TEN THINGS ABOUT THE NEW 250 SUPERCROSS POINT-OUT RULE

(1) AMA. That last time we explained the AMA’s 250-class point-out rule was in the November 2020 issue. Just before the 2023 SuperMotocross Championship kicked off, the point-out rules were drastically updated. Although the new 2023 rule change was too little too late for many job-hunting Supercross riders, the updates come as a pleasant surprise for riders like Austin Forkner, Jordon Smith, Michael Mosiman and every other 250 rider.  

(2) Previous rule. Before the latest update, the AMA’s point-out rule stated: “Riders who scored 135 points in a nine-round season, 120 points in an eight-race season or 105 points in a seven-race season for any four seasons in the 250 class have to move to the 450 class.”

Under the new rules, hardly anybody points out of the 250 class—thus the AMA doesn’t have to do any of that complicated math.

(3) New point-out rule. Under the all-new rules, 250 riders can stay in the 250 East/West Supercross class as long as they don’t win a championship. Section 5.2 of the AMA Supercross rulebook says: “If a rider wins the 250SX Championship in their fourth or more season, that rider will be eligible to compete in the 250SX class the following season only.” 

(4) Young winners. For riders who win a title early in their 250 East/West careers, it says: “A rider who wins a second 250SX Championship will be eligible to participate in the 250SX class for a maximum of three years total, regardless of what year they won their second title (i.e., if a rider wins their second championship in their third year of 250SX competition, they will be ineligible for the 250SX class regardless of points and therefore not eligible to defend their 250SX Championship title).” 

(5) Dropping down. Unfortunately, riders who were forced out of the 250 class previously cannot drop back down to the 250 class under any circumstances. Riders who’ve self-advanced to the 450 class are allowed to drop down to the 250 class at any time, as long as they haven’t finished inside of the top 15 of 450 Supercross in points in the last two seasons. If they have scored in the top 15 in points, they can still petition the AMA to allow them to drop back down to the 250 ranks. Vince Friese and Kyle Chisholm finished 18th and 19th in points in 450 Supercross in 2021, and they both dropped down to the 250 class in 2022—Vince for the full 250 West season and Kyle as a fill-in at Star Racing Yamaha in the 250 East region. 

(6) Season clause. Colt Nichols and Justin Cooper won the 250 East/West titles in 2021. Under the previous rules, they both had one year of elgibility to stay in the 250 Supercross class. Sadly, they both suffered injuries that caused them to miss the entire season. Colt Nichols got hurt in his Anaheim 1 heat race and Justin Cooper during a pre-season crash. Both missed the season, and both lost their 250SX eligibility.  To prevent this from happening in the future, the AMA updated the rule by stating a rider must score at least 5 points for it to be considered a season. Thankfully, HRC Honda offered Colt Nichols a Supercross-only contract for 2023 to get his feet wet in the 450 class, and Star Racing Yamaha kept Justin Cooper on its payroll to do select 450 Supercross rounds and to race the 250 outdoor Nationals. 

(7) Past updates. In 2017, Joey Savatgy, Martin Davalos, Justin Hill and Zach Osborne were about to be forced out of the 250 class under the existing point-out rules of the day. In a last-minute reprieve, the AMA decided to extend the point-out rule from three seasons to four seasons, giving those riders an extra year. 

(8) Back-up bike. At the 2022 St. Louis Triple Crown, Pierce Brown had bike issues and received his spare bike just after the sight lap had begun; however, the AMA officials said it was too late to switch bikes. When Supercross introduced the Triple Crown format (three main events in one night), they added a new rule stating that each rider could pass two bikes through tech inspection, allowing the opportunity to grab a new bike if their primary bike failed during the night show. After the Pierce Brown incident, the AMA revised the rule for 2023 to say that riders can switch to their new bike up until the 30-second board is raised. 

(9) Logo war. Instead of having the Monster Energy logo across the top of the front number plate in Supercross, the teams not sponsored by Monster front plate lobbied to have new front number plate logos that just said “Supercross.” Rider’s sponsored by Red Bull, Rockstar or any other drink brand felt it was wrong for them to have to supported a company that was in conflict with the brands that did support them. Money speaks. 

(10) 450SX qualifying. If the 450 class has fewer than 40 riders, meaning every rider who signed up would advance into the night show, the AMA now reserves the right to deny a rider the ability to compete in the night show if his lap times in timed qualifying aren’t up to par.

TEN THINGS ABOUT THE NEW 250 SUPERCROSS POINT-OUT RULE Motocross Action Magazine.