August is an unusual time for a championship to begin, but the FIM World Supercross Championship has never followed convention. SX Global's built its identity around challenging established norms, from its non-traditional calendar to the broader business model.

The start of 2026's season marks the fifth year of the project, the championship's most robust calendar (six events) and its best line-up. Above all else, the injection of cash and belief from Monster Energy underlines the potential of WSX.

WSX'S NEWFOUND ENERGY 

The FIM World Supercross Championship's faced much opposition – the list of financial backers has been scarce. It's understandable: the series was unstable under its past ownership and had battled to establish a clear pathway towards long-term relevance. 2025's five-round championship – modest in scale but solid in execution – silenced doubts and provided SX Global with the stable foundation it had long needed to build upon.

Monster Energy is linked with AMA Supercross, AMA Pro Motocross, the FIM Motocross World Championship and Motocross of Nations. Simply, the claw is a recognizable vote of confidence (and stamp of legitimacy) that off-road fans flock towards. That endorsement is arguably worth more than the financial investment attached to the 'Official Energy Product' agreement.

WEBB: BIG 'COUP' FOR WSX

SX Global has added a 450SX champion to its full-time roster for just the third time. Cooper Webb will attempt to follow in the title-winning footsteps of Jason Anderson and Eli Tomac by lifting the crown in his first season with Rick Ware Racing. Tomac has yet to confirm his World Supercross plans, although the expectation is that he could make one or two wildcard appearances, and so Anderson stays as his main opposition.

In the seven occasions that Webb and Anderson have raced in 2026, Webb's finished ahead five times. On paper, that makes him the clear favorite for the SX1 crown – he has the better of Anderson in a traditional championship format. World Supercross, however, places more of an emphasis on intensity and sprint speed. Those are qualities that should help narrow the difference between the pair.

Anderson will benefit from his familiarity with Pipes Motorsport Group's RM-Z450. Whilst Webb will steer his YZ450F (with RWR colors) in Canada, he'll switch to Husqvarna's FC 450 from round two and enter races inside of Great Britain and Argentina with limited seat time. Is Webb the favorite? Yes. Are there unique circumstances that will test him? Without doubt.

WSX'S BOLSTERED ROSTER

Naturally, SX1 is World Supercross' headline division and its rider roster has typically reflected that status. SX2, while competitive, has often lacked depth at the front, with just two realistic title contenders. The same is true in 2026, but Cameron McAdoo's arrival offers the class greater credibility. McAdoo is a 250SX frontrunner, like Max Anstie, ensuring the division is represented by active riders rather than names from a past era.

Will McAdoo be competitive with Anstie? It'll be difficult. Anstie is all too familiar with WSX's format and even his move to ClubMX's YZ250F will not disrupt his momentum. In contrast, McAdoo will suffer from a lack of seat time and have to adapt to Honda's CRF250R at round two (the first time that he'll steer a manufacturer other than Kawasaki in the 2020s).

McAdoo boosts SX2 in a similar fashion to Webb's SX1 impact. It's not a drastic improvement, but it's imperative that SX Global continues to add full-time names with each year. The wildcard model – whilst incredibly effective – is not sustainable nor does it reflect WSX's health. Mitchell Harrison, Jake Cannon and Brodie Connolly have also been added to 2026's championship.

SWIMMING IN THE DEPTHS

Whilst it won't be a lead narrative, curious athletes exist in the SX1 field. Can Christian Craig – so close in 2025 – build on his recent form to upset the established status quo? It's understandable that most would favor Anderson and Webb, but the unorthodox format could prompt inconsistencies and open the door for a new victor. It's Craig who will lead the pack of desperate contenders.

Where will Harrison fit into a class that promotes more chance than where he typically operates? Can Luke Clout or Enzo Lopes (absent for round one despite his 'full time' label) replicate their superb form on home soil in an international arena? It's questions like these that come with a new season that pushes athletes from one continent to another.

WSX'S NEWEST TERRITORY

Access to notable off-road events had already risen for those across Oceania – 2026 marks another peak in the region's calendar. Eight events will grace Australia and New Zealand between MXGP, AUS-X and WSX. Whilst it could be considered problematic that all of those fall within a 76-day span, the landscape is so vast that it appears almost impossible to oversaturate.

New Zealand specifically has been starved for the best part of a decade but will be blessed with two events across the fall. For SX Global, the late addition of New Zealand marks an important statement of intent. Prior to its inclusion, the schedule had stalled for the first time with no new nations added (albeit with an abundance of different cities). It's a reminder of the organization's commitment to expansion.

The announcement of New Zealand's involvement could be considered an easy win. Oceania has already proven itself to be a successful market for WSX, and the nation has no conflicting championship (only a single round of AUS-X's ultra-successful series). It's a reflection of SX Global's more measured approach that they continue to play to their strengths rather than enter a competitive market such as Europe or Brazil.

There will come a time when that challenge must be confronted head-on. Perhaps 2027 is the year in which the championship stops skirting its fundamental issues and tests itself on the biggest stage. Only then, perhaps, will the FIM World Supercross Championship be held in the highest regard that it so craves. To dream of such a feat was impossible prior to 2025's season. Now, on the eve of 2026's launch, it's conceivable.