2024 Charlotte SuperMotocross | Kickstart Recap & Gallery

2024 CHARLOTTE SUPERMOTOCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

The 2024 Charlotte SuperMotocross was both the continuation of a long year at the races and the beginning of many things that we may see for years to come in Supercross, Pro Motocross, and of course, the SuperMotocross World Championship. The flat four lanes of zMAX Dragway and some space off to the side were turned into obstacle-loaded layout that put riders and their teams to the test on bike setup, and thousands of fans filled the grandstands on either side to see the action. It’s been some days since the checkered flag flew, so you undoubtedly know the results, but there were a handful of things we saw during the weekend in North Carolina that deserved some details, plus hundreds of photos to browse before the next race.

The SMX rounds are becoming the perfect place for the organizers of the series to implement new partners, programs, and initiatives. Friday’s announcement of Progressive Insurance signing on as the sponsor of FanFest, the holeshot stripe, and new title partner for Team Honda HRC was the latest from their marketing department (the company already sponsors Red Bull KTM, the 450 wing of Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha, and both divisions of HEP Motorsports-PMG) and shows the nation’s largest insurance provider is investing in motocross. Sony Pictures, who entered the sport with Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing earlier this year, promoted the upcoming release of “Venom: The Last Dance” with a-frame structures near the sandpit and sponsorship of the drone cameras used to capture the action.

We struck up conversation with the Food Vendor Manager of the property on Saturday afternoon as she snapped photos of the different stands and trucks that were set up around the property. Getting enough people to vend was a massive challenge last year, but the overwhelming success of the maiden visit (she told us it was one of the best attended events at the complex) was enough to entice dozens of pop-ups to stay in Charlotte for the weekend instead of following NASCAR to Atlanta. Going off this, plus the packed grandstands and Speedway Motorsports’ strong relationship with the series, we’d assume that zMAX Dragway will remain part of the championship.

The press conferences on Friday and Saturday sent shockwaves through the industry, and for two different reasons. During Team USA’s presentation, longtime Team Manager Roger DeCoster expressed that his time in charge is nearing an end and that soon someone else will need to take on the challenge, then named coordinator Christina Deeney as a potential replacement. The length of the series was covered by Chase Sexton and Jett Lawrence for seven minutes of the post-race discussion, as both were adamant the amount of races would soon wear on the competitors and that the money being paid was simply the reason that the lined up. Keep an eye on both matters, as these will be key things for the future of American motocross.