Since 1974 Supercross Racing has captured the imagination of a thrill-seeking audience, and today it’s one of the fastest growing sports in the country. With a dynamic slate of young athletes paving the way, and an expanding lineup of sponsors ready to lend their support the future looks brighter each day. Recently we had the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and witness the intricacies involved in bringing the Monster Energy Supercross Series to the masses. If you’re not a fan of the sport yet, you should be.

First things first, here’s a summarized version of the sport for the uninitiated. Born as an initiative from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), the current competitive season runs from January through early May. Named as a shortened version of the term “Super Bowl of Motocross,” 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 with locations throughout the major cities in the United States and Canada. The benefits of stadium venues helped supercross surpass off-road motocross as a spectator attraction in the United States.

Eli Tomac – Nashville

The Monster Energy Supercross Series consists of 17 rounds in the 450cc Class, and 9 rounds in 250cc West Class and 9 rounds in the 250cc East Class. The twelfth round happens at Indianapolis in April and the final round at Las Vegas in May. There’s an East-West Showdown, and 14 major stadiums and one permanent racing circuit (in a temporary stadium setup) from all over North America are involved.

The 2019 season recently culminated with over 600 entrants lined up in the 90-degree heat to compete across 26 different classes at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. This was also the last round for riders looking to qualify and join the professional ranks in the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship, which will also take place at Sam Boyd Stadium on October 20 and 21.

Cooper Webb Championship Celebration

This year’s Series ended with three Champions – Cooper Webb (450SX Class), Chase Sexton (Eastern Regional 250SX Class) and Dylan Ferrandis (Western Regional 250SX Class), Supercross Futures racers (those moving on to the professional level) took to the same track as their heroes the previous evening.

Monster Energy Supercross behind the scenes at MetLife Stadium

During our behind-the-scenes exclusive the day prior to the MetLife Stadium competition we had a chance to learn all the elements that come together to create this grandiose spectacle. From a tour of the garage and learning what separates a Supercross motorcycle  from a standard showroom purchased one, to the walking tour of the dirt track and seeing the complex obstacles riders need to maneuver, to the examining in detail of the sophisticated machines these athletes use to tempt fate; it was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Ricky Carmichael

Among the highlights of the visit was a chance to speak to the young competitors starting to pave their way, while on the other hand learning the wisdom of an athlete who broke the rules and redefined the sport, the Supercross living legend that is Ricky Carmichael.
A man who admitted that he “hated racing as a kid,” yet thanks to the encouragement of his parents and a deep inner drive to succeed became one of the sport’s leading figures, achieving the most wins in a season (14), and winning five overall Championships.

HOMBRE Magazine’s Francisco Romeo behind the scenes at Monster Energy Supercross at MetLife Stadium

Without a doubt the most exciting moment of the visit was the opportunity to suit up, jump on a motorbike, and through the magic of a virtual reality headset test the course, and compete against a strong slate of contenders. Just going through this simulation gives one the sense of the fierce adrenaline rush these athletes experience in every race, with complicated twists and turns, where the slightest mistake could lead to dire consequences.

Fortunately you can share a similar level of excitement when the next Monster Energy Supercross competition comes to a city near you. Take our word for it, if you haven’t experienced a Supercross race live, it needs to be on your 2020 To Do List.

For more information visit www.supercrosslive.com