How Pro Motocross Works: Motos, Points and Race Day
An AMA Pro Motocross national is decided over two races, called motos, that each last 30 minutes plus two laps. Up to 40 riders start each moto, and points from the two motos are added together to decide the overall winner of the day: 25 for a win, 22 for second, 20 for third, 18 for fourth, and fewer for each place after that. If two riders tie on points, the one who finished better in the second moto wins. The championship runs 11 rounds from May to August, and the 2026 titles went to Hunter Lawrence in the 450 class and Cole Davies in the 250 class.
Supercross gets the stadium crowds, but outdoor motocross is the sport in its original form: natural terrain, long laps, big elevation changes and races long enough that fitness decides as much as raw speed. Here is how a national weekend works from the first practice to the podium.
The championship: 11 rounds across the country
The Pro Motocross Championship is sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing and produced by MX Sports Pro Racing. The AMA has recognized professional motocross as a championship since 1972. The season opens in California in May, then travels through Colorado, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Washington, New York and Maryland before the finale at Ironman Raceway in Indiana in late August. Many of these tracks are among the most famous in the sport. See our guide to iconic Pro Motocross tracks.
There are two classes:
- 450 Class: the premier class, raced on bikes up to 450cc.
- 250 Class: the support class on smaller bikes, where young riders develop before moving up. Unlike supercross, outdoor motocross has a single national 250 championship rather than East and West regions.
Race day, step by step
A national is a one-day event, and the schedule is packed:
- Practice and timed qualifying. In the morning, each class gets practice time followed by timed qualifying sessions. Lap times decide who makes the 40-rider gate, and the fastest qualifier gets first choice of starting position, which is called gate pick.
- Opening ceremonies. Around midday the track crew prepares the circuit and the motos begin.
- First motos. The 250 Class and 450 Class each race their first moto.
- Second motos. After a break, each class races its second moto on a track that has been chewed up by everything before it. Ruts, braking bumps and holes make the second moto a different race from the first.
- The podium. Moto points are added up and the overall winners are crowned for the day.
Why 30 minutes plus two laps is so hard
When the clock hits 30 minutes, the race is not over. Riders still have two more laps to complete, so a moto usually runs close to 35 minutes. That is considerably longer than a supercross main event, on a track with long climbs, fast sweepers and summer heat. A rider who leads early but fades in the final 10 minutes can lose several places, and a rider who saves something for the end can win a moto after a bad start. That is why fitness and race management are so central to outdoor motocross.
The start still matters. Getting to the first turn in front, called the holeshot, keeps a rider out of the first-lap chaos and gives him clean lines to use. But a moto is long enough that a great rider who starts poorly can still come through the pack, which is much harder in a shorter supercross main on a tighter track.
How the overall winner is decided
Each moto awards the same championship points. The overall result for the day is simply the combined total, and the overall winner is not always someone who won a moto. Here is how three riders' days could play out:
| Rider | Moto 1 | Moto 2 | Points | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider B | 2nd (22) | 2nd (22) | 44 | 1st |
| Rider C | 4th (18) | 1st (25) | 43 | 2nd, wins the tiebreak |
| Rider A | 1st (25) | 4th (18) | 43 | 3rd |
Rider B wins the day without winning either moto, because two second places are worth more than a win and a fourth. Riders A and C both have 43 points, so the tie goes to the better second-moto finish, which puts Rider C ahead. This is why consistency wins championships outdoors. A rider who finishes on the podium in every moto will usually beat a faster rider who mixes wins with bad results.
The season championship
Championship points accumulate across both motos at every round, so a season includes 22 motos per class. The title goes to the rider with the most points after the finale. In 2026 Hunter Lawrence won the 450 Class title and Cole Davies won the 250 Class title, both decided at the Ironman finale. Spain's Jorge Prado took the first Pro Motocross overall win of his career at that same race.
Outdoor points also count toward the SuperMotocross World Championship, which combines supercross and motocross results to seed a three-round playoff in September.
How motocross differs from supercross
The two disciplines share riders, bikes and teams, but they are not the same sport. Supercross is raced in stadiums on tight, man-made tracks, with heat races and a single main event. Motocross is raced outdoors on natural terrain with two long motos and combined scoring. Our guide to supercross vs. motocross explains the differences in detail, and the motocross glossary covers terms like holeshot, roost and whoops.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a pro motocross moto?
Each moto lasts 30 minutes plus two laps, which usually works out to about 35 minutes of racing. Riders race two motos per class at every national.
How is the overall winner of a motocross national decided?
Points from the two motos are added together. A moto win is worth 25 points, second 22, third 20 and fourth 18, with fewer points for each place after that. The rider with the most combined points wins the overall, and a tie goes to the rider with the better second-moto finish.
How many rounds are in the Pro Motocross Championship?
Eleven. The season runs from May to late August, starting in California and finishing at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Who won the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship?
Hunter Lawrence won the 2026 450 Class championship and Cole Davies won the 250 Class championship. Both titles were decided at the Ironman National in Indiana.
