This week in US Powersports racing.
Top-five finish for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart in Birmingham
250SX contender Daxton Bennick sixth in East/West Showdown weekend
Stewart charged to sixth on the 450SX combined qualifying timesheets on the hard-packed Protective Stadium circuit, finding comfort early aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition at Round 10.
The 33-year-old carried that momentum into his Heat Race, stalking the leaders throughout to secure a well-earned P3 result and a strong gate selection for the Main Event.
Stewart went on to deliver a standout ride, quickly moving into the top-five before claiming a season-best P5 result. He now climbs to eighth in the 450SX championship standings. “The crowd is always awesome in Birmingham,”commented Stewart.“It was a big turnout, and last year here I finished second in the Triple Crown, so I always look forward to this race. Tonight, it was a pretty gnarly fifth place! I feel like the track broke down a lot with seven or eight minutes to go in the Main Event, but the Heat Race was really good – I’m just starting to get back into my flow and felt good all day. Setting the tone early is important, and I felt good from the beginning, which was nice, but with the whole team we are making some really good progress. A top-five result is awesome, so we’ll keep building momentum into Detroit.”
Both Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX riders Bennick and Ryder DiFrancesco were in action in Birmingham for the first East/West Showdown of the season, with DiFrancesco qualifying fourth overall on combined times, while Bennick posted the seventh-fastest time.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, Bennick secured P5 in his 250SX East Heat Race before converting a mid-pack start into a measured P6 finish in the Showdown, collecting valuable championship points. He currently sits fourth in the Eastern Divisional standings entering next weekend’s Detroit Supercross. “Birmingham was good,”said Bennick.“We entered with a new shock that we tried last week and I was really happy with it – it made the whoops a lot better for me. I was stoked on that and then I kind of got rolling in that second qualifier before struggling a bit in the Heat Race. I then put my head down in the Main Event after getting chopped a bit at the start, but we put in a strong charge, and I’m happy with my riding and fitness. Now, we’ll go into next weekend and try to put it on the box.”
For DiFrancesco and his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, a P4 result in the 250SX West Heat Race set up his night well, before an issue in the Main Event required a visit to the mechanic’s area, ultimately credited with a P19 finish.
With three rounds remaining in the Western Division, Ryder D currently sits fourth in the championship standings and will return to action at the second East/West Showdown in St. Louis on April 4. “The day started well,”recalled DiFrancesco.“I qualified P2 in our class and felt really good all day. The Heat Race was so-so, we charged to fourth and then in the Main Event, I was making some good passes in the beginning, and then around lap two or three we ran into a rear brake problem. I ended up pulling into the pits and the team fixed it, before I went back out and salvaged what I could. You never give up with these Showdowns and we tried to get as many points as we could.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna amateur prospect Landon Gibson was also on the line in Birmingham, claiming sixth position in the SMX Next Main Event.
Next Race: March 28 – Detroit, Michigan
Results 450SX Class – Birmingham1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)3. Eli Tomac (KTM)5. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)7. Jorge Prado (KTM)21. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 10 of 17 rounds1. Hunter Lawrence, 221 points2. Eli Tomac, 2123. Ken Roczen, 1908. Malcolm Stewart, 1079. Jorge Prado, 10410. Aaron Plessinger, 9919. RJ Hampshire, 38
Results 250SX East/West Showdown – Birmingham1. Cole Davies (Yamaha)2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)3. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)6. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)19. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
Standings 250SX East Class 2026 after 4 of 10 rounds1. Cole Davies, 892. Seth Hammaker, 833. Jo Shimoda, 784. Daxton Bennick, 70
Standings 250SX West Class 2026 after 7 of 10 rounds1. Haiden Deegan, 1652. Max Anstie, 1213. Levi Kitchen, 1164. Ryder DiFrancesco, 108
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna scores podium finishes in successful offroad weekend
Ryder LeBlond, Mateo Oliveira and Korie Steede record impressive results
U.S. Hard Enduro Championship – Round 3
Round 3 of the U.S. Hard Enduro Championship took place at the Grinding Stone Hard Enduro in Page, Arizona, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s LeBlond powered to a third-place finish in the Pro Class.
LeBlond rebounded from a challenging previous round in Hawaii, immediately running up front at the Grinding Stone and qualifying third aboard his Husqvarna TE 300.
He carried that momentum into Sunday’s Main Race, eventually securing third on the podium with a total time of 2:15.21s. That result elevates LeBlond to third in the Pro Class standings. “We wrapped up the Grinding Stone Hard Enduro with third place,”said LeBlond.“It started out well, and we were battling for the win for a little while there before losing the tow on the leaders, but I’m happy to end up P3 after what was a gnarly race – the bike worked well, and now we’ll keep this thing rolling into Moab.”
Pro Class Results1. Trystan Hart, KTM2. Mario Roman, Sherco3. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
National Grand Prix Championship – Round 4
Mateo Oliveira continued his podium run at Round 4 of the National Grand Prix Championship in Reno, Nevada, taking a third-place result in the Pro Class onboard his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing FE 450.
Oliveira launched to second place at the start of the 13-lap encounter and remained in a tight battle for the podium throughout, ultimately claiming P3 at the Silver State Grand Prix with a time of 1:35.28s.
With an ultra-consistent four-consecutive P3 finishes to open the 2026 season since joining Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, the 23-year-old Oliveira sits third in the standings with six rounds remaining. “It was a so-so day for me at Round 3,”explained Oliveira.“I had good speed all weekend at the new venue. The track was technical and rough, and a little slower than a traditional Grand Prix. I executed a good start, passing into second within the first mile or two, but I ended up going down. I made a good charge to get back toward the front, but pushed the front-end again later in the race and then climbed back to third to finish it off.”
Pro Class Results1. Dante Oliveira, KTM2. Dare DeMartile, Beta3. Mateo Oliveira, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
American National Enduro Championship – Round 2
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede and Craig DeLong were in action at Round 2 of the American National Enduro Championship (ANEC) in Oklahoma, with Steede claiming victory in the NE Pro Women Class at the Cross Timbers National Enduro.
The 24-year-old powered her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition to five of the six test wins, extending her advantage in the standings after opening the season with victory at last month’s Sumter National Enduro. “What a great day we had here at the second round,”commented Steede.“Started with the first test win, and then from there I was focused on staying smooth and consistent, because the conditions here were super-treacherous. It was hard-packed, blue groove, and hard to come to a stop at times, but my bike was dialed in, and it helped me win five of the six tests. We’ll keep the ball rolling into the next one!”
NE Pro1 Class contender Craig DeLong entered the round looking to build on his P2 result from the opener, battling inside the top five aboard his FX 350. He made steady progress throughout the event, ultimately securing fourth place in class.
“Today was decent – I ended up fourth and scored good points,”said DeLong.“I just started a little slow and then made up some good time throughout the rest of the race, but the slow beginning just let the others get a bit too far out of sight. We’ll take the learnings from today, and make sure we come back a little better in Mississippi.”
Round 3 of the championship heads to Farm 14 in Centreville, Mississippi, from April 11-12. NE Pro1 Class Results1. Liam Draper, Yamaha2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki3. Grant Baylor, Kawasaki4. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing7. Ben Kelley, KTM
NE Pro Women Class Results1. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing2. Rachel Gutish, Rieju3. Shelby Turner, Triumph
BIRMINGHAM SUPERCROSS PODIUM KEEPS ELI TOMAC IN 450SX TITLE CONTENTION
Round 10 – AMA Supercross Championship
Tomac was on pace from the outset at Protective Stadium as the series resumed following a single weekend off, with the number 3 posting a 50.962s lap to qualify fastest for the fifth time this year onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.
The 33-year-old then featured up front in the early stages of Heat 2 before an incident forced him into the night’s Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), where the double 450SX Champion took victory to secure his transfer into the Main Event.
From there, Tomac ran inside the top-three throughout the premier class Main Event after a strong start, ultimately taking home a third-place finish to maintain P2 in the 450SX standings. He now sits nine points outside of the red plate as the series heads to Detroit’s Ford Field next weekend.
Eli Tomac:“I just wasn’t as good tonight as the front two, so that’s about it. Of course, the LCQ was very stressful and a high-pressure moment, but I got myself out there to a good start from the inside gate, and I just got beat tonight. I was a little bit off and it was one of those nights that was tough, so we’ll try to regroup for next weekend and see if we can get back up front.”
Four-time world champion Jorge Prado powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the seventh-fastest qualifying time after overcoming a big crash during the afternoon sessions, before earning a convincing P2 result in 450SX Heat 2.
The Spaniard then launched to the holeshot in the Main Event and ran with the leaders during the early stages in second position. Maintaining a steady pace throughout, Prado ultimately recorded a P7 result, continuing to build momentum as the season progresses. He is now ninth in the 450SX standings with seven rounds to contest.
Jorge Prado:“I wrapped up Birmingham with P7. The round started with a big crash in practice, which I think affected the rest of my day. Obviously, the confidence goes down, and you start thinking about things a little more. Luckily, I walked away from that in one piece – I did hit my stomach very bad – but not bad enough to not be racing. P2 in the Heat Race was solid, and then I holeshotted the Main Event and got passed in the second corner. I stayed in P2 for a couple laps, but was missing a bit of my flow tonight, so it was a bit of a struggle. We battled for P5 most of the race, but all-in-all, it was just an okay ride. Not terrible, just medium, and I’m happy to be healthy with another week of training ahead.”
Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger set the ninth-fastest time in 450SX qualifying, before the Ohio native displayed front-running speed in the second Heat Race of the round, claiming P3 directly behind teammate Prado.
The 30-year-old then launched to a top-five start in the 450SX Main Event, holding fourth position early on behind Prado and Tomac. He then settled into eighth place for the majority of the race, only to endure a late-race mishap, which saw him credited with 21st place.
Aaron Plessinger:“I was planning on Birmingham being a good day. Practice went decent and the track was wild – dry and wet at the same time, if you can imagine that! It was just a wild track altogether, but I qualified ninth and then had a really good Heat Race in battling with Jorge and felt good. I got a good start in the Main Event, rode a little tight at first, and then started to loosen up as the race went on. Then I hit a rock on the face of a jump, and I felt the rear-end start to rise, which is when I knew I wasn’t going to make the triple. I tried to ditch the bike, but it was too late, and the bars hit my knees. After that it was a bit of a blur – I think I did a flip or two and, when I landed, I heard something really crunch so that was the end of my night. I went to the Medical Unit, they checked me out, and I am in one piece, but I am just sore and bummed out. I felt like we made a lot of good progress in the break, but I just have to keep grinding to get to where we need to be.”
Next Race: March 28 – Detroit, Michigan
Results 450SX Class – Birmingham
- Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
- Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
- Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
- Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
- Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
- Justin Hill, KTM
- Grant Harlan, KTM
- Kevin Moranz, KTM
- Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 10 of 17 rounds
- Hunter Lawrence, 221 points
- Eli Tomac, 212
- Ken Roczen, 190
- Malcolm Stewart, 107
- Jorge Prado, 104
- Aaron Plessinger, 99
- RJ Hampshire, 38
TRYSTAN HART AND DANTE OLIVEIRA LEAD WINNING WEEKEND FOR FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
KTM Offroad Update
U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 3
Five-time U.S. Hard Enduro Champion Trystan Hart returned to the podium following a difficult previous round in Hawaii, first setting the pace to top qualifying, before battling at the front of the pack during the opening stages of the Main Race.
Equipped with the KTM 300 XC, the Canadian successfully navigated the notoriously demanding Grinding Stone Hard Enduro terrain, fending off pressure from his title rivals to secure victory with a total time of 2:01.10s.
With his victory in Arizona and as a result of his second win in three attempts this season, defending Hard Enduro number one Hart now holds a 20-point lead in the Pro Class standings heading into Round 4 at Moab, Utah, on April 18-19.
Trystan Hart:“Page 2026 was a crazy weekend, which is pretty normal – so much happens at this event. The lines are so gnarly with so much room for consequence, and keeping the bike in one piece is super hard. I managed to get it done this year! I finished first in qualifying – which was a pretty gnarly race itself – and then the Main Race was eight laps on a tough course. I went back and forth with my good friend Ryder [LeBlond] for the first hour or so, and then I managed to pull away for the win a little bit after that. It wasn’t easy and it was tiring, but all-in-all a good weekend on the KTM.”
Pro Class Results
- Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- Mario Roman, Sherco
- Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna
NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 4
Six-time NGPC title-holder Dante Oliveira was again performing at his best during Round 4 of the series in Reno, Nevada, although he had his work cut out after misjudging the start and completing the opening lap in ninth position.
A measured charge through the field aboard his KTM 450 XC-F followed, with Oliveira taking over the lead on Lap 8 before controlling the race at the front of the Pro Class to secure his fourth-consecutive victory of the 2026 season.
With a perfect 120-point tally following the Silver State Grand Prix, Oliveira will aim to make it five-for-five at the Fox Raceway Grand Prix between April 24-26. He’s currently 31 points clear in the title race with the halfway mark approaching.
Dante Oliveira:“I wasn’t paying attention at the start today! I missed the signal and the chase was on from there. I was eating a lot of dust and roost, but I was also feeling really good on the bike and had a lot of flow going. The name of the game was just making a pass, putting in a charge, and then doing it all over again. It was chaos for probably the first half of the race, but I was marking the leaders and trying to keep them in sight. We had varying strategies on the pit and I managed to get past the front-runners towards the end there, but once I took the lead I was able to relax. I felt really good on my bike today – it was a crazy race though!”
Pro Class Results
- Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- Dare Demartile, Beta
- Mateo Oliveira, Husqvarna
AMERICAN NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 2
FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley and Jason Tino also lined up for Round 2 of the American National Enduro Championship (ANEC) at the Cross Timbers National Enduro in Oklahoma.
It proved to be a challenging outing for Kelley onboard the KTM 450 XC-F, who collected a seventh-place finish in the NE Pro1 Class after battling the technical conditions.
Ben Kelley:“It was a long day racing Round 2 of the ANEC series in Oklahoma. The trails and terrain were definitely different from the East Coast riding that I’m used to – I rode smoothly and pushed as best I could, but I just didn’t have the speed or get the result that I was hoping for or had been working for. We’ll keep trying to get better!”
For teammate Tino, he was competitive throughout the six tests contested over the weekend, finishing second in the NE Pro2 Class throughout each test equipped with his KTM 250 XC-F.
Jason Tino:“I had a good weekend out here in Oklahoma City at the ANEC! It was a long day in the heat and the dust, but we put in some really good tests and kept it on two wheels to put my KTM 250 SX-F on the box. A big thanks to the crew and my mechanic – the bike worked amazingly this weekend.”
On April 11-12, the championship will head to Centreville, Mississippi, for The Farm 14 National Enduro.
NE Pro1 Class Results
- Liam Draper, Yamaha
- Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
- Grant Baylor, Kawasaki
- Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
- Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing
NE Pro2 Class Results
- Nicholas Defeo, Kawasaki
- Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- James Jenkins, Triumph
U.S. SPRINT ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 3
Round 3 of the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series saw Brandy Richards race to victory in the Pro Women’s division, while Grant Davis recorded a well-earned P2 result in the Pro 1 Class at Rodgers Farm, South Carolina.
Richards and her KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION were the benchmark across the 12 tests, with her third round win seeing her tied for the lead atop the Pro Women’s series standings.
Brandy Richards:“I had a really good weekend at Round 3 of the U.S. Sprint Enduro. The Cross Test was a traditional grass track that was super-fun and flowy, and the enduro was challenging with some good line choices. I stayed consistent with my times all weekend, not making any mistakes. I had a lot of fun and came out with the win!”
Davis and his KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION were also competitive over the weekend, as he finished second overall in class, and now moves into the points lead with a 10-point advantage over second position.
Grant Davis: “It was a good weekend in terms of the points for us and second on the podium was a decent result in the end. Still learning, making the most of every weekend, so we will come out swinging at the next one!”
Round 4 of the Sprint Enduros takes place at Olde Mill Farm in Charlotte Hall, Maryland, on April 11-12.
Pro 1 Class Results
- Cody Barnes, Beta
- Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- Hunter Smith, Husqvarna
Pro Women Results
- Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- Danielle McDonald, Yamaha
- Lilley Sheets, Yamaha
Hunter Lawrence Dominates Birmingham Supercross for second-consecutive win
The Birmingham AMA Supercross saw Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence continue the upward trend he has shown all year. One month after taking the first premier-class Supercross win of his career, he grabbed his third victory and his second in a row, extending his title-fight lead to nine points. Teammate Jo Shimoda also rode well in the year’s first East/West Showdown, narrowly missing the podium.
In the 450SX main event, Lawrence executed his strategy to perfection, launching inside the top three, quickly moving into the lead in the opening corners, and controlling the race from the front. Demonstrating improved early-race intensity, the CRF450RWE rider established a comfortable gap and maintained composure, eventually securing the win by 2.4 seconds over Ken Roczen. Quad Lock Honda’s Shane McElrath and Christian Craig finished in 12th and 17th, respectively.
Shimoda sat eighth after turn 1 in the 250SX East-West Showdown but quickly advanced into podium contention. He took over third at the halfway point, passed Levi Kitchen for second soon after, and began closing in on the leading Cole Davies. Shimoda briefly took the lead, but a small mistake opened the door for both Davies and Haiden Deegan to get by. A last-lap, three-way battle saw Shimoda make an attempt to take over second, only to lose traction on the slippery track and allow Seth Hammaker by. The Japanese rider was fourth at the finish line, but he remains in contention for the East Region crown, just nine points off the lead.
NOTES
- The Birmingham round followed the series’ first weekend off after nine races in a row, and Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence welcomed the opportunity to rest: “I was kind of feeling that wear and tear, and I was like, ‘I’m going to take Saturday and Sunday off.’ I haven’t taken two days completely off since last year, after Motocross of Nations. I thought I’d feel fresh on Monday, but I actually felt like crap Monday and Tuesday. My riding wasn’t that good, and I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m not taking two days off again!’”
- Ahead of the East/West Showdown, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park were the East Region Honda representatives during media-day interviews and riding sessions on Friday. Honda HRC Progressive’s Lars Lindstrom joined the Feld-led team-manager media scrum.
- West Region rider Chance Hymas (currently out with a shoulder injury) was in attendance in Birmingham and participated in the autograph session with teammates Lawrence and Shimoda, giving fans a chance to meet the (almost) full roster of Honda HRC Progressive riders. The Idaho native is set to start riding again this week.
- Also making good progress is Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence, who has been out since an ankle injury incurred during the pre-season. Jett recently underwent a follow-up procedure to remove hardware, and a return to riding is expected in the next couple of weeks.
- The race was attended by groups of Honda associates and representatives from Honda’s Alpharetta Powersports headquarters, from the North Carolina ATV manufacturing plant, and from the South Carolina side-by-side manufacturing plant. All were excited to witness Lawrence’s third premier-class victory.
- Honda’s satellite teams featured reduced lineups in Birmingham, with Phoenix Racing Honda rider Gavin Towers and Quad Lock Honda rider Joey Savatgy both sitting out to recover from injuries sustained in Indianapolis.
- Shimoda placed 12th in 250SX combined qualifying—including both the East and West regions. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Cullin Park and Evan Ferry qualified 10th and 22nd, respectively. Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) qualified in 25th, and Storm Lake Honda riders Luke Neese and Izaih Clark were 27th and 30th, respectively. SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell qualified in 34th, while Next Level’s Hunter Schlosser was 41st.
- In 450SX qualifying, Lawrence posted the second-fastest time. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig and Shane McElrath qualified in 12th and 13th, respectively. Other Red Riders included John Short IV (Short Racing), Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports), Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) and Ronnie Orres (Lasting Impressions), who qualified 24th, 25th, 29th and 41st, respectively.
- Shimoda started the East Region heat race in eighth and steadily worked his way into the top five by the midway point, ultimately securing fourth place on the final lap. Park also advanced directly to the East/West Showdown with an eighth-place finish in his heat race.
- Lawrence was second off the start in his 450SX heat race, while Craig was strong in fourth. The positions remained the same until the checkered flag. McElrath also advanced to the main event, with a fifth-place finish in his heat race.
- Birmingham marked Hunter Lawrence’s third premier-class win (season and career), and he now holds a nine-point advantage over Eli Tomac.
- Next up, Honda HRC Progressive heads to round 11 of AMA Supercross this Saturday in Detroit.
MONSTER ENERGY® KAWASAKI TEAM GREEN™ FINISHES 1-2 IN BIRMINGHAM
| Monster Energy® Kawasaki Team Green™ rider Vincent Wey captured his first career SMX Next victory in dominant fashion during Round 10 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Birmingham, Alabama. Wey launched off the gate to grab the holeshot and quickly distanced himself from the field, controlling the race from the opening lap to secure the win aboard his KX™250. Teammate Kade Johnson charged his way to second place to join Wey on the podium and give Kawasaki Team Green™ a commanding 1-2 finish. Birmingham also marked the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross Championship. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker delivered another impressive ride, making a late-race pass to extend his podium streak with a third-place finish. Levi Kitchen grabbed the holeshot in the main event and battled at the front throughout the race before ultimately finishing fifth. Teammate Nick Romano made his debut ride with the team in the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class, finishing 18th in the main event. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Garrett Marchbanks put together a consistent day to secure his second Top 10 finish of the season. After battling through the field to cross the line in ninth, Marchbanks was later assessed a one-position penalty for cutting the split lane section, officially placing him 10th on the night. Although back riding following his injury before Daytona, Chase Sexton continues his recovery process as he focuses on returning to full health for the upcoming rounds. In the 250 East Heat Race, Hammaker charged down the start straight and grabbed the holeshot. While exiting the left-hand turn out of the first rhythm section, Hammaker’s rear end slid out on the slick track, causing him to slip to second place. He quickly regrouped and maintained pressure on the leader, but was unable to catch back up, finishing the race in a solid second-place. Teammate Romano would get off to a midpack start and maintain his pace while pushing for a qualifying position inside the Top 9. On the final lap of the race, two riders would collide in front of him, allowing him to move by but unable to make up time to ninth place, he finished in 10th and headed to the last chance qualifier. In 450SX Qualifying, Marchbanks delivered two consistent sessions. After making adjustments to his bike to better handle the rough track conditions following the first session, he improved his time by more than half a second to qualify 10th overall. In 450 Heat 1, Marchbanks got a strong jump off the gate and emerged in fifth place. The No. 36 Kawasaki held his position despite pressure from riders behind him, finishing fifth and matching his best heat race result of the season. |
| “That was the best race of my life. I got a great start and hit my marks every lap. I’ve had a lot of long days logging laps to get to this point. Last year at this venue was tough and I really wanted to redeem myself from that performance. I did what I needed to and I’m stoked to get this win. I just need to keep bringing the intensity to race day. I’m pretty fast on the practice track, so making sure that transfers to race day will be important. I’m already focused on the next race in Philly. – Vincent Wey |
| “The day was really solid. I started off qualifying really well with the fastest qualifier, and I felt pretty comfortable. The track was really challenging all day. There were some pretty big rocks out there that looked like boulders that were catching people off guard. Going into the night show, the heat race was good. I pulled the holeshot and was a little too aggressive on the first lap. I spun the rear around, and Cole [Davies] got around me, and the rest of the race I rode in second. In the main event, I executed a pretty good start. I was third off the line. I stayed there for a bit, and Jo [Shimoda] ended up getting around me and then at the end, I made a charge and was able to get back to a podium spot. I have a couple of things to work on and takeaways from the day, but overall I’m happy with the day.” – Seth Hammaker |
| “It felt good to be back racing. It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve been out here with how long the break was. Qualifying went really well for me. The team and I had everything working well to get that fastest qualifying time, and getting the holeshot in the main was a step in the right direction. I put myself in a good position early, but I’m frustrated with how it ended. I’ve been dealing with a back injury for the last couple of weeks, so it was difficult to maintain that intensity throughout the whole main event. I plan on getting an MRI this week to get everything checked out. Overall, there are positives to take, but I know I need to be better.” – Levi Kitchen |
| “For my first race back I can’t be too upset with the outcome. I’d like to be higher up in the results, but I know we have some work to do. I’ve only had six days on the bike at the test track. The track was pretty brutal with how it shaped up throughout the day, and all the rocks that came out. We made some changes throughout the day to combat that, and now we have a better idea of where we need to go. I’ve found my weakness, and we’ll work on them to be ready for Detroit.” – Nick Romano |
| “It was a solid day here in Birmingham. It was my first time being here. First qualifying was a little slow for me, just trying to get comfortable with the track and the dirt. There were some pretty big rocks out there, so I wasn’t feeling 100% comfortable at first, so we made some little changes with the bikes. In the second qualifier, the track was really gnarly, but I was super pumped to go back out there and take almost a second off my time and be in the Top 10 for qualifying. That was really good for me to have a better gate pick going into the heat race. I felt like I rode pretty well in the heat race and had some good laps to finish in the Top 5. I went into the main event feeling good, but I got a little wheel spin off the grate, so I was pretty far back, but I made some pretty good passes at the beginning of the race to get into the Top 10 around seven minutes into the race. Then I made a hard charge for a bit and got into eighth. Towards the end, I let Ken [Roczen] by and made a mistake, then Colt [Nichols] dropped me on the last lap, so that was a bit of a bummer. I was ninth at first, but found out I got docked. I accidentally cut a marker, it must’ve been halfway through. I didn’t think I cut it at all, but my bad on that. I’ll take the 10th on the night, I feel pretty good about that. I was happy with that ride. We made some really good progress during the break and are ready to carry the momentum going forward.” – Garrett Marchbanks |
SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN CHARGES TO SECOND PLACE AT BIRMINGHAM SUPERCROSS
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Season heads into the final stretch with the completion of the Birmingham Supercross. The event inside Protective Stadium paid points toward the 17-round Supercross season as well as toward the SMX World Championship. The Alabama track’s dirt was inconsistent and choked with large rocks. The unpredictable soil conditions put a premium on line selection and quick reaction times of the racers.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen delivered his sixth podium of the season and advanced into the top-three in the championship standings.
- 450 Class
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Colt Nichols earned a top-ten result with his season-best performance.
- Justin Bogle returned to AMA Supercross racing and has joined the Suzuki team for the Birmingham Supercross.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) had all eyes on him in Birmingham as he posted the fastest lap time and gained 14 positions in a thrilling charge to the front.
Ken Roczen (94) displayed incredible speed from the start of the day in Birmingham. Roczen earned top-three spots in both qualifying sessions and in the overall qualifying results. In his heat race, Roczen rounded the first corner just outside of the top five. Roczen drove forward past his competitors and put his Suzuki RM-Z450 into the lead at the heat race midpoint. Roczen held on for his fifth heat race win of the season (in addition to two Triple Crown Race wins). In the main event, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in a disappointing 16th place, then launched a charge to the front that will likely be re-watched for years. With less than four minutes off the race clock Roczen reached fifth place and had no intention of anything less than a victory. Six minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap main event, Roczen put his Suzuki into second place. The race announcer and former Suzuki racer James Stewart commentated that Roczen has been riding really good all season and hasn’t adjusted his bike settings in nearly a year. Roczen went to work and posted the race’s fastest lap time, more than half a second quicker than the nearest competitor. As the ruts deepened and heavy rocks surfaced, Roczen steadily eroded the gap to the lead. He cut the gap to less than three seconds before a few minor mistakes late in the race halted Roczen’s progress. Roczen kept the pressure on and took the checkered flag in second place. The Birmingham points moved Roczen up one position in the championship standings and the pace demonstrated that Ken Roczen will be a title threat through the final stretch of the season.
“Alright Birmingham is done and dusted. We had a really good day overall,” said Roczen. “In [qualifying] I was always up on the board in the top three or so. The track ended up being trickier than I originally thought; the rhythms were pretty basic, but we had a lot of different dirt. It was new dirt, it was pretty rocky; and not just little rocks, but big boulders. [Also], part of the track was really rutty and deep, and other parts were extremely dry and pebbly with no traction. So, it ended up making it quite difficult… My starts just weren’t there tonight, and it was a really big bummer starting at around 15th or so. It’s hard to win when you’re that far back. Luckily, I was really on one tonight… I was pretty fast all [through the] main event and was able to click guys off. I ended up coming in at second. I was catching [the rider ahead] quite good but the track, with how rocky it was; you didn’t even have to make a mistake, but it ended up being [similar to the result of a] mistake just by landing on a rock a little bit and shooting sideways. So, I missed a couple of rhythms a couple of times, and the gap went back out to 5 seconds or so. I was able to get a little closer towards the end. Ultimately, I was really happy with the second place after that start. We rode amazingly tonight, and my bike worked well, too, so we’re on a good path.”
Colt Nichols (45) found fresh speed just past the season’s midpoint to earn his best heat race and main event results of the year.
Colt Nichols (45) came back from the season’s only off-weekend to re-emerge with newfound speed. Nichols matched his season-best result in the first qualifying sessions, which earned him a season-topping overall qualifying spot. After a strong start in the heat, Nichols gained positions to grab a fourth-place spot at the checkered. In the main, Nichols emerged from the first turn with a mid-pack start. Nichols battled inside the top ten throughout the 25-lap race and brought home an eighth-place result, his best yet of 2026.
“It was a much better night for me for sure,” stated Nichols. “I actually got out of the gate decently and felt like I rode really well. I was pretty sick this week so I was struggling a little bit about halfway [through the main], but I dug in as hard as I could. I feel like I rode really well, and I ended up getting P-8 tonight. I wanted to get into the single digits, so I’m pumped we were able to do that. The bike [set-up] is in a much better spot after the break; we made a bunch of changes, so shout out to Mark at REP Suspension and everyone on the team. It’s been kind of a struggle year, to be honest, so to get an eighth is awesome and something to build on.”
Justin Bogle (891) leapt from the coach’s chair to the saddle of a Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 race bike and impressed beyond expectations.
Justin Bogle (891) returned to AMA Supercross racing by re-joining the Twisted Tea Suzuki team as a fill-in rider. With only four test days and a media day under his belt, Bogle charged right back into race mode with strong qualifying rides in the B group. Even with a mediocre gate pick, Bogle was strong off the gate of his heat race, grabbing a top-ten start and holding strong for a direct transfer into the main event. In the main, Bogle was not able to match his heat race start and found himself in 22nd place when the pack reached the green flag. Bogle put down steady laps, gained positions, and showed his protégé (the team’s Colt Nichols) that he still has the speed to earn points against the best Supercross racers in the world.
“Tonight was interesting. It was fun,” said Bogle. “[It was] rough qualifying; it’s been a long time since I’ve raced. The heat race was awesome, P-6, straight to the main. I’m really pumped on that. In the main event I got out there, I think P-18, so not great but we’ll work into it. I’m really, really happy and loving to be at the races. Man, it’s really cool.”
“It was a really good night for the team. We had three guys in the main event [from direct transfers] through the heat. Ken won the heat, Colt got fourth and Bogle sixth, which was awesome to see. Obviously, Bogle is a new addition to the team, stepping in as our third rider right now, and to see him make it in with a sixth in the heat was awesome,” reported Dustin Pipes, Principal of the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. “The main event went really well, too. Ken was 16th in the first corner; he had the fastest lap of the race and came back to second. It was really close. We felt like we were the best guy this weekend but [the lead rider] rode a complete race and we couldn’t get him in in the end. So, P-2 for Ken. Colt had his best finish of the year in P-8, and it was great to see him round that first corner in the top ten; and he stayed up there. That’s just where he belongs. We feel like he’s a top-ten guy and he’s starting to show it, so that was great to see. Bogle had a P-18 in the main; coming out of retirement, that’s kind of as much as we could ask for. We expect for him to build throughout the weeks and hopefully by the end of the season we’ve got something. But it was a really, really great night for the team.”
The Supercross season heads to Ford Field in Detroit Michigan for round 11 of the 17-round series. The Suzuki riders and team members are getting stronger as the season progresses and are eager to put their RM-Z450 race bikes higher in the season standings with a firm focus on the championship title.
For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.
