McElrath Secures Top-10 in Beta Debut at SMX Playoff Opener

Sep 25, 2026 Michael Le Pard News

 

The Liqui Moly Beta Factory Racing team kicked off the first round of the 2026 SuperMotocross Playoffs at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, marking Shane McElrath’s debut aboard the Factory Beta RX 450F. McElrath quickly made a statement by grabbing the holeshot and winning the 450 Wildcard race to transfer into the main event. From there, he showcased his veteran race craft in wild, muddy conditions, securing 13-7 moto finishes to earn an impressive 8th place overall in the premier class. Meanwhile, teammate Benny Bloss wasn’t able to put it together in the tough conditions and missed the transfer position, finishing 7th in the Wildcard and concluding his evening early. The team looks to carry this momentum into the next round of the SMX Playoff this weekend in Southern California.
Results:
Shane McElrath » 13th / 7th – 8th Place Overall » 450 Class

Factory RX 450F
“It was a really good day overall, considering the conditions and my first race on the Beta RX 450F. I’m so pumped on this team and how everyone worked through the conditions. The bike was awesome, we scored some good points and got the Wildcard win! Pretty dang good way to start…Let’s keep going!”

Factory RX 450F
“It was a really tough night out there with the track conditions. I struggled to find my rhythm in the mud during the Wildcard and just couldn’t make it happen to get that transfer spot. It’s definitely frustrating to end the night early, but we’ll take what we learned, regroup, and come back stronger for the next round.”

Photos: Align Media

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