Enzo Lopes and Coty Schock will represent Rick Ware Racing in the 2024 FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), with the pair set to contest the series’ SX2 250cc class on a full-time basis.
Lopes, from Brazil, made his WSX debut last season and left a lasting impression in the series after finishing third at the 2023 WSX British GP, going 4-3-4 in SX2 despite dislocating his shoulder in practice.
His return to the WSX SX2 grid represents a key moment in his career after being forced to sit on the sidelines for the majority of 2024 due to an ongoing arm injury, with the native of Rio Grande do Sul previously set to race for Star Racing Yamaha in AMA Supercross.
The 2024 WSX SX2 season will mark Lopes’ first full-time campaign in almost 12 months when he placed fourth in AMA Supercross 250 West in 2023, although the 25-year-old has since made a one-off appearance in the Brazilian Motocross MX2 Championship earlier in 2024.
A rare talent with natural speed and unrivalled determination, Lopes is a world-leading rider in 250cc competition, and prior to last season, finished fifth in AMA Supercross 250 East in 2020 and 2022.
Lopes also represented Brazil in the Motocross of Nations this October.
By joining Rick Ware Racing in SX2, Lopes will race for one of the series’ top teams which powered Shane McElrath to the title in 2022 while also delivering the North Carolinian a vice championship in 2023.
Enzo Lopes, SX2 Rider, Rick Ware Racing, said: “I’m super excited to be racing in WSX’s SX2 class this season. Because of the injury, 2024 has been quite difficult for me on both a personal and professional level and sitting on the sidelines trying to recover hasn’t been easy. There’s so much I’ve missed about Supercross like the intensity of waiting for the gates to drop, and the nerves of leaving the tunnel – there’s no feeling like it. I’m still at the start of what has already been a long road, but I’d like to thank Rick Ware Racing for giving me this chance. I can’t wait to get the season started.”
Coty Schock, who has experienced a meteoric rise to his career in recent seasons, will partner Lopes at Rick Ware Racing and will be one of this season’s rookies when he makes his SX2 debut in Vancouver, Canada, on 26 October.
Since 2021, the native of Dover, Delaware, has taken consistent steps forward, finishing ninth in AMA Supercross 250 East before placing 10th in the series in 2023.
Earlier in 2024, Schock reached a new height in his career by finishing third in 250SX East – an achievement which will serve as a springboard for his first season in SX2.
With Schock arguably in the form of his career to date, the 26-year-old will be a threat from the off this season and could prove to be a title contender if he can piece together a consistent run from October to December.
Coty Schock, SX2 Rider, Rick Ware Racing, said: “I’m looking forward to making my debut in the FIM World Supercross Championship’s SX2 class this season. Getting to this point has been an incredible journey, and after a strong 2024, I feel ready to take on this new challenge. Rick Ware Racing is renowned for its success in this series, and based on that track record, I naturally have high expectations of myself. But with the team’s backing, I have the confidence to aim high, and I know that we have the potential to achieve great things together. I’m excited to see what we can do this season.”
The 2024 WSX SX2 season commences on 26 October with the WSX Canadian GP at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, before heading to Perth, Australia, for the WSX Australian GP on 23-24 November. The season will then conclude at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on 4 December
Rick Ware, Team Principal, Rick Ware Racing, added: “Enzo and Coty are both very talented young riders, and although we have a brand-new lineup across the board, I’m very confident that we’ll end up in a strong position this season. Enzo’s speed is already well known, but the determination, grit, and resilience he has shown over the past 12 months is truly incredible, and it’s very meaningful to us to give him the opportunity to race full-time again. Coty has also made remarkable progress over the past few years and is ready to make what could be a significant impact in the SX2 class. Together, Enzo and Coty represent the future of our sport, and we’re committed to giving them all of the resources they need to succeed in WSX this season.”
