Southwick
The Sand Track

The Wick 338 in Southwick, Massachusetts is unlike any other track on the Pro Motocross schedule. Built on deep, pure sand in western Massachusetts, Southwick demands a completely different physical effort, riding technique, and machine setup than every other round. Riders who thrive at Southwick are specialists. Riders who struggle are sometimes champions everywhere else. The sand makes no exceptions.

The Sand

The soil at Southwick is not the sandy loam found at Fox Raceway. It is deep, thick, pure beach sand — the kind that swallows your boot when you stand in it. Riding through it requires constant throttle management, a very specific body position, and leg strength that is difficult to build through any training other than actually riding in sand.

The ruts at Southwick develop early and go deep — sometimes eighteen inches or more by the second moto. Riders who can navigate deep sand ruts at race speed are in their element. Those who cannot find themselves exhausted and losing ground from the opening lap.

Setup Differences

The technical preparation for Southwick is extensive. Softer suspension settings, different tire compounds specifically designed for sand, revised gearing to keep engines in their power band through the resistance of deep soil — the setup changes are significant enough that some teams bring entirely different bike configurations to Southwick than they run everywhere else. Championship reshuffling at Round 6 is almost guaranteed.