SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs Heat Up at Budds Creek
Budds Creek, MD — As the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) playoffs approach, the stakes reached a boiling point at the final regular-season race at Budds Creek. Only two coveted playoff spots remained available, pinning privateers Coty Schock, Mitchell Harrison, and Valentin Guillod against one another in a high-stakes battle.
The playoff format guarantees the top 20 riders a place on the gate at all three playoff events, while riders ranked 21-30 must navigate a Wild Card race to secure entry. With Jason Anderson officially absent from the playoffs, the Wild Card opportunities expand, increasing tension among the contenders.
In the opening moto, Schock rallied to a ninth-place finish, cutting his deficit to Guillod—who placed 12th—down to four points. Harrison finished 14th, keeping the pressure on as all three riders aimed to displace Justin Hill from 18th in points.
The second moto proved chaotic for Schock, who crashed early and struggled to recover his bike from tangled Yamaha banners. Despite a valiant effort, he finished 15th overall.
In a twist of fate, Harrison’s bike malfunctioned late in the race, leaving him powerless as Schock attempted to close the gap. “It was very stressful,” Harrison recounted, expressing disbelief at his late-season misfortune. “I thought I could get to 11th or something. Then my bike just stopped. Talk about a heart-dropping moment!”
Despite his earlier momentum, Schock’s failure to advance further in the field ultimately sealed both riders’ fate, as Guillod secured his position in the playoffs by virtue of his consistent points throughout the season.
As Budds Creek concludes, the playoff picture sharpens, with the top 20 riders solidifying their roles, while the final Wild Card spots remain a source of intrigue heading into the playoffs.
