Rain is in the forecast for Southwick, Massachusetts, on the days leading up to race day, and on Saturday. You never know what will end up happening, but it sure looks like we won’t be escaping adverse weather this time around. The good news is the sandy soil at Southwick is great for soaking up moisture and it shouldn’t make a drastic difference unless there’s a total deluge. Still, expect to see more riders with roll off setups than usual at Southwick. -Aaron Hansel 

Seasoned MXGP riders might not refer to Southwick as a deep sand track, but here in America, it’s by far the sandiest venue in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The track races much differently than the other tracks on the circuit too. Some sections get incredibly rough with sand whoops, proper line selection is especially crucial, and there aren’t really any big jumps. Finding the best lines will be as important as raw speed this weekend. -Hansel 

Two weeks ago, at High Point Jalek Swoll competed in his first race of 2025, and the first since severing his Achilles tendon before supercross. He did really well too, going 14-8 for tenth overall to be the best-finishing Triumph rider of the day. These numbers don’t exceed Swoll’s ability, but for his first race back after such a big injury it’s a fantastic finish. With a great debut still fresh in the rearview, how will Swoll fare in the sands of Southwick? -Hansel

Before last year Southwick was considered one of the tracks on which Haiden Deegan didn’t excel. Well, that went out the window in 2024 when Deegan went 1-2 for the overall, and he even overcame a crash in the second moto to earn that result. Deegan looks even better this year than he did last, too. Will he be dominant at the same track that was once considered his weakest? -Hansel

Tom Vialle no doubt came into the summer intent on competing for the championship, but after four rounds he’s facing a 69-point deficit to Haiden Deegan. A title seems highly unlikely at this point, but Vialle, who took second overall at High Point, can still compete for wins. The competition is fierce, there’s no denying that, but Vialle is also capable of getting it done, depending on how the motos play out. We’ll see if he can get back to winning form at Southwick. -Hansel 

• Motocross

  • Race Day Live (Qualifying) 

    Live

    June 28 - 10:00 AM

    

  • Race Day Live (Qualifying) 

    Live

    June 28 - 10:00 AM

    

  • June 28 - 1:00 PM

    

  • All Four Motos (450 First) 

    Live

    June 28 - 1:00 PM

    

  • All Four Motos (450 First) 

    Live

    June 28 - 1:00 PM

    

Eli Tomac races for championships, and if he wants to win the one he’s competing in right now, he’s got to win at the tracks he’s especially good at. Southwick is one of those tracks, and the last time he raced here, he went 1-1. That was back in 2022, however, and the landscape of Pro Motocross has evolved since. Will Tomac have the magic at Southwick once again this weekend? -Hansel

Aaron Plessinger has been great this summer and has been a consistent frontrunner. He’s even led a bunch of laps, although so far he hasn’t been able to lead the most important, and final, lap. That’s life when you’re racing against the guys Plessinger faces every weekend, but even so, you’d think sooner or later, as long as Plessinger keeps running up front, a breakthrough win would come. Is it possible the rain might help that moment happen as soon as Southwick? -Hansel 

Justin Barcia will return to action this weekend at Southwick after being sidelined in supercross due to a knee injury. The New York native has been known to like the sand of Southwick, and has podiumed multiple times in the 450 class and even got his first ever win on a 250 at this track back in 2009. Which makes this weekend a perfect track to make his return to racing. How will he fair? -Sarah Whitmore

Mud and sand are the great equalizers and this weekend we could see both. So far this season we have seen the same five guys up front, Jett Lawrence, Eli Tomac, Aaron Plessinger, Hunter Lawrence, and Justin Cooper. But if there is one race to shake things up it would be the sand of Southwick, the place where Brett Metcalfe and Matt Goerke got their one and only 450 wins. Will we see another upset this weekend or will it be more of the same? -Whitmore

For Jorge Prado it has been a rough start to the Pro Motocross Championship. Many expected the 2024 MXGP World Champion to be battling for wins right out of the gate, but moving continents, switching bike brands, and coming back from a shoulder injury suffered in supercross is a lot to overcome. Luckily this weekend is a great time for him to turn things around, as Hansel mentioned above, MXGP riders are known for their sand riding skills. Will this be the boost he needs to land on the box for the first time? -Whitmore