This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of April 5, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

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Haiden Deegan Clinches Back-to-Back Monster Energy Supercross Western Divisional Championships in St. Louis

The return of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to the “Gateway City” was headlined by the annual Love Moto Stop Cancer Supercross honoring the kids at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the fight against childhood cancer. With specially decorated race bikes and gear that will be auctioned off for fundraising, an already special race turned into a championship celebration inside The Dome at America’s Center as the Monster Energy SMX World Championship returned to St. Louis for the 12th race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan came into St. Louis with a shot at securing a second straight Western Divisional 250SMX Class Championship and did so by dominating against a full field of the class’ top talent during the East/West Showdown.

St. Louis’ The Dome at America’s Center hosted the annual Love Moto Stop Cancer Supercross in honor of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

With a win, Deegan needed a finish of sixth or worse from teammate Max Anstie to secure the title. As the second 15 Minutes + 1 Lap Showdown Main Event in three weeks got underway, it was fellow Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Cole Davies, the Eastern Divisional points leader, who grabbed the holeshot and seized control of the early lead over the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki duo of Seth Hammaker and Nick Romano. Deegan started sixth but wasted little time making his move to the front, as he quickly stormed into second place just a few minutes into the race. Just over three seconds separated the Yamaha pair, but Deegan took chunks out of his deficit and soon made a quick pass on Davies to grab the lead with just over nine minutes to go.

Deegan proceeded to open a margin of more than 15 seconds over the field and cruised to his sixth win of the season by 15.6 seconds over Davies, who was never challenged in second. Hammaker rode to a quiet fifth consecutive podium finish in third.

The most dominant win of the season for Deegan, combined with a 15th-place finish for Anstie, was more than enough to wrap up the Western Divisional Championship. It’s the sixth career title for Deegan and puts a finishing touch on one of the most decorated 250SMX Class careers of all time. Davies, meanwhile, added to his lead over Hammaker in the Eastern Divisional title fight, with 11 points now separating the pair with four races remaining.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan captured a second straight Western Divisional title with a dominant victory in the East/West Showdown.

Haiden Deegan – 1st Place – 250SMX Class East/West Showdown

“I’m so grateful. This 250 career has been insane. As a kid I wanted to win one championship, that’s every kid’s dream. This is number six. We’re going to keep digging. I ain’t done yet. I’m not done ticking [championships] off and we’re coming to the 450 Class swinging.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies added to his lead in the Eastern Divisional Championship with a runner-up finish.

Cole Davies – 2nd Place – 250SMX Class East/West Showdown

“I’m happy with tonight. That track was gnarly. I just rode it home. I’m happy I gained points [in the Eastern Divisional Championship], because there was no need to push it in those conditions. Congrats to Haiden [Deegan].”

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker rounded out the overall podium to minimize the damage in the Eastern Divisional title fight.

Seth Hammaker – 3rd Place – 250SMX Class East/West Showdown

“We’re coming to the closing stretch here [in the championship], so it’s going to be time to take a little more risk and leave a little bit more out there. I try my hardest each and every race. I try to be smart and try to be consistent, but Cole [Davies] has been riding super well. One of the gnarliest tracks I’ve ever ridden tonight, so I’m glad to get through it and get another podium. Four races left. We’ve got to get some more wins and attack.”

250SMX Class East/West Showdown Podium (left to right)
Cole Davies, Haiden Deegan, and Seth Hammaker

The 20 Minutes + 1 Lap 450SMX Class Main Event began with Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrance out front with the holeshot ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado and Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, last weekend’s winner. Behind them, points leader and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Eli Tomac started ninth. Prado went on the attack and briefly got by Lawrence for the lead, only for the Australian to fight back and regain the top spot. Roczen, meanwhile, took advantage of this and made it a three-rider battle for the race lead, as the German native made his way by Prado and then leaned on Lawrence to grab the lead. Prado slotted into second as Lawrence regrouped in third.

Roczen’s intense pace early on allowed him to establish a multi-second lead over the field, which left Prado and Lawrence to battle for second. Prado proceeded to strengthen his hold of the position as Lawrence soon lost third to Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper. The leaders settled in through the middle of the race, with Roczen continuing to add to his lead, before the battle for second picked up between Prado, Cooper, and Lawrence. Cooper was persistent and made the move around the Spaniard for second, while Lawrence soon followed through into third.

Back out front, Roczen was in a class of his own for the second consecutive weekend and took the checkered flag by 13.2 seconds over Cooper, who equaled his career-best result. Lawrence rebounded from his worst outing of the season one week ago with his ninth podium of the year in third. Roczen’s back-to-back triumph is his first since the 2021 season and gives him three wins on the year.

Roczen’s victory, Lawrence’s podium, and a sixth-place finish from Tomac, who never factored into the race, has dramatically tightened the battle for the championship. Lawrence has regained a share of the points lead with Tomac, while Roczen has moved to within five points of the lead with five races to go.

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen has moved within five points of the championship lead following back-to-back victories.

Ken Roczen – 1st Place – 450SMX Class

“I honestly still can’t believe it. That track was absolutely brutal and on top of that, it was just extremely busy. It was a brutal Main Event. Even when I had that gap, you just don’t want to make any silly mistakes that allow them to get closer and make it tight at the end. I just can’t believe I pulled off this back-to-back win. I just never stop believing. We’ve got the ball rolling. We’re going to hunker down and keep hammering.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper equaled the best finish of his career with a runner-up effort.

Justin Cooper – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class

“Three fourth places in-a-row has been a little bit frustrating, so it’s nice to get back on the box here. I think it was the toughest [race] of the year. It was challenging all day, but our setup worked. There was a little bit of cat and mouse in the beginning with Hunter [Lawrence] and Jorge [Prado], and I didn’t do myself any favors there. I couldn’t see Kenny [once into second] but I feel like my pace was really good and we brought it home.”

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence bounced back for a podium finish to reclaim a share of the points lead.

Hunter Lawrence – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class

“I’m pretty happy. My wrist is still really sore from the crash last weekend so I’m happy to still be in the fight. This track was so freaking gnarly and probably the worst conditions for having a sore wrist. We got in and out in one piece and got the red plate back; or sharing it. How good is this title fight narrowing down to the end? I’m looking forward to this.”

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

Points leader Eli Tomac recorded a sixth-place finish aboard his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine.

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, April 11, with Round 13 from Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Live broadcast coverage will be highlighted by a network showcase on NBC at 3 p.m. ET, in addition to comprehensive coverage on Peacock, beginning at 9 a.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 3 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.

Top-five for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Ryder DiFrancesco at St. Louis 250SX Showdown

Ryder DiFrancesco and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing achieved a solid fifth-place finish at Round 12 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis on Saturday night, as Daxton Bennick claimed sixth in the second 250SX East/West Showdown of the season.

The 12th round of the SMX World Championship marked the St. Jude Love Moto Stop Cancer race, with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing featuring unique liveries in support of the initiative.

Both 250SX riders Bennick and DiFrancesco were in action in Missouri for the second Showdown event of the year, with Bennick qualifying fifth overall on combined times, as DiFrancesco set the 12th-fastest time.

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, DiFrancesco then powered to a P5 result in the 250SX West Heat Race, setting his night up well for the upcoming East/West Showdown Main Event.

Starting in 10th position, 20-year-old DiFrancesco pieced together a strong performance throughout the entire 15-minute plus one-lap Main Event, charging up to fifth place in what was an impressive ride in challenging track conditions.

With only two rounds of the Western Division left to contest, Ryder D sits fourth in the standings – three points behind third place – as the series resumes at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High on May 2.

“I didn’t actually feel super-comfortable starting the day in St. Louis,” reflected DiFrancesco. “Then, I got better throughout the day – my second qualifying session was improved, and the Heat Race progressed better as it went on. In the Main Event, I didn’t get the best start in 10th, but fought my way to fifth while feeling pretty good out there in the challenging conditions. If we start up front and have some clean air, I think we’ll do well, so I’m looking forward to both Denver and Salt Lake.”

For Bennick, he was involved in an early incident during his Heat Race, which ultimately sent him to the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). He recovered to claim victory in the LCQ and lined up prepared to battle in the Main Event.

He launched to a start just outside the top 10, also posting a significant charge through the East/West Showdown field, surging all the way to sixth by the time the checkered flag flew. Bennick climbs to third in the 250SX East standings after his St. Louis result, entering next weekend’s Nashville round.

“St. Louis was alright for me,” commented Bennick. “Qualifying was pretty good – we were P5 overall – and then unfortunately someone tagged me in the Heat Race, which sent me to the LCQ. I did the best I could in the Main Event from the outside gate, fought through the field, and although I made a couple of little mistakes, we were able to salvage a sixth. It’s not exactly what I want, so we’ll be looking for more in Nashville.”

Stewart was third on the combined 450SX qualifying timesheets on the technical St. Louis track layout, recording a 55.343s lap-time onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition. That form continued his momentum following a podium finish at the previous round.

The 33-year-old carried that speed into his Heat Race, claiming another well-earned P3 result and a strong gate selection for the Main Event. Stewart started inside the top 10 as the gates dropped and battled for position throughout, securing a well-earned P8 on a track that had become increasingly demanding by night’s end. He also sits eighth in the 450SX standings.

“Normally, St. Louis dirt is really good, but it felt like this year was one of the hardest visits here that I have had in my whole career,” said Stewart. “This was super-tough, so overall I’m happy to make it out safe, and now we can look forward to next weekend. I felt great here all day, but the track broke down a lot after the Heat Race, which made for a long night – I’m pumped to take this thing on to Nashville.”

Next Race: April 11 – Nashville, Tennessee

Results 450SX Class – St. Louis

1. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)

3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)

4. Jorge Prado (KTM)

6. Eli Tomac (KTM)

8. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

14. Justin Hill (KTM)

16. Grant Harlan (KTM)

19. Kevin Moranz (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 12 of 17 rounds

1. Eli Tomac, 245 points

2. Hunter Lawrence, 245

3. Ken Roczen, 240

8. Malcolm Stewart, 141

9. Jorge Prado, 131

13. Aaron Plessinger, 99

21. RJ Hampshire, 38

Results 250SX East/West Showdown – St. Louis

1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)

2. Cole Davies (Yamaha)

3. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)

5. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

6. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250SX East Class 2026 after 6 of 10 rounds

1. Cole Davies, 136

2. Seth Hammaker, 125

3. Daxton Bennick, 103

Standings 250SX West Class 2026 after 8 of 10 rounds

1. Haiden Deegan, 190

2. Levi Kitchen, 133

3. Max Anstie, 130

4. Ryder DiFrancesco, 108

JORGE PRADO CLAIMS P4 RESULT WITH RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING IN ST. LOUIS

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado claimed a well-earned fourth-place result at Round 12 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis, on a night where 450SX teammate Eli Tomac finished sixth to remain firmly in title contention with the red plate.
The St. Jude Love Moto Stop Cancer race headlined the 12th Round of the SMX World Championship in Missouri, where the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team ran special one-off graphics in support of the cause.

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado posted the fifth-fastest combined qualifying time inside The Dome at America’s Center – highlighted by P1 in the opening session – with the four-time world champion then powering to fourth in his Heat Race.

Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in second position, the 25-year-old would then make a pass for the race lead before settling back into P2 after a heated exchange at the front of the field. Battling for the podium on a deteriorating circuit, Prado eventually took an impressive P4 finish, which marks his third top-five score of the 2026 season.

Jorge Prado: “St. Louis was a very good day for me and I saw a lot of improvements. Qualifying was really good to be P5 overall entering the night show, and then I had a solid Heat Race, also. We didn’t have the best start, but my flow was good, and I felt fast at the end. I was able to brake late off the start in the Main Event as I lined up a little more outside, which helped me a lot, and we were P2 out of the first corner. It was a hectic couple of laps from there with a lot of passes – I even got in the lead at one stage – and it was nice to be up there and showing my wheel. I lost some rhythm when we hit lapped riders and the track went away a lot – the sections I was doing in the first 10 minutes were completely different from what I was doing in the last 10 minutes, which was gnarly. We finished P4 and I think we can be very happy with that as a team.”

Two-time 450SX champion Tomac entered the 12th round with the series leader’s red plate, qualifying seventh aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION before recording a P5 finish in his Heat Race, and a direct entry to the night’s Main Event.

The 33-year-old completed the opening lap of the Main Event in the top-five and maintained a consistent pace throughout, ultimately crossing the finish line in P6 and scoring an important haul of points. Tonight’s result keeps Tomac on top of the standings, now the joint red plate-holder with five rounds remaining in Supercross.

Eli Tomac: “It was a tougher day for us at St. Louis, but the good thing is that we didn’t lose too many points and we are still tied for the lead. I’m looking forward to the last five races, and doing what we can to get back up on top.”

Next Race: April 11 – Nashville, Tennessee

Results 450SX Class – St. Louis

1. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
4. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
5. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
6. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
7. Justin Hill (KTM)
8. Grant Harlan (KTM)
9. Kevin Moranz (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 12 of 17 rounds

1. Eli Tomac, 245 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 245
3. Ken Roczen, 240
4. Malcolm Stewart, 141
5. Jorge Prado, 131
6. Aaron Plessinger, 99
7. RJ Hampshire, 38

SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN DOMINATES ST. LOUIS SUPERCROSS

Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season delivered exciting action at the annual Love Moto Stop Cancer race in St. Louis, Missouri. Unique bike graphics and riding gear designs represented the continuing partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The dirt inside The Dome at America’s Center was softer and tackier than anticipated. The soil initially provided great traction, but track conditions deteriorated dramatically throughout the racing.

Race Highlights:

• Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
  • 450 Class
    • Ken Roczen captured his third win of the season with a tour de force performance at the St. Louis Supercross.
• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
  • 450 Class
    • Colt Nichols gained positions throughout the main as the track grew increasingly more treacherous.
    • Justin Bogle posted his best overall qualifying result before withdrawing due to a crash.

Ken Roczen (94) muscled into the lead on the second lap then rode uncontested to the St. Louis Supercross victory. 

Ken Roczen (94) continued to display career-best speed with the fastest lap time in the second qualifying session; it was good for the top overall qualifying spot. In his heat race, Roczen launched to a third-place start. He blitzed into second then leapt into first place just two minutes into the race. Roczen set the fastest lap time as well as fastest times through track Sectors 1, 3 (whoop section), 4, and 8 en route to his sixth heat win of the season. In the main event, Roczen again found himself in third place at the holeshot stripe. Less than a minute into the main, Roczen used his Suzuki RM-Z450’s precise turning to cut under two other racers in two consecutive corners. Roczen then set the race’s fastest lap time and gapped the field by two seconds in a single lap. Roczen looked picture perfect even as the track deteriorated; he set the race’s fastest times through Sectors 2 and 3 and steadily stretched his lead to over twelve seconds. Roczen took the checkered flag with a 13.2 second margin over the next racer. This performance extended Roczen’s season-topping statistics as the 450SX Class rider with the most main event laps led and the highest-ranking average for fastest lap times. Roczen remains in third place in the standings, but the St. Louis win chopped the gap to the championship lead from 14 down to just five points. 

“St. Louis, you were good to us,” said Roczen. “It was a brutal day. The track was unexpectedly soft compared to when we were here during [the] SMX [Playoff]. It made for some crazy racing because it was built really tall, we had some really tricky rhythm lanes, and I just knew that the track, in 20 minutes, was going to get really torn up. But man, we won qualifying, won our heat race, and then it was just such a dream ride in the main event to bring home first place again. [These are the first] back-to-back [Supercross wins] for me since 2021. I’m just really on a high right now with that. I’m really trying to take this in, enjoy this, because I haven’t been in this position, really ever, in Supercross. So, I’m enjoying every bit of it but at the same time I know I need to stay focused and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Colt Nichols (45) put on a hard charge in the St. Louis main event and gained points to move up in the championship standings.

Colt Nichols (45) started the night’s racing with a top-five start in his heat race. Nichols held onto the position for half of the race and crossed the checkered flag with a direct transfer into the main. At the start of the main, Nichols charged to a mid-pack start. After losing some positions on the chaotic opening laps, Nichols put his head down and steadily gained spots. Nichols set a top-three Sector 6 (short rhythm lane) time during the early laps of the 23-lap race. 

“It was kind of an uneventful day,” reported Nichols. “It started off not good at all, to be honest. I felt really off all day. But we kept making changes to the bike and as the day went it got better and better and better. [I was] just a little too slow at the beginning of that main event; not the best start, but I rode up to 13th. So, I’ve been better, been worse. [We’ve] got a lot of work to do to get to where we need to be. We’ll try again next weekend.”  

Justin Bogle (891) re-joined the Suzuki team just one race prior to the Detroit Supercross, and his qualifying speed demonstrated that he’s getting back up to full race pace. In the heat race, Bogle leapt off the starting gate and nabbed a top-five start. On the opening lap two riders crashed directly ahead of him; Bogle landed on a downed motorcycle but kept his bike on two wheels. After missing a direct transfer by one position, Bogle earned his spot in the main event through the LCQ. In the main, Bogle set the second-fasted time through Sector 6, the track’s long rhythm section, and finished in the points to move up one spot in the season standings. 

“I had a rough day myself [but I’m] still just enjoying my days here,” said Bogle. “I had a really long week this week so I’m going to recover a lot more this [next] week and come in, hopefully, with a little more energy for St. Louis.”

“It was great night for the team,” stated Dustin Pipes, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Principal. “Ken rode a complete race: great start, he got into the lead [early], and it was smooth sailing from there. I know [two other riders] closed up on him a bit, but he changed his line about midway through the race and everything kind of settled down and he extended the gap to just under seven seconds. It was a great win by Ken. Colt and Justin had a little bit of an off night, so they’re going to have to re-regroup and get back to it in St. Louis. But I don’t want those results to hinder a great team win. We’re all going in the right direction Justin is two weeks into a four-year retirement [return], and Colt’s coming off of an eighth place. So, it was a down night for those guys, but Ken really rode a great race. It was a very good win for the team, the bike is in a great window, and we’re very excited to move on to St. Louis.”

The series lines the races up again on Saturday, April 4th inside The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Suzuki riders and team members are invigorated by Roczen’s Detroit win and the stride in points toward another Supercross championship for Suzuki. 

Justin Bogle (891) matched his season-best qualifying session result and topped his season-best overall qualifying position. Unfortunately, Bogle crashed in the second qualifying outing and it was determined that he should sit out the event. 

“St. Louis started out good for me, with improvements from last week; P-15 overall [after] Q1 was a big step forward,” said Bogle. “In Q2 I had a big get off right away and am going to be heading home to get checked out and sorted on a timeline for me to return. The track was one of the sketchiest tracks I’ve ridden in a long time, and it caught me out. It’s unfortunate, as I’ve been loving being back on the gate. I’ll do my best to get healthy and get back.”

“It was a great night in St. Louis,” reported Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team. “Ken Roczen executed well all day, through qualifying, his heat, and the main event en route to another main event win. I’m really amazed at how in-tune he is with his motorcycle and his team around him. Colt Nichols had a solid 13th in the main event. He belongs in the top 10, but it was a good bounce back after a not so good qualifying and heat. The only drawback would be Justin Bogle’s crash in qualifying. It was a scary crash that ended his night early and put him in concussion protocol. We’re really hoping the best for Justin, and we’ll update as more information becomes available. Now it’s on to Nashville!”

Plastics and graphics from Ken Roczen’s race-winning RM-Z450, along with other great donated items, will be available to fans through an Auction to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on April 27th. Also, Roczen’s RM-Z450 race bike will be raffled off via the Kick Start for a Cause Sweepstakes; fans can purchase a chance to win by texting “SUZUKI” to 99126. The Supercross series now heads to Nissan Stadium in Nashville Tennessee; the event will run one hour ahead of the standard race day schedule. The Suzuki riders and team members are excited with the team’s late-season speed and momentum. Only five rounds remain and only five points separate the top three riders.

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

Justin Cooper Scores Runner-Up Finish in St. Louis

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper has been steadily building, working his way to the top in the premier class of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. On Saturday night in St. Louis, the New Yorker put in a great ride in challenging conditions at The Dome at America’s Center to earn season-best results.

At the previous round in Detroit, after three consecutive fourth-place finishes, Cooper made it clear that starts would be key – and he delivered. He qualified fourth, grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, and rode a flawless race to secure his first heat race win of the season.

In the main event, Cooper got another good start and battled with championship contenders, passing Hunter Lawrence on Lap 5. After the halfway mark, he made the pass on Jorge Prado to move into second. With the leader too far ahead to challenge, Cooper built a comfortable gap to secure the runner-up finish, matching his best result in the 450SX class.

“It was a good day, even though it started out not the best,” said Cooper. “This track is really tough, so we had tricky conditions all day. I felt better and better each time out on the track, and started with a pretty big change in the heat race. I got the holeshot and was able to run my laps clean, and felt really good and took that to the main. I think we started about sixth, so not as good as the heat, but I was able to make some good passes and get up to second. By the time I got there, Ken (Roczen) was way gone, and the track was pretty bad. With each lap that went by, we just had to hit our marks – doing the rhythms and really focusing, and that was key. I felt really good on the bike. I feel like my riding has been good lately, so we will keep this going.”

It was also a good ride from Cooper Webb in the tricky conditions, but still frustrating for the three-time 450SX Champion. After qualifying sixth, he had a good start to his heat race and finished second, securing a 1-2 finish for the team. In the main event, he found himself back in 12th after the start but quickly worked his way forward to ninth on the opening lap. Webb continued to push and, by the halfway mark, had broken into the top five, where he would finish to gain another point in the 450SX championship chase.

“St. Louis, overall, it was a decent day across the board,” said Webb. “I qualified sixth, got second in the heat race, and set myself up to do well in the main. My starts have been really good, but they weren’t for the main event, so that stunk. I made a lot of mistakes the first few laps trying to get by some guys, but then I definitely rode well, got my flow going, and made some passes. I felt like I was catching the lead group in front of me. I just started way too far behind, honestly, which was a bit of a bummer. I feel like we’ve been working hard during the week, and the results haven’t shown. So that’s pretty frustrating, but we’ll keep our heads up and keep plugging away.”

With five rounds remaining, Webb sits 25 points behind the leader in one of the most tightly contested 450SX title fights in recent memory.

“It was a pretty good day,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “The track was really rutted all day, so we were trying to anticipate that for the main event. It was a great heat race – 1-2 for the team. Justin executed well in the main, rode consistently, and pushed his way forward. We’re really proud of him and looking to take that next step to the top of the box. Webb, I think he salvaged a good night. I know it’s not where he wants to be, and it’s not where we know he can be, but we’ll just keep going and keep fighting in this championship.”

Next up, the series returns to Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 13 of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at Nissan Stadium on April 11.

Haiden Deegan Crowned Back-to-Back 250SX West Champion in St. Louis

There was one more box for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan to check off before moving on to the 450 class – defending his 250SX West title in dominant fashion. Well, it was mission accomplished for the 20-year-old Californian in St. Louis.

“That was sick,” said Deegan. “Seven in a row, too. That was a fat lead. It’s just heart, baby.”

It was another masterclass performance from Deegan at The Dome at America’s Center. He opened the night by winning the nine-lap 250SX West Heat Race by an impressive 13-second margin. In the East-West Showdown Main Event, he quickly worked his way into second in the opening laps, passed teammate Cole Davies on Lap 7, and rode on to claim another commanding victory, and by doing so, secured the championship a rare three rounds early.

“We’ve been digging, but we’re just getting started,” said Deegan. “I’m going to go to Nashville and have some fun. We’re still going to stay in line because we have a whole other goal to chase – 450 outdoors. But for now, we’ll celebrate this 250 title. Man, it feels good!”

The second Monster Energy AMA Supercross East-West Showdown of the season was also another display of strength from the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team as a whole. The 250 team extended its win tally to 11 victories in 12 rounds, swept both divisional heat races, and once again finished 1-2 in the combined main event.

Leading the way in the East was red plate holder Cole Davies, who continues to impress during his sophomore season. Entering the round on a three-race win streak, the young New Zealander won his divisional heat race and grabbed the holeshot in the main event, leading the first six laps. After being passed by Deegan, Davies ran a calculated race to secure second, extending his 250SX East Championship lead to 11 points with four rounds remaining.

“That track was so gnarly tonight,” said Davies. “It was by far the most challenging conditions I’ve ever ridden on. I pulled the holeshot and led early, but a couple of mistakes let Haiden capitalize, and he was on a mission. At that point, I locked in and focused on the championship. We extended our lead, and that’s the main goal. The bike was handling really well. I’m bummed to see Jo (Shimoda) go out the way he did, and I hope he’s all good. Congratulations to Haiden and the team on the West Coast title. Now we focus on locking up the East.”

Nate Thrasher continued to build momentum, earning his best result of the season. After charging back to fourth in the 250SX East Heat Race, the Tennessee rider got a strong start in the main event and ran fourth on the opening lap. Thrasher battled for position, reclaiming fourth in the latter half of the main event, crossing the line fourth to earn his best result so far this season.

“I felt really good in the main,” said Thrasher. “I just fell a little short of the podium. I’m going to keep pushing and come out swinging at my home race in Nashville.”

Max Anstie faced a challenging night in the demanding conditions. After recovering to finish seventh in the 250SX West Heat Race, he got a better start in the main event and ran eighth early. Unfortunately, he got stuck on a tough block, dropping him back to 15th, where he would finish to salvage some points. Anstie heads into the Western Divisional break third in the standings, just three points shy of second with two rounds remaining.

“It was a rough night in St Louis,” said Anstie. “I was around eighth in the main and went down on a tough block and got stuck, so that set me way back. It is what it is. We will rebound in Denver.”

Caden Dudney continued to gain valuable experience in his sixth pro Supercross start. After transferring through the heat race with an eighth-place finish, the rookie started 17th in the main event and charged forward to 12th in the opening laps. As the race wore on in the challenging conditions, he ultimately finished 16th.

“I felt alright in qualifying and had a good heat race,” said Dudney. “I was making good passes in the main, and got a little tired, but I need to get better starts and get some laps up front.”

“It was a good night for the whole team from 450 to 250, said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “Haiden got the win and the championship, Cole extended his points lead, and Nate getting back in the fight was fantastic. Max and Caden had a struggle of a night, but we’ll keep working. We’ll see you in Nashville.”

With the 250SX West title secured, the focus now shifts to the East Championship. Next up, the team heads to Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 7 of the 250SX East Championship and Round 13 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship at Nissan Stadium on April 11.

SETH HAMMAKER STRETCHES PODIUM STREAK IN ST LOUIS

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker put on another podium performance at the second East/West Showdown of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis to take third place. Teammate Levi Kitchen continued to battle through a lingering back injury to secure seventh place, while Nick Romano showed podium-worthy speed and placed ninth in the main event. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Garrett Marchbanks put on an impressive performance all day to secure ninth on the night, while Chase Sexton was forced to retire early from the main event after a crash in the rhythm section.In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker consistently recorded the top time in both Eastern Divisional sessions to give him second overall. Meanwhile, Romano focused on adapting to the challenging track, finishing 24th overall. Kitchen was knocking on the door of the top qualifying spot in the Western Division, posting second-place in both sessions before ultimately placing sixth overall. As the gate dropped in the 250 West Heat Race, Kitchen got off to a midpack start, fighting his way towards the front. Kitchen clicked off consistent laps and made strategic passes to advance through the field. In the final two laps of the race, Kitchen found himself in a tight battle. The No. 47 Kawasaki was able to make the pass for fourth in the turn exiting the switchback section and continued to push for third but came up just shy across the line, settling for fourth in the heat race. In the 250 East Heat Race, Hammaker pulled a strong start, placing himself towards the front of the field with his teammate Romano close behind. On the opening lap, another rider went down, causing a red flag and a full restart for the field. On the following gate drop, Hammaker pulled a commanding holeshot aboard his KX™250, while Romano came through just inside the Top 10. Halfway through the race, the second-place rider began pressuring Hammaker for the lead. The No. 10 Kawasaki closed the door on an attempted pass and pushed to hold onto the lead, but slipped back to second in the treacherous whoops section and held his position through the checkered flag. Romano made strategic passes throughout the race to move himself into fifth place, where he ultimately finished. In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker and Romano got impressive jumps off the gate, running nearly side by side inside the Top 5. Kitchen had a less-than-ideal start as he came out midpack through the first turn but made quick work of the field as he moved into sixth by Lap 2. Romano ran in second place through the opening laps, with Hammaker right behind in third. Romano eventually began slipping back as he continues to work on his race pace after a year away from racing, ultimately finishing ninth. Hammaker held onto third place throughout the race, earning his spot on the box once again. Teammate Kitchen put in his best effort on the night as he continues recovering from his back injury, moving up as high as fourth at the midway point before slipping back and ultimately crossing the line in seventh. In 450SX Qualifying, both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders posted consistent times. Sexton took second overall, just half a second off the top time, while Marchbanks secured eighth overall.  In 450 Heat 1, both Sexton and Marchbanks got off to midpack starts. Contact from other riders caused Sexton to lose his balance and ultimately go down in the first turn. Marchbanks successfully navigated the tight first turn and settled into the race. After remounting in last place, Sexton put his head down and began charging through the field. The No. 4 Kawasaki picked off riders one by one, and by the midway point had already passed 15 riders to move into fifth while setting the fastest lap time. With one lap left, Sexton engaged in a tight battle to finish the race in third place. Marchbanks clicked off consistent laps as he moved into sixth early on and held his position through the checkered flag. In the 450 Main Event, both riders came out mid-pack off the start, with Sexton running in seventh and Marchbanks close behind in 11th. Marchbanks maintained a steady pace while methodically working past his competitors, while Sexton was focused on moving towards the front, he suffered a crash in the rhythm section, forcing him to retire early from the race. Marchbanks pushed as high as seventh toward the end of the race, but a few minor mistakes in the final laps disrupted his rhythm, dropping him to ninth place at the checkered flag. This marks Marchbanks’ fourth Top 10 of the season, as he continues to grow and gain momentum as the year goes on.

“Tonight’s race was tough with how the track shaped up throughout the day. I tried to stay consistent and be smart because of the challenging conditions. I just tried to hit my marks every lap to put myself in a good position. Cole [Davies] has been riding well, so I need to bring more speed the next couple of weekends and start taking some more risks as the season gets closer to an end. I am still happy with my performance tonight and the fact that I’ve been able to continue to stand on the box the last several races.“  – Seth Hammaker

“It wasn’t a bad night, but it’s not where I want to be at this point in the season. I didn’t get the starts I needed, which made it tough right away. I’ve been trying different treatments for my back and had it worked on throughout the day, but it was still holding me back from being able to push how I wanted to in the race. I felt like the speed was there in spots, but I just wasn’t able to ride to my full potential and felt like I just had to manage the race. There are some positives to take, but I know I’ve got to be better. We’ll use this break from now until Denver to take some time to rest in order to finish off the season strong.  – Levi Kitchen

“Overall, not a bad day. I had a pretty rough go in qualifying, but I wasn’t worried going into the night show. I ended up fifth in the heat race, which I was pretty happy about since it was essentially a shorter East Coast Main Event. The main event went well. I got off to a really good start and was pretty close to getting the holeshot. Cole [Davies] and I were up there off the jump. I went as long as I could with the front of the field. I needed a little more stamina at the end, but from where we were three weeks ago, it’s a big step forward. I had the third fastest time of the race, which tells me I have podium speed clearly, and I think that’s a great possibility for the end of the year. I’ll just keep trying to be better, go back to work this week with the team, and see where we end up next week in Nashville.”  – Nick Romano

“The day was really solid. I would say this has been one of my best days yet in the 450 Class. I qualified eighth in the first session and eighth in the second session. The heat race was pretty hectic, but I was able to stay on two wheels through the first turn and came out in sixth place at the end of it. Going into the main event, I felt really good. I put in some good laps in the beginning and was running seventh for quite a while, when I hit around 15 minutes in, I kind of lost my flow, had some mistakes, and missed my rhythm through the rhythm section after the start turn quite a few times. That really hurt me with Joey [Savatgy] and Malcom [Stewart] catching me. Once they got around me, I kind of put my head down and just pushed through until the end. Once we were about two laps to go, I made a little push, but didn’t quite have it, and ended the night in ninth.  – Garrett Marchbanks

“I had a bit of an up and down day here in St. Louis. My speed was good in qualifying. I was pushing for fastest qualifier, but just wasn’t able to get there. In the heat race, I had some issues off the start. I got run in on by a few guys, which caused me to go down. I just pushed until the race was over to get up to third for a better gate pick in the main event. I still didn’t get the start I was looking for in the main event and had some mistakes that set me back. I ultimately had to pull off the track early because I was pretty banged up after my crash and was unable to finish the race.”  – Chase Sexton

Lawrence reclaims Red Plate with St. Louis podium

Round 12 of AMA Supercross in St. Louis brought a mix of positive results and setbacks for the Honda HRC Progressive team, as Hunter Lawrence secured a premier-class podium finish to reclaim a share of the championship lead, while Jo Shimoda was forced out of the 250SX East/West Showdown before the main event, due to injury incurred in his heat race.

The 450SX main event saw Lawrence grab his second holeshot of the night. He engaged in early battles with Jorge Prado and Ken Roczen before settling into third on lap 2. As the race developed and the track conditions became more challenging, the Australian spent laps 5 through 14 outside the podium positions, while managing wrist discomfort from a crash at the previous round. He mounted a signature late-race surge to retake third and secured that position at the finish. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath completed the night in seventh, 11^th and 12^th, respectively.

NOTES

• Honda HRC Progressive 250SX West Region rider Chance Hymas (currently out, recovering from a shoulder injury) recently returned to riding, as he trains in Florida at The Dog Pound in preparation for the approaching AMA Pro Motocross series.
• Ahead of the season’s second 250SX East/West Showdown, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda participated in media-day interviews and riding sessions on Friday. 
• Phoenix Racing Honda fielded a reduced lineup in St. Louis, with Cullin Park out for the remainder of the series to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in Birmingham.
• Shimoda placed third in 250SX combined qualifying, which included the East and West regions. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified 10^th and 16^th, respectively. Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 20^th, and Storm Lake Honda riders Izaih Clark and Luke Neese were 32^nd and 33^rd, respectively. Next Level-backed privateer Hunter Schlosser was 38^th, SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell qualified in 40^th, and Lasting Impressions-supported privateer Ronnie Orres was 45^th. 
• Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence posted the ninth-best time in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath qualified close behind in 10^th, 13^th and 14^th, respectively. Other Red Riders included Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports), John Short IV (Short Racing), and Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic), who qualified 22^nd, 26^th and 30^th, respectively.
• Shimoda’s night was cut short soon after he got a mid-pack start in the 250SX East Region heat race. Congestion forced him to roll a jump and maneuver around a downed rider, resulting in him being landed on by another racer. Shimoda immediately felt pain in his lower left leg, and the medical crew transported him to the Alpinestars medical unit. An initial assessment indicated no bone fractures, and Shimoda will undergo further evaluation this week.
• Lawrence grabbed the holeshot in the second 450SX heat race before being passed by Ken Roczen on the second lap. Lawrence remained in second until the checkered flag, giving him a decent gate pick for the main event, while Craig finished in seventh. In the other heat race, Savatgy and McElrath crossed the line in fourth and fifth, respectively.
• Lawrence’s eighth podium of the season put him in a tie with Eli Tomac for the points lead, five ahead of Roczen.
• Next up, Honda HRC Progressive heads to round 13 of AMA Supercross, this Saturday in Nashville.

Dan Bromley Joins American Motorcyclist Association as Assistant Track Racing Manager

The American Motorcyclist Association has hired Dan Bromley as Assistant Track Racing Manager, where he will assist in the AMA’s track racing efforts across a number of disciplines, including flat track, road racing, speedway, ice racing and much more.

Bromley spent much of his youth competing as an amateur flat track racer, during which he earned 38 amateur national championships and the 2011 AMA Flat Track Horizon Award. Bromley began his professional career in 2012, going on to win the 2015 GNC2 Singles, 2018 American Flat Track Singles and 2025 AFT AdventureTrackers National Championships.

“Dan Bromley has dedicated his life to the sport of flat track, competing with great success as an amateur at the AMA Flat Track Grand Championship and as a professional in American Flat Track,” AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier said. “We look forward to adding Dan’s expertise to the AMA staff, and we have full confidence in his abilities to help foster a thriving track racing community in the United States.”

In this role, Bromley will report to AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant.

“I’ve been around racing my whole life as a third-generation racer. I’ve seen the good and the bad and I’m excited to be involved in a different way,” Bromley said. “For the last 26 years I’ve been racing, so to be able to have the opportunity to work in the same sport is a dream. Working under Ken is surreal since I’ve known him for so long. I’m looking forward to this new chapter.”

Bromley will support the AMA racing team in the administration, coordination and promotion of AMA track racing activities nationwide. He will also assist with the implementation of rules, regulations, programs, and operational initiatives within the AMA’s racing department while ensuring consistent service to members, organizers and partners.

For more information on AMA-sanctioned competition events, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/.