This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of January 25, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

Ryder DiFrancesco and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing on Anaheim 2 podium

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco scored a well-earned podium finish in the 250SX West Main Event at Anaheim 2 tonight, marking Round 3 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship inside Angel Stadium.

DiFrancesco began the day in positive fashion on the technical and rutted track layout in a continuation of his early SMX World Championship form, qualifying fourth on combined times and quickly dialing in his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition ahead of the night program.

The 20-year-old remained competitive in his Heat Race, racing to a second-place result in front of his home fans in Southern California to secure a strong gate selection and a direct transfer into the Main Event.

Starting just outside the top-five, DiFrancesco delivered an inspired performance throughout the Main Event, unwavering in his pursuit of the 250SX podium. A late-race pass for third place earned him a P3 finish and a valuable points haul toward the championship, in which he now sits fourth overall following a second podium of the year.

“I’m really happy with my A2 result and how I charged through the Main Event,” reflected DiFrancesco. “I started around eighth and worked my way up to third place, which is a confidence-booster in being able to climb from the mid-field. I found some good lines tonight while I was coming through the pack and I knew that if I could be there toward the end of the race – and nail the three, three, after the whoops – that I could get close and make a pass for the podium. I’m glad that I proved to myself that I can start mid-pack and still land on the box, and now I’m ready for the Triple Crown next weekend!”

Full-time 450SX newcomer RJ Hampshire showed pace from the outset at A2, powering his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition to third position in 450SX qualifying with a 1:00.496 lap-time, before backing it up with a consistent sixth-place result in his Heat Race after charging to the holeshot.

The Floridian described Anaheim 2 as a significant step forward from the opening two rounds, battling inside the top-10 throughout the Main Event and ultimately claiming a hard-fought ninth-place finish, along with important experience in his maiden premier class campaign.

“A2 was a massive step forward,”commented Hampshire.“I had my best qualifying in P3. The team has been working really hard to get me comfortable, and I think we have found something now, which we just need to keep getting familiar with. My starts were great today – both of them – my Heat Race wasn’t an ideal finish after holeshotting, but I wasn’t too down about that, because running up front is a big learning curve for me right now. I know I can get there, it’s just about stacking these performances up, and a top-10 at Anaheim 2 is a good place to build from.”

Still recovering from his Anaheim 1 incident, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Stewart continued to push through the pain of a fractured scapula at A2, guiding his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition to a fifth-place finish in his Heat Race.

In a gritty Main Event performance, the 33-year-old ran sixth through the opening stages of the race, before eventually crossing the finish-line in 12th position, banking a solid amount of championship points as the season progresses.

“I was feeling so-so at A2,” said Stewart. “We finished just outside the top-10, but we were well in the fight during the race – that group I was in was battling hard! It’s a lot to ask for in the position that I am in, but all I can do is continue to keep building. I got off to a great start and put myself in the best position to hang in there, but the reality is that we’re dealing with an injury, and we hung in there as long as we could. Mentally, I’m walking away with my head high, because it was good to race those guys and we’ll continue to build from here.”

Next Race: January 31 – Houston, Texas

Results 450SX Class – Anaheim 2
1. Chase Sexton (Kawasaki)
2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
3. Eli Tomac (KTM)
7. Jorge Prado (KTM)
9. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
12. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
15. Justin Hill (KTM)
22. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 3 of 17 rounds

1. Eli Tomac, 70 points

2. Hunter Lawrence, 62

3. Chase Sexton, 57

9. Jorge Prado, 41

11. Aaron Plessinger, 27

12. RJ Hampshire, 27

15. Malcolm Stewart, 22

Results 250SX Class – Anaheim 2

1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)

2. Michael Mosiman (Yamaha)

3. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250SX Class 2026 after 3 of 10 rounds

1. Haiden Deegan 68 points

2. Michael Mosiman, 59

3. Max Anstie, 58

4. Ryder DiFrancesco, 55

P2 result for Ryder LeBlond and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna at U.S. Hard Enduro opener

Ryder LeBlond opened the 2026 AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Championship with a second-place result in this weekend’s King of the Motos, delivering a strong performance for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing across the two-day event.

U.S. Hard Enduro Championship – Round 1

LeBlond commenced his 2026 campaign by recording fourth in the high-intensity Pro Shootout session on Saturday, before launching to a strong start in the main race onboard his Husqvarna TE 300 on Sunday.

The 24-year-old advanced from P4 to second under the challenging technical conditions in Johnson Valley, California, posting a total time of 2:45:48 to claim second position in the Pro Class and open his 2026 season.

Round 2 of the 2026 U.S. Hard Enduro Championship will head to Kauai next month for the challenging Ultimate Hawaiian Hard Enduro event.

“Round 1 at King of the Motos was solid,” LeBlond commented. “I got a good start in the main race and was in P4 before climbing into second position and closing the gap on Trystan [Hart], but ultimately we finished up with P2 after a hard charge. It was a good weekend for me – I rode smoothly with only a couple of small navigational errors, other than that, I was solid. Overall, I’m stoked to start our 2026 season in this way.”

Pro Class Results

1. Trystan Hart, KTM

2. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

3. James Flynn, Beta

450SX PODIUM FINISH FOR ELI TOMAC AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AT A2

After taking the opening two 450SX race victories of the 2026 SMX World Championship season, Tomac and the team entered Anaheim 2 targeting another strong performance at the famed Southern California venue on Saturday, with the 33-year-old qualifying seventh onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION during the afternoon sessions.

A strong start to his Heat Race saw the two-time Supercross Champion race with the lead group early, before making a decisive pass for the lead with two minutes remaining to claim victory heading into the night’s Main Event.

Tomac launched well in the Main Event and circulated inside the top-five during the opening stages, positioning himself to mount a charge for the podium. Battling at the front of the field from that point, the Cortez, Colorado, native climbed to P3 and secured a third-consecutive podium result, strengthening his hold on the red plate as the series heads to Houston, Texas, next weekend.

Eli Tomac:“I felt like I was in offense and defense mode the whole time during that Main Event – it was very busy! I was happy to claim a podium spot tonight, but also, there are a couple of things I think back to that maybe I could have done differently to try and stay in front of Hunter [Lawrence], but that’s all should have, would have, could have at this point. This race had a bit of everything, but everyone is hauling the mail, and the pace was super-fast. It’s good to finish with a podium here – if you had told me at the beginning of the series that I’d go 1-1-3, that’s an awesome start, so I’m proud of the team.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450SX teammate Jorge Prado was also in fine form at Round 3, with the four-time world champion qualifying sixth before earning the holeshot on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and delivering a wire-to-wire victory in his Heat Race.

Starting outside the top-10 in the Main Event, the Spaniard put his head down and completed an impressive charge toward the checkered flag, executing a series of passes to finish seventh by race’s end. As a result, Prado is currently listed in P9 overall following three rounds to begin season 2026.

Jorge Prado: “Anaheim 2 was a positive night – I am very happy with my performance. Winning the Heat Race was good, and then I got cut off at the start of the Main Event, and I had to work through the pack from there. I came back to P7 and was very close to the top-five, so I like the rhythm I had, and the improvements that we made during the week, especially in my ability to come through the field. I’m also very happy with my bike, I think today was the best the bike has felt across the three rounds. There is still much to learn, although I think we are in a very good place right now, and I just can’t wait for the next rounds – the team is doing a great job!”

Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger recorded the 12th-fastest 450SX qualifying time before lining up alongside Prado in the night’s opening Heat Race. A heavy incident on the final lap while running in P2 dropped ‘The Cowboy’ to eighth position across the finish, but he was able to transfer directly into the Main Event.

Making a fast start to the Main Event, Plessinger ran fifth during the opening laps and showed front-running speed early. As the race progressed, the 30-year-old began to feel the effects of his Heat Race crash and ultimately withdrew from the night’s racing. He will now focus on recovery ahead of next weekend’s first Triple Crown round of the year in Houston.

Aaron Plessinger”I actually felt pretty good today, coming off having the flu for a couple of weeks. I was feeling it in my Heat Race and was closing in on Jorge with a lap to go when I hit something and was sent flying off the face of the jump, so I hit the ground really hard. I banged myself up real good. I was able to get up and cross the line in eighth, so I qualified for the Main without having to race the LCQ, which was a positive. I did my best in the Main Event and was good on opening laps, but honestly, my body really started to feel it midway into the race, and I just had to salvage what spots I could. I will regroup this week, get a bunch of therapy on my body, and hopefully have a better race in Houston next weekend.”

Next Race: January 31 – Houston, Texas

Results 450SX Class – Anaheim 2

Chase Sexton (Kawasaki)
Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
Justin Hill (KTM)
Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 3 of 17 rounds

Eli Tomac, 70 points
Hunter Lawrence, 62
Chase Sexton, 57
Jorge Prado, 41
Aaron Plessinger, 27
RJ Hampshire, 27
Justin Hill, 23
Malcolm Stewart, 22

TRYSTAN HART LAUNCHES U.S. HARD ENDURO TITLE DEFENSE WITH KING OF THE MOTOS VICTORY

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s defending AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Champion Trystan Hart opened the 2026 season with victory at the weekend’s King of the Motos, while Sunday also saw Dante Oliveira begin his National Hare & Hound Series title defense in winning form by claiming P1 at the opening round in Lucerne Valley, California.
U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 1

Already a five-time U.S. Hard Enduro Champion, Trystan Hart entered King of the Motos in Johnson Valley, California, chasing a fourth-career victory at the event and a strong start to his 2026 Pro Class title defense.

The Canadian delivered across the weekend, guiding his KTM 300 XC to victory in Saturday’s Pro Shootout, before backing it up with a win in Sunday’s main race and posting a combined time of 2:38:03.

Hart was consistent in the opening round despite some minor mishaps on his way to a convincing win, but it was otherwise smooth sailing for the number one plate-holder and FMF KTM Factory Racing at Round 1 of the new season.

Trystan Hart: “King of the Motos started well with the Pro Shootout win, which was fun and quite short – I just edged out Cody [Webb] by less than one second. Then, for the main race, which was two long laps and three short laps, I got off to a really good start and then pushed as hard as I could. Honestly, I didn’t make any navigational errors, and rode really well aside from a couple of small crashes, but yeah, all-in-all it was good! It feels nice to start 2026 in this way alongside the team.”

Pro Class Results

Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna
James Flynn, Beta

NATIONAL HARE & HOUND SERIES – ROUND 1

FMF KTM Factory Racing was also on track at Round 1 of the AMA National Hare & Hound Series in Lucerne Valley with Dante Oliveira, who raced to a season-opening victory onboard his KTM 450 XC-F.

Dusty Californian conditions meant there was a strong emphasis on earning the all-important holeshot, which Oliveira did, as the reigning NHHA number one controlled the race from the head of the field.

In what was a typically strong outing, the 25-year-old recorded an overall finishing time of 2:18:27, claiming victory and beginning his title defense in the best possible way. Round 2 of the series will take place in Lovelock, Nevada, next month.

Dante Oliveira: “It was a super-good day for me today. I tried to get into the lead early because of how dusty the conditions were – which we were able to do – and then I was able to control the race from there. A day like today, you need to get the holeshot, which we did and I felt good charging from there. The bike felt awesome and I am getting more and more sharp in the NHHA style of racing, so a big thank you to my team for helping me feel comfortable out here in the desert.”

Pro Class Results

Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Zane Roberts, Beta
Dalton Shirey, Kawasaki

Chase Sexton Captures Maiden Kawasaki Victory Following Impressive Performance in Anaheim

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship hosted its third consecutive sold out crowd to open the 2026 campaign as the world’s best returned to the hallowed grounds of Angel Stadium for Round 3 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship. After a high-profile move to Monster Energy Kawasaki during the offseason, Chase Sexton captured his first win for the decorated manufacturer following another captivating Main Event.

A third consecutive sellout crowd headlined the return of the
2026 Monster Energy Supercross season to Anaheim.

The battle for the 450SMX Class victory began with the Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance of Jason Anderson leading the field for the holeshot, with Sexton alongside. Anderson soon asserted his hold of the lead as Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence, Sexton, and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, the winner of the opening two races and championship points leader, settled in behind the Suzuki rider. Sexton then found a groove and reclaimed second from Lawrence before tracking down Anderson.

A brief battle for the lead saw Sexton and Anderson trade passes before the Kawasaki rider got the upper hand and opened a multi-second lead over the field a little before the halfway point of the race. Behind them, Tomac passed Lawrence for third and set his sights on Anderson. The Suzuki rider fended off Tomac, which allowed Lawrence to retake third. Not long after, both Lawrence and Tomac made their way around Anderson, as the latter pushed Anderson off track. The top three remained unchanged the rest of the way as Sexton took his 17th career victory and first podium of the season by a margin of 3.3 seconds. It was the first win for Kawasaki since the 2022 season.

Tomac is now the lone rider to finish on the podium in each race thus far, with two wins and a third. He has an eight-point lead over Lawrence in the 450SMX Class standings, as Lawrence moved up to second on the heels of back-to-back runner-up finishes. Sexton moved into third, 13 points behind Tomac, while Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen dropped to fourth (-14) after he missed the podium for the first time in a valiant eighth-place finish that saw him fight back from 21st on the opening lap.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton broke through for his first win riding green with an impressive effort that put Kawasaki atop the podium
for the first time since the 2022 season.

Chase Sexton – 1st Place – 450SMX Class

“It’s been a long few months, going back to the [crash at the] Vegas SMX finale. That was not good for me. It’s hard to get back here [atop the podium], honestly. It’s been a journey. Even after the Heat Race tonight I was wondering what I was doing wrong and knew I needed to just go out there and do my laps. I strapped up for the Main Event and just rode solid and more within myself. I can’t say enough about the team and everything they’ve done to get us to this point. It’s good to put Kawi back on top.”

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence finished in the runner-up spot for the second straight race and is now second in the championship.

Hunter Lawrence – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class

“I just need a little more consistency throughout the day. Every time I went on the track I made a change to the bike, so every time I was learning the track again and trying to adapt to the bike. However, we are learning a lot and hopefully we can carry that through the rest of the series. I need to be better from the start through the beginning of the race. You could see I was a bit slow to get going, but I picked it up towards the end.”

After opening the season with back-to-back wins, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac settled for third at A2 but still increased his points lead.

Eli Tomac – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class

“The big picture [championship] is great. That race was a whole lot of everything. A lot of offense, a lot of defense. I tried some moves and got passed, and vice versa. I’m happy to defend that podium spot, it was important for me, but that was a very intense race. Overall, I’m happy with the finish and looking forward to next weekend.”

450SMX Class Podium (left to right)
Eli Tomac, Chase Sexton, and Hunter Lawrence

The Western Divisional 250SMX Class once again saw the battle for the win come down to a pair of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammates in Michael Mosiman and Haiden Deegan. Mosiman led the field through the first turn for the holeshot, ahead of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo, ClubMX Yamaha’s Max Vohland, and Deegan. As Mosiman secured control of the race early on, Deegan charged up to second. From there, the duo pulled away from the field and paced one another for most of the 15 Minute + 1 Lap race. With three-and-a-half minutes to go Deegan closed in on Mosiman and made quick work of a pass for the lead. With the clear track, Deegan quickly moved more than five seconds clear of the field and easily claimed back-to-back wins to officially take hold of the early title fight.

Deegan took his ninth career win 8.5 seconds ahead of Mosiman, who now has third and second place finishes the past two races. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco came out on top of a tight battle with McAdoo for DiFrancesco’s second career podium result, his first coming at the Anaheim opener just two weeks ago.

Deegan has a nine-point lead over Mosiman in the Western Divisional standings. Their Star Yamaha teammate Max Anstie dropped from second to third, 10 points out of the lead, after his worst result of the season thus far in sixth.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan showed patience in the Western Divisional 250SMX Main Event, with a late pass on teammate Michael Mosiman to earn Deegan’s second straight win and add to his points lead.

Haiden Deegan – 1st Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class

“That was amazing. Good ride. Solid ride. I need to give it up to [Mosiman], when people put in that extra work a lot of the time it goes unnoticed. He’s the only guy I see out there putting in the extra effort. I gotta give him credit and that’s what makes him such a tough competitor.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman is off to the best start of his career and led the majority of the Main Event en route to a runner-up finish and his second consecutive podium result.

Michael Mosiman – 2nd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class

“It feels great [to be on the podium]. Every time I go to the gate I look up at the stands, see all the fans, and make sure I appreciate the moment. We put in so much work just to be able to perform and when that happens it’s just an amazing feeling. I’m stoked on the race and stoked on my start. Whenever you can get a holeshot that makes a world of difference.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco rode to another podium finish inside Angel Stadium, earning his second-ever top-three finish two weeks after he did it for the first time at the season opener.

Ryder DiFrancesco – 3rd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class

“I knew if I could keep [McAdoo] close that I could get him. It didn’t happen [initially] but I figured I could wear him down and get it done at the end. I guess Anaheim is my place. It’s close to home.”

Western Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right)
Michael Mosiman, Haiden Deegan, and Ryder DiFrancesco

Accompanying the action of the 450SMX and 250SMX classes was the first race of SMX Next – Supercross, featuring the most talented and high-profile A and B class prospects in amateur motocross. The race featured a hand-selected field of 22 racers and was dominated by young Australian Kayden Minear, who went wire-to-wire in his first-ever Supercross race. The 18-year-old was never challenged throughout the 8 Minute + 1 Lap race and spearheaded an impressive sweep of the podium by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. Minear took the checkered flag 1.7 seconds ahead of 16-year-old Caden Dudney, who was followed by 18-year-old Landen Gordon. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Vincent Wey, the 16-year-old son of former SMX star Nick Wey, was in podium contention throughout the race, but ultimately settled for fourth.

The first race of SMX Next – Supercross was dominated by Australian Kayden Minear (99), who led a podium sweep for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing with a dominant wire-to-wire effort.

SMX Next Podium (left to right)
Landen Gordon, Kayden Minear, and Caden Dudney

The Anaheim 2 race also signified the launch of the Love Moto Stop Cancer text-to-donate campaign benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the 2026 season. This marks the landmark 10th year of the SMX community’s support of St. Jude, featuring a new, exclusive design for the Love Moto Stop Cancer t-shirt. The only way for fans to get the shirt is by donating to St. Jude and texting SUPER to 785-833. More information can be found at the St. Jude page on SupercrossLIVE.com.

In 2025, the SMX community raised over $650,000 and surpassed $3 million raised for the children of St. Jude. When fans and the industry support St. Jude, it helps make cures possible for kids with cancer. Together with St. Jude, SMX won’t stop fighting until no child dies from cancer.

Text SUPER to 785-833 to donate to the LOVE MOTO STOP CANCER campaign benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Joining the capacity crowd inside Angel Stadium were notable stars from the music and entertainment industries and professional sports, including Green Day drumming legend Tre Cool (top) and rapper Yung Gravy (below, with Jo Shimoda).

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday with the fourth race of the season and the first outside the state of California as Houston’s NRG Stadium welcomes the world’s best on January 31. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).

All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final will go on pre-sale Tuesday, Jan. 27, with general tickets on-sale to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y6pwKR2BBc0%3Ffeature%3Doembed

250SMX & 450SMX Post-Race Media Scrum – Anaheim 2

For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

MONSTER ENERGY® KAWASAKI RIDER CHASE SEXTON TAKES HOME HIS FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON

Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton delivered a commanding performance at Round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship inside Angel Stadium, capturing his first victory of the 2026 season. The milestone win marks the brand’s first supercross victory since Round 17 of the 2022 season. Teammate Garrett Marchbanks delivered a steady ride in the 450SX Main Event to finish 14th. In the 250SX Main Event, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders Cameron McAdoo and Levi Kitchen faced a challenging night, with McAdoo securing a solid fourth-place finish and Kitchen recording a 21st-place result following an early race incident. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green riders Vincent Wey and Kade Johnson rounded out the night in the SMX Next Main Event, with Wey narrowly missing the podium in fourth, while Johnson continued on from an early crash to finish 16th.

In 250SX Qualifying, Kitchen showed front-running speed aboard his KX™250, earning second overall in the combined sessions, while McAdoo put in consistent laps to earn ninth overall, setting up both riders with strong gate picks for the night.

In 250SX Heat 1, Kitchen launched to a strong start and maintained second place early while engaging in a close battle with the riders around him. While making a run on the leader in one of the option lanes, Kitchen came up short on a tricky triple and went over the bars. He was able to quickly remount and ultimately finishing fourth. In 250SX Heat 2, McAdoo pulled a commanding start, pushing the inside line as he rounded the first turn, narrowly missing the holeshot. After being held up in the second turn, he was shuffled back to fourth, where he would hold strong through the remainder of the race.

In the 250SX Main Event, McAdoo once again proved his starting capabilities, quickly placing himself in podium contention. Riding a consistent and composed race, he moved into third around halfway through the race and battled inside the Top 5 until the final laps, ultimately finishing fourth. Kitchen was pushed wide in the first turn and was hit by another rider forcing him to retire from the race. McAdoo sits sixth in points and Kitchen eighth as they will both regroup to come out swinging at the first Triple Crown event next weekend in Houston.

In the 450SX class, Sexton led the charge through qualifying, ultimately posting the fastest lap in both sessions to take pole position. The No. 4 Kawasaki was the only rider to post a lap time under a minute, which secured him fastest qualifier on the day. Teammate Garrett Marchbanks returned to action after a weekend away and was strong throughout qualifying. Marchbanks led from start to finish to earn the top qualifying spot in both Group B sessions and earned 19th overall for the night show.

Both Kawasaki riders lined up for 450SX Heat 2 with Sexton grabbing a strong start and Marchbanks mid-pack. Sexton made quick passes to take the lead only to suffer a fall exiting the sand section a lap later. Undeterred, the No. 4 Kawasaki mounted an impressive charge through the field, climbing from eighth to fourth by the checkered flag. Marchbanks steadily worked his way forward throughout the race to secure an eighth-place finish and direct transfer to the main event.

In the 450SX Main Event, Sexton battled for the holeshot as he rounded the first turn in second. He maintained pressure on the leader throughout the opening laps before making an assertive pass right before the finish line to take the lead on Lap 6. From there, Sexton controlled the race with calculated speed and confidence to race his KX™450SR through to the checkered flag, capturing a historic victory for Monster Energy Kawasaki and reestablishing the brand atop the supercross podium. Marchbanks started deep in the field but rode a determined race, steadily working his way forward from the back of the pack. After climbing into 16th and applying consistent pressure, Marchbanks made a pass to move into 15th and held that position before executing another late-race pass to secure a 14th-place finish. The win moves Sexton to third in the points standings just 13 points back from the lead.

The SMX Next riders contested their first round of the season at Anaheim with Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green riders Vincent Wey and Kade Johnson posting strong overall results. Wey secured third overall, continuing his consistent speed throughout the day, while Johnson qualified seventh overall, putting both riders in solid position heading into the main event.

In the SMX Next Main Event, Wey and Johnson both got off to strong starts aboard their KX™250 machines, quickly placing themselves inside the Top 3. Wey ran inside podium contention for the majority of the race after settling into second early, while Johnson followed closely in third as the duo showed front-running pace. Johnson suffered a crash midway through the main event after going down in the rhythm section, but was able to remount and continue, ultimately finishing 16th. With the intensity building late, Wey battled to hold a podium position but slipped back to fourth in the final moments of the race, where he would ultimately finish.

“I finally had a feeling on the bike that I’ve been looking for, really since I got on it, and I felt freed up to push the pace. Even from press day, I just felt normal again and I feel like I could ride how I wanted. Obviously, my speed was good, but I wanted to win so bad that I was over-riding it a bit. Honestly for the main event, I told myself I was going to go out there, ride a good pace, get to a flow and see what happens. I knew my speed was good enough to be able to ride not at 100% and still win, so it was good. It was a tricky track, and when I got out front I just logged my laps, read the pit board, and just rode her in to take the win. This win really means a lot both to me and the team, so it’s extra special to get it done for them.”

– Chase Sexton

“I had a lot of confidence coming into the weekend. I felt comfortable on the bike right away and was able to build throughout the day. The goal was to stay patient and keep building, and that’s what we did. I’m just happy to be back on the bike and feeling like myself again.”

– Garrett Marchbanks

“This was a tough night. I felt really good coming into the main event and had the speed to be up front, but things didn’t go my way, and it put me in a tough position. It’s frustrating because I know what I’m capable of, but this is part of racing, and all you can do is learn from it and reset.”

– Levi Kitchen

“The result doesn’t fully show how I felt on the bike tonight. I had good starts and felt strong throughout the main event, and I was right there fighting for a podium position. I stayed consistent and tried to be smart, especially late in the race when things got tight. Of course, you always want more, but there are a lot of positives to take away from this weekend. The speed is there, the starts are there, and we’re building every round. I’m proud of the effort from the whole Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team, and I’m excited to keep pushing forward.”

– Cameron McAdoo

SUZUKI’S JASON ANDERSON EARNS FOURTH-PLACE RESULT AT ANAHEIM 2 SUPERCROSS

Rain two days prior to Round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season created very different track conditions when the series returned to Angel Stadium. The Anaheim 2 Supercross, which also pays points toward the SMX World Championship, offered saturated soil, soft jump faces, and deep ruts. The riders adapted to changing dirt conditions throughout the daytime qualifying sessions and the evening’s racing.

Race Highlights:

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Ecstar Suzuki
- 450 Class
  - Ken Roczen fought forward throughout the main event to recover to an impressive top-ten result.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Jason Anderson holeshot and controlled the race through the opening laps to card his season-best main event result.
  - Colt Nichols soldiered through a tough night to deliver another strong performance.

Ken Roczen (94) had the speed to salvage a top-ten result at the Anaheim 2 Supercross after two early setbacks in the main event.

Ken Roczen (94) came into A2 with two podium finishes at the first two rounds. When the gate dropped for his heat, Roczen found himself just outside the top five. Roczen and his Suzuki RM-Z450 moved past two riders early, then nabbed a podium finish for a good gate pick. In the main event, Roczen tangled with another rider on the start, but kept it on two wheels and instantly started progressing through the pack. Unfortunately, a minute and a half into the 20-minute plus one lap race, Roczen was down on the ground and outside of the top 20. In an unbelievable display of speed, Roczen was able to drop only 4.3 seconds to the race leader while gaining ten positions on his charge through the pack. With eight minutes remaining on the race clock, Roczen passed three more riders to score eighth-place points and remain strongly in title contention.

“Anaheim 2 was not quite the night that we wanted. My starts just weren’t there, and I made a big mistake on lap two and went down,” said Roczen. “We charged from 21st to eighth and left it all out on the track. That was as far up as I could [reach]. Luckily, I didn’t lose too many points, so on that side of things it’s all good. I’m pumped on the effort we all put in, and sometimes that’s just the way it goes. So, we’re going to try again in Houston.”

Jason Anderson (21) led the Anaheim 2 Supercross in front of a wild, sold-out crowd in Angel Stadium.

Jason Anderson (21) emerged from the first turn of his heat race in sixth place. From there Anderson sliced forward, took over a podium spot midway through the race, and held on for his third consecutive heat race podium. When the gate dropped for the main, Anderson and his RM-Z450 shot out of the gate, carved around the first corner, and emerged with the holeshot. Jason Anderson’s loose, flowing riding style worked great on the rutted track; he led the field for the opening seven minutes of racing. When challenged down a rhythm section, Anderson squared up the next corner and immediately re-took the lead down the long whoop section. Anderson battled with the front group and stood strongly in fourth place when the checkered flag flew. The event points moved Anderson and his Twisted Tea Suzuki up two positions in the championship standings.

“The weekend here at Anaheim 2 went pretty well,” Anderson said after the race. “Practice was mediocre, I qualified ninth overall. In my heat race I was able to get a third, and then in the main event I [grabbed] a good start and was able to get fourth. So, we’re trending upwards but obviously we want to be on the podium.”

Colt Nichols (45) continues to put in strong rides and make clean passes regardless of the Supercross track conditions.

Colt Nichols (45) started the night’s racing with a charge forward from a mid-pack start in his heat. Nichols moved quickly in the six-minute plus one lap race, including grabbing two positions on the final lap to earn a direct transfer into the main. Another disappointing start in the main put Nichols near the back of the pack, but he went to work and moved forward. Just past the midpoint Nichols reached 16th place and held it until the end.

“It was a rough day, [I’m a] little under the weather and just had to figure it out and push through,” said Nichols. “It was just a struggle, I was a little off all day, the mental clarity wasn’t quite there, but I survived and did as best as I could with what I had today. We’ve got a lot of work to do to try to get out of the gate; we need to snowball my day a little bit better, starting with qualifying, and just give myself a better chance. If we do that, we’ll be okay. The speed’s good, the bike is good, I just have to give myself a chance, so we’ll try again next weekend.

“We led a lot of laps, Jason rode great, we had a holeshot, and I think we led nearly half of the main event,” stated Dustin Pipes, Principal of the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. “We ended up P-4 with Jason. It was great to see him out front and back riding his pace and being able to sprint a little bit. It was a really good bounce back for him. Ken Roczen had a little bit of a rough main. He tangled bars off the start and then had a fall on the second lap, so he came from dead last all the way back up to eighth. It was a great ride. His laps were great, just a tough finish. Colt Nichols, P-16, he rode good; he’s a little bit sick this week. I think there are a lot of people battling bugs, and Colt was one of them. So, for us it was just about managing our expectations and kind of getting him through the round.”

The Supercross schedule now sends the teams and riders halfway across the country for the Houston Supercross inside NRG Stadium on Saturday, January 31st. The Texas event will deliver the season’s first Triple Crown event, which eliminates heat races and determines the overall winner based on three separate Races. With two riders inside the top five in the title standings, the Suzuki squads are looking ahead to continuing a strong 2026 title hunt.

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or HEPMotorsports.com.

Deegan and Mosiman Top the Podium at Anaheim 2

As the Southern California swing of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship came to a close with a return to Angel Stadium for Anaheim 2, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing continued to show its strength aboard its YZ250Fs. Following a podium sweep in SMX Next, the celebrations continued with Haiden Deegan earning his second-consecutive victory in front of the home crowd.

The win extended the reigning champion’s points lead over teammate Michael Mosiman, who also returned to the podium with a strong runner-up finish. Max Anstie, who claimed the opening-round victory in Anaheim, endured another challenging night but pushed through adversity to finish sixth and remain firmly in the title fight.

“It was a great night with the Futures (SMX Next) starting it out and going 1-2-3,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “That was an awesome way to start the night, which got the momentum going, and then with Haiden and Mosi (Mosiman) going 1-2. Unfortunately, Max had a big case in the middle of the race and had to regroup after knocking the wind out of himself pretty badly. But like I said, it was an awesome night with the podium sweep in Futures, another win and double podium, and we’re sitting 1-2-3 in the points in the West – we’ll take it.”

The start of the 250 Supercross season has certainly been great for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, and despite not meeting his own expectations at the season opener, Deegan responded with two perfect nights at the following rounds.

After topping qualifying, he earned his third heat race win. When the gate dropped for the Main Event, Deegan slotted into fourth and immediately went to work, claiming the runner-up spot by Lap 3, and throwing down consistently fast laps. With around five laps remaining, he made the pass on Mosiman and rode away to secure his second straight victory by a healthy margin. The ninth 250SX win of his career also made championship gains, extending Deegan’s lead to nine points.

“It was another perfect day – P1 in qualifying, P1 in the heat race, and then P1 in the main,” Deegan said. “The main event wasn’t an easy race. We had to push all the way until the very end, and we were able to put our hard work and fitness to use. I was able to capitalize on some of Mosi’s (Mosiman) mistakes, but he was riding great. That was definitely a challenge. That’s two in a row. I’m ready to keep on swinging.”

Mosiman’s upward momentum continued at Anaheim 2, as the Californian’s confidence was bolstered by strong results and good starts. After finishing third in his heat race, Mosiman grabbed the holeshot in the Main Event and immediately set the pace at the front. He led the majority of the race before getting passed by his teammate. Choosing to ride smart, Mosiman brought it home in second, moving up a step on the podium from the previous round and advancing to second in the championship standings.

“Anaheim 2 was awesome,” Mosiman said. “We had press the other day, and I did some whips, and immediately started feeling good. I think having a couple of good results under my belt from the early rounds and knowing my capabilities, I felt at peace all day. That allowed me to ride free and clearheaded, not forcing anything, and just taking what was there. Tonight, that was a second. I got a great start in the main, which I was really happy with. That’s really what led to the great riding. So yeah, I’m stoked and going to keep the momentum rolling.”

As for Anstie, it was another challenging night in Southern California. He had a good start in his heat race, grabbing the holeshot, and after getting passed by Deegan, rode a smart race to maintain second. It was a challenging main event, with Anstie back in 11th after the start, but the British rider put his head down and quickly made his way through to sixth by Lap 3. Unfortunately, a couple of laps later, he cased a jump and was dropped back to 10th. Anstie regrouped and made his way back to sixth in the final laps, earning valuable points to sit third in the standings and within 10 points of Deegan.

“It was a rough night,” Anstie said. “In the main event, I got shuffled back on the start. My starts have been solid all season, but that one, I just caught an edge coming out of the gate and ended up getting squeezed. Then a few guys went down in the first turn, so it pushed me back a little bit. Everything was okay after that. I was feeling fine, and then I made one mistake in the rhythm lane – I actually caught my rear brake going up the face of a triple and nearly went over the bars. It was a hectic race. I regrouped and made it back to sixth, but yeah, it’s disappointing. I obviously would’ve liked to have been on the box, but we will take it and move on to next week in Houston.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing Sweeps the SMX Next Podium at Anaheim 2 Supercross

If you’re Bobby Regan, you’re smiling right now. Not just because your team is leading the way in the 250SX West Championship, but because the future is bright at Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. It was a stellar showcase of the team’s amateur program, as they swept the podium at the opening round of SMX Next at Angel Stadium, which was held in conjunction with Round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship series.

Leading the way was Kayden Minear, who delivered a masterclass performance from start to finish. Caden Dudney kept his teammate honest with a strong ride to second, while Landen Gordon charged through the field to complete the 1-2-3 podium sweep in Anaheim, California.

“It was a really good night showing the development of our future,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “Big shout-out to everyone on the race team and the riders — what a great feeling to sweep the podium.”

Minear has already enjoyed success in SMX Next, both outdoors and in the post-season, earning Scouting Moto Combine victories and the 2025 SMX Next World All Stars crown. Fast forward to Saturday night under the lights in front of a packed house at Angel Stadium, and the 18-year-old from Perth, Australia, delivered a decisive victory in his U.S. Supercross debut. After the restart, he grabbed the holeshot and set a strong pace up front, then kept cool under pressure as his teammate closed in in the final laps to secure the win.

“It was an unreal night,” said Minear. “I got a really good start and just really enjoyed myself out there. This is a special one. My grandparents are over here from Australia, and it’s their first time in the States watching me race, and I put on a show. I can’t thank the whole team enough. It was a podium sweep, and that shows the level of our team.”

SMX Next action continues next weekend in Houston, with the 250SX East season opener following a few weekends later in Arlington, Texas. Which begs the question – will we see Minear make his pro debut on February 21?

“That’s the plan,” Minear said in his TV interview. “So Bobby, if you’re watching this, that’s where I want to be, alright.”

Dudney also had a great ride in Anaheim, grabbing the holeshot and leading the opening lap before the race was red-flagged. Although he didn’t repeat the start after the restart, Dudney charged from sixth to third by Lap 3, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process. The young rider from Iowa continued to push, making the pass for second after the halfway mark and closing in on his teammate, ultimately crossing the line with a runner-up finish.

“It felt good to be back at the races again,” Dudney said. I felt good all day, and it was cool to be under the lights in front of all of the fans. I did the best I could with the start I had and just tried to make it fun!”

Their newest teammate, Landen Gordon, also turned in an impressive ride. Back in 14th after the start, the young Californian put his head down and steadily made his way forward. By halfway, Gordon was up to fourth, and on the final lap, he made the pass for third, completing the podium sweep for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing.

“I had a great time being back at the races,” said Gordon. “The day didn’t start out very well with a few dirt samples, and I had a bad start in the main, but I ended up riding really well and got back up to third. I can’t wait for Houston!”

Cooper Webb Starts Turning the Corner at Anaheim 2

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the look on Cooper Webb’s face after the Anaheim 2 450SX Main Event speaks volumes. The three-time Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Champion is a fierce competitor, and the first three rounds of the season have not been the start to his title defense that he was working for.

“It’s been hell to be honest, but it’s part of the sport,” Webb said. “You do everything right, and sometimes you get your teeth kicked in. So, yeah, it was an unfortunate start to the season results-wise, but I think there was a lot to be proud of with my riding tonight.”

At Anaheim 2, the end result was a hard-earned fifth-place finish, but the bigger takeaway? Webb is starting to look like himself again. The North Carolina rider got a great start to his heat race and battled up front, ultimately finishing second. When the gate dropped for the main event, though, things didn’t go quite as planned. He got tangled up with a pair of riders after the gate drop and had to make his way from 10th into the top five.

“I felt really good all day and had a good heat race finally,” Webb said. “Then in the main event, I collided with Hunter (Lawrence) and (Jorge) Prado off the start, which was a bummer. I was pretty buried, but made some passes and got closer to the front. I had a gap to the leaders and was able to catch up to them.”

As the laps ticked down, Webb found himself in a three-rider fight for the final podium spot. When Jason Anderson went off track, Webb moved into fourth and set his sights on the riders ahead – including points leader Eli Tomac. Unfortunately, in the final laps, a crash in the sand dropped him back to fifth.

“I felt like it was time to try to get around Eli and potentially go for Hunter,” Webb said. “The next thing you know, I’m flying over the berms. It was a bummer to crash like that when I felt like I had a podium or, at least, the speed to potentially win tonight, but I can’t be too mad at myself. In this sport, nothing’s over until it’s over. We’ll be back next week, that’s for sure. We’ll be hungry to come out to H-town and turn it around.”

On the other side of the tent, Justin Cooper also made progress, even if the main event result didn’t show it. The New Yorker had a good start to the day, qualifying second and charging his way through to fourth in his heat race. Another difficult start in the main event had him 14th after the opening lap, but he pushed on to a top-10 finish.

“The results were not great, but we made some improvements in areas that I was struggling with before,” said Cooper. “So we’re taking the positives away from it and not focusing on the results on paper. We’re just going to keep working, and it’ll come.”

Looking back on the day, Rich Simmons, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager, echoed the progress made. “Overall, both guys were more consistent,” he said. “Qualifying was better, the heat races were better, and Coop was racing with the lead group. The speed was there. Unfortunately, the mistake in the sand cost him a podium. Justin got stuck in that pace in the main event, but we know what we need to work on. It was a better night.”

With the Southern California stretch wrapped up, the team shifts its focus to Round 4 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship. The results may not fully show it yet — but the momentum is building.

Yamaha Announces 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Team

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) is pleased to announce that JD Beach will join Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing to campaign for top honors alongside Bobby Fong in the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. Heading into its seventh season as YMUS’ official Superbike team, the championship-winning program is eager to get the season underway and looks to add a fifth title and more wins to its already impressive tally.

“We welcome JD Beach back to the Yamaha family and look forward to working with him,” said Richard Stanboli, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Team Principal. “He is one of the hardest training riders in the paddock, and we are confident that with a comprehensive testing schedule, he will be a regular on the Superbike podium. We’re also happy to have Bobby Fong return this season to build on the success we had last year.”

For Beach, it’s also a welcome return to the Yamaha brand and the Attack Performance Superbike program, where he has enjoyed a lot of success. In addition to two MotoAmerica Supersport titles with Yamaha in 2015 and 2018, Beach has two career Superbike wins, both of which were aboard an Attack Performance Yamaha R1. The versatile rider who lives and breathes two-wheel racing also has 12 premier class victories in American Flat Track aboard Estenson Racing’s Yamaha MT-07s. With his racing efforts mostly focused on dirt track from 2020 to 2023, Beach returned to racing the MotoAmerica series full-time in 2024, earning three Superbike podiums and finishing second overall in the 2025 Stock 1000 Championship. With his dream ride coming to fruition this year, he has his sights on returning to the top step of the podium with the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing squad in 2026.

“Going all the way back to 2014 – when I signed my first contract with the Factory Yamaha team to race in Supersport – my goal and dream was to be on the Yamaha Superbike,” Beach said. “The road to finally getting on the factory Superbike has had more twists and turns than most race tracks, but I feel extremely blessed to have finally made my way to a full-time ride with Yamaha and Attack Performance on the R1. The MotoAmerica Superbike field will be stacked with some amazing talent this year, but I can’t wait to see what I can do. I know I’ve got some big shoes to fill after (Jake) Gagne has stepped away, but I’ll try my hardest to put the R1 at the front.”

Returning for his second year with the team, Fong looks to build on his standout 2025 season with Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing. In addition to the 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, the talented rider from Stockton, California, has multiple victories across the support class categories and 11 in Superbike. Last year, it was a hard-fought title campaign that saw Fong lead the team’s efforts, earning six wins, 14 podium finishes, and ultimately finishing third in the championship.

“I am happy to return with Richard and the whole Attack Yamaha team,” said Fong. “It’s been a long off-season, and I am ready to get back to work. I’m looking forward to seeing what Richard has up his sleeve for us to try this off-season, so that’s also exciting.”

Since the partnership began with YMUS in 2020, Attack Performance has carried on the Yamaha R1’s winning tradition, earning four titles and 70 victories in the premier class. Coming on board in 2022 to support the championship-winning program, Progressive returns this season. The team would like to thank all of its partners for their continued support: Progressive, Yamaha Financial Services (YMFC), Yamalube, Akrapovič, Braking, TrackDaz, Mikanik Moto, Podium Club at Atessa, Suter, OZ, DID, NGK-NTK, Full Spectrum, and Zero Gravity..

“Yamaha Racing is excited to continue our partnership with Attack Performance Racing to fight for the 2026 Superbike Championship,” said Jeff Sidlovsky, the Yamaha Racing Assistant Department Manager for YMUS.” We are happy to welcome Bobby Fong back after a successful 2025 season, and we are pleased to welcome JD Beach, who has a history of success with us.

“The 2026 Superbike field is deep. Richard and the Attack Performance team have been working hard on the technical side this off-season, and Bobby and JD have been training hard on the physical and mental side. We are grateful for the support of Progressive, Yamaha Financial Services, Yamalube, and our supporting partners who help make this possible. We have great riders and a great team, and we look forward to showcasing the strength of the YZF-R1 in this year’s campaign.”

AFT Singles Has a New Sound: Introducing the KICKER AFT Singles Class for 2026

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is proud to announce an elevated partnership with KICKER Performance Audio, naming the industry leader as the entitlement sponsor of the KICKER AFT Singles class for the 2026 season.

While KICKER continues its role as the Official Performance Audio of Progressive AFT, the expanded agreement places the brand at the forefront of the series’ unpredictable and highly competitive racing. The KICKER AFT Singles class serves as the premier battleground for the sport’s fastest rising stars and established veterans alike, competing on high-performance 450cc machinery.

The collaboration will be felt across the entire event footprint throughout the 2026 season. Every round, custom KICKER mobile sound systems will power the atmosphere around the racetrack. This integration ensures that the high-octane energy of flat track racing is matched by a world-class audio experience for fans at each event.

KICKER’s continued support of the athletes remains a cornerstone of the entitlement partnership. KICKER will provide exclusive products for podium finishers in the KICKER AFT Singles class, as well as the winner in the Mission AFT SuperTwins main event, to celebrate their achievements at all rounds in 2026. Additionally, the KICKER AFT Singles Champion will receive a full custom installation of KICKER high-performance audio products in the vehicle of their choice.

“KICKER Performance Audio is excited to be back in support of American Flat Track for the 2026 season and even more excited to now be the title sponsor of the KICKER AFT Singles class,” said Jeremy Wynn, KICKER events and promotional manager. “We are looking forward to another year of ‘Livin’ Loud’ with America’s Original Extreme Sport!”

Fans can engage with the latest KICKER technology in the fan zone throughout the season, starting with the season-opening doubleheader.

For more information on KICKER Audio, visit https://www.kicker.com.

Tickets On Sale Now for the 2026 SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final

Tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 SMX World Championship™ Playoffs and Final. As previously announced by the SMX League^™, Playoff 1 will take place on Saturday, September 12 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Playoff 2 will take place on Saturday, September 19 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California and the SMX World Championship Final will take place on Saturday, September 26 at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri.

SMX Priority Members can purchase tickets starting today, January 27 with public on-sale availability beginning Tuesday, February 3 at SuperMotocross.com.

Last year’s postseason run saw two of the sport’s brightest stars cement their place in the history books as Japanese athlete Jo Shimoda won his very first 250cc World Championship while era-defining Jett Lawrence successfully defended his 450cc World Championship and became the first athlete to win three back-to-back SMX World Championship titles in the premier class.

Columbus sits at the heart of the Midwest, a region long known for its passionate motorsports fan base and deep grassroots racing culture. Ohio has produced generations of riders and racing fans, making Historic Crew Stadium a natural fit for the SMX World Championship Playoffs. Every square foot of the venue’s expansive floor space will be utilized to create a unique SMX track layout that will include a large contingent of sand; an elevated start and use of an existing stage built into the stands.

Historic Crew Stadium Track Map

Southern California is a staple in the Supercross and Motocross racing history books, making the area highly desirable for racing when the opportunity is presented. The 2026 regular season began in California a mere three weeks ago and for the first time in its history will also include a postseason round late in the year. Situated in the greater Los Angeles area, Dignity Health Sports Park brings the Playoffs to a market with a long-standing connection to the sport and a strong motorsports and media presence. Sand will be integrated into the track design to create a more natural terrain environment.

Dignity Health Sports Park Track Map

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship will culminate in a special Final at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri, which has already drawn rave reviews as one of the most picturesque and jaw-dropping venues in North America. Set within a stunning natural amphitheater, Thunder Ridge Nature Arena presents a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience that promises to create unforgettable memories by combining the natural beauty of the Ozarks with the striking architecture that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding environment. The SMX World Championship Final will offer world-class racing alongside a premier stay at Big Cedar Lodge, the Official Accommodations partner, featuring championship-level golf, exceptional restaurants and an immersive outdoor experience across its iconic resort. The natural terrain at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena will provide the most Motocross-inspired track design of this year’s postseason with natural elevation, rough sections, and one-of-a-kind viewing options close to the track that fans have come to expect.

Thunder Ridge Nature Arena Track Map

A variety of travel packages will be available to fans for the SMX World Championship Final. Please visit SuperMotocross.com for more details. Fans can purchase hotel and camping accommodations that include many ticketing and VIP experience options.

Fans can expect a two-day experience in Columbus, Ohio and Ridgedale, Missouri as these rounds will offer a Friday Fan Zone and a Saturday FanFest experience. Friday’s Fan Zone will feature access to the pre-race press conference, free practice sessions, and the SMX Insiders Live show. Further details and a complete programming schedule will be released later in the year. Playoff 2 in Carson, California will be a one day event and will include access to all the race teams, athletes, and experiential activities in a one-day Saturday FanFest experience format.

The SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final will feature the best athletes in the world as the top 20 in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points are automatically seeded into the playoff rounds. Athletes will be competing for the sport’s ultimate World Championship title, and the prestige that comes from overcoming adversity through a 28-round, dual-discipline (indoor and outdoor) season, plus two SMX Playoffs and a Final.

The entire SMX World Championship series is now on sale, including 17 Rounds of Monster Energy Supercross, 11 Rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship, and the post-season Playoffs and Final. To purchase tickets and stay up to date on the latest news and highlights, visit SuperMotocross.com, SupercrossLIVE.com or ProMotocross.com.

American Motorcyclist Association Secures Insurance Availability for AMA-Sanctioned Racing and Riding Events

The American Motorcyclist Association announces the availability of liability insurance for AMA-sanctioned competition and recreational events for the insurance cycle running Jan. 30, 2026, through Jan. 29, 2027.

Policies in the AMA’s preferred insurance program will be underwritten by Ren Specialty Insurance and administered by Jones Birdsong Insurance Services. Forms and rates are available now for AMA-sanctioned events at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/insurance/ama-preferred-insurance-program/ .

“Organized motorcycle races and rides simply can’t happen responsibly without comprehensive liability insurance, and facilitating this coverage is one of the most important benefits the AMA provides,” AMA Chief Operating Officer James Holter said. “The AMA values its relationship with Ren Specialty, and we appreciate their investment in our clubs and promoters.”

AMA organizers benefit from set premiums that are generally lower than market rates and avoid lengthy underwriting processes — aside from events that have unique characteristics like rallies and other multi-day events — through the AMA preferred insurance program.

The AMA does not receive any revenue from insurance premiums, with 100 percent of negotiated savings going back into the program to keep rates for AMA organizers as low as possible.

“Motorcycle racing is the greatest sport in the world, and that requires a commitment to staying in front of the ever-changing landscape of risk management, liability and safety,” Holter added. “This work contributes to favorable renewals, and we ask all of our organizers to get involved in that process to ensure our events remain the gold standard for motorcycle racing in America, if not the world.”

The AMA sanctions thousands of competition and recreational motorcycle events each year proving racing and riding opportunities for tens of thousands of AMA members.

To learn more about the AMA and to start your own journey into the world of motorcycling, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Additional menu