Race Report: SMX Playoff Opener Cut Short by Weather at zMAX Dragway
Concord, NC — The SMX Playoff opener, held at zMAX Dragway over the weekend, faced significant disruption due to severe weather conditions, leading to the cancellation of the second motos. Following the first 450 moto, lightning and heavy rain prompted an evacuation and a nearly two-hour delay before the event was ultimately called off.
This race represented a milestone as it was the first live broadcast of an SMX Playoff event on NBC. However, due to the delays, much of the airtime was consumed by replays from the previous year. With visibility diminishing and inadequate lighting for safe racing, officials opted to cancel the remaining motos.
The preliminary conditions were challenging; a heavy rainfall before the event left the track at zMAX Dragway soft, rutted, and unpredictable—a combination noted as the most demanding of the SMX series to date. Eli Tomac commented on the conditions, stating, “It was a very tough track… a true combination of conditions – with crazy deep motocross ruts, and we had to go back inside the stadium there and still get through those supercross rhythms.”
Several riders experienced significant incidents during practice sessions, including Ryder Malinoski, Christopher Harris, and Landon Gibson, the latter opting out of the race but set to return in St. Louis. Seth Hammaker also had a notable crash in qualifying but emerged uninjured. Unfortunately, teammate Garrett Marchbanks sustained a possible leg injury during the 250 race and was taken off the track. Red Bull KTM’s Julien Beaumer suffered a serious crash in qualifying, resulting in a burst fracture of his L3 vertebra, requiring surgery. He has since reported a positive recovery trajectory.
The SMX Next World All-Stars will aim to reschedule their interrupted race on Friday in St. Louis, with gate picks based on Charlotte’s qualifying results. The weekend’s activities are expected to continue as planned, excluding the second motos that were deferred at zMAX Dragway.
As the series progresses, teams and riders will need to recalibrate strategies and preparations in light of the unique challenges posed by the weather-affected opener.
