2025 Supercross Wishlist
The first gate drop of the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross season is right around the corner in Anaheim. Here's what I'm hoping for this year.
Christmas is in the rearview mirror, and while I was lucky enough to be spoiled by those around me, a few items remain on my wishlist — gifts only a thrilling 2025 Monster Energy Supercross season can deliver.
Looking through the entry lists for 450SX, 250SX West, and 250SX East, I've pulled out a few storylines I hope will unfold between the Anaheim 1 opener this Saturday and the Salt Lake City finale on May 10.
Redemption for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Redemption for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki on the 250 side is something I'm hoping for. I was at the Nashville race in 2024 when, two turns into the main event, a crash involving Cameron McAdoo and Levi Kitchen dashed the title hopes for both, which were looking quite strong at the time with only a few weeks left before the Salt Lake City finale.
McAdoo's crash in qualifying earlier in the day set that wrecking ball in motion, and the team was left clinging to impressive Pro Motocross outings from fill-in rider Ty Masterpool to find its footing again. Mitch Payton hiring Masterpool full-time should support a stronger 2025 for the team, especially when the SuperMotocross World Championship heads outdoors.
A season of redemption for this storied team — marked by strong performances and consistency — would be a fitting response to last year's heartbreak. The team's history demands nothing less.
Breakthrough Moments for Underdogs
Motocross thrives on underdog and comeback stories, and 2025 offers plenty of riders poised to make their mark.
ClubMX is at the center of this narrative, fielding 250SX West riders Coty Schock and Jett Reynolds. Schock's remarkable 250SX East results in 2024 rewarded those who believed in him, while Reynolds still has the opportunity to turn his stellar amateur career into the professional success many expected — including himself.
Maximus Vohland represents another compelling storyline. Now riding for ClubMX and equipped with a rear brake hand lever to overcome lingering foot issues, Vohland seems determined to prove himself in a fresh environment far from familiar territory. Delivering his best rides yet in 2025 would mark a personal triumph and highlight the perseverance that defines motocross.
Other pillars of this underdog narrative include Joey Savatgy and Carson Mumford, racing for the newly renamed Quad Lock Honda Racing team. Savatgy has plenty to prove after his alliance with Triumph didn't fully pan out last year. Mumford will return under the stadium lights in 250SX East following a serious leg injury during the SuperMotocross post-season. Together with Schock, Reynolds, and Vohland, these riders embody the grit and determination that make motocross captivating.
A Field That Challenges Jett Lawrence
One of my biggest wishes for 2025 is a more competitive Chase Sexton. Since Jett Lawrence's arrival on the premier-class scene, the list of elite riders capable of earning wins indoors and out has been short. It's often taken an uncharacteristic performance from Lawrence or his absence due to injury for anyone else to claim victory.
Sexton enters 2025 as arguably the top candidate to challenge Jett, and many fans are craving it.
I love watching Jett ride, but I value the thrill of competitive, unpredictable racing more. Instead of being a near-certainty as the best of the rest, I want to see Sexton take a genuine step forward this year. Given the work he and KTM have put in, all signs point to this being a real possibility — and the result could be a treat for everyone.
Eli Tomac is another year removed from the Achilles injury that denied him a third 450SX title, and he shined during offseason international events. Meanwhile, Cooper Webb appears fitter than he was a year ago and showed renewed promise in races abroad. Together with Sexton — and veterans like Ken Roczen, Jason Anderson, Justin Barcia, and others — these athletes hold the keys to a historically competitive 2025 season in their throttle hands.
The Ultimate Comeback for Austin Forkner
If I had to pick just one wish for 2025, a comeback as impressive as the one Austin Forkner began in 2024 would be at the top of my list.
He handily won the season-opening 250SX East round before my eyes in Detroit, albeit after an unprecedented first-turn pile-up wiped out half the field — or more.
Even more remarkable was his performance seven days later, when he took it to Haiden Deegan with an unforgettable outside pass in his Arlington heat race. That same night, while leading the main event, a vicious crash ended his run and resulted in another devastating injury.
With a stacked 250SX East field shaping up for 2025, it's hard to imagine Forkner surfacing as the class of the field on his new Triumph TF 250-X. But if the disastrous 2023 Anaheim 1 start-straight incident and the terrifying 2024 Arlington crash are followed this year by rides that objectively show his best accolades are still ahead of him, it could become my favorite storyline of the season.
Multi-Rider Battles That Define the Season
Motocross is at its best when multiple riders push each other to the limit, and 2025 has all the ingredients for unforgettable battles. Cooper Webb's mental toughness, Chase Sexton's peak form, Eli Tomac's surging motivation, and Jett Lawrence's undeniable dominance set the stage for an epic title fight.
The depth of the field adds to the drama. Veterans like Jason Anderson and Justin Barcia are racing for contracts, bringing extra urgency to their performances.
With so many riders motivated to deliver their best, the battles for race wins and the championship have the potential to elevate 2025 into one of the greatest seasons in Supercross history.
