SuperMotocross 250 countdown: No. 11, Garrett Marchbanks pivoted twice on his way to the playoffs

featured-image

Garrett Marchbanks’ 2024 season was a disjointed affair that featured a change in class and, ultimately, a change of teams, but when the dust settled, he nearly cracked the top 10 in SuperMotocross World Championship points. Marchbanks began the season strong. Racing for ClubMX in the 250 West division, he flirted with the top five in the season opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, before finishing seventh.

While others struggled in Round 2 in San Francisco, Marchbanks earned his first podium in two years, having hit that mark most recently in the second race of the Orlando residency during the COVID-19-impacted season of 2021. Dan Beaver , Dan Beaver , Marchbanks is one of the larger racers in the 250 division, standing 6', 2" tall and weighing in at a little under 190 pounds, and that contributed to his control in the muddy conditions that marked the early rounds of the Monster Energy Supercross seasons. One week after finishing third in San Francisco, he took the lead of the San Diego feature from RJ Hampshire on a heavy track on Lap 8 and held it for four laps.



A small mistake in traffic when he got stalled behind Robbie Wageman as he attempted to lap him allowed Nate Thrasher, another solidly built dirt bike rider, to close the distance and steal the victory. Undeterred, Marchbanks rinsed the mud off his bike and swept the top 10 in seven rounds. He rode well until injury kept him from making the final three races of the stadium season.

Missing those rounds denied him the opportunity to finish in the top five in points 250 West, but his average finish of 5.14 marked him as one of the top performers. Dan Beaver , Dan Beaver , One season earlier, when it appeared he would have a difficult time qualifying for the 250 SuperMotocross playoffs, Marchbanks and ClubMX team manager Mike Bonacci decided to pivot and score Pro Motocross points on a 450 .

The gamble paid off; Marchbanks qualified for the playoffs on the big bike and finished seventh in the standings. Since it worked once, Marchbanks and ClubMX were prepared to replicate the performance. Fate had different plans, and a hard crash on Press Day for the season opener at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, kept Marchbanks off the circuit for the first four rounds in the 4540 division.

Marchbanks returned to action at Southwick, but he was unable to replicate his success from a year early and scored only one top-10 in three rounds. It was time to pivot again, but this time, Marchbanks had a bigger change in mind. Dan Beaver , Dan Beaver , Marchbanks renewed his contract with ClubMX at the start of the end of the 2023 season and was in the middle of a two-year extension .

But dirt bike racing is a fraternity and ClubMX was not going to stand in the way of Marchbanks’ success. Pro Circuit Kawasaki was dealing with a rash of injuries and had an open seat in the 250 division — one that Marchbanks was more than happy to fill . He joined them for the Unadilla Nationals and added to his Supercross points.

Marchbanks ended the Supercross season 11th in the combined 250 West and East standings, but after missing so many races in Motocross, he was not guaranteed to finish in the top 20 and get an automatic invitation to the features. A pair of fifth-place finishes in Unadilla’s motos helped, and he ended the season 19th in the 250 SuperMotocross standings once Supercross and Motocross were added together. Finishing 10th at zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, 12th at Texas Motor Speedway, and 10th in the season finale at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway allowed Marchbanks to move up seven spots and finish 12th in the standings.

The 2025 season promises much more. He will return to action with Pro Circuit and spend the entire SuperMotocross season on a 250. That organization has a history of excellence, and Marchbanks should easily contend for a top-10 points finish this year.

2024 Statistics Feature starts: 13 Average feature finish: 9.54 Podiums: 2 Top-fives: 5 Top-10s: 10 Best finish: Second (San Diego SX) SMX Standings/payout: 12th/$13,000 2024 News Garrett Marchbanks joins Pro Circuit beginning at Unadilla Marchbanks, ClubMX part ways Marchbanks crashes on Press Day at Fox Raceway Marchbanks sizzles in the mud, starts 2024 with two podiums 450 Countdown 11. Malcolm Stewart 12.

Dylan Ferrandis 13. Christian Craig 14. Shane McElrath 15.

Dean Wilson 250 Countdown 12. Max Anstie 13. Julien Beaumer 14.

Coty Schock 15. Ryder DiFrancesco More SuperMotocross News 2025 SX schedule | MX schedule | MXGP Schedule 2025 Supercross tickets on sale | Pro Motocross tickets 2025 TV Schedule | Track Maps Jorge Prado confirmed for Monster Energy Kawasaki Ken Roczen renews with H.E.

P. Suzuki Malcolm Stewart was strong in the middle of the season Cooper Webb crowned King of Paris | Wins Paris Supercross Night 1 Max Vohland opens up about injury, potential for addiction Max Anstie is a big fish in a small pond Dylan Ferrandis and unanswered questions Dylan Walsh, Max Sanford return to Host Grindstone WSX announces wild card entrants for Australian GP Julien Beaumer ended 2025 season with SMX top-10 sweep.