This week in US Powersports racing.
Honda HRC Progressive Confirms Returning Roster for 2026 SMX Season
Riding a wave of success that has seen them win 16 professional AMA championships in the last seven years, Honda HRC Progressive prepares to begin the 2026 race season. The 17-round AMA Supercross series will kick off January 10 in Anaheim, California, followed by the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross series and the three-round SuperMotocross Playoffs.
American Honda’s official race team returns with the same formidable rider roster that it has fielded for the past two years, headed by the phenomenal Jett Lawrence. At just 22 years of age, the Australian has already amassed 10 professional AMA crowns, including the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross titles. With injury having prevented him from successfully defending his 2024 AMA Supercross championship, Jett is eager to reclaim what is widely considered to be the world’s most prestigious dirt bike racing honor.
Racing alongside Jett on another factory CRF450RWE is his brother Hunter Lawrence, who has steadily risen through the premier-class ranks to become one of the sport’s top riders, with four second-place overall series results since he moved up to the 450 class in 2024. The Lawrence brothers have also led Team Australia to the Motocross of Nations wins the past two years, and both are among the favorites to win AMA crowns in 2026.
Honda HRC Progressive’s 250 program once again comprises Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda, both of whom will campaign the factory CRF250RWE. When healthy, Hymas has shown impressive speed over the past year, notching wins in both indoor and outdoor settings. Having fully recovered from ACL surgery performed last summer, the Idaho native will compete in the AMA Supercross 250 West Region.
Shimoda is coming off the best season of his career, having posted race wins in all three AMA series and collected the SuperMotocross 250 championship. Unfortunately, the Japanese native suffered a back injury during the off-season, and his return date is still unknown.
As with Honda HRC Progressive’s rider lineup, the list of key staff members is marked by consistency. Brandon Wilson continues to manage American Honda’s Racing Department, and Lars Lindstrom enters his fifth year as Team Manager, supported by 450 and 250 crew chiefs Grant Hutcheson and Shane Drew, respectively. Christien Ducharme and Cameron Camera continue in their roles spinning wrenches for 450 riders Jett Lawrence and Hunter Lawrence, while Thomas Harris and Ben Griffith continue in their roles as 250 mechanics for Hymas and Shimoda.
“It might sound crazy for me to say after winning three championships last season, but we feel like we’re out for redemption in 2026,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Advertising at American Honda. “The 2025 season saw us lose the premier-class AMA Supercross crown after winning it in 2023 and ’24, so we’re hungry for indoor success. We have a great team and an incredibly talented rider lineup, as well as race bikes that have proven to be extremely competitive. With all that and the support of our sponsors, we feel confident that we can achieve success all year long.”
“We’re always optimistic heading into new race seasons, but this time I feel like we have even more reason than usual to be confident,” added Honda HRC Progressive Team Manager Lars Lindstrom. “We’re one of the only teams with a proven platform coming into the season, and the same lineup of riders, who are even more comfortable than last year. I honestly can’t wait to get started.”
Husqvarna Factory Racing and Polisport announce new partnership for 2026
Husqvarna Factory Racing is pleased to announce a new global agreement with Polisport for 2026. The exciting partnership will see Polisport working side by side with the teams across all forms of offroad racing, which ensures the squad’s riders can compete at the highest levels of competition with full confidence.
Polisport, based in Carregosa, Portugal, has been a trusted name in offroad plastics and accessories since 1978. Renowned for its innovation and engineering excellence, Polisport develops durable, precision-engineered components that meet the demands of top-level racing. Over the years, the brand has formed a strong reputation thanks to an expansive product range that delivers performance and reliability.
This new partnership reflects a shared commitment to quality, technical innovation, and factory-level performance. Heading into the 2026 season, Polisport’s products will be a key component found on the Husqvarna Factory Racing machines ridden in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross, MXGP, SuperEnduro, and Hard Enduro.
Robert Jonas – Husqvarna Director Offroad Racing: “We are delighted to begin this new partnership with Polisport for the 2026 season. Their strong focus on innovation will play an important role for the team across our Supercross, Pro Motocross, MXGP, SuperEnduro, and Hard Enduro programs. Polisport’s commitment to innovation and durability aligns perfectly with Husqvarna Factory Racing, and this collaboration ensures our riders have the best equipment to perform at the highest level in world championship competition.”
Pedro Araújo – CEO, Polisport: “We are proud to take this new step with Husqvarna Factory Racing. This partnership brings us close to one of the best teams in the world and supports our commitment to grow at the highest levels of offroad racing. Working side by side with top professionals drives us to refine our current products, explore new ideas, and shape future developments with greater precision. Most importantly, we want these advancements to benefit every rider, not only those at the factory level. This partnership reinforces our mission to create better solutions for the entire offroad community, and we are excited for what lies ahead.”
AMA Celebrates International Accomplishments at FIM Awards in Switzerland
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme hosted its end-of-year award ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the AMA had representatives on hand while a number of Americans were honored for their racing prowess on the international stage.
AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman and AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier attended the event. In addition to Dingman and Pelletier, AMA Hall of Famer and former AMA President and Vice President for Government Relations Rob Rasor — an FIM Honorary Vice President — was also on hand for the FIM Awards.
During the event, Dingman received a certificate in recognition of the American FIM International Six Days Enduro Women’s World Trophy team, comprised of Rachel Gutish, Brandy Richards and Korie Steede, which earned its third-consecutive championship in August.
“The FIM Awards offer an excellent time to celebrate all the outstanding American competitors that showcased their talents on the international stage,” Dingman said. “We always enjoy the opportunity to recognize the efforts of those who excel on behalf of our country, and it was an honor to be on hand to applaud the great women from the American FIM ISDE Women’s World Trophy Team.”
In addition to her contributions on the FIM International Six Days Enduro Women’s World Trophy Team, Gutish was presented a medal from FIM Vice President Giovanni Copioli after she became the first American to win an FIM EnduroGP World Championship, emerging as the 2025 FIM Women’s Enduro World Champion.
After a year filled with accomplishments in 2025, the AMA looks forward to another year of competition in 2026, as American racers aim to bring home hardware on behalf of our great nation.
