If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you take a high-flying motocross racer, toss them a surfboard, and tell them to tackle San Clemente point breaks—or conversely, hand a pro surfer a 58-horsepower dirt bike and send them down the start straight at Fox Raceway—welcome to Surfercross 2026.
Southern California’s premier invite-only mashup event returned for another dose of glorious, salt-crusted chaos. Born back in 1999 from the brilliant mind of dirt bike racing veteran and former factory race mechanic Jeremy Albrecht, Surfercross remains the ultimate equalizer where two completely different board and handlebar subcultures swap playgrounds. The goal? Push the limits, claim ultimate local bragging rights, and try very hard not to end up in urgent care while having the absolute time of your life.
Day 1: Roosting in Pala at Fox Raceway
The two-day spectacle kicks off on the red clay of Fox Raceway in Pala, California. The format relies on pure, unfiltered fate: a blind drawing pairs one pro dirt bike rider with one pro surfer (alongside an equally wild Industry class division).
Teammates share the same race number and tackle a grueling, relay-style dual-moto format. One partner blasts off the gate, completes a lap, and then swoops into the staging area to hand off the track to their partner. Alternating lap by lap over a 12-lap span, it doesn’t take long before the line between expert lines and sheer survival instinct gets delightfully blurry.
Day 2: Saltwater Medicine at San Clemente (Site 6)
After soaking sore muscles and knocking dust out of air filters, day two trades twist-throttles for surf leashes. Competitors assemble at San Clemente’s picturesque Trail 6 (Site 6) along the San Onofre shoreline.
Here, the motocross legends—who look completely at home maneuvering 247-pound four-stroke machines over 80-foot tabletop jumps—must navigate ocean swells alongside top-tier surfers. Waves are scored, heats are tallied, and combined two-day scores reveal who earns the coveted overall Surfercross crown.
Special props go to event partners Fasthouse, Monster Energy, Maxxis Tires, 805 Beer, and Oakley for keeping this legendary SoCal tradition roaring and riding strong.
2025 Suzuki RM-Z450 Technical Specifications
As seen tearing up the track during the motocross leg at Fox Raceway, the Suzuki RM-Z450 remains a staple of high-level competition thanks to its precise cornering geometry and punchy powerband. You can read more dirt bike reviews at Moto-1.com
| Feature / Attribute | Specification |
| Model | 2025 Suzuki RM-Z450 |
| Engine Type | 449cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder, DOHC |
| Bore x Stroke | 96.0 mm x 62.1 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 12.5:1 |
| Fuel System | Electronic Fuel Injection (44mm throttle body) |
| Transmission | 5-speed constant mesh |
| Final Drive | Chain (D.I.D. 520DMA2K) |
| Front Suspension | 49mm Showa inverted coil-spring fork, fully adjustable |
| Rear Suspension | Showa BFRC (Balance Free Rear Cushion) monoshock, fully adjustable |
| Front Brake | Single 270mm disc, dual-piston caliper |
| Rear Brake | Single 240mm disc, single-piston caliper |
| Front Tire | 80/100-21 Dunlop / Maxxis tube-type |
| Rear Tire | 110/90-19 Dunlop / Maxxis tube-type |
| Seat Height | 37.8 in. (960 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 58.3 in. (1,480 mm) |
| Ground Clearance | 13.0 in. (330 mm) |
| Curb Weight | 247 lbs (112 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 1.7 US gal (6.3 L) |
| U.S. MSRP | $9,299 |
| Warranty | Competition Vehicle (No standard warranty; 6-month limited optional coverage) |
