This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of April 19, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

Ken Roczen Tightens Monster Energy Supercross Title Fight with Dramatic Triple Crown Victory in Cleveland

For the first time in three decades the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship visited the shores of Lake Erie, where an enthusiastic crowd inside Huntington Bank Field braved rain showers, cold temperatures, and swirling winds for Round 14 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship. The conditions were certainly a factor as the 450SMX Class title fight took yet another dramatic turn in what has become a historic season for the sport’s premier crown. A wild afternoon of racing saw Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen prevail with his fourth win of the year following an unbeatable level of consistency across all three races that brought him within a single point of the championship lead after an adversity plagued effort for Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence.

Monster Energy Supercross made its first visit to Cleveland since the 1995 season, which featured some of the most unpredictable weather conditions of the year.

The first of three 12 Minutes + 1 Lap premier class races told a very different story from the final outcome as Lawrence started out front with the holeshot and early lead over Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper and Roczen. The clear track paid big dividends for Lawrence as he established a multi-second advantage over the field that proved to be insurmountable. Behind him, Roczen made the pass on Cooper for second and after a brief push forward elected to settle into the position. Lawrence went unchallenged and began the afternoon with a wire-to-wire win by a margin of 5.4 seconds over Roczen, with Cooper in third. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Start followed in fourth, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb rounded out the top five.

The field was forced to navigate a wet racetrack, a light drizzle, and increased wind for Race 2, which started with Cooper edging out Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton for the holeshot to grab the early lead. An intense early battle for third unfolded between Stewart, Roczen, and Webb, from which Webb got the upper hand. Lawrence, meanwhile, fought his way forward from a start deep in the top 10. The intensity picked up from Roczen, who made a move on Webb for third and then charged by Sexton for second. Sexton regrouped and fought back to reclaim the position, which helped Cooper open a lead of more than five seconds. Sexton, Roczen, and Webb continued their fight as Roczen once again got by Sexton with less than 30 seconds remaining. Out front, Cooper completed a wire-to-wire effort of his own by a margin of two seconds over Roczen, with Sexton third and Webb fourth. Lawrence fought his way forward to finish fifth, well back of the lead group.

The third and deciding race began with Roczen out front for the holeshot and early lead over Webb, Sexton, and Cooper while Lawrence emerged in eighth. Roczen dropped the hammer in the opening laps and sprinted out to a five-second lead over Webb, while Sexton and Cooper settled into third and fourth, respectively. As he looked to move forward Lawrence crashed in the whoops and fell outside the top 10, reentering the race in 14th place. Back up front, Cooper crashed while running fourth and reentered in ninth, which moved Quad Lock Honda’s Shane McElrath into fourth. A couple laps later, Lawrence crashed again as he looked to move back into the top 10 and dropped to 14th once more. Out front, Roczen ran away from the field to put the finishing touch on his winning performance by a margin of 8.7 seconds over Webb, while Team Tedder Racing KTM’s Justin Hill passed Sexton on the final lap for third. Cooper recovered for seventh, while Lawrence soldiered home in 14th.

An incredibly consistent effort for Roczen easily brought him the overall win with five points on 2-2-1 finishes, as his 27th career victory has moved him into a tie for 10th on the all-time wins list. Webb (5-4-2) and Cooper (3-1-7) finished in a tie for the runner-up spot, six points behind Roczen with 11 points apiece. Webb earned the edge over Cooper by virtue of the Race 3 tiebreaker.

Lawrence’s misfortune in the final race relegated him to sixth overall with 20 points on 1-5-14 finishes. As a result, his points lead went from 10 points to just a single point over Roczen with three races remaining. The battle for the championship could be down to a two-rider affair after Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac was forced to miss the Triple Crown following a crash in qualifying that left him with a hip injury. Tomac’s absence allowed Webb to move into third, 22 points out of the lead, while Tomac is now fourth, 31 points back.

Ken Roczen – 1st Place – 450SMX Class - Cleveland [1]

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen dominated the final race to put the finishing touch on his fourth win of the season.

Ken Roczen – 1st Place – 450SMX Class

“Wow. I had no idea I was one point back [in the championship]. I am so blown away with the gamble we took with the weather. It was supposed to be clear for the last two races, but it kept raining. That affected my decision with goggles, and I kept sticking with roll-offs just to be safe. After I got the holeshot in the last race I had a clear track and just felt really comfortable. Once I had a gap, I just made sure I didn’t do anything silly. I’m just so grateful I’m able to ride like this.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb captured his second straight runner-up finish following 5-4-2 race finishes.

Cooper Webb – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class

“What a crazy day. Qualifying was great, then the rain came and we had the Triple Crown. I rode bad in the first race but got better for the last two. I didn’t think I had a chance for the podium after the first two [races], so I rode free in the last one. Kenny [Roczen] rode those first laps like it was dry and got away. I was a distant second. Overall, I’m happy with it. We had a good day.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper earned a race win en route to a third-place finish following 3-1-7 finishes.

Justin Cooper – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class

“This track was very tricky, and things could go wrong very quickly. I’m happy to get up from the crash unscathed, the concrete hurt. Just glad to be up on the podium still [despite the crash]. I spun off the gate but somehow came out top five and then had that crash. It was a bummer to go down and give away a spot [overall] but just thankful I’m okay. It was still a great night.”

450SMX Class Podium (left to right)
Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen, and Justin Cooper

Hunter Lawrence – 6th Place – 450SMX Class

“I had a bad start and just made it tough on myself. Another rider checked up and I went down. It was a bit of a [expletive] night at the office. We’ll come back next weekend in Philly.”

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence endured through adversity in the final race and saw his championship lead drop to a single point after sixth overall.

The first of three 10 Minutes + 1 Lap Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class races began with points leader Cole Davies alongside his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Nate Thrasher exiting the first turn. While Davies earned the holeshot, he gave way to Thrasher and soon dropped to third behind Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker, Davies’ championship rival. Davies regrouped and found a rhythm that allowed him to reclaim second from Hammaker and close in on Thrasher for the race lead. The teammates engaged in an exciting battle until Davies went down. The New Zealander remounted quickly and resumed in sixth place. Out front, Thrasher came under fire from Hammaker, who bided his time and made the pass. With the lead in hand, the Kawasaki rider pulled away to grab the Race 1 victory by 4.2 seconds over Thrasher. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick finished third, followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Landen Gordon in fourth. Davies overcame another near crash and made a last lap pass for fifth.

A rain shower made for more challenging track conditions for Race 2, which was halted by a red flag following a crash initiated by Davies on the opening lap and resulted in a restart. As racing got underway once again it was Gordon who emerged with his first career holeshot. He led briefly but gave way to Thrasher, while Davies charged up to third to position to put himself a couple spots ahead of Hammaker. The championship rivals soon battled for third, as Hammaker made an easy pass for the position but was later repassed by Davies. The pair duked it out once more, late in the race, as Hammaker reclaimed the position just before the final lap. Back out front, Thrasher easily controlled the race and cruised to victory by a margin of 3.7 seconds over Gordon. Hammaker held off Davies for third, while Bennick completed the top five.

The third and final race got underway with Davies at the head of the pack for the holeshot ahead of Gordon. Behind them, Thrasher started deep in the top 10 while Hammaker made contact with his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Nick Romano, went down, and was forced to start at the tail end of the field. Davies seized the moment with his premium track position and quickly established a multi-second lead on the field as Gordron settled into second. Thrasher was able to make early passes and claw his way up to third but dropped to fourth as Bennick moved into podium position. Hammaker, meanwhile, broke into the top 10 a few minutes into the race and continued to move forward. Davies managed his advantage through the slippery conditions to end the day on a high note with a winning margin of 2.6 seconds over Gordon, with Bennick third and Thrasher in fourth. ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson was fifth, while Hammaker battled back for sixth.

Thrasher’s 2-1-4 finishes put him atop the overall standings with a combined score of seven points for the seventh win of his career. He also extended a personal streak of at least one Supercross victory each year of his professional career, which dates back to the 2021 season. Thrasher is the fifth different Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider to win in the 250SMX Class this season for a combined total of 13 victories, which is one shy of the class record for a manufacturer. The runner-up spot went to Gordon, who finished one point behind his teammate for the win following 4-2-2 finishes, while Davies completed a podium sweep for Star Racing in third after the Race 3 victory gave him 10 points with 5-4-1 finishes. Hammaker (1-3-6) finished tied with Davies but settled for fourth by virtue of the Race 3 tiebreaker.

With his podium finish, Davies added to his lead in the Eastern Divisional Championship and now holds a 21-point lead over Hammaker with just two races remaining. Bennick, who finished fifth with 11 points on 3-5-5 finishes, strengthened his grip on third and sits 43 points out of the lead.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher broke through for his first win of the 2026 season and the seventh of his career.

Nate Thrasher – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class

“It’s awesome [to be on top of the podium]. The offseason was unreal, honestly. I felt like I was going to be able to contend for the championship but had a little mishap [and injured his shoulder]. That’s part of it, though. We’ve done what we can–fourth [place], second [place], and now first. We’re trending [upward] and it feels good to be back up here.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Landen Gordon finished in the runner-up spot in just his second career start.

Landen Gordon – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class

“If you would have told me after last weekend [finishing last] I’d be sitting on the podium, that’d be unbelievable. I’ve put in so much work into this. I’m backed by the best team, so I expect this, but it’s truly unbelievable. I have no words. I’m sure it’ll sink in, but right now I’m in shock.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies extended his points lead with a third-place finish.

Cole Davies – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class

“It was a rough day, but we still managed a podium. I didn’t give up and fought through. Just reset for the last [race] and got the win. It is what it is. Congrats to my teammates, they were riding good.”

Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right)
Landen Gordon, Nate Thrasher, and Cole Davies

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, April 25, with Round 15 from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).

All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final 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.

Scholtz Sends It For Race One Win Over SDK And Beaubier

The first race day of the 2026 Quad Lock Superbike Championship was full of surprises to start the 50th Anniversary season. The early sessions of the race weekend had already sent several Superbike and Superbike Cup riders to the back of the grid, back to the pits, or home for the weekend.

When the lights went out for race one, it was Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz who led from the early stages, and he never looked back. Following a red-flag restart, Scholtz was out front again, and he took the win while also setting the fastest lap of the race at 1:24.406. His victory by a margin of 6.630 seconds didn’t just make a statement, it practically shouted it.

Strack Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz was a man on a mission in Quad Lock Superbike race number one as he took the checkered flag with a gap of more than six and a half seconds.
Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

While Scholtz pulled away, the rider who led day one and carries the number-one plate, Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law’s Cameron Beaubier, was doing his best Pac-Man impression.

After an out-lap crash in Qualifying, Beaubier failed to register a lap time, putting him 21st on the grid for the weekend’s two races. In the premier class start, Beaubier advanced 13 positions, all the way up to eighth place, as he experienced a mechanical and pulled into the pits for what seemed a Saturday to forget.

While his Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law crew worked feverishly on his motorcycle, a red flag was thrown due to a crash that left a bike in a perilous position on the track.

Meanwhile, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha’s Bobby Fong, who had crashed out of second place just prior to the red flag being flown, was deemed to be not actively competing, so he was unable to line up on the grid for the restart.

The second start mimicked the first, with Scholtz up front, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha’s JD Beach in second, and Sean Dylan Kelly was third aboard his OrangeCat Racing BMW M 1000 RR.

The trailing duo held their positions through six laps before Beach began to experience a mechanical issue that halted his progress and forced him to the pits, moving Kelly up to second and Wrench Motorcycles’ Cameron Petersen to third.

Sean Dylan Kelly and Cameron Beaubier battled for second place all the way to the checkered flag. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Beaubier, meanwhile, clawed back positions and was in 11th place by the end of lap one. By lap nine, he was right on the back wheel of Petersen in third.

With three laps remaining, Beaubier overtook Petersen and continued his hunt toward Kelly. A mere .316 of a second separated the two at the line as Beaubier overcame adversity to notch his first podium of the year and secure 16 critical points the hard way.

Cameron Beaubier’s day was anything but easy.jpg

Cameron Beaubier’s day was anything but easy. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

2025 Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee, aboard a Real Steel Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP for 2026, finished first among the field of Superbike Cup riders.

The following quote is from race one winner Mathew Scholtz:

“Felt strong, got a really good start, kind of tried to modulate the pace slightly. I could see that I was opening up the gap, so I didn’t have to try to do anything crazy. Then, the last three or four laps, I kind of was just trying to get to my marks, do what I know I could, and fortunately the gap was just getting bigger and bigger. I know the pace is going to definitely pick up tomorrow. We’ve got to see what the weather is doing, but overall, just thank you to the Strack Racing team for giving me this opportunity to ride a Superbike again.”

For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule, and to purchase tickets for MotoAmerica events, CLICK HERE

For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE

For photos and full results, CLICK HERE

Binder Brings Home First MotoAmerica Supersport Win

Darryn Binder was victorious in Supersport race one aboard his Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse Ducati Panigale V2. The South African rider led the field for the entire 18-lap event, and he is now just two points out of the championship lead.

Darryn Binder – Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse Ducati. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, who is the current points leader, brought his GSX-R750 home in second place. The Pennsylvanian finished a mere .378 of a second behind Binder.

Tyler Scott – M4 ECSTAR Suzuki. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Blake Davis claimed the final spot on the podium, bringing his Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 home in third. Despite starting fifth, Davis surged forward to battle Binder for the lead, and a charging BPR Racing YZF-R9 of Josh Hayes. However, a trip through the gravel trap after running wide at turn 10a would let Hayes by, and filter Davis back to fifth on lap 14. The veteran Hayes showed top-three pace, but he low-sided in Turn 1 on the following lap, and Davis climbed back to third by the checkered flag.

Blake Davis – Strack Racing Yamaha. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Fourth-place finisher was polesitter Kayla Yaakov on her Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight Ducati Panigale V2. Yaakov made history in the morning qualifying session by becoming the first female to qualify on pole for a MotoAmerica Supersport race.

Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila rider Josh Herrin finished fifth after running wide at turn 12 on the first lap. Herrin had to tip-toe his way out of the gravel, and by the time he rejoined was dropped to 21st position. The five-time DAYTONA 200 winner would go on to pass 16 riders in the ensuing laps to bring himself back up to fifth position, salvaging valuable championship points.

Mission King Of The Baggers – Indian Undefeated

J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian continues 2026 with two undefeated Indian Challengers, as Hayden Gillim secures his second win of the season in a battle with his own teammate, and only other King Of The Baggers winner this season, Troy Herfoss.

The duo parried attacks, with a bout card that ended with Herfoss leading three laps, Gillim leading six, and .167 of a second deciding the victor.

Hayden Gillim (#69) and Troy Herfoss (#17) – J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian.
Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

With 2025 Champion Kyle Wyman crashing out on the first lap, it was Bradley Smith on the Harley-Davidson X DynoJet Factory Racing team who finished first for the Motor Company, securing his first podium in King Of The Baggers, 3.256 seconds from race winner Gillim.

The following quote is from race one winner Hayden Gillim:

“Race one was awesome. I had a ton of fun, got off to a pretty good start, and couldn’t get by Troy very quickly. He really made me have to work and set up the pass and made it happen. Once I got by him, I was hoping I would have a little bit of meat left on the tires to get a little bit of a gap, but just couldn’t do it, and he pushed me hard all the way to the end. But man, what a great way to start the weekend with a Challenge win and then a race one win.”

Talent Cup – Matsudaira Carries Win Streak Cross-Country

Kensei Matsudaira of Team Roberts took the victory by just .150 of a second over second place, starting a streak from race two at Circuit of The Americas last month, alongside MotoGP.

Rossi Motorsports’ Rossi Garcia found the podium for his first time in Talent Cup, finishing second by a mere .150 of a second.

It was Nathan Gouker (Quarterley Racing) who claimed third, finishing .425 of a second behind the race winner, and is headed into Sunday’s race two, second in the standings, with a gap of nine points to Matsudaira, and a lead of 19 to Rossi who sits third.

Kensei Matsudaira leads Rossi Garcia across the finish line in race one. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

The top five were rounded out by Real Steel Honda’s Derek Sanchez in fourth and Bettencourt Racing’s Nathan Bettencourt in fifth.

Jake Paige, who had the lead to begin the last lap, made a lunge in the final corner that didn’t stick, and he now sits fourth in the championship.

The following quote is from race one winner Kensei Matsudaira:

“It feels good to have, I guess, back-to-back wins. We can celebrate a little bit tonight, but you know, our focus is for tomorrow.”

Twins Cup – Talented Twins Top Standings After Saturday

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bodie Paige and Robem Engineering’s Hank Vossberg continue their battles in Twins Cup, following their Talent Cup graduation, as fellow classmate, Sam Drane, splits time in both classes for 2026. The three leave Saturday at Road Atlanta on top of the Twins Cup standings: Vossberg (66 pts), Drane (55 pts), and Paige (49 pts).

Hank Vossberg – Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Saturday’s Qualifying 2 resulted in a 1:33:062 lap from Paige on his Suzuki GSX-8R that was good enough to secure pole position for race one.

Joining Paige in the sub-1:35 combined times were Paige’s M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate Matthew Chapin, Vossberg, and Speed Demon Racing Powered by Ready to Ride’s Logan Cunnison.

The 30-rider field started the eight-lap race with a tight group out front, but it was Paige and Vossberg who pulled away from the group to play their own game of cat and mouse.

After four laps with Paige crossing the line in first, Vossberg made his move to complete the fifth lap in the lead.

A premature ending, decided by a red flag and two-thirds distance, decided Vossberg as the race winner, Paige in second .279 of a second behind, and Cunnison on the final step of the podium.

The following quote is from race one winner Hank Vossberg:

“Race went really good. You know, it was really hot out there. There was a little issue on the sighting lap, so tires were a little cold, so I made sure to get them all warmed up before the race and then went out and I was able to break away with Bodie a little bit. We were coming across the start/finish line, and our gap was getting a little smaller so I wanted to see if I could try and break away or at least get a bigger gap. Yeah, I ran my fastest first sector of the weekend by half a second, and, yeah, just went the best I ever have this weekend and was able to take home the win with the red flag coming out.”

Build.Train.Race – Cutler Claims First In Fierce Four-Way Battle

The Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. showcased the 2026 class for their first race of the year, as ten riders lined up on spec machines.

The five-lap battle saw a four-way fight to the finish where the podium was separated by less than a second. It was Brianna Cutler who found a way through, from third to first, taking the first victory of the year, while she recorded the best lap of the race at 1:57.059.

Jasmine Noelle, in second, crossed the line just .722 of a second behind Cutler.

Third place went to Bryanna Everitt, who remained in striking distance throughout the race, finishing 0.123 shy of second.

Brianna Cutler (#35) grabbed the first Build.Train.Race. victory of the year. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

The following quote is from race one winner Brianna Cutler:

“Wow, being in first place in Moto America with Build.Train.Race. is such an amazing opportunity that I never thought would happen to me. You know I’ve seen all these girls in the past do it, but I worked so hard last year and I really did not see any of the reward and it was pretty discouraging but now I’m starting to see that work pay off and I am just so happy. I’m gonna cry again thinking about it. I can’t believe that I got first place. It was a great fight. I mean those other girls out there. We were all going back-and-forth. Everybody out there did a fantastic job. It’s just about having clean lines and staying consistent until the very end so I am so happy to share that podium with all of those girls. This was just a wonderful start to the season that I can’t wait for race two. I’m gonna try to be in the same spot.”

For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule, and to purchase tickets for MotoAmerica events, CLICK HERE

For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE

For photos and full results, CLICK HERE

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Daxton Bennick claims fourth in Cleveland Triple Crown

Faced with a technical Huntington Bank Field track layout, Bennick powered his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition to the third-fastest qualifying time despite battling a stomach bug throughout the round.

The 20-year-old opened the night with a strong P3 result in the first 250SX outing, before adding fifth to his score in Race 2 as the weather intensified. In the third and final race, Bennick delivered another spirited ride to finish third, securing a well-earned fourth overall. With two races remaining, Bennick sits third in the 250SX East standings.

“Qualifying was dry in Cleveland and I felt like I rode pretty well,”reflected Bennick.“The first race was also dry and I was third, but then it rained really heavily in the second one, which made conditions probably the worst that they were. I didn’t start well in that one, but got back to fifth, and then the third race I was P3, but in the end it was a little short of the podium. Overall, I’m excited for next weekend!”

Stewart began the day in positive fashion at the third Triple Crown event of the year, qualifying third on the combined 450SX timesheets while displaying strong pace onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition.

Race 1 saw the 33-year-old launch to a strong start and run at the front of the field as he battled among the leaders, climbing to an impressive fourth-place finish by race’s end and continuing his front-running form.

Sixth in Race 2 was followed by a slow start to the third and final Triple Crown race, where Stewart braved challenging conditions to claim 12th position, and deliver seventh overall to maintain eighth in the standings with three Supercross rounds remaining on the schedule.

“The vibes were high in Cleveland – the crowd was awesome!”said Stewart.“Qualifying was great for me, and then of course we had the Triple Crown with the weather beginning to roll in. I felt really good in Race 1, and then in the second one, I started making some mistakes, with the third one being pretty sloppy after the rain. I lost the flow in Race 3, but we brought it home in seventh overall, and we’ll look at improving next weekend!”

Next Race: April 25 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Results 450SX Class – Cleveland1. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)7. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)8. Justin Hill (KTM)15. Jorge Prado (KTM)21. Grant Harlan (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 14 of 17 rounds1. Hunter Lawrence, 286 points2. Ken Roczen, 2853. Cooper Webb, 2644. Eli Tomac, 2558. Malcolm Stewart, 16010. Jorge Prado, 14716. Aaron Plessinger, 9921. RJ Hampshire, 38

Results 250SX East Class – Cleveland1. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)2. Landen Gordon (Yamaha)3. Cole Davies (Yamaha)4. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250SX East Class 2026 after 8 of 10 rounds1. Cole Davies, 181 points2. Seth Hammaker, 1603. Daxton Bennick, 138

CHALLENGING CLEVELAND TRIPLE CROWN FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING

Round 14 – AMA Supercross Championship

Supercross made a high-profile return to Cleveland, with Huntington Bank Field hosting the 14th round of the SMX World Championship season after inclement weather persisted in the region this week.

On the soft, technical layout, Prado quickly found comfort aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION during qualifying, posting the fifth-fastest time of 45.083s to take confidence into the upcoming three-race format.

The opening race of the Triple Crown saw Prado complete the first lap in fourth position, eventually crossing the line in P14 after experiencing vision difficulties in the challenging conditions.

Prado claimed 15th place in Race 2, before the four-time world champion earned another P15 in the third and final outing to finish 15th for the round. He sits 10th in the 450SX standings with just three rounds remaining in Supercross.

Jorge Prado:“It was a rough day in Cleveland. The Triple Crown format is still new to me and the conditions were challenging also, but I gained more experience and that is what is important this year. Three to go – we will keep learning, and I’m excited for the next few races to finish the season.”

Two-time 450SX Champion Tomac entered Cleveland only 15 points outside of the red plate, however, a heavy crash in the whoops during this morning’s Q1 session would ultimately end his weekend.

Tomac attempted to ride in the second session, before the decision was made for him to park his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and undergo further medical evaluation after experiencing ongoing discomfort in his hip region. Further information will be released once available.

Next Race: April 25 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Results 450SX Class – Cleveland

Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
Justin Hill (KTM)
Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Grant Harlan (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 14 of 17 rounds

Hunter Lawrence, 286 points
Ken Roczen, 285
Cooper Webb, 264
Eli Tomac, 255
Malcolm Stewart, 160
Jorge Prado, 147
Aaron Plessinger, 99
RJ Hampshire, 38

CHAPIN WINS FOR M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI IN ATLANTA

Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer featured prominently as the 2026 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship resumed at Road Atlanta this weekend, racing away with a victory among four podium finishes.

Race Highlights:

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
- Twins Cup
  - Matthew Chapin rebounded from a difficult Saturday race to score a dominant victory in Sunday’s Twins Cup rematch.
  - Bodie Paige proved both quick and brave during his pole-winning, podium-earning weekend.
- Supersport
  - Tyler Scott upped his perfect 2026 podium record to three-for-three with a pair of impressive outings at Road Atlanta.
- Superbike
  - Brandon Paasch returned to the squad and was immediately back inside the top ten.
Mission M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
- Supersport
  - Richie Escalante transitioned back to Superbike duty to score a pair of top tens in the premier-class double opener.

Matthew Chapin powered the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R to a Twins Cup victory at Road Atlanta.

Despite encountering alternating bouts of adversity, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Twins Cup duo of Mathew Chapin and Bodie Paige showcased the remarkable speed and vast potential of the GSX-8R throughout the weekend.

The two lined up 1-2 on the grid with Aussie Paige on pole and Chapin second quickest. Chapin’s Saturday contest didn’t go how he envisioned it, however, as a mechanical issue forced him down to an eventual 11th – far below his genuine form. He proved that the case on Sunday with a dominating win that saw him pull more than two seconds clear of the pack en route to the checkered flag.

After claiming his fourth-career Twins Cup victory, Chapin said, “That race was awesome. I knew going in I had some good pace on these guys. I just want to give a huge thanks to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki crew getting this bike back together. Yesterday didn’t go how we wanted it to, but this feels so great coming off a struggle race yesterday. I really needed this one.”

Bodie Paige showcased impressive speed aboard the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R, earning pole position and a podium finish.

Paige, meanwhile, fought at the front for victory on Saturday, only to be foiled by a red flag that was thrown while he was running a close second with two laps to go. The race was then called complete, cementing him in that position. Paige’s hopes for vengeance on Sunday suffered when he crashed in the warm-up. He still somehow summoned the late-braking heroics needed to keep him in podium contention and eventually earn him a hard-fought fourth.

“I’m a little bit disappointed,” the two-time Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award winner said. “I wish we could have finished the race (On Saturday) so that I could have gone for the win. It would have been a good last-lap battle. I was good in the tight, technical stuff, so we’ll take something from the weekend and learn from what we need to improve on.”

Tyler Scott extended his perfect 2026 podium streak with a double podium performance aboard the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750

M4 ESCSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott carried his frontrunning Daytona form into Road Atlanta and continued to make an impression up front. The Pennsylvanian secured himself a place on the front row, qualifying second fastest aboard the next-generation GSX-R750 racer. He made the most of that strong grid slotting, twice claiming the holeshot before battling among the leaders in a pair of thrilling Supersport shootouts. On Saturday, he finished a close second, some 0.378 seconds off the win. He was well positioned to improve upon that finish on Sunday until encountering a spell of bad luck with slower traffic. Despite getting separated from the lead pack, he managed to win out in a scrap for third to log a double podium weekend.

Scott said, “I set a new personal best lap here at Road Atlanta in today’s race. You know, this hasn’t really been one of the best tracks for me, so I’m really happy with the progress me and my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team made this weekend. I can’t thank those guys enough. I feel really good on the bike – we’re going to take what we learned and move forward and hopefully be higher up on the podium next time out.”

Mission M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante recorded a pair of top-ten finishes while opening his 2026 Superbike campaign at Road Atlanta.

Mission M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante traded in his GSX-R750 Daytona 200 racebike for a fire-breathing GSX-R1000R Superbike as the premier class opened its 2026 championship season in Georgia. The Mexican ace secured a second-row grid position and then matched his qualifying performance with a sixth-place run in Saturday’s race. He looked capable of improving upon it, but some midrace misfortune dropped him down to tenth in Sunday’s rematch.

Escalante said, “It was a long weekend for us and a tough one. This is a difficult track for me, and this was our first race on the Superbike after about six months. We never found the best setting that would be good for the podium, but we kept trying and the team worked really hard. We made progress but not enough. We made it through and there are 18 races left. We are ready to get to Barber and try again.”

Brandon Paasch returned to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki competition with seventh- and eighth-place Superbike finishes.

Brandon Paasch made his Team Hammer return with a promising opener at Road Atlanta. The two-time Daytona 200 winner, twice worked his way forward aboard his M4 ESCSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R Superbike from a Row 4 starting slot, registering seventh and eighth-place results on the weekend.

Paasch said, ““The goal was for me to start the Superbike season better than the last time – to get points and a good base setting. We were able to do that. On Saturday, we got a little lucky and ended up battling with Richie and got some solid points. On Sunday, we made a bunch of changes and really started getting into my groove. I passed a whole group of riders to make up some spots. We need to keep the momentum going forward. I know I have a great crew and they kept me pointed in the right direction.”

The 2026 MotoAmerica season will continue on May 15-17 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

For more Road racing news please visit suzukicycles.com/racing/road-racing.

SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN CAPTURES CLEVELAND SUPERCROSS VICTORY

Round 14 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season returned to Cleveland, Ohio for the first time in 31 years. Sporadic rainfall, high winds, and temperature drops added challenges to final Triple Crown-format event of 2026. The dirt inside Huntington Bank Field rutted up, especially in the jump transitions and corners, throughout the night’s 3-Race format.

Race Highlights:

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
  - Ken Roczen delivered his fourth win of the season and moved to within one point of topping the championship standings.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Colt Nichols, following a top-ten performance, opted out of the daytime LCQ due to an injury sustained leading up to the event.

Ken Roczen (94) was fast in every Race and dominated Race 3 to earn a definitive overall win at the Cleveland Supercross with (2-2-1) results.

Ken Roczen (94) matched his season-best results in Triple Crown qualifying heading into the night’s racing. In Race 1, Roczen emerged from the first turn in fourth place. Roczen took over second place and set the fastest time through Sector 7 within the first two minutes of the 12-minute plus one lap Race. In Race 2, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in sixth. Roczen scrapped for every position, taking over the second-place spot after setting the Race’s fastest lap and fastest passes through Sectors 2 and 6 (the whoops). When the final gate dropped for the night, Roczen powered his Suzuki RM-Z450 down the start straight and grabbed the holeshot. Roczen appeared unaffected by the low-traction track conditions that slowed other riders. Roczen again set the fastest lap time and also grabbed the fastest times through Sectors 2, 6, and 7 as he pulled out a 9-second lead. Roczen took the Race 3 win; his (2-2-1) scores earned him the event’s overall victory, his fourth of 2026. The win moved Ken Roczen into a tie for tenth place on the sport’s all-time win list in the premier class. The Cleveland podium, the tenth for Roczen this season, moved him to within one podium of reaching the top-five on that historical list. The points from the Cleveland Supercross win nearly erased the points gap; Roczen and Suzuki now sit within one single point of the top of the standings with three rounds remaining on the Supercross season.

“Cleveland, you are next level. Honestly, the entire weekend, I had an absolute blast,” said Roczen. “We had a lot of things going on with KR merch collab-ing with Machine Gun Kelly’s coffee shop. We had a lot of fans showing up, it was awesome. I spent about [two] hours there with everybody and we had a great time. And then also at Shooters [On the Water], we had the AC and JB Podcast. A lot of people showed up for that. We just overall had a great weekend to start off, and then Saturday with the potential of rain and a Triple Crown, it was [suddenly] a recipe for chaos. But I have to say for everything that was thrown at us today with the weather, we did a phenomenal job as a team. It’s not easy getting ready three times for three ‘main events,’ because they all count. Starts are really important, and the track itself was extremely difficult due to how hardpacked it was, how rutted it got, [and] how slippery it was. So, getting the win here with the 2-2-1, it was just an absolute next-level experience. I’m really taking these moments in, [and I] can’t wait for next weekend. We had a blast, it’s time to go home, recharge, and then come back in Philly.”

Colt Nichols (45) was unable to follow up his top-ten performance from the weekend before and did not compete in the Cleveland Supercross.

Colt Nichols (45) rode both qualifying sessions despite fighting through the pain of an injury received leading up to the event. The Triple Crown format qualifies only 22 riders into the evening’s racing and Nichols opted not to compete in the daytime LCQ after evaluating his condition.

“There’s not much to say,” Nichols stated. “[I’m] dealing with some pain in my neck and attempted to ride in practice but couldn’t even put a lap together. So, I will get some scans and do whatever I can to be good for Philly.”

“It was a great night in Cleveland for the team. The energy in the city all week was palpable, and the fans really showed up for Ken,” said Dustin Pipes, Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team. “The weather made the race tricky, but Ken Roczen was able to come out with the overall win. Colt had issues with a neck injury, and we collectively decided to sit this round out after he tried to give it a go in qualifying. Now it’s on to Philadelphia.”

Round 15 of the 17-round series takes place on Saturday, April 25th inside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The weather looks clear leading up to the event, with possible rain in the open stadium on race day. The Suzuki riders and team members are elated with their impressive performances that have positioned Suzuki to within one point of the championship and are looking forward to three more opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities.

Ken Roczen’s race-winning RM-Z450 will become the property of one lucky race fan after the season is complete. The Kick Start for a Cause Sweepstakes benefits the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will give Roczen’s actual Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki race bike away. Fans can learn more by texting “SUZUKI” to 99126.

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

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig DeLong and Korie Steede claim The Dukes GNCC podiums

Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 5

It was a convincing weekend for former champion Craig DeLong, who powered his Husqvarna FX 350 to a strong start and maintained a consistent pace at The Dukes GNCC, which is new to the schedule for 2026.

Charging to a third-place finish overall and in the XC1 Open Pro Class with a total time of 3:02:28, DeLong’s results across the first five rounds position him fourth in the standings heading into The Old Gray GNCC on May 1-3, with both his speed and confidence on the rise.

“I had a decent start, found myself inside the top-five, and made my way into third,”DeLong said.“Felt good from about halfway on and kind of started finding my groove, started reeling in the leaders about 20 seconds or so, and yeah, just felt strong. Finally, I put in a ride that I’m happy with and it’s definitely something we can build on, battling for a win and getting back into this thing. I’m excited with the way that I rode and my bike worked awesome!” 

Having opened her 2026 campaign with podium results in each of the first four rounds – including a round win at Talladega – Korie Steede came into Round 5 looking to maintain her momentum aboard the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition.

Running near the front throughout the five-lap duration, the defending WXC Champion finished second with a time of 2:10:20 despite a late fall. The Dukes GNCC result sees Steede maintain second in the standings, eight points from the lead entering Round 6 in Tennessee.

“I got off to a decent start, went into the woods in third,” Steede recalled.“I made a really good pass on Brandy [Richards], which put me in second, and about halfway through the first lap I made a pass for the lead and I was just riding my own race. I think I led for a lap or two, before we got heavy into lapped riders and I got hung up behind one – that’s where Brandy got back around me. And then from there, I was just kind of trying to track her down, but about four or five miles into that last lap, I had a pretty big get-off, so I was happy to cruise in with a second after that.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results1. Jordan Ashburn, Honda2. Liam Draper, Yamaha3. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing6. Ben Kelley, KTM11. Grant Davis, KTM

WXC Class Results1. Brandy Richards, KTM2. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing3. Danielle McDonald, Yamaha

U.S. Hard Enduro Championship – Round 4

Round 4 of the U.S. Hard Enduro Championship took place over the weekend at the Moab Hard Enduro in Utah, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder LeBlond raced to a fourth-place result in the Pro Class.

The 24-year-old ran up front during the early stages of the Main Race after claiming seventh in Prologue, battling inside the top three onboard his Husqvarna TE 300 while navigating the rocky terrain.

Challenging conditions and strong competition made for a race-long battle, with LeBlond eventually claiming a hard-fought fourth position, with the series now heading east for the Battle of the Goats in North Carolina on May 2-3.

“We’ve wrapped up the Moab Hard Enduro and it started with a good launch to the Main Race,”recalled LeBlond.“I was P1 early on and I tried to hold on, but ended up getting passed by the front two. I held third for a while and was looking to capitalize on a mistake from either of the leaders, but then I looked behind me and I had company! So we finished in fourth place and I’m ready to challenge for some wins on the east coast, where we had good success last year.”

Pro Class Results1. Trystan Hart, KTM2. Cody Webb, Yamaha3. Branden Petrie, Beta4. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

WINNING WEEKEND FOR FMF KTM FACTORY RACING ACROSS GNCC AND U.S. HARD ENDURO

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 5

Jason Tino entered Round 5 of GNCC with confidence following a podium finish at Camp Coker, and was motivated to place his KTM 250 XC-F further toward the front of the order during the series’ first visit to The Dukes GNCC event.

A slow start was followed by an impressive charge through the field, with Tino taking over the lead during the middle stages and battling throughout the remainder of the race, ultimately powering his way to the top step in a total time of 3:05:20s.

The win marks a milestone in FMF KTM Factory Racing recruit Tino’s career, with the weekend marking his first XC2 250 Pro Class victory. As a result, he is now equal second in the standings.

Jason Tino:”My first-ever XC2 250 Pro win! I really got off to a terrible start, but I was able to get going into the woods and into third place. I picked off Brody [Johnson] from there and was just being patient, then Jhak [Walker], man – he had some serious speed early on in the race – and we just yo-yoed all day with the two pit stops. But at the end of the day, I ended up having a lot of gas still in the tank, and we pulled it out for the win. This is a huge moment for me, thank you to all those who helped me get to this point.”

WXC Class contender Brandy Richards was also in winning form this weekend, exercising patience before moving into the lead aboard her KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION. Once out front, a consistent approach to the high-speed circuit saw Richards secure her second win of the 2026 season. She retains third in the class standings after five rounds.

Brandy Richards:”It was a good weekend in Kentucky! It was a fun race – we had some rain overnight, so the first lap was a bit slippery. I was patient in trying to enter the lead, and once I got there, it was all about consistency. It was a high-speed track similar to what is on the west coast. That gave me comfort, so I was able to come away with the win – I’m stoked!”

A consistent P6 result in the XC1 Open Pro Class for defending GNCC Champion Ben Kelley aboard his KTM 450 XC-F saw him maintain the championship lead, favoring a measured approach as the series visited the venue for the first time. Kelley holds a three-point advantage entering Round 6 on May 1-3, with The Old Gray GNCC a round where he earned victory at last year.

Ben Kelley:“I got off to a great start and was up front, but couldn’t match the pace of the leaders. I was able to push where I could and maintain in other spots, but it was good to score solid points today. Now the focus shifts to The Old Gray.”

Fresh from claiming victory at the Camp Coker GNCC, XC1 Open Pro Class newcomer Grant Davis was again in strong form on his KTM 450 XC-F, running near the front during the opening laps. An untimely issue would halt his progress during the race, however, ultimately credited with 11th position in class.

Grant Davis:“I ripped a good start and was where I needed to be – I was feeling comfortable on my bike today, so I can’t wait for the next round.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results

Jordan Ashburn, Honda
Liam Draper, Yamaha
Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing

XC2 250 Pro Class Results

Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Jhak Walker, Beta
Gavin Simon, Husqvarna

WXC Class Results

Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Korie Steede, Husqvarna
Danielle McDonald, Yamaha

U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 4

Five-time U.S. Hard Enduro Champion Trystan Hart posted his third round-win of the 2026 season on Sunday, first by placing second in Saturday’s Prologue, before battling at the front of the pack during the opening stages of the Main Race on Sunday.

Knowing the competition would be fast, Hart and his KTM 300 XC made an early-race push to establish a gap, maintaining control from there to secure victory with a total time of 2:32:04s and claim his third win of the 2026 season.

With his win in Utah, the defending Hard Enduro number one extends his lead atop the Pro Class standings as the series heads east for Round 5 at Battle of the Goats in North Carolina on May 2-3.

Trystan Hart:“It was a really good day! I knew the competition would be tough here. Cody [Webb] makes a big push here because it really suits his style, so I was fired up and ready to battle. He kept me honest for the first two laps, so I needed to go as fast as I could, then once I had a gap, I calmed it down a little. It was a great weekend and now we move on to the Battle of the Goats.”

Pro Class Results

Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Cody Webb, Yamaha
Branden Petrie, Beta
Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna

Hunter Lawrence Retains Championship Lead Following Challenging Cleveland Triple Crown Supercross

After three decades away from Cleveland, AMA Supercross made a long-awaited return to the shores of Lake Erie, which hosted the final Triple Crown event of 2026. Although Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence kicked off the round with a holeshot and race 1 win, the day unraveled as rain showers came in. Despite the adversity and uncharacteristic poor starts in the final two races, the Australian managed to secure a sixth-overall result, keeping the 450SX championship lead by one point.

The first of three premier-class races saw Lawrence get a signature holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE and lead from start to finish, with no challenges to speak of. As track conditions deteriorated with increasing rainfall, the remaining races proved more challenging. Despite a difficult race 2 start, Lawrence demonstrated strong race craft, advancing from ninth to fifth in the opening laps. Although the frontrunners had already established a gap, he maintained consistency to finish fifth and stay in contention for the overall podium.

In the last race of the evening, the number 96 got pinched off at the start and found himself mid-pack. As he started to make his way forward, an early-race incident in the whoops saw him drop to 14^th. After remounting, Lawrence noticed his fuel-tank vent hose had been dislodged in the fall, but he remained composed and pushed forward, climbing back to 11^th. His progress was halted by a second incident (this one with another rider), and he ultimately crossed the line in 14^th, securing sixth on the night.

Quad Lock Honda rider Joey Savatgy finished an impressive fifth overall, just ahead of Lawrence. His teammates—Shane McElrath, Dean Wilson and Christian Craig—completed the event in 10^th, 12^th and 13^th overall, respectively.

NOTES

Middlefield, Ohio, dealership Just for Fun Honda enhanced the fan experience within the Honda HRC Progressive pit area through an interactive pop-up stand, showcasing a CRF250R, a CRF110F and additional products, while engaging directly with fans and customers.
Several Red Riders were absent from the Cleveland round while recovering from injury, including Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda (ankle), as well as Phoenix Honda racers Cullin Park (shoulder surgery) and Evan Ferry (right ACL). Shimoda and Park aim to be back for AMA Pro Motocross, while Ferry will miss an undetermined portion of the outdoor series.
In 250SX East qualifying, Short Racing’s John Short IV was seventh, his best showing of the season. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) qualified in 16^th, Phoenix Racing Honda rider Gavin Towers was 18^th and Storm Lake Honda riders Luke Neese and Izaih Clark were 17^th and 20^th, respectively. Clark went on to win the 250SX LCQ, securing a coveted spot in the Triple Crown program and ended the night in 10^th position overall thanks to 10-10-15 finishes in the three races. Towers finished 14^th overall, while Short, Neese and Hand finished 16^th, 17^th and 19^th overall, respectively.
Lawrence clocked the fastest time in 450SX qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig, Shane McElrath and Dean Wilson qualified in eighth, ninth, 11^th and 14^th, respectively. Privateer Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified 25^th.
Despite setbacks in races 2 and 3, Lawrence maintains the championship lead over Ken Roczen, by one point. Cooper Webb is another 21 points back, while Eli Tomac exited the main program following a qualifying crash and slipped to fourth in the standings.
Honda HRC Progressive heads to Philadelphia for round 15 of AMA Supercross on Saturday, April 25.

KAWASAKI RIDERS BATTLE THROUGH CHANGING CONDITIONS AT CLEVELAND TRIPLE CROWN

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green™ Battles Through Adversity at All-New GNCC Venue

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green™ set out for Round 5 of the Progressive Grand National Cross Country series in Hazard, Kentucky. The day was full of ups and downs as the team looks to rebound next time out.

Steward Baylor got off to a good start and quickly made his way to the rear tire of the overall leader. Unfortunately, while coming through pit row for the first time, his bike suffered a mechanical issue that would end his day.

Josh Toth sacrificed his race day after a fellow competitor went down hard in front of him. Toth halted his race to stay with the injured rider until medical services were able to arrive and assist him. Toth would finish the race 10th in XC1 and 30th overall.

The team was also one rider down as XC2 contender Nick DeFeo suffered a practice crash earlier in the week that resulted in a broken femur and pelvis, ending his season.

Next up, the team heads to Monterey, Tennessee, for The Old Gray GNCC on May 3.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing Sweeps the 250SX Podium in Cleveland

When you reach the closing stages of a championship, it’s not always just about stacking wins or extending the points lead. Sometimes, it’s about finding your way back or breaking through. On Saturday night in Cleveland, Ohio, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 riders did all of that, delivering a podium sweep in the process.

Nate Thrasher led the charge, securing his first win of the season. Rookie Landen Gordon followed with a breakout performance, earning his first career podium with a runner-up finish in just his second professional start. Rounding out the sweep was points leader Cole Davies, who overcame adversity to claim third overall and further extend his championship lead. Add to that, it was also a great night for the team in the 450 class, with Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper finishing on the podium.

“It’s really tough to say anything other than it was a great night for the entire team,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “All five guys that we had here are on the podium, and we extended the lead in the 250 championship – we can’t ask for much more.”

The first Supercross in Cleveland in more than three decades, Round 8 of the 250SX East Championship was also the final Triple Crown event of the season, and changing weather at the Huntington Bank Field added to the challenge.

Thrasher was quick from the start, and in the first main event, he moved to the front and led the first eight laps, ultimately finishing second. He then came out swinging in the twice-started second main event. After taking control early, he built a gap to remain unchallenged, putting himself in the overall lead heading into the final race.

As conditions worsened with continued rain, Thrasher didn’t get the start he was looking for in the final main but managed the race well, navigating the deteriorating track to finish fourth and secure the overall victory with a 2-1-4 score. The victory marked Thrasher’s first of the season and the seventh of his career, which also extended the team’s win streak and made him the fifth Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider to win in the 250SX class this year.

“It was a great day,” said Thrasher. “The first race got off to a great start, but I really didn’t ride my best, and got a little arm pump. In the second race, I got the win, but that last one didn’t come easy. I had to fight for it. I didn’t ride my best in the beginning, but we sorted it out, and at the end I felt unbelievable. In those last four laps, I was just able to click them off, be consistent, and get the overall win with 2-1-4 on the night. I just had great starts all day. It was an awesome race win, the seventh of my career – it’s an unbelievable feeling.”

It was also a standout night for his young teammate, Landen Gordon, who showed poise amidst the chaos of a Triple Crown event. He got great starts in all three main events and rode a strong pace, earning a fourth-place finish and a pair of runner-up finishes, securing second overall and his first podium in the pro ranks.

“It was an awesome day for me,” said Gordon. “Second pro race and finishing second overall – it couldn’t have gone much better. I was pretty close to a first place, actually, which is unreal. It was a pretty consistent day for me. I learned a lot in my first Triple Crown. Let’s keep it going!”

For championship leader Cole Davies, it was an eventful day in Cleveland, but the New Zealander showed resilience. He started strong in the opening race, charging into second before a tip-over dropped him to sixth. He had another moment as he tried to make his way through, but would regroup and make the pass for fifth on the final lap. Then, a crash after the start of the second main event had him back in 14th, but the race was red-flagged and brought about a complete restart, with Davies finishing fourth.

In the final race, Davies grabbed the holeshot, set the fastest lap early, and controlled the race from the front to take the win. Although he ended up tied in points with his championship rival – Seth Hammaker – the commanding victory secured third overall, which further strengthened his championship lead to 22 points with two rounds remaining.

“It was a pretty wild Triple Crown, but I still managed a podium,” said Davies. “I went down in Race 1 and came together hard with another rider in Race 2, but I didn’t give up and fought through it. The bike was handling the conditions really well, especially in Race 3, where I pulled the holeshot and took the win. Our championship lead stretched out a little further heading into Philadelphia next weekend. Congrats to the boys – they rode well tonight.”

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship now heads to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Round 9 of the 250SX East Championship at Lincoln Financial Field on April 25.

Mathew Scholtz and Bobby Fong Split Wins in Thrilling MotoAmerica Superbike Opener

Anticipation was high for the MotoAmerica Superbike season opener at Road Atlanta, with a stacked premier-class field eager to launch their title campaigns at the 2.55-mile circuit in Braselton, Georgia. And perhaps no one was more ready than Mathew Scholtz.

Fresh off back-to-back MotoAmerica Supersport titles with Strack Racing Yamaha, Scholtz made his return to the Superbike class with confidence. There are always question marks at the start of a new season, but Scholtz answered them emphatically: pole position, a masterclass ride in a chaotic, twice-started Race 1, and a runner-up finish in Race 2 to leave his home round with an early championship lead.

“Obviously, I was very excited to get back on the Superbike,” said Scholtz. “We started off very well in the first practice. The bike was really comfortable to ride right out of the gate. We made a few changes to suit my riding style, and then, yeah, we just always seemed to find ourselves at the sharp end. Throughout Friday, and in qualifying, we got pole position.”

Lining up alongside him was Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong, with teammate JD Beach starting from the second row in fifth. When the lights went out in Race 1, Yamaha immediately set the tone with a 1-2-3 start, with Scholtz grabbing the holeshot ahead of Beach and Fong.

Scholtz set a blistering pace up front to distance himself from the competition. Meanwhile, Fong moved past Beach into second before chaos struck on Lap 6. Fong crashed in Turn 1, and then a separate incident brought out the red flag. Although Fong was able to return to the pits, he was unable to line up for the restart.

Once again, Scholtz got another great start to lead into turn one and ultimately ride away from the competition, winning by an impressive seven-second margin.

“The race started off great,” said Scholtz. “I got the holeshot and managed to pull out a gap. The red flag came out, and I knew that when the tires dropped off, that I had a little bit better pace than most of the guys. So I just started the second part of the race with confidence that I just had to stick to my lines and do what we had been doing throughout the practice sessions, and I brought it home in first place.”

Behind him, Beach held strong in second for much of the race despite being under pressure in a multi-rider battle that included Sean Dylan Kelly and Cameron Beaubier. With five laps to go, Beach was shuffled back but recovered to third after Beaubier ran off track. Unfortunately, a technical issue forced him to retire shortly after.

In Race 2, Strack Racing Yamaha’s Scholtz had another brilliant start, with the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing duo of Beach and Fong in pursuit. Fong quickly moved into second and began closing the gap, setting up a high-speed duel between the two Yamaha riders. The pair clicked off laps at a relentless pace, building a commanding lead over the rest of the field.

As the race unfolded, it became a strategic fight at the front. Then, with two laps remaining, Fong made his move to the lead. With Scholtz managing a late-race technical issue, he brought home the runner-up finish, extending his championship lead to nine points.

Fong continued to ride a strong pace to bring home the win for the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing squad – his 12th career win in class. It was a great comeback from a tough start to the season opener, scoring valuable points in the title fight, which has him fourth and 20 points behind Scholtz.

“It was definitely an up-and-down weekend,” said Fong. “We started off the weekend pretty well – top three in the times in practice and qualifying. We had a good race pace, and our times were faster than I’ve ever been around this place on race tires, so that was good. We just had some bad luck in race one. I had no warning and just tucked the front, so that was a bummer, but we rebounded for Sunday’s race. I was looking forward to a last-lap duel with Mat (Scholtz), but I kind of got lucky on that one. In this sport, sometimes you need some luck, just like I had some bad luck on Saturday. I’m definitely looking forward to Barber. I think Barber will suit my style a little bit better. I’m looking forward to continuing the progress and chipping away at these points.”

In Supersport, Strack Racing Yamaha’s Blake Davis continued to build momentum in his championship campaign. The young rider from Virginia got a great start in Race 1, quickly moving into second and holding position through much of the race before running off track with five laps to go. Davis quickly regrouped and charged back to third on the final lap to secure his first podium of the season. In Race 2, he once again ran inside the top five, leaving Road Atlanta fifth in the championship standings.

Liberty St. Yamaha Racing’s Dominic Doyle also made gains in the Supersport Championship, scoring a pair of top-10 finishes (7-10) to move to sixth in the standings.

Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane pulled double duty in two classes. In the MotoAmerica Twins Cup, the young Australian scored a sixth and eighth-place finish. In the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, he battled up front in the first race of the weekend. Unfortunately, a crash on the second lap dropped him back to ninth, but he rebounded in Race 2, finishing fourth to score valuable points and leave fourth in the standings.

Next up, the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship heads to Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, on May 15-17.

Double Podium for Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper in Cleveland

Supercross returned to Cleveland, Ohio, for the first time in over three decades, and it was a night to remember for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. After sweeping the podium in the 250SX East Championship, Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper brought home a double podium for the team in the premier class.

It was a wild Monster Energy AMA Supercross Triple Crown event and another early schedule for Round 14 of the 450SX Championship at Huntington Bank Field. The threat of bad weather loomed ahead. Although it was not as bad as forecasted, the on-and-off rain showers took their toll on the track.

From the start of the day, Webb showed intensity, throwing down consistently fast laps in qualifying and coming just shy of the top spot. But when the gate dropped for the first main event, a poor start put him eighth early. He charged forward to sixth by Lap 2 and continued to push, making the pass on Jorge Prado just before the halfway mark to finish fifth.

In the second main event, Webb got a better start. In fifth, he passed both Ken Roczen and Malcolm Stewart in succession to claim third on the second lap. Locked in a battle for the podium, Roczen made his way back through before the halfway mark, and Webb ultimately finished fourth. In the final main event, the reigning 450SX champ got a great start in the runner-up spot. From there, Webb managed his race, running a strong pace in the tricky conditions to finish second and secure second overall.

“It was our first time here in Cleveland, and it was a great day,” said Webb. “Qualifying was really good for me, first and second in both of those sessions. Then it started to rain, which was a bummer cause I was really jelling with the track. The first main event, I didn’t ride very well. I got really bad arm pump, struggled with that right off the rip, and just coasted it in fifth. I rode much better in the last two. Kenny (Roczen) was on another level that last main, but a solid P2, and the math ended up mathing for me and I got a second overall. We thought it was going to be a mudder today. It was definitely wet, but it was nice that it was not full-blown crazy and barely surviving. Back-to-back podiums – we’ll take it and get home to the girls.”

Justin Cooper had another great night. He got a good start to the first main event, slotting into the runner-up spot. After getting passed by Roczen on the second lap, he continued to run a strong pace to finish third comfortably. The New Yorker then executed a great race in the second main event – grabbing the holeshot, setting the pace, and leading wire-to-wire for the win. A late-race moment kept things interesting, but Cooper held on to put himself in contention for the overall, tied on points with Roczen heading into the final race.

As conditions worsened, Cooper didn’t get the start he was hoping for in the final main but still found himself inside the top five early. Running fourth, a crash at the halfway mark dropped him to ninth. Undeterred, he regrouped and charged back to seventh, securing third overall and his third podium of the season.

“It was an awesome day,” said Cooper. “I had a good flow all day. I got off to a good start in race one and came away with third. The second one was awesome. I got the holeshot and was able to ride my own race and win that one. Then the third one, I spun off the gate, so I put myself behind right away. I was in fourth, and then I had a big crash, trying to get a position or two. I hit a soft spot in the face and went for a ride. I’m just thankful to get up from that one.

“From there, I just tried to get as many spots back as I could. The track was a little bit torn up by that point, and I wasn’t feeling the greatest from the crash, but I got a few guys back, and that was good enough for third overall. All in all, I think the best we were going to do tonight was second. Kenny (Roczen) was on rails in the last one. I tried to get up there, but had that crash, and that was all she wrote. On to next weekend.”

It’s three more rounds to go in the 450SX Championship, with Webb heading to next weekend’s Philadelphia Supercross third in the standings and trailing the leader by 22 points.

“It was a good day here in Cleveland,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “I thought qualifying went really well. Webb had two good sessions, and Justin was a little bit off, but made a few adjustments for him, and he came around in the second session. Then the weather came in, changed the track quite a bit, but both guys rode well. The first race wasn’t so good for Webb, but I feel like in the last two, he put himself in a good spot. It was a great one for Justin. He rode amazing in the second one, and it was a good recovery after that crash in the last one. It was a tough day here with the weather and bike setup. So a big shout-out to the team. They did a great job. We’re not out of this thing yet. We’re 22 points down with three rounds to go. We’ll just keep plugging away.”

Pro Motocross Championship Welcomes Multi-Year Partnership from 5.11®

MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., in association with the SMX League, has announced that 5.11^®, the global leader in Purpose-Built Gear, will expand its new partnership with the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Series with multi-year support of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The partnership will be anchored by title support of American motocross’ legendary and longstanding Independence Day tradition, the 5.11^® RedBud National from Michigan’s RedBud MX, which will commence on the 4th of July for the 2026 season.

“We’re excited to welcome a globally celebrated and esteemed company like 5.11 as one of the newest partners of the Pro Motocross Championship,” said Carrie Coombs Russell, CEO, MX Sports Pro Racing. “They are a proven brand that produces proven products able to stand up to the demands of physically intensive occupations, like those that make up the fabric of American motocross. That makes 5.11 an ideal choice of workwear within our paddock and for our enthusiast-driven fanbase.”

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The Southern California-based company was founded in 2003, designing apparel, footwear, and gear built to perform when it matters most. This approach reflects the brand’s ethos of Challenge Possible™, a belief that challenge isn’t something you avoid, it’s something you choose. The brand’s unique name was created from the most competitive decimal system used in climbing at Yosemite National Park when the company was founded, making 5.11 born in the outdoors from a mindset to overcome challenges. Two traits that also align with the spirit of the Pro Motocross Championship.

All 5.11 products are renowned for durability and have become a trusted choice by a dynamic array of professionals, including those within the SMX paddock. Meticulously designed to withstand the most demanding environments and perform in the harshest conditions, each piece is constructed with purpose-driven features like reinforced stitching, weather-resistant fabrics, and ergonomic designs that are an ideal choice for the grueling conditions that define Pro Motocross. To commemorate its partnership, 5.11 will create custom limited-edition collectible patches for all 11 races of the outdoor campaign.

5.11 has already been a prominent fixture of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship

Highlighting 5.11’s first season of Pro Motocross support will be the entitlement of the centerpiece of the championship, the iconic RedBud National. Arguably the most revered motocross race in the world, the electrifying atmosphere surrounding the sport’s Independence Day celebration will reach an all-time high this summer, taking place the day of America’s 250th anniversary. The race provides a meaningful opportunity for 5.11 to recognize those who serve and the communities that support them, while celebrating a shared mindset between 5.11 and motocross, where preparation, resilience, and showing up under pressure define what’s possible. This alignment makes 5.11’s title support of the RedBud National a natural fit.

5.11 will serve as title partner of the legendary RedBud National, which will take place during America’s 250th Anniversary celebration on July 4, 2026

“The Pro Motocross Championship is one of the purest expressions of challenge there is. It’s unpredictable, it’s demanding, and it requires everything from the people who show up to compete,” said Troy Brown, CEO of 5.11. “At 5.11, we build gear for people who choose that kind of challenge in their own lives. It’s the mindset behind Challenge Possible. This partnership is about showing up for this community, on and off the track, and supporting the people who live it every day.”

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