First 13 Athletes Confirmed for the Global Series’ Six Events in 2023

The FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) continues to build momentum as it heads into the 2023 season, with a roster of world-class riders already signed and focused on claiming the Championship Title. 

Having experienced the incredible level of competition the new World Supercross Championship offers, 11 riders who competed in the 450cc (WSX) and 250cc (SX2) classes in 2022 have already confirmed their return, along with some new names.

SX Global CEO Adam Bailey said after the success of the 2022 season, the FIM World Supercross Championship is continuing to gain momentum and attract the fraternity’s elite athletes. 

The 2023 season is really starting to take shape, and I’m thrilled to see teams begin to announce their rider roster, which includes returning riders as well as some new racers who will line up at the start gates in July.

Adam Bailey

“This is just the beginning. There is a huge amount of work and negotiations that I’m aware of between teams, manufacturers, and championship contenders happening as we speak. It’s an incredibly exciting time. 

“We will have many more exciting announcements about riders, the Championship and our expanded broadcast partnerships coming soon,” Bailey said.

American sensation Joey Savatgy (Rick Ware Racing) has unfinished business and is determined to claim the podium’s top step after finishing runner-up to Ken Roczen in the WSX class in 2022.

New to WSX in 2023 is former AMA 250cc Champion Justin Hill, competing for the BUD Racing Kawasaki team and in career-best form. Joining Hill at BUD Racing is the popular Frenchman Cédric Soubeyras. 

Fellow French countrymen Thomas Ramette and Greg Aranda join Team GSM and between them, bring a multitude of European Motocross and Supercross Championship wins.

AMA Pro Motocross and Supercross Champion Dean Wilson (Firepower Honda), Former World Motocross Champion Jordi Tixier (Honda NILS) and longtime Supercross racer Kyle Chisholm (Pipes Motorsport) are also confirmed to compete in the premier class again.

Nine-time Australian Motocross and Supercross Champion Matt Moss will be looking to continue his return to peak form as he steps up to the WSX class in 2023 with MDK Motorsports.

2022 SX2 class World Supercross Champion Shane McElrath will be out to prove he is still a dominant force in his class, with his sights firmly set on going back-to-back and defending his World Title with Rick Ware Racing.

Hoping to put a stop to his Championship reign, however, will be the in-form 2022 runner-up Max Anstie (Firepower Honda), six-time French Champion Max Desprey (Team GSM) and upcoming talent Dilan Schwartz (Pipes Motorsport), who all return to the World Supercross fold in the SX2 class.

FIM World Supercross Championship
2023 provisional calendar, 08 December
FIM and SX Global announce Six 2023 FIM World Supercross Championship events
After two highly successful pilot events in 2022 that saw more than 85,000 fans enjoy world-class supercross action in Cardiff, Wales and Melbourne, Australia, FIM and SX Global today announced six events for the 2023 FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX). The 2023 schedule will expand the championship’s global footprint with FIM- sanctioned Championship rounds in France, Germany, and Canada, while also returning to Australia and the UK. The championship will also expand into Southeast Asia, with the exact location to be announced in the near future.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to see our vision for a truly global supercross championship steadily coming to fruition. Our goals, while ambitious, are clear to elevate supercross to a global audience through a truly international calendar of events, visit diverse destinations that have well-established and passionate fan bases, and visit new regions where supercross can grow and flourish,” said SX Global CEO, Adam Bailey. “We believe the 2023 schedule delivers on these promises, yet it’s only the tip of the spear. We have so much more room for growth in regions across the globe that are hungry to witness this incredible spectacle, firsthand. We are only scratching the surface of our long-term plan for WSX.”
WSX will bring its pioneering supercross experience back to the UK, at Villa Park, Birmingham for the opening round on July 1st. The Championship will then cross the channel to France for round two on July 22nd at Groupama Stadium in Lyon-Décines. The series will make its way into South-East Asia on September 30th, before heading to Dusseldorf, Germany on October 14th at Merkur Spiel Arena. On October 28th, WSX will be in Canada at BC Place in Vancouver and, once again, the series finale will take place in Melbourne, Australia at Marvel Stadium, on Nov. 24th and 25th.
“Our pilot season was designed to test what is possible and prove that the sport of supercross has strong demand from fans in previously underserved countries across the world,” said Bailey. “The incredible fan response and attendance for events in Cardiff and Melbourne reinforced that our instincts were indeed correct, and we are now powered by strong momentum and interest from cities, promoters, broadcasters and sponsors all wanting to be part of the new global championship. We are excited to continue to showcase this incredible sport to fans across the globe”.
FIM Motocross Commission Director Mr Antonio Alia Portela said: “After a successful 2022 debut season, SX Global is bringing the FIM World Supercross Championship to new countries. World Supercross enters a new era which will see the series expand to countries and venues worldwide, much to the delight of its many fans. And this is only the beginning, we are confident that many more countries will join the Championship in the near future.”