Split Up
Just like the first round, the track in Las Vegas features a split start. The track crew did a good job of making the starts even and equal in Charlotte, so they should be able to do the same in Vegas, although you never know how things will turn out once the track starts changing with use. The layout is also more supercross-like than the first two tracks. Will either of these factors prove advantageous for anyone? -Aaron Hansel
Triple Threat
Just like last week in Texas, where the points payout was double, we’ll see an increase in the points payout in Las Vegas, with riders earning triple points at the finale. This means a win is worth 75 points, second is worth 66, third is worth 60, and so on down the line. This increased payout means more riders are in contention for the championship, and there’s plenty of potential for a big shakeup in the points, depending on how the racing unfolds. -Hansel
Championship Math – 250 Class
In any other situation Haiden Deegan would have a lock on this title, but since the final round plays triple points, there are no gimme’s. That said, Deegan’s chances are still looking pretty good. He has a 19-point lead on Vialle, who holds second, which means Vialle would have to win and Deegan would have to get fourth or worse for Vialle to take the title. Levi Kitchen, who holds third, is 22 points back. For Kitchen to win the title he’d have to win the race and Deegan would have to finish fifth or worse. Considering Deegan hasn’t even lost a single moto yet, none of these situations seem likely. As long as Deegan finishes third or better, this title is his. -Hansel
Championship Math – 450 Class
The current standings in the 450 Class are pretty exciting. Hunter Lawrence leads Chase Sexton in second place by a single point, and Jett Lawrence is nine points back in third. With the points being tripled in Vegas, this means it’s a winner-take-all situation for all three of these riders. Eli Tomac is in a distant fourth, 21 back of Hunter Lawrence, and would need something drastic to happen to the top three to have a chance. He's still a factor though. If Tomac wins it likely rules out Jett Lawrence winning the championship, as Jett Lawrence needs to make up nine points on Hunter Lawrence to win the title. No matter what happens though, it’s going to be exciting to watch! -Hansel
- SuperMotocross
SuperMotocross World Championship Final
Sunday, September 22- QualifyingLiveSeptember 21 - 8:30 PM UTC
- Pre-Race ShowLiveSeptember 22 - 1:30 AM UTC
- MotosLiveSeptember 22 - 2:00 AM UTC
- MotosLiveSeptember 22 - 2:00 AM UTC
- Motos (Re-Air)September 22 - 5:00 AM UTC
- Motos (Encore Presentation)September 22 - 5:00 PM UTC
Motivated by Money
The championship, and the $1 million it pays, will almost certainly go to Sexton or one of the Lawrences, but there is still a ton of money on the table. The 450 standings are pretty tight between tenth and fifth, too, and with the triple points payout, a guy like Jason Anderson, who sits in tenth, 14 points behind Aaron Plessinger, could conceivably jump way up in the standings and substantially increase his income. Keep an eye on all the battles this weekend—the guys will be racing with dollar signs in their eyes. -Hansel
Chasing Perfection
Haiden Deegan hasn’t just been outstanding in the first two rounds of SMX, he’s been perfect, in terms of race wins. Even at round one, where he suffered from mediocre starts, he overcame and went 1-1, and in Texas he completely dominated. He doesn’t have to win the overall in Vegas to take the championship, but you know he wants to go 1-1 yet again. Will Deegan complete a clean sweep this weekend? -Hansel
Rapid Improvement
After going 14-8 for tenth overall in Charlotte, Cooper Webb showed huge improvement in Texas, where he went 5-4 for fifth overall. Jason Thomas credited part of Webb’s success last week to the tighter, slower racetrack, which Webb excelled on. Well, a look at this week’s track map reveals a layout that’s more like a supercross track than a wide open, high-speed affair. Will this translate to even better results for Webb? -Hansel
Related: Cooper Webb to Replace Chance Hymas as Team USA’s MX2 Rider at MXoN
Dark Horse
Eli Tomac might not be in a winner-take-all situation, but he is not out of it completely, and he has the ability throw a wrench in everyone else’s plans. He has only had one moto so far in SMX where he did not finish in the top two. He is definitely on his game right now, and with the other guys in a must win situation, mistakes are bound to happen. -Sarah Whitmore
Dark Out
The track layout is not the only thing that will make the finale seem more like a traditional supercross race. This will also be the first SMX race to be held during typical supercross hours, with the gate dropping at 7 p.m. local time. This should also help the track keep a bit of moisture (though it is Vegas so it is still bound to be blue groove), which was a problem in Texas. -Whitmore
Brotherly Love
Sure, we have seen the Lawrence brothers battle each other for wins, and even championships before. But never when a single race had so much on the line in terms of a championship and money. The brothers have always raced each other clean and there is no reason to think it will be any different this weekend. However, because they are training partners and know each other so well they are able to race each other harder than anyone else. If they get out front together expect this battle to be one for the ages. -Whitmore
