AMA Supercross Championship


The AMA Supercross Championship is an American motorcycle racing series. Founded by the American Motorcyclist Association in 1974, the AMA Supercross Championship races are held from January through early May. Supercross is a variant of motocross which involves off-road motorcycles on a constructed dirt track consisting of steep jumps and obstacles; the tracks are usually constructed inside a sports stadium. The easy accessibility and comfort of these stadium venues helped supercross surpass off-road motocross as a spectator attraction in the United States by the late 1970s.

History

The first motocross race held on a race track inside a stadium took place on August 28, 1948, at Buffalo Stadium in the Paris suburb of Montrouge. As the popularity of motocross surged in the United States in the late 1960s, Bill France added a professional motocross race to the 1971 Daytona Beach Bike Week schedule. The 1972 race was held at Daytona International Speedway on a constructed track on the grass surface between the main grandstand and the pit lane. Jimmy Weinert won the 250 class and Mark Blackwell was the winner of the 500 class.
The event that paved the way for constructed, stadium-based motocross events was a 1972 race held in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, promoted by Mike Goodwin and Terry Tiernan, then-president of the AMA, and won by 16-year-old Marty Tripes. It was billed as the "Super Bowl of Motocross" which led to the coining of the term "Supercross." The Super Bowl of Motocross II held the following year was an even greater success and, eventually evolved into the AMA Supercross championship held in stadiums across the United States and Canada.
Motocross and Supercross eventually diverged into different forms of racing.
Originally, each of the AMA Supercross races were promoted by different promoters, most notably Mike Goodwin in the West, Pace Motorsports in the Midwest and Southwest, Super Sports in the East, and Daytona International Speedway, which promotes its own race. In the 1980s, Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group took over the West region. In the 1990s, MTEG went bankrupt and Super Sports sold its business to Pace, which became the primary AMA Supercross promoter. In 1998, Pace was bought by SFX Entertainment, which was bought in turn by Clear Channel in 2000. The live events division of Clear Channel was split off as Live Nation in 2005, and the motorsports division was sold to Feld Entertainment in 2008, which currently promotes the championship except for the Daytona round, which is promoted by NASCAR Holdings.
While growing consistently since the '70s, the modern Supercross schedule since 1985 has become further compacted. The schedule would run from February to November, with both the "outdoor" and "indoor" schedules coinciding with each other during the year.
By 1986, the schedule was compacted to a January to June schedule, and in 1998, the series adopted its present format, starting in early January and ending in early May, with races weekly except for Easter weekend. In 2000, the present calendar was adopted with the season starting in the Los Angeles area on the Saturday after the first Thursday of January and ending with an early May race in Las Vegas, after which the AMA Motocross Championship "outdoor season" begins.
The American Motorcyclist Association awards three Supercross Championships each year. They are the 450cc, and both an East and West division on the 250cc. Supercross racing classifications are governed by the displacement of the motorcycle's engine. They were based on two-stroke engines until 2006, when four-stroke engines replaced two-stroke engines. From 2007 until 2012, a formula nomenclature similar to IndyCar was used, with the 450cc class known as Supercross and 250cc as Supercross Lites. Starting in 2013, the AMA and Feld Motor Sports returned to the traditional nomenclature, based on four-stroke engines: 450cc, and 250cc. The 450cc Champion has always been generally considered to be the most prestigious.
Since 2011, the final race of the season, known as the Monster Energy Cup for sponsorship reasons, is held at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. A US $1 million purse is available to the rider who wins all three featured races. Ryan Villopoto won the purse at the inaugural event in 2011, as did Marvin Musquin in the 2017 edition, and Eli Tomac in the 2018 race.

Calendar

The AMA series begins in early January and continues until early-May. It consists of 17 rounds in the 450cc Class, and 9 rounds in 250cc West Class and 9 rounds in the 250cc East Class, which the twelfth round at Indianapolis in April and the final round at Las Vegas in May have an East-West Showdown, and 14 major stadiums and one permanent racing circuit from all over North America.

Event format

Each meet is structured similarly to Short track motor racing with two heat races and a consolation race in each class. In both classes, each heat race is five minutes plus one lap. Each heat features 20 riders, with the top nine advancing to the feature. The other 22-23 riders are relegated to the consolation race, known as the Last Chance Qualifier, which is three minutes plus one lap, with the top four advancing to the final.
In the 450cc class, the highest placed competitor in points, provided he is in the top ten in national points, and has yet to qualify after either heat race or consolation race, will receive a provisional for the feature race. The feature race is 15 minutes plus one lap in the 250cc class, and 20 minutes plus one lap for the 450cc class, with 25 championship points for the race win. At three races in 2018, a three-heat format will be used, and rules similar to the Monster Energy Cup individual heat scoring will determine the overall race winner.
For the season-ending East-West Shootout at Las Vegas for the 250cc class starting in May 2011, each region's top 20 will race in the non-championship event for a 15-minute heat race. Standard rules apply, with the feature race being 10 laps. In 2016, the East-West Shootout became a points-paying round where both regions' champions would be decided in the same feature. Starting in 2018, the combined East-West Shootout will also be held in the middle of the season, at the Indianapolis round.
Ever since the 2018 supercross season there has been three “Triple Crown” events every season. A triple crown event format is when instead of one 20 minute main event the riders are forced to race three shooter length races almost back to back to back. At the end of each race the riders are give a point for each position and the rider with the fewest points at the end of the night wins the event. Over the year the person who places the best over all of the main events will win the “triple crown cup” a trophy showing you skill in the triple crown format. The first winner of this event was Eli Tomac in 2018.
Starting with the 2012 Season, riders who are in first place in the Series' Points Lead will use the red plate to race in the Series.
If at any point during the Heat Races, LCQs or the Feature Races, that the race is red-flagged within less than 3 laps, the race will be a complete restart. However, if the race is red-flagged with more than 3 laps completed but less than 90% of the total race distance and after a minimum of a 10-minute delay, the race will be a staggered restart with riders lined up from the previous lap they went.

Track

Supercross tracks feature a combination of obstacles such as whoop sections, rhythm sections, and triple jumps. Many of the turns have banked berms, but some are flat. It takes roughly five hundred truckloads of dirt to make up a supercross track. Soil conditions can be hard-packed, soft, muddy, sandy, rutted, or any combination thereof.

AMA Supercross Championship winners by year

Merged with World Supercross Championship in 2008.

Supercross All Time Wins List

; All time Supercross wins list
450/250 ClassWins250/125 ClassWinsCombinedWins
Jeremy McGrath72 James Stewart Jr.18 Jeremy McGrath85
James Stewart Jr.50 Nathan Ramsey15 James Stewart Jr.68
Ricky Carmichael48 Jeremy McGrath13 Ricky Carmichael60
Chad Reed44 Ricky Carmichael12 Ryan Villopoto52
Ryan Villopoto41 Ryan Dungey12 Chad Reed50
Ryan Dungey34 Kevin Windham12 Ryan Dungey46
Eli Tomac34 Damon Huffman12 Eli Tomac46
Ricky Johnson28 Ernesto Fonseca12 Kevin Windham30
Bob Hannah27 Brian Swink12 Ricky Johnson28
Jeff Ward20 Christophe Pourcel12 Bob Hannah27
Damon Bradshaw19 Eli Tomac12 Damon Bradshaw25
Kevin Windham18 Ryan Villopoto11 Cooper Webb22
Jeff Stanton17 Marvin Musquin11 Ezra Lusk19
Mark Barnett17 Jeff Matiasevich11 Marvin Musquin19
Jean-Michel Bayle16 Justin Barcia11 Ken Roczen19
Ken Roczen15 Cooper Webb11--
Ezra Lusk12 Adam Cianciarulo11--
David Bailey12 Austin Forkner11--
Mike Bell11 Ivan Tedesco10--
Cooper Webb11 Mickaël Pichon10--
Mike Larrocco10 Jake Weimer9--
Broc Glover10 Shane McElrath9--
Jimmy Ellis8 Dean Wilson8--
Marvin Musquin8 Travis Pastrana8--
Ron Lechien8 Denny Stephenson8--
David Vuillemin7 Keith Turpin8--
Jason Anderson7 John Dowd7--
Jeff Emig7 Ezra Lusk7--
Johnny O'Mara7 Doug Henry7--
Davi Millsaps5 Trey Canard7--
Mike Kiedrowski5 Josh Hansen7--
Kent Howerton5 Davi Millsaps7--
Trey Canard5 Grant Langston7--
Jimmy Weinert4 Stéphane Roncada7--
Donnie Hansen4 Justin Hill6--
Doug Henry4 Zach Osborne6--
Darrell Schultz4 Aaron Plessinger6--
Marty Smith3 Chad Reed6--
Justin Barcia3 Jeremy Martin6--
Larry Ward3 Damon Bradshaw6--
Tony DiStefano2 Jeff Emig6--
Marty Tripes2 Dylan Ferrandis6--
Zach Osbourne1 Chase Sexton6--
Andrew Short1 Joey Savatgy5--
Josh Grant1 Ken Roczen5--
Josh Hill1 Andrew Short5--
Nathan Ramsey1 Cole Seely5--
John Dowd1 Martin Davalos5--
Sébastien Tortelli1 Braden Jesseman5--
Pierre Karsmakers1 Jason Anderson5--
Damon Huffman1 Donnie Schmidt4--
Greg Albertyn1 Rich Tichenor4--
Michael Craig1 Jimmy Button4--
Doug Dubach1 Blake Baggett4--
Jeff Matiasevich1 Broc Sellards4--
Rex Staten1 Michael Brown4--
Chuck Sun1 Travis Preston4--
Steve Wise1 David Vuillemin4--
Gaylon Mosier1 David Pingree4--
Jaroslav Falta1 Ben Townley3--
Jim Pomeroy1 Malcom Stewart3--
Rick Ryan1 Justin Bogle3--
Justin Brayton1 Jordon Smith3--
Blake Baggett1---
Cole Seely1---

; 450/250 Class SX Championships
250/125 Class is a divisional championship featuring 2 regional champions per year
450/250 ClassTitles250/125 ClassTitles
Jeremy McGrath7 Jeremy McGrath2
Ricky Carmichael5 Jeff Matiasevich2
Ryan Villopoto4 Brian Swink2
Ryan Dungey4 Damon Huffman2
Jeff Stanton3 Mickael Pichon2
Bob Hannah3 Kevin Windham2
Chad Reed2 Ivan Tedesco2
James Stewart Jr.2 James Stewart Jr.2
Rick Johnson2 Cooper Webb2
Jeff Ward2 Brian Swink2
Jeff Emig1 Grant Langston2
Jean-Michel Bayle1 Christophe Pourcel2
Johnny O'Mara1 Justin Barcia2
David Bailey1 Zach Osborne2
Donnie Hansen1 Ernesto Fonseca2
Mark Barnett1 Malcolm Stewart1
Mike Bell1 Aaron Plessinger1
Jimmy Weinert1 Ryan Villopoto1
Jimmy Ellis1 Marvin Musquin1
Pierre Karsmakers1 Jake Weimer1
Jason Anderson1 Ryan Dungey1
Cooper Webb1 Eli Tomac1
Eli Tomac1 Ken Roczen1
Ricky Carmichael1
Travis Pastrana1
Chad Reed1
Broc Tickle1
Wil Hahn1
Jason Anderson1
Jason Lawrence1
Jimmy Gaddis1
Justin Bogle1
Chase Sexton1
Dylan Ferrandis1

Rookies who won championships

1993 Jeremy McGrath won the Supercross title in his rookie season.
In 2010, Ryan Dungey became the only rider to capture both the Supercross and Motocross titles in his rookie year.

Venues

Sources:
VenueCityState/ProvincePeriodType
Angel StadiumAnaheimCalifornia1976–1979, 1981–1987,
1989–1996, 1999–present		Baseball
AT&T StadiumArlingtonTexas2010–presentFootball
CenturyLink FieldSeattleWashington2005–2014, 2017–presentFootball
Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona BeachFlorida1971–presentRacetrack
The Dome at America's CenterSt. LouisMissouri1996–2018, 2020–presentFootball
Ford FieldDetroitMichigan2006–2008, 2014–2017, 2019–presentFootball
Gillette StadiumFoxboroughMassachusetts2016, 2018, 2020–presentFootball
Lucas Oil StadiumIndianapolisIndiana2009–presentFootball
Mercedes-Benz StadiumAtlantaGeorgia2018–presentFootball
Broncos Stadium at Mile HighDenverColorado2019–presentFootball
Petco ParkSan DiegoCalifornia2015–presentBaseball
Raymond James StadiumTampaFlorida1999, 2018, 2020–presentFootball
Rice-Eccles StadiumSalt Lake CityUtah2001–2004, 2009–2013, 2017–2018, 2020–presentFootball
RingCentral ColiseumOaklandCalifornia1979–1980, 1984, 2011–presentBaseball / football
Sam Boyd StadiumLas VegasNevada1990–1995, 1997–presentFootball
State Farm StadiumGlendaleArizona2016–presentFootball
AstrodomeHoustonTexas1974–2002Baseball / football
AT&T ParkSan FranciscoCalifornia2003–2010Baseball
Atlanta–Fulton County StadiumAtlantaGeorgia1977–1986, 1989–1992Baseball / football
Charlotte Motor SpeedwayCharlotteNorth Carolina1996–1998Racetrack
Chase FieldPhoenixArizona1999–2015Baseball
Camping World StadiumOrlandoFlorida1983–1985, 1991–1997, 2005–2007Football
Dodger StadiumLos AngelesCalifornia2011–2012Baseball
Georgia DomeAtlantaGeorgia1993–2017Football
Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolisMinnesota1994–2004, 2008, 2013Baseball / football
Jacksonville Municipal StadiumJacksonvilleFlorida2009–2011Football
KingdomeSeattleWashington1978–1999Baseball / football
Levi's StadiumSanta ClaraCalifornia2015–2016Football
Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos AngelesCalifornia1972–1979, 1981–1982,
1984–1992, 1997–1998		Football
MetLife StadiumEast RutherfordNew Jersey2014–2017, 2019Football
Mile High StadiumDenverColorado1996Football
Nissan StadiumNashvilleTennessee2019Football
NRG StadiumHoustonTexas2003–2015, 2018–2019Football
Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew OrleansLouisiana1977–1980, 1998–2002, 2009, 2012Football
Qualcomm StadiumSan DiegoCalifornia1980–1982, 1985–1987,
1989–1996, 1998–2014		Baseball / football
Rogers CentreTorontoOntario2008–2014, 2016–2017Baseball / football
Route 66 RacewayJolietIllinois2000Racetrack
Pontiac SilverdomePontiacMichigan1976–1984, 1986–2005Football
Spartan StadiumSan JoseCalifornia1990–1995Football
Sun Devil StadiumPhoenixArizona1986–1987, 1991, 1997–1998Football
Tampa StadiumTampaFlorida1987–1990, 1992–1994, 1996, 1998Football
Texas StadiumIrvingTexas1975–1977, 1985–1989, 1991–2008Football
Three Rivers StadiumPittsburghPennsylvania1978, 1983Baseball / football
U.S. Bank StadiumMinneapolisMinnesota2017–2019Football
Arrowhead StadiumKansas CityMissouri1980–1983Football
John F. Kennedy StadiumPhiladelphiaPennsylvania1980Football
RCA DomeIndianapolisIndiana1992–2008Football
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial StadiumWashington, D.C.1983Baseball / football
Foxboro StadiumFoxboroughMassachusetts1983–1984, 1990Football
Rose BowlPasadenaCalifornia1983–1985, 1990, 1993Football
Talladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaAlabama1984Racetrack
New Era FieldOrchard ParkNew York1984Football
Cal ExpoSacramentoCalifornia1984Racetrack
Miami Orange BowlMiamiFlorida1987Football
Joe Robbie StadiumMiamiFlorida1989Football
Giants StadiumEast RutherfordNew Jersey1987–1991Football
State Fair SpeedwayOklahoma CityOklahoma1989–1991Racetrack
American Legion Memorial StadiumCharlotteNorth Carolina1990–1995Football
Tropicana FieldSt. PetersburgFlorida1991Baseball / Football
Cleveland StadiumClevelandOhio1995Baseball / football
Cotton BowlDallasTexas1983–1984, 1990Football

World Supercross Championship winners by year

Conceived in 2003; merged with AMA series prior to the 2008 season.
Year450 Class
2020Eli Tomac
2019Cooper Webb
2018Jason Anderson
2017Ryan Dungey
2016Ryan Dungey
2015Ryan Dungey
2014Ryan Villopoto
2013Ryan Villopoto
2012Ryan Villopoto
2011Ryan Villopoto
2010Ryan Dungey
2009James Stewart, Jr.
2008Chad Reed
2007James Stewart, Jr.
2006James Stewart, Jr.
2005Ricky Carmichael
2004Heath Voss
2003Chad Reed