Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1481458
be available to fans in more than 140 countries around the world. "With our wide array of live and original motorsports offerings, Peacock is a natural home for Supercross and Pro Motocross races," said Rick Cordella, Chief Commercial Officer, Peacock. "We're looking forward to providing fans with an easily-accessible desti- nation to find every race all season long, including the exciting finish with the newly formed SuperMoto- cross World Championship." Representatives from all the ma- jor factories—Honda, Yamaha, Ka- wasaki, KTM, GasGas, Husqvarna and Suzuki—attended the confer- ence and voiced their support of the new system. Several factory racers were also on hand, as well, including Jason Anderson, Adam Cianciarulo, two-time Super- cross Champion Cooper Webb, Husqvarna's Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig, as well as former Supercross Champions Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Villopoto and Jeff Stanton, who won the AMA Supercross title at the final round in 1992 at the Coliseum. All sup- port the new championship. "The SuperMotocross World Championship puts riders in a position to have to perform in both disciplines," said 15-time champ Carmichael. "I cannot wait to see how they're able to take advantage of their strengths over the course of the season and how it will come together for the playoffs. Above all, I'm really excited for the unity of Su- percross and Pro Motocross and seeing what Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing are doing to help foster the growth of the sport. One vision, one goal. I can't think of a sport where the playoff format doesn't work and doesn't provide excitement. Everyone is going to benefit from this, from the manu- facturers to the riders, and most importantly, the fans." The idea of SuperMotocross World Championship between Feld and MX Sports first came to light in 2020 when the pandemic forced the stoppage of the Monster Energy Supercross Series and threatened the cancelation of the outdoor series. The two groups combined efforts to figure out a plan to complete the 2020 Super- cross Championship and proceed with the outdoor series, which they successfully accomplished. This sparked the idea of the two groups continuing to work together full- time for the good of the sport, and, as a result, the SuperMotocross Championship was conceived. All of the manufacturers approved of the SMX concept, and the green light was given. It was then that Feld Motor Sports chose not to re-align with the FIM so that one unified rulebook can be used for all three championships. "This has been two-and-a-half years in the making," said Ken- neth Feld, Chair and CEO, Feld Entertainment, Inc. "Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing initially came together to preserve a 2020 racing season during the pandemic and soon realized we're stronger together. We asked ourselves, 'How can we better the sport?' And from that emerged the concept for the SuperMoto- cross World Championship. We're dedicated to retaining the history of each respective championship and will continue to crown individu- al champions for both disciplines, but we'll now come together to crown an ultimate champion." CN IN THE WIND P32 The 2023 Coliseum track map is already revealed. The historic stadium will host the playoff final, where the first SuperMotocross World Champion will be crowned.