Moroccan Motocross Rider Saad Soulimani Targets French Title and US Move

He has yet to win a race, but that has not stopped him from aiming for the top spot. Saad Soulimani, 23, believes he has a chance of becoming French supercross champion. Second in the national standings, the Moroccan rider has put in the work to match his ambitions. For several months, he has devoted most of his training to this spectacular discipline, contested on technical tracks lined with jumps.

Motorcycling runs in the Soulimani family. His grandfather and father passed on their passion for two-wheeled vehicles. At 14, the young boy was still dividing his time between football and motocross before making a final choice to take to the handlebars. The gamble quickly paid off: at 15, he became French vice-champion. In 2024, he finished fifth in the European Motocross Championship in the 250 cm³ category.

“I love it every time I get on my bike,” he told Ouest-France. He continues to pursue that passion in Moroccan colors, notably at the Motocross of Nations, one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions.

A Moroccan rider now dreaming of America

In early October, at the Ernée circuit in Mayenne, Saad Soulimani once again represented Morocco against riders from around the world. After posting the 25th-fastest qualifying time in MX2, he stood out in the B final, finishing seventh after making up nine places. He was the top Moroccan finisher in the race.

That personal satisfaction did not erase the collective disappointment. The Moroccan team, which also included Maxime Simon and Noam Jayal, failed to qualify for the A final. It finished 26th in the nations’ standings. “We were hoping to make the A final,” the young rider acknowledged, noting that the competition is getting tougher and tougher.

Soulimani also explained that he had to get back into the rhythm of motocross after seven months of intensive supercross preparation. The two disciplines have different demands. And it is now on supercross tracks that he feels most comfortable. His immediate goal remains to win the French title, an achievement that would be especially meaningful for someone still waiting for his first race victory.

But the young Moroccan is already looking beyond France’s borders. His big dream? “To race in the United States.” It is a destination that many supercross riders dream of, both for the level of competition and for the resources invested in the discipline.

Originally from Évreux and now living in Paris, Saad Soulimani also knows what he owes to those around him. His family, sponsors and supporters make it possible for him to pursue his career in good conditions. It is not enough to make a fortune, he admits, but it is enough to earn a living from his passion and keep racing in Moroccan colors.