2024 Supercross | What’s Happening With The 450 Class?

2024 AMA RIDER NUMBERS
2024 SUPERCROSS SCHEDULE & TRACK MAPS

As everyone continues to push forward for the fast-approaching start to the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Championship, we decided to take the 450 Class results from the 2023 Anaheim One Supercross and put together a one-sheet on the riders that raced the Main Event and LCQ.

You’ll notice this is a very brief update, as we’ve summarized the most significant details for the 44 competitors through the assorted team switches, training program changes, new motorcycles, or, in the case of some, a decision to step away from professional racing entirely.

Jett Lawrence, Justin Cooper, and Hunter Lawrence are missing from the list, as the three did not participate in the 450 Class at Anaheim One last year. The Lawrence brothers will headline Team Honda HRC’s big bike program in 2024, and Cooper has been promoted to a full-time spot on the big bike at Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha.

Extended highlights and results from 2023 are included at the bottom of the page. It was important to have these details, as a quick rewatch or scan of the scoresheet will remind you of all the action that happened during the January night. The 21-lap feature saw four different riders run at the front with Justin Barcia’s strong start, Malcolm Stewart’s effort in the middle of the race, Chase Sexton’s late push before getting shuffled back to third, and Eli Tomac’s eventful lead-crash-comeback win.

450 MAIN EVENT

Eli Tomac – Already considered an all-timer, comeback from Achilles could make him a living legend, one year deal with Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha, clearly stated his thoughts on the injury and motivation to comeback in recent Dirt Shark video

Cooper Webb – Much anticipated return to Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha moved to Tallahassee and Swanepoel program, part of three-man 450 squad, working with the team to dial back the engine from Tomac’s all-power spec, paired with mechanic Alex Campbell

Chase Sexton – Defending SX champion, new single-digit 4, multi-year deal at Red Bull KTM with mechanic Brandon Zimmerman, will not be part of Baker’s Factory program, explained the desire and reason for changes on AC’s podcast

Dylan Ferrandis – Desire to ride CRF450R led to Phoenix Honda with support from Factory Connection, recent interviews with Weigandt and LeBig explain how negotiations to possibly join HEP and ride at Moto Sandbox were influenced by another rider, has moved to Clermont and will ride with Lawrence brothers

Ken Roczen – Re-upped with HEP Suzuki for another year, just won the WSX championship, still looking for perfection from the RM-Z amid differences between AMA/Paris/WSX bikes, Billy Hartle will be mechanic amid Travis Soules stepping back

Colt Nichols – Just completed term with Rick Ware Racing in WSX, turns attention to multi-year ride with Liqui Moly Beta Factory Racing, will debut all-new purpose-built 450 in SX and SMX, testing with team near North American HQ in Paso Robles, California

Jason Anderson – New extension with Kawasaki goes through 2025, will be aboard the all-new KX450, still based in California, training with Charles Dao

Aaron Plessinger – Signed one-year extension with Red Bull KTM through 2024, potential for updated chassis on Factory Edition bike, factory team testing 48mm forks for change in handling/rigidity

Adam Cianciarulo – Extension with Kawasaki, will be aboard the all-new KX450, ongoing nerve issue in arm continues to be a question mark, but he’s addressed it with different options and specialists

Joey Savatgy – Runner-up in WSX as part of Rick Ware Racing, has a multi-year contract with Triumph’s developing factory team, but complications from AMA holding strong on the rule that keeps him out of 250 SX and a 450 that won’t be ready until 2025 means he will wait until 250 MX to race

Justin Barcia – Staying at Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing, recent talk of going a few more years and then retiring with the team, coming back from a complicated collarbone injury and surgery that kept him from racing in Paris

Marvin Musquin – Recently confirmed he will not compete in 2024 AMA SX

Christian Craig – Middle of multi-year Husqvarna deal, missed much of 2023 after April elbow injury, still at Aldon’s, same chassis changes to KTM Factory Edition expected for Husqvarna Rockstar Edition

Dean Wilson – Won the Australian SX title, continuing with Fire Power Honda in US SX, SMX, Australian SX, and WSX will push retirement another year

Justin Hill – Back with Team Tedder, will be aboard a KTM with enzo suspension

Malcolm Stewart – Re-signed with Husqvarna through 2025, coming back from a knee injury that put him out for almost the entire year, still at Aldon’s

Grant Harlan – On the mend from hip injury suffered at MXON in France, won’t be on the bike for a few more weeks, aiming to return to action midway through SX, will stay with Rock River Yamaha and get increased support

Josh Hill – Continues with Team Tedder, Mountain Motorsports backed and on a Yamaha

Justin Starling – Privateer program will continue, increased support from American Honda on parts and contingency

Kevin Moranz – Launched KMR, which allows him to continue his fan-supported programs, will be on 2024 SX-F models from Letko KTM

Fredrik Noren – Returned to Theodore Pauli’s MADD Parts Kawasaki and will take on the full year of SX/MX/SMX, new number is 22

John Short – Missed most of 2023, aims to run 2024 as privateer with support from dealership Jones Powersports and other sponsors

450 LCQ

Alex Ray – Has stepped away from racing, currently working full-time at O’Neal

Joshua Cartwright – Has rejoined Theodore Pauli’s MADD Parts Kawasaki and continues to hold a full-time job as a Business Intelligence Analyst at UT Dallas

Chase Marquier ­– Has committed to racing the Midwest-based General Tire Arenacross series as a privateer

Lane Shaw – Switched to Yamaha, will continue as privateer in 2024

Brandon Scharer – Has stopped racing and moved back to Southern California to work for Race Tech at the company’s HQ

Tristan Lane – Will run the 2024 season as an independent with Next Level Racing

Jared Lesher – Committed to AMA Arenacross series aboard a two-stroke, unable to secure title sponsor for program, has opened up a fan-support program on Patreon

Logan Karnow – Popular privateer continues with support from OnlyFans, O’Neal, Kennedy Cycle, training in Florida, three-digit number in 2024.

Gared Steinke – Fan-favorite continues to do his own thing on the West Coast

Alex Nagy – Illinois privateer continues on his own in 2024 aboard a Honda

Scotty Wennerstrom – Texas privateer will continue on his own in 2024, sponsorship opportunities available for every round

Richard Taylor – Will miss the start of SX after a crash resulted in a compound fracture of the femur, a torn meniscus, and complications to a prior leg injury

Joan Cros – Will continue racing in 2024 as a privateer aboard a Kawasaki

Cade Clason – Signed a two-year deal with Partzilla/PRMX to race through 2025

Shane McElrath – Returns to HEP Suzuki, this time with a full contract for SX/MX/SMX, has been helping young riders on HBI Racing learn Supercross in Florida

Kyle Chishom – Remains at HEP Suzuki for another season, massive help in bike development with Active Ride Suspension

Benny Bloss – Skipped MX and SMX in 2023 to prepare for the launch Liqui Moly Beta Factory effort, and was first rider signed to the new team, testing near Beta USA HQ in Paso Robles, California