This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of February 22, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

Hunter Lawrence Breaks Through for First Career Monster Energy Supercross Victory on Night of Firsts in Arlington

The seventh round of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship signified the annual visit of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for Military Appreciation Night inside AT&T Stadium. A captivating night of racing produced a pair of first-time winners, as 450SMX Class points leader Hunter Lawrence finally seized control of the spotlight with an impressive breakthrough victory for Honda HRC Progressive. The Australian outlasted each of his championship rivals to assert his hold of the red plate.

Adding to the excitement of the annual visit to AT&T Stadium was the Military Appreciation Race, with provided a patriotic atmosphere for the event.

The 450SMX Class Main Event started with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine of Cooper Webb and the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki of Ken Roczen side-by-side exiting the first turn, as Webb was able to edge out Roczen for the holeshot only to give up the lead to the German as they fought for position on the opening lap. Lawrence slotted behind them into third, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac started outside the top 10 in 11th place. Roczen was able to keep Webb at bay and grabbed hold of the race lead. Soon the lead trio settled in while Tomac made an incredible charge up to fourth within the first couple laps to set the stage for a thrilling fight for victory. As Webb pursued Roczen he made a small bobble, which allowed Lawrence to pass for third. Shortly thereafter, Lawrence surged onto Roczen’s rear fender and applied pressure for the lead with about 13 minutes to go, which allowed the top four to move within two seconds of one another. Roczen withstood the attack and the top four once again settled in through the middle of the 20 Minute + 1 Lap race.

As the race approached its final six minutes the action picked up once more as Lawrence mounted another attack and got alongside Roczen in the whoops, only to be halted by a slower rider. Lawrence didn’t relent and made a pass stick moments later. Webb then got by Roczen for second, only to have Tomac surge by both Roczen and Webb to move from fourth to second. Webb was forced off the track in the process, which allowed Roczen to reclaim third. However, Webb made another pass to regain podium position.

Lawrence opened up a healthy lead with his pass on Roczen and was forced to deal with a brief push from Tomac with two minutes to go. Lawrence responded and carried on to a long-awaited victory by 2.8 seconds over Tomac, with Webb in third and Roczen fourth.

Lawrence’s win came in his 26th premier class start, inside the same venue of his first 250SMX Class victory during the 2021 season. He became the season’s fifth different winner in seven races and moved out to a four-point lead over Tomac. Webb is third, 16 points out of the lead, with Roczen fourth, 18 points back.

After four runner-up finishes in the first six races, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence broke through for his first premier class victory.

Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class

“It’s cool, but we’ve got a lot of racing left. I’m happy to tick that little box. It’s a huge thank you to my team and everyone that’s around me. We’ve got an amazing group and that’s really the most valuable thing in my program. It takes a whole village to move mountains.

“Even when you get a sixth place it’s really tough, but man how cool it was racing against all those boys. Me and Kenny [Roczen] had some awesome back-and-forth, Coop [Webb] was right there, Eli [Tomac] was right there. It’s pretty cool racing with the sport’s legends. Awesome.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac overcame a start outside the top 10
to bring home a hard-fought second place finish.

Eli Tomac – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class

“[The first lap] absolutely saved my race. I was happy to make some moves there and just happened to find openings that allowed me to pass two or three guys at a time. Somehow by Lap 2 or 3 I could see the front of the race and knew I was okay. What a difficult track tonight. I fought to the end as much as I could. Second was all we had tonight.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb grabbed the holeshot and stayed in the thick of the fight for victory en route to a third place result.

Cooper Webb – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class

“It was a fun race, for sure, but I’m honestly a little bummed. I was pretty nice and should have been more aggressive with [Roczen] and maybe gotten the pass [for the lead] earlier. It was a sick race with all of us four bunched up there. I tried to make the pass on [Roczen for second] and Eli [Tomac] ended up getting me and ran me off the track, then Kenny got back by me. I kind of lost the tow of [the leaders]. I’m bummed at myself. I saw a few openings I should have taken and I didn’t. I was too patient tonight. Overall, we’ll take it.”

450SMX Class Podium (left to right)
Eli Tomac, Hunter Lawrence, and Cooper Webb

The anticipated opening race of the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class Championship was equally exciting and got underway with Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda out front for the holeshot in his first race since he underwent surgery in November to repair two fractured and displaced vertebrae in his neck and upper back. The reigning 250SMX World Champion from Japan was followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Daxton Bennick, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies, a title favorite, started deep inside the top 20 after he fell in the first turn and collected multiple contenders.

Shimoda sprinted out to a lead of more than three seconds and stabilized his advantage through the opening portion of the race until an unexpected sequence changed the complexion of the race. Red medical lights were displayed as Shimoda approached the finish line, which required him to not jump any obstacle until cleared. As he rolled through to begin the next lap, both Brown and Bennick completed the obstacles at normal race pace, with no apparent lights displayed, which allowed Brown to not only overcome the deficit but also make the pass for the lead. Shimoda resumed full pace in second and fought back but was unable to get by Brown as Bennick pursued from third. Shimoda’s pursuit of Brown and the lead continued throughout the remainder of the 15 Minute + 1 Lap race and while the Honda rider appeared to be faster at times, he was unable to attempt a pass. With less than one minute to go Shimoda made one final push and dove under Brown with an inside line but was unable to sustain the momentum, which allowed Brown to pull away to victory.

Brown took the checkered flag by 2.4 seconds over Shimoda, with Bennick right behind in third. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker, who was involved in the first-turn incident with Davies, finished fourth, while Davies impressed with a resilient come-from-behind fifth place result. For Brown, it not only signified his first Supercross victory in 33 starts, but it also came one year after he crashed out of the lead of the 2025 Eastern Divisional opener and suffered a fractured vertebra, which sidelined for the remainder of the year.

Brown’s win has put him atop the Eastern Divisional standings, with a three-point lead over Shimoda and a five-point advantage over Bennick. It will mark the first time Brown has ever carried the red plate.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown captured an emotional first career Supercross win to open the Eastern Divisional Championship.

Pierce Brown – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class

“I don’t even know where to start. There were so many nights where I didn’t think this would be possible. Missing a year, especially with the injury I had, it’s pretty degrading. It’s a scary thing to come back from and there were a lot of doubts. I’m just thankful I never stopped fighting. Every day this offseason we put our best foot forward. Wow. This is…amazing.”

An anticipated return to action from injury for Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda resulted in a holeshot, multiple laps led, and a runner-up finish.

Jo Shimoda – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class

“I saw the red [medical] light come on and you’re not supposed to jump that, so I don’t know what happened. We’ll review it. Overall, it was a good one for me. I felt rusty all day, to be honest, but my adrenaline kicked in for the race. It’s a good way to start.”

Daxton Bennick captured a third career podium finish in his debut race with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.

Daxton Bennick – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class

“I turned a pretty bad day into a good day. I thought if I could be top five [in the main event] that’d be good for me. I struggled all day, but I’m pumped to come away with a podium. I dug deep in that race. We’ll keep digging this week and come out swinging next weekend.”

Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium - Arlington

Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right)
Jo Shimoda, Pierce Brown, and Daxton Bennick

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, February 28, for the eighth race of the season from legendary Daytona International Speedway and the 56th running of the Daytona Supercross in Florida. 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 Pea cock 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 are now on sale 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.

AMA Announces U.S. Team for 2026 FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup

Four excellent racers will represent the United States at the 2026 FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup, which runs March 21-22 in Wonthaggi, Australia.

Led by team captain Lachlan Turner (pictured above, No. 99), the United States will also be represented by Jamie Astudillo, Jordan Jarvis and Mayla Herrick at the weekend event. In 2025, the United States surged to a second-place finish — falling just two points shy of Australia — during its debut appearance at the competition.

“We look forward to building off of last year’s success at the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup, and we have a team capable of making significant noise at this year’s competition,” Team Manager Christina Denney said. “These incredible women are the future of our sport, and we are confident they will represent the United States with pride.”

Turner, the reigning Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX) champion, enters her second consecutive year at the event. In 2025, she finished second overall at the competition, the best finish of an American, while going 2-3-2 in motos.

Jarvis finished alongside Turner on the podium at the 2025 FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup, as her 3-6-3 finish was enough to earn third place individually.

Also returning to the team in 2026 is Astudillo, who played a key role in the Americans’ second-place finish in 2025.

Joining the USA team in 2026 is Herrick, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the amateur racing ranks. As a member of Team Dunlop Elite, Herrick has captured championships at AMA major events like the Motoplayground Race at Ponca City MX and Spring A Ding Ding.

The American squad will seek victory against Australia, New Zealand and an FIM Asia team during the weekend event in Wonthaggi.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Daxton Bennick claims podium finish at 250SX East season-opener

450SX teammate Malcolm Stewart displays front-running pace in Round 7 at Arlington

Bennick made his first official appearance with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna at AT&T Stadium in Texas, piloting his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition – which featured special graphics for Military Appreciation Round – to fifth position at the conclusion of qualifying.

After taking P5 in the second 250SX Heat Race, a strong launch to the Main Event had the 20-year-old feature in a race-long duel toward the front of the field, and at times, applying pressure for the lead of the race. In an exceptional display of speed and consistency at the Eastern Division opener, Bennick recorded a P3 finish to open his 2026 campaign.

“Arlington was good!” said Bennick. “I struggled a little bit in the first practice just getting comfortable with being at the races again, and then in the second one I felt a lot better – I found a flow that really worked for me and I was gelling well with the bike. Its power was awesome and allowed me to get that three in, which only a handful of us were able to do in that big rhythm lane. My starts today were great too – and felt very repeatable – which I am stoked about. In the Main Event, I put my head down, got into a good position off the start, and went to work. I wish I could’ve been a little better in some areas to maybe win, but it is the first round and I kept that in mind, but I think we have some good results coming and I’m happy with how my night went.”

450SX challenger Malcolm Stewart posted the fastest time in the opening 450SX qualifying session in Arlington, before being classified P10 overall on combined times equipped with his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition as the afternoon sessions concluded.

After a challenging start in the Heat Race, the 33-year-old worked his way forward with a composed ride, advancing into third position by race’s end and building momentum ahead of the Main Event.

Stewart managed to circulate in seventh for a large share of the Main Event, before a late-race fall relegated him back to 11th at Round 7 of the SMX World Championship season, with positives to take after a solid outing in Texas.

“The Texas fans are always a good crowd,” reflected Stewart. “All day I felt really good, through both qualifying and the Heat Race. The Main Event was going really well too, but I made one little mistake over the on-off, which cost me quite a few positions. We ended up 11th, but other than that, we’re trending in the right direction, and things are getting back on track to where we need them to be. The crash was a little bit of a bummer, but I am more proud of my riding than the results. At the end of the day, we can continue to keep fighting heading into my home race in Daytona next weekend – hopefully the Florida fans bring the vibe!”

Next Race: February 28 – Daytona, Florida

Results 450SX Class – Arlington1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)2. Eli Tomac (KTM)3. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)8. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)11. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)12. Justin Hill (KTM)17. Kevin Moranz (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 7 of 17 rounds1. Hunter Lawrence, 149 points2. Eli Tomac, 1453. Cooper Webb, 13310. Aaron Plessinger, 7911. Jorge Prado, 7312. Malcolm Stewart, 6313. Justin Hill, 6117. RJ Hampshire, 38

Results 250SX Class – Arlington1. Pierce Brown (Yamaha)2. Jo Shimoda (Honda)3. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250SX East Class 2026 after 1 of 10 rounds1. Pierce Brown, 25 points2. Jo Shimoda, 223. Daxton Bennick, 20

Ryder LeBlond and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna salvage points in Ultimate Hawaiian Hard Enduro

Round 2 of the 2026 AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Championship in Kauai, Hawaii, delivered demanding conditions as heavy rain impacted the two-day event, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder LeBlond battled the elements to salvage a 12th-place overall Pro Class result.

U.S. Hard Enduro Championship – Round 2

LeBlond opened the Ultimate Hawaiian Hard Enduro by recording ninth in the Prologue on Saturday, which had him take off from the second row onboard his Husqvarna TE 300 for Sunday’s main race.

The 24-year-old advanced toward the leaders during the initial stages of the race, before coming unstuck amidst the technical, slippery Hawaiian terrain.

LeBlond was ultimately credited 12th position despite not being able to make it to the finish on Sunday as a result of the conditions, still adding valuable points toward his Pro Class tally.

Round 3 of the 2026 U.S. Hard Enduro Championship heads to Arizona on March 20-22, as LeBlond and the team aim to rebound at the Grinding Stone event.

“It was a super-muddy day in Hawaii!” said LeBlond. “I started on the second row after not qualifying so well, but I quickly caught the riders on row one and was in the mix. I had some good battles, made some mistakes, swapped out in some parts, and pushed the bike a bunch. We ended up P12, which isn’t ideal, but we’ll come back next year more prepared for this muddy, rainy island. Grinding Stone up next!”

Pro Class Results

1. Kawelo Huddy, KTM

2. Kamakana Waiwaiole-Kahalepuna, KTM

3. Matthew Green, KTM

4. Trystan Hart, KTM

12. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

TRYSTAN HART AND FMF KTM FACTORY RACING P4 AT RAIN-SOAKED ULTIMATE HAWAIIAN HARD ENDURO

KTM Offroad Update

U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 2

After taking the win at Round 1 of the AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Championship at King of the Motos, Hart entered the Ultimate Hawaiian event looking to build upon his form as he targets his sixth Pro Class crown in 2026.

Brutal conditions in Kauai had the 29-year-old excited for the event – the Canadian racer taking his KTM 300 XC to fourth place at the conclusion of Saturday’s Prologue session.

A tough outing on Sunday followed, however, as the defending champion navigated the technical, slippery terrain to be credited with fourth place in the Pro Class, despite not making the checkered flag as a result of the conditions.

The points scored keep him directly in the championship fight, with Round 3 of the series taking place at the Grinding Stone Hard Enduro in Arizona from March 20-22.

Trystan Hart:“It was a super-sick race in Hawaii, with conditions that normally suit my style. I missed the mark with bike setup, and that cost me dearly for a disappointing fourth place – my worst ever finish at a U.S. Hard Enduro! All things considered, we still scored solid points toward the championship and we’ll look for some redemption at Grinding Stone.”

Pro Class Results

Kawelo Huddy, KTM
Kamakana Waiwaiole-Kahalepuna, KTM
Matthew Green, KTM
Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna

NATIONAL HARE & HOUND SERIES – ROUND 2

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Dante Oliveira was also on track over the weekend, heading a wire-to-wire victory at the second National Hare & Hound round of 2026 in Lovelock, Nevada.

The defending Pro Class champion was in form from the outset at the Prospector 150 event, powering his KTM 450 XC-F through the fast-paced terrain to record a total time of 3:44.16s and earn a second victory in 2026.

Back-to-back wins to start the season see Oliveira on a perfect 60 points leaving Round 2, with five races remaining in this year’s schedule.

Dante Oliveira:“Round 2 was epic – I got the holeshot and was able to lead wire-to-wire! It was a little hairy at times while leading, because we go out there and hammer wide-open, so a lot of the race was about where I had to really push, and then just be smart and consistent with my pace. We had the snow melt, so the dirt was wet and allowed for a close race. I think those first five miles, or maybe even 20 miles, there were six of us together – you could have thrown a blanket over us. I ended up getting a good gap, kept it there, and pushed where I felt really comfortable. I rode pretty well this weekend, so I’m stoked with my bike, thanks to the team. It was an awesome weekend.”

Pro Class Results

Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Zane Roberts, Beta
Ryder Thomaselli, Husqvarna

U.S. SPRINT ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 2

The Mac Daddy’s Paradise U.S. Sprint Enduro saw FMF KTM Factory Racing riders Grant Davis, Johnny Girroir, Jason Tino, and Brandy Richards in the lineup, as each contested their respective classes at the second round.

Equipped with the KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION, last year’s Pro 2 Class Champion Davis raced to a solid victory at the second round of the season, claiming the top position once all 11 tests were complete in Georgia.

Grant Davis: “It was a pretty good weekend. Today I wasn’t great in the first test, I hit the ground twice, but I was able to pick it up later on in the day and managed the win, which feels really good. Cody [Barnes] was ripping at the end of the day, as he does at every Sprint Enduro, so I had the pressure there, but all-in-all, I’m really stoked on winning one of these events. Shoutout to the FMF KTM Factory Racing team and all our partners for making this possible.”

Round 1 winner Girroir was in race-winning contention too, finishing directly behind Davis onboard his KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION to deliver a 1-2 Pro 1 Class finish for the team after being the pace-setter on Saturday.

Johnny Girroir:“It was a good weekend out for the team with a 1-2 alongside Grant and we can take a lot away from this one. Building in these early stages of the year and excited for what’s to come!”

A challenging opening day was put in the rear view by FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Tino, who powered to a third-place finish on Sunday – and third overall in the Pro 2 Class – at Round 2 aboard his KTM 250 XC-F.

Jason Tino:“I tell you what, this one almost feels better than a win! From getting my teeth kicked in yesterday with dead-last after only three tests, and coming in a little under the weather, to clinching the final spot on the podium in the last test felt really, really good. A big shoutout to the club for the awesome conditions here, and thank you to my FMF KTM Factory Racing team.”

Targeting a consistent day at the second round of the season, Richards delivered a series of consistent results over the two-days of racing, claiming P2 onboard her KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION in the Pro Women’s category and a haul of valuable championship points.

Brandy Richards:“It wasn’t the greatest weekend for me, and these aren’t my favorite conditions, so the goal was to come in and score valuable points and stay closer to the leaders, which we were able to do. Conditions were different across each day – I felt better with today, and a podium is a solid way to wrap up this round.”

Pro 1 Class Results

Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Cody Barnes, Beta

Pro 2 Class Results

Cooper Jones, KTM
Gavin Simon, Husqvarna
Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing

Pro Women Results

Danielle McDonald, Yamaha
Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Rachel Gutish, Rieju

ARLINGTON 450SX PODIUM FOR ELI TOMAC AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING

Round 7 – AMA Supercross Championship

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION – complete with a special livery for Military Appreciation Round – Tomac topped the premier class qualifying for the third time in 2026, posting a benchmark 47.688s lap during the second afternoon session at AT&T Stadium.

Momentum continued for the 33-year-old with third-place in the opening 450SX Heat Race, as he showed consistent pace and gained a solid gate selection for the upcoming Main Event.

Despite a difficult initial launch out of the gate, Tomac quickly recovered on the opening laps with a series of decisive passes, as the two-time 450SX Champion charged into fourth position during the race’s early stages.

From there, an intense, race-long battle unfolded, with Tomac advancing into second during the closing laps of the Main Event. Mounting a late charge, he continued to apply pressure at the front, ultimately finishing in P2 at Round 7.

As the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship approaches its halfway point, Tomac sits just four points from the 450SX series lead, with the SMX World Championship season continuing at the annual Daytona Supercross next weekend.

Eli Tomac:“Those first laps absolutely saved my race. I had to make some quick moves there and was able to find those openings to pass two-to-three riders at a time. By lap two or three, I could see the front of the race and thought, ‘I’m okay, I can work with this.’ What a difficult track [it was] tonight. Of course, I fought to the end as much as I could and second is what we had. Thank you to Red Bull KTM – we’ll come back swinging in Daytona.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger made a positive start to the night aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, claiming fifth place in his Heat Race to comfortably earn a direct transfer into the Main Event.

Plessinger faced an intense opening few laps in fighting for early track position, as the 30-year-old battled inside the top-10 throughout Arlington’s entire Main Event. ‘The Cowboy’ eventually scored an eighth-place finish for the weekend.

With the series moving to Daytona next weekend, ‘The Cowboy’ will turn his attention to the historic Florida speedway, where he landed on the podium – his first of the 2025 season – one year ago.

Aaron Plessinger:”Dallas was better. I think we made some pretty good progress with the bike, but ultimately, I just need to be better. I need to put myself in better positions, and just overall, be better myself. The Heat Race, I got an average start and rode my way to fifth, and then for the Main, I went all the way inside gate, so got a better start. I was running good and then [Jason] Anderson ended up going down in front of me, so that put me back a little bit. And then I had a decent flow going there, but I ended up casing a jump pretty good and kind of ruined my momentum that I had going. I ended up eighth, but overall, it just needed to be better. We go to Daytona next week, so I am looking forward to that and, yeah, I’ve just got to focus on being better on race day.”

Four-time world champion Jorge Prado was sidelined for Round 7 after his incident during Seattle’s second qualifying session, with the 25-year-old prioritizing recovery on his right shoulder by taking a week off the bike at this time.

Next Race: February 28 – Daytona, Florida

Results 450SX Class – Arlington

Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
Justin Hill (KTM)
Kevin Moranz (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 7 of 17 rounds

Hunter Lawrence, 149 points
Eli Tomac, 145
Cooper Webb, 133
Aaron Plessinger, 79
Jorge Prado, 73
Malcolm Stewart, 63
Justin Hill, 61
RJ Hampshire, 38

Hunter Lawrence scores his first AMA Supercross premier-class win in Arlington

The Arlington, Texas, AMA Supercross round proved to be an incredible night of racing for Honda HRC Progressive, with emotional performances in both categories. After coming close on several occasions, Hunter Lawrence notched his career-first win in the 450SX class, while Jo Shimoda secured an impressive second-place result in the 250SX East opener—his first race back from a neck injury.

Lawrence quickly recovered from a so-so jump out of the gate, positioning himself in third exiting turn 1. He took advantage of a lap-8 Cooper Webb mistake to move into second and soon joined Ken Roczen at the front. A three-way battle for the lead ensued, with the Australian demonstrating determination and composure as he dealt with the riders ahead and behind. Lawrence made the decisive move on Roczen at the five-minute mark and quickly established an advantage out front. That edge shrunk when the riders behind him jumped with a red-cross flag displayed, but Lawrence held firm until the checkered flag, earning the first premier-class win of his career. Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy secured seventh place, while his teammate Christian Craig crossed the line in ninth, marking his best result of the season.

In the 250SX main event, Shimoda grabbed the holeshot aboard his CRF250RWE and led the field through the opening stages. At around one-third race distance, after seeing the red lights flashing (indicating a red-cross situation), he rolled a small double and the finish-line jump that followed it. Meanwhile, Pierce Brown jumped with the red light still illuminated, enabling him to pass Shimoda. Despite applying intense pressure on Brown for the remainder of the race, the Japanese rider was unable to reclaim the lead. Nonetheless, his performance underlined his status as a championship contender. Also notable was Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park, who finished a respectable ninth.

At night’s end, Honda HRC Progressive personnel vigorously disputed the lack of penalties around the red-flag incidents in both classes. On Monday, the AMA released an official statement indicating that it has no plan to apply penalties. The team intends to escalate the issue and is currently reviewing all viable avenues.

NOTES

Local dealership Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda enhanced the fan experience in Honda HRC Progressive’s pit area with an interactive pop-up activation, showcasing a CRF450R and a CRF110F—the latter being featured in an exclusive giveaway. The dealership team connected directly with fans and customers throughout the event, strengthening local engagement. Giveaway results will be announced via Dallas Honda’s official Instagram and Facebook channels on Tuesday. The dealership is also a sponsor for Red Rider John Short IV, and staff members cheered him on during the evening program.
Jo Shimoda and team manager Lars Lindstrom represented Honda HRC Progressive during Friday’s official pre-event media activities, with Shimoda also taking advantage of valuable track time. The duo were joined by a strong group of Honda-affiliated riders during the Media Day activities, including Quad Lock Honda’s Christian Craig, Shane McElrath and Joey Savatgy, along with Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry, Gavin Towers and Cullin Park.
Arlington served as a Military Appreciation round, and SKDA supplied Honda HRC Progressive with special bike graphics featuring TrueTimber’s white Viper Snow camo pattern, while TrueTimber outfitted riders and staff in coordinated apparel. Military veterans were invited to attend Media Day, with opportunities to meet the riders and engage directly with the team.
Swedish IndyCar driver Marcus Ericsson attended the Arlington round, with his Andretti Global Honda IndyCar displayed next to the Honda HRC Progressive team trucks, highlighting the brand’s racing presence across disciplines. Ericsson also appeared on Race Day Live for an interview.
On Saturday, Feld’s video crew captured exclusive opening-ceremony footage with Shimoda, and they conducted a pre-main-event interview with him as well.
Hunter Lawrence and Shimoda participated in a fan autograph session under the Honda HRC Progressive tent, engaging with their supporters.
Shimoda’s participation in the 250SX East opener caught many by surprise, as the reigning SMX 250 Champion had suffered a serious neck injury just under three months earlier. Following surgery, Shimoda embarked on an intensive recovery program, and he received the go-ahead to resume riding just a couple of weeks before Arlington.
As he refamiliarized himself with the racing environment, Shimoda placed 15th in 250SX East combined qualifying. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Cullin Park, Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified eighth, 25th and 33rd, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) qualified in 16th, Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) in 21st and John Short IV (Short Racing) was 23rd, while Storm Lake Honda riders Luke Neese and Izaih Clark were 24th and 30th, respectively.
In 450SX overall qualifying, Lawrence placed ninth, followed by Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath in 11th, 12th and 16th, respectively. Other Red Riders included Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic), who qualified in 32nd, and Ronnie Orres (Lasting Impressions), who was 35th.
Shimoda enjoyed exceptional starts in 250SX East heat racing, grabbing two holeshots (including once after a red flag), and his eventual second-place result transferred him to the main event. Park and Short advanced directly through their heat races, while Neese won the LCQ and Jeremy Hand secured third, moving both to the main event.
Lawrence dominated his 450SX heat race with a holeshot and wire-to-wire victory. Savatgy delivered a standout performance to finish second after battling Eli Tomac throughout the race. Craig (fifth) and McElrath (seventh) also transferred directly to the main event.
On his way to his first win, Lawrence set the fastest time in the 450SX main event—a first for the Australian.
Lawrence took the first 450SX win of his career in the same venue where he earned his first 250SX victory back in 2022.
With his first career 450SX victory, Lawrence joins an elite group of premier-class winners, and he also retains the championship points lead, extending his advantage over Tomac from one point to four.
The team now turns its focus to round 8 of AMA Supercross this Saturday in Daytona Beach, Florida.

SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN DELIVERS ARLINGTON SUPERCROSS THRILLER

The red Texas dirt inside AT&T Stadium required a fine balance between precision and aggression at Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season; the event also paid points toward the SMX World Championship. The riders faced deep ruts and a slick whoop section that broke down dramatically throughout the racing. The domed stadium hosted the Military Appreciation Race with military veterans in attendance and bike and gear graphics honoring the service members.

Race Highlights:

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
  - Ken Roczen earned his fourth heat race win of the season and led the majority of laps in the main event.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Jason Anderson showed season-best speed in qualifying and in his heat race.
  - Colt Nichols grabbed the win in the Arlington LCQ.

Ken Roczen (94) was feeling under the weather coming into Arlington, but his speed didn’t initially seem affected. Roczen carded the second-fastest time in the second qualifying session which held for the second-fastest overall qualifying spot. He carried that track speed into his heat race where Roczen holeshot and led every lap despite challenges from his teammate Jason Anderson. When the gate dropped for the main event, Roczen and his Suzuki RM-Z450 rocketed around the first turn and emerged in second place at the holeshot stripe. After an intense battle through the first few sections, Roczen took sole control of the lead, set the race’s fastest time through the challenging whoops section (Sector 7), and set his sights on a second win in 2026. Roczen defended against several challenges and retained control of the race from the green flag through the 17th of 26 total laps. When the dust settled in Texas, Roczen had demonstrated again that he is a top contender for the 2026 Supercross title.

“We ended up tonight with a fourth place. Nonetheless, I feel like we were riding really good all day,” said Roczen. “The track was super tricky; we had some big jumps and sketchy whoops. This dirt is always extremely unique as it is super slippery; it looks perfect, but it’s not. Having said that, I progressively got a little worse [throughout the main event]. I got a little sick at the beginning of the week. I tried to keep it at bay, but as we got closer to the race it had definitely gotten worse. My lungs were absolutely closed, so I’m super pumped with the effort that I put in. We executed the start, so overall I tried to be a roadblock as long as I could, and we ended up with a fourth. So, it could have been a lot worse, and it is what it is. We still have a lot of racing to go, everything can swing around again, so as long as we keep the effort level up I think we’re fine.”

Jason Anderson (21) wasted no time getting up to speed inside AT&T Stadium. Anderson posted top-five results in each qualifying session and in the overall qualifying standings. In his heat race, Anderson crossed the holeshot stripe in third and immediately put his RM-Z450 into second place with sights set on the race leader, his Suzuki teammate Ken Roczen. The two Suzuki riders kept the racing clean and brought home 1-2 finishes in the heat. When the gate dropped for the main, Anderson emerged from the first corner in sixth place. He quickly moved into the top five until a crash on lap two put him outside of the points. Anderson put in a drive; he gained ten positions in as many laps and set the race’s fastest time through the first rhythm section (Sector 3). Anderson was charging toward a top-ten spot when another crashed ended his night early.

“My weekend was better as far as my riding,” Anderson stated. “[But] it was a little bummer in the main. I got tangled up, and fell by myself, and didn’t end up very well. But my riding was better and hopefully we’ll keep [this trajectory].”

Colt Nichols (45), in what amounts to a hometown race for the Oklahoma-born racer, was fast in Texas. While running in a qualifying spot in his heat race, Nichols had a crash in the whoops section that forced him into the LCQ. A poor start in the LCQ added stress to the night, but Nichols confidently marched toward the front and took the win at the checkered flag. In the main event Nichols emerged from the first corner with a mid-pack position and battled as the track’s ruts deepened. Nichols set the second-fastest time through the second rhythm section (Sector 5) on a strong ride, but a crash slowed his progress forward.

“It was tough today, to be honest. I crashed the heat and had to go to the LCQ,” said Nichols. “In the main event I started decently from the far outside but got squished going into the first rhythm, so I was pretty far back. Then I started to ride really well. I got up to 11th, and then hit neutral coming into the whoops and had another crash… But we’re making some progress. I just need to stay off the ground and get off the start a little bit better and we’ll be okay. I’m excited for Daytona next weekend. We’ll give it another shot.”

“We had a decent night in Arlington. I was very happy with our heat race, going 1-2,” stated Dustin Pipes, Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. “The main started well with Ken and Jason both in the top five. Unfortunately, a couple falls for Jason resulted in a DNF, and with a sickness holding him back, Ken fought hard for a fourth-place result. Colt was 14th with a fall while he was charging towards the top 10. The riding was strong, and the results don’t show the full picture. We will regroup for Daytona.”

On Saturday, February 28th, the Daytona Supercross will challenge the racers with its high-speed Supercross track carved into the famous Daytona International Speedway trioval. Ken Roczen is the defending Daytona champ after an inspiring win at the 2025 race. All of the Suzuki riders and team members are ready for the Daytona Supercross, and the events that follow, on their drive toward race wins and championships in 2026.

Cooper Webb’s Podium Streak Continues in Arlington

The battle for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross premier class crown waged on in Arlington, Texas, with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb once again putting in a good fight for his number-one plate. On a gnarly, deteriorating track inside AT&T Stadium, Webb delivered his fourth consecutive podium in a race that featured all four championship contenders locked in an intense battle.

“It was a sick race, I’m sure, with all four of us bunched up there,” Webb said. “I saw a few openings I probably should’ve taken earlier in the race. I was too patient tonight, but we’ll take it. I had another great start, and I rode well. The track was pretty crazy; it broke down really gnarly. The win was there, but we didn’t get it. Overall, we’ll take another podium.”

Round 7 also served as the Military Appreciation Race, a special night honoring those who have served and continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces. Webb sported a special livery for the race and for the opening ceremonies, adding another meaningful layer to the weekend.

“The military appreciation race is always a fun weekend,” Webb said. “We had a sweet kit for the opening ceremonies, and seeing all the military here, that was awesome.”

Webb has historically been strong at the Dallas Cowboys’ home turf, entering the weekend with seven wins in 11 tries. However, the opening qualifying session in tricky conditions didn’t go as planned for either Webb or teammate Justin Cooper, but the team rebounded for the second session.

“The first qualifying session didn’t go as planned,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “So we made a few adjustments, and different line choices with the guys, and improved our qualifying. In the heat races, we didn’t get good starts, which we knew we needed to improve for the main event, and both guys did that.”

Webb qualified third and finished fourth in his heat race, coming just shy of a top-three result. In the main event, however, he nailed the start and grabbed the holeshot. Ken Roczen moved past early, but Webb stayed within striking distance as the race evolved into a four-rider showdown. With roughly 14 minutes remaining, the intensity ramped up.

“In the main event, I got a good start and was behind Kenny (Roczen) for a bit,” Webb explained. “I made a mistake, and Hunter (Lawrence) got me. It was pretty much follow-the-leader, and we were waiting for a mistake. I ended up getting by Kenny, and by doing so, Eli (Tomac) got underneath me and put me off the track. So then I lost a position to him, and then to Kenny. That was a little bit of a bummer, just trying to get by him, and by the time I got around him, Hunter and Eli kind of had a gap on me. I put my head down, but just couldn’t make it happen. We’ll come back swinging next weekend and try to do some damage at Daytona.”

Webb’s fourth-consecutive podium scored valuable points in the 450SX Championship, putting him 16 points from the leader and third in the standings as the series moves closer to its midpoint.

On the other side of the tent, Justin Cooper continued to show progress despite a challenging start to the weekend. The New Yorker qualified sixth and finished there in his heat race. In the main event, he started 10th but quickly worked his way forward to fifth by Lap 2, holding the position to the checkered flag.

“I struggled all day, but put together a good result in the main,” Cooper said. “I was kind of right behind the top four. I was a few seconds behind them, and it was good to see the leaders the whole race, but I just couldn’t get in that battle. I just needed a little bit more speed tonight. Otherwise, I rode really well, and I limited my mistakes. I feel like it was a good night, and we’ll move on to Daytona.”

“Overall, it was a good day,” Simmons added. “Coop had a hard-fought race; just a few mistakes kind of cost him a win, or at least a second place tonight. Justin had a good recovery, finishing fifth after a tough heat race. He’s improving and being more consistent on his starts, as is Webb, and that’s the name of the game right now – a good start. Obviously, we want to get the win and both guys on the podium, but we’re making progress. We’ll take that and keep moving forward.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing now turns its focus to one of the sport’s most iconic stops—Daytona Supercross. Round 8 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship takes place next weekend at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on February 28.

Pierce Brown Scores Emotional 250SX Victory in Arlington

There’s no better way to illustrate the highs and lows of racing than the year Pierce Brown has endured. From a devastating crash while leading the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East season opener in Tampa that sidelined him for nearly the entire season, to standing atop the podium Saturday night at AT&T Stadium — the journey came full circle at Arlington Supercross.

“A lot, that’s for sure,” Brown said about the emotions he was feeling. “There were so many nights that I didn’t think this would be possible. Missing a year, especially with the injury I had… It’s a scary thing to come back from, and there were a lot of doubts. I’m just thankful that I never stopped fighting. Every day we put our best foot forward. Wow, I don’t even know where to start. This is amazing.”

Brown started the day off as the fastest qualifier, but then had a lackluster heat race, finding himself ninth early before charging back to fourth. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider reset for the main event, and when the gate dropped, he delivered. A strong start put him in the runner-up spot early, and by Lap 6, he had made his move into the lead. From there, Brown controlled the race to secure his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross victory and his first win with the team.

“I qualified first and then had a subpar heat race and ended up fourth, so we just had to shake some things out for the main,” Brown said. “I had a really good start in the main, and ended up getting by Jo (Shimoda) and then just rode it on to the win. A first supercross win for me, and with the team, it feels really good.”

It was a rollercoaster day for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team as a whole. The four-rider East Coast squad had pretty much picked up where they left off in the Western Divisional 250 class – dominating the competition. Then it all sort of went pear-shaped with three of the four-rider squad on the ground in the first turn of the main event.

At the center of that chaos was Cole Davies, who responded with an impressive charge back through the field. In just his second season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, the 18-year-old showed top form all day, qualifying just shy of the top spot and winning his heat race in commanding fashion after moving into the lead early. Finding himself on the ground after the start of the main event, he made an impressive charge to eighth in the first half of the race, and then threw down some fast laps to make his way through fifth.

“The season opener is done and dusted,” said Davies. “The day went to plan. I felt comfortable in both qualifying sessions and got the Heat Race win. Unfortunately, with a crash in the first turn, I had my work cut out for me, but I’m proud of how we fought back to fifth. The bike felt solid all day, especially through the whoops where we made most of our passes. We had the speed to win, now we just need to execute. A big thanks to the team for giving me the tools to battle up front. Now onto Daytona.”

Nate Thrasher also showed resilience. He qualified 10th and didn’t get a great start to his heat race, but charged his way through to the runner-up spot, and rode on to finish there comfortably. Unfortunately, he was collected in the first-turn crash and found himself at the back of the field. From there, he did what he could to salvage some points, coming back from last to finish 11th.

“Round one is done,” said Thrasher. “I felt really good in the heat race, but the main was not my best. I have to get off the gate better and not put myself in that position. The bike was bent up after the crash, but we tried our best. It’s not over. We have a lot of racing to go. I have to come out next weekend with one mindset.”

Making his professional debut in Arlington was 16-year-old Caden Dudney. The Texan impressed early, finishing near the top of the combined qualifying times and grabbing the holeshot in his heat race before finishing fourth. In the main event, he was caught behind the first-turn chaos and fought back from 19th to 13th.

“Arlington was good to me, even though the main wasn’t exactly what I wanted,” said Dudney. “I can’t put myself in that position off the start again, but it’s a big learning curve, and there were a lot of positives to take away from it. My riding was great all day long. I had fun, and I’m ready to do it again next weekend.”

“It was an awesome opener for the team,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “PB (Pierce Brown) getting redemption for last year, after 12 months off, was amazing. Cole rode his butt off to get back to the top five after the first-turn crash. Nate and Caden were down for a long time in the first turn and salvaged the best result they could. We’re looking forward to Daytona.”

Next weekend, the team heads to Daytona Beach, Florida, for Round 2 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship at the legendary Daytona International Speedway on February 28.

Fight and Determination on Display for Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team In Arlington Texas

The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team returned to action Saturday night for Round 7 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship season at the iconic AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Military Appreciation event paid tribute to the brave men and women who have dedicated and sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom, as fans filled the stadium to witness another competitive night of racing on the Texas red dirt.

Dylan delivered one of his strongest qualifying performances of the season, posting a 49.300 in the first session to place ninth before improving to a 48.348 in Qualifying #2. His improved time secured eighth overall in combined qualifying, earning a favorable gate selection for the evening program and continuing a positive trend of stronger starts.

In the heat race, Dylan capitalized on his gate pick with an excellent launch, completing the opening lap in fourth position. He quickly advanced into third and maintained the spot for five laps, showcasing competitive speed and consistency. A late pass dropped him to fourth at the checkered flag, but the ride positioned him well heading into the main event.

The main event began with another strong start, as Dylan crossed the holeshot line in fifth on the opening lap, however early race congestion shuffled him back to 10th on lap 1, but he worked his way forward, advancing to eighth by lap three and seventh by lap six. With momentum building and lap times remaining competitive, he appeared poised to continue his charge through the field.

On lap eight, however, Dylan tucked the front end in a turn following the quad section and went down, remounting in 14th position. Despite the setback and the physically demanding track conditions, particularly in the challenging whoop sections, he refused to relent. Pushing through the closing laps, Dylan fought his way back into the top 10, reclaiming four positions to secure a 10th place finish.

“Today went better in qualifying… I qualified better,” said Dylan. “I knew it would be a difficult main event because the track was really challenging and rough. I was fighting for positions and just had a crash after the quad in the turn early on in the race so it cost me a lot. After the crash I gave it everything I had, but I was struggling a lot physically today and fighting the bike after the crash. I came into today a lot better but didn’t transform that into good main event so that was disappointing. But we are giving it everything we have, myself and everyone on the team so we look to next weekend in Daytona.”

While the final result did not fully reflect the pace shown throughout the day, the team continues to build momentum with improved qualifying efforts and more consistent start. The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team now turns its focus to the next round of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Daytona, aiming to convert positive trends into podium-contending results.

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