AMA Trims 2027 Supercross Main Event Field
The AMA released an eight-page bulletin updating the 2027 Supercross rulebook, including a smaller main event field and a higher minimum racing age.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Motorsports
The AMA published an eight-page bulletin updating its 2027 Supercross rulebook, reducing the main event field from 22 riders to 20. The rule changes also raise the minimum age to race pro to 18 and lower the per-class entry cap from 80 riders to 66.
Why it matters
The smaller fields are intended to reduce the number of lapped riders on track during races. The changes take effect in the 2027 season and alter how riders qualify for main events across the Supercross calendar.
The 2027 Supercross rules set a minimum pro racing age of 18 and a pre-race sound limit of 109 dB/A. Heat races hold 19 riders, and the top eight from each heat transfer to the main event, down from nine in 2026.
The players
American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)
The AMA is the sanctioning body that governs amateur and professional motorcycle racing in the United States, including Supercross and Pro Motocross.
The details
The bulletin also requires chest protectors for every rider. Four riders transfer from the LCQ races to the main event, unchanged from 2026, and Pro Motocross will continue to hold 80 riders per class.
Timeline
2026: Prior rules set the minimum age at 17 and the entry cap at 80 riders per class.
November 3, 2026: The AMA published the eight-page 2027 rulebook update bulletin.
2027: New rules take effect, including the age 18 minimum, 20-rider main events and the 66-rider cap.
Season Trajectory
The 2027 bulletin continues the AMA's move from the 2026 rulebook, which set an 80-rider per-class cap and a 22-rider main event. Reducing both numbers narrows the path to the main event and changes the qualifying structure for the season.
Fantasy and betting formats built around Supercross main events will need to account for a 20-rider field in 2027. Riders outside the top 38 in qualifying will have a narrower path into the night show.
The takeaway
Smaller fields and higher age minimums signal the AMA's effort to manage track congestion and rider safety. Fans should watch how the 2027 qualifying structure plays out across the season.
Further reading
For more on the sport's competitive structure, see Motorsports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Racer X Online.
