMX Playoff in Los Angeles featuring Ken Roczen

This coming weekend, the second SMX Playoff will take place at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson (Los Angeles). Following last week’s mud-soaked race, the weather in California is expected to remain dry and mainly sunny, with maximum daytime temperatures of 27 degrees.

The track once again features two sand sections and the typical SMX elements, without a washboard section.

450 class standings

Following a poor performance by US Motocross Champion Hunter Lawrence (Honda) in Columbus a week ago, due to injury, Spanish Red Bull KTM factory rider Jorge Prado – who finished the first Playoff in third place overall with a 3-4 result – has taken the lead. Ken Roczen is in fourth place, eight points behind.

Points are now doubled

However, the points gaps do not mean much at the moment, as double points are on offer in the second playoff, and that will have an impact.

SMX Championship Standings after Play-off 1 of 3

1. Jorge Prado (E), KTM, 42 points

2. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha, 40, (-2)

3. Cooper Webb (USA), Yamaha, 38, (-4)

4. Ken Roczen (D), Suzuki, 34, (-8)

5. Dylan Ferrandis (F), Ducati, 33, (-9)

6. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 32, (-10)

7. Garrett Marchbanks (USA), Kawasaki, 28, (-14)

8. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM, 22, (-20)

9. Eli Tomac (USA), KTM, 22, (-20)

10. Jordon Smith (USA), Triumph, 21, (-21)

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250cc class

Following Cole Davies’ (Yamaha) problems in the first race at Columbus, Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) has taken the lead in the 250cc class standings. But the same applies here: there are double points up for grabs in Los Angeles.

SMX standings after Playoff 1 of 3:

1. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, 47 points

2. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Husqvarna, 40, (-7)

3. Cole Davies (NZ), Yamaha, 37, (-10)

4. Daxton Bennick (USA), Husqvarna, 34, (-13)

5. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda, 33, (-14)

6. Nate Thrasher (USA), Yamaha, 25, (-22)

7. Caden Dudney (USA), Yamaha, 23, (-24)

8. Kayden Minear (AUS), Yamaha, 23, (-24)

9. Max Vohland (USA), Yamaha, 22, (-25)

10. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, 21, (-26)

Here’s how to follow the races: *)

Saturday, 19 September 2026 (CEST)

Qualifying sessions:

LCQ

Sunday, 20 September

*) Times are in CEST and subject to change