Garrett Marchbanks: Rising Through the Ranks in SuperMotocross World Championship Contention
Motocross is a sport that continually tests the abilities of riders and their teams. The ever-changing track conditions require constant adjustments, just like the Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, No man could ever step into the river twice for it is not the same river and he is not the same man. In this analogy, motocross is the river, and Garrett Marchbanks is the man.
Marchbanks, a talented young rider, was forced to sit out the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross season due to a wrist injury. However, when he returned to the track, he faced challenges and setbacks that hindered his progress.
Starting the outdoor season with zero points meant Marchbanks had a steep uphill battle to qualify for the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship on a 250 bike. At that time, he needed to catch up to Cole Thompson, who held the 20th position with 87 points.
In the first two rounds, Marchbanks earned only 15 points on his 250 bike, with results in the mid-teens and even one outside the top 20. Frustrated by his performance, Marchbanks acknowledged that their starts were holding them back significantly. Starting from the back of the pack in every moto made it difficult to compete against the fast riders in the lights class.
Marchbanks admitted that he didn’t know where he stood in terms of his performance. Missing the entire Supercross season due to his wrist injury meant there were no expectations placed on him. He aimed for a top-10 finish in the first round, but it didn’t go as planned. The same outcome occurred in the second round. As a result, uncertainty plagued Marchbanks and his team.
In an effort to turn things around, Marchbanks and his team manager, Mike Bonacci, decided to apply an empirical analysis of sports statistics known as sabermetrics. They ran the numbers and quickly realized that catching up to the 20th position in the 250 standings would be a difficult feat.
That’s when they made a pivotal decision.
A series of injuries in the 450 class during the final rounds of Supercross opened up an opportunity for Marchbanks. With several top factory riders sidelined, Marchbanks knew he had a chance to capitalize on the situation.
However, it was crucial for him to perform exceptionally well in order to take advantage of this scenario. Marchbanks made the switch to a 450 bike right after Hangtown. With only two days of practice on the new bike, he entered the first round with high hopes. His efforts paid off as he secured a top-10 finish. In the second round, Marchbanks impressed further by reaching the top three.
This transition to the 450 class gave Marchbanks a fresh start. He felt like he belonged in this class and knew he could contend for victories and podium finishes. His mindset was focused, and his performance proved his capabilities.
Marchbanks’ debut on the 450 bike at Thunder Valley yielded solid results, finishing sixth in the first moto and eighth in the second. The following week at High Point, he finished second in Moto 1 and eighth in Moto 2, achieving his second consecutive overall top-10 finish. These two strong runs propelled Marchbanks to the 30th position in the standings, placing him on the cutline for SMX Championship qualification.
To secure his spot in the top 20 and avoid the Last Chance Qualifier, Marchbanks and Bonacci continued to analyze the standings. At present, Marchbanks is in a three-way battle with Lorenzo Locurcio and Ty Masterpool for the last coveted position.
While Marchbanks has consistently achieved top-10 finishes in every moto, Locurcio has secured four top-10 finishes in 10 races. On the other hand, Masterpool entered the 450 class in Round 2 and consistently finished within the top 10 until a mechanical failure at RedBud halted his momentum. Marchbanks’ goal is to maintain his perfect record of top-10 finishes and gradually climb the standings.
Four riders ahead of Marchbanks have yet to make their outdoors start of the season. Christian Craig, in particular, is expected to return before the SMX playoffs begin. As the competition intensifies, Marchbanks remains enthusiastic about his prospects.
Being part of the inaugural SMX Championship is of utmost importance to Marchbanks. It signifies that he has remained competitive and performed consistently throughout the series. Additionally, the financial benefits of participating in this championship make it even more enticing.
Marchbanks is well aware that the top 20 riders in the world compete in the SMX Championship. With his current rate of success, earning over 200 points in the Pro Motocross series could potentially elevate him to 18th in the standings. Of course, this would require all the riders ahead of him to continue performing consistently.
Marchbanks and his team are excited to remain in the 450 class. Their current position in the standings for the World Supercross championship series is a testament to their hard work and dedication. They aim to continue achieving top-10 and top-five finishes, steadily climbing up the ranks to secure a spot in the top 20 in the near future.
As Marchbanks demonstrates his skill and determination, he proves that he is a force to be reckoned with in the motocross world. While the challenges may have seemed insurmountable at first, Marchbanks has found a way to pivot and adapt, positioning himself for success in the SuperMotocross World Championship.
