Coalville rider Garrett Marchbanks returns to Salt Lake City Supercross finals

Garrett Marchbanks came home to Salt Lake City with more than a finale ride at stake. The 24-year-old Coalville native lined up at Rice-Eccles Stadium as rider No. 36 for Monster Energy Kawasaki, carrying the weight of shoulder and hand injuries, a move into Supercross’s premier 450 class and a chance to improve his place in the postseason picture.

Marchbanks entered the 17th and final round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship 14th in 450SX points with 132 points and a best finish of seventh, according to Racer X. Moving into the top 10 would strengthen his position for SMX postseason racing, and a podium in front of the Utah crowd would have marked a major step in his first full run at the elite level.

For Marchbanks, the return to his home state was personal as well as competitive. He said racing the season finale in Utah gave him “a lot of energy and excitement,” and after a long stretch in which injuries kept him from racing Salt Lake City, he said it was fun to be healthy again. The support mattered in a place where local fans have watched a rider from Coalville climb from the 250 ranks into the biggest class in the sport.

The jump has not been simple. Marchbanks said the 450 class is far different from the 250s because of the power and handling demands, and the field is deeper because so many of the riders are already winners or champions. That makes every position harder to earn, especially against a stacked field at the final stop of the season.

Marchbanks turned pro in 2018 and made his first start at Hangtown on May 19, 2018. His résumé already includes one 250SX win, seven 250SX podiums and the 2019 250SX Rookie of the Year honor. Kawasaki lists him as the 2025 250SX West runner-up in fifth overall, and Pro Circuit says he sat out the 2023 Supercross season with injury before returning in the 450 class for Pro Motocross and finishing strongly in the SMX Playoffs.

That path made Salt Lake City more than a hometown appearance. It was a chance for a Coalville rider to measure himself against the sport’s best on a big stage close to home, in front of a capacity crowd, with career momentum and local pride both on the line.