This week in US Powersports racing.

SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN CHARGES TO VICTORY AT DETROIT SUPERCROSS

Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan hosted Round 11 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The dirt provided great traction on a track notable for its widely-spaced whoops. The challenging obstacle impacted nearly every race as riders balanced aggression and precision through the unforgiving section.

Race Highlights:

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
  - Ken Roczen grabbed his second main event victory of the season and cut a swath of points out of his pathway to the title.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Colt Nichols flew through the pack in a brilliant heat race charge.
  - Justin Bogle battled into another main event position in his second race back to AMA Supercross competition.

Ken Roczen (94) earned his 25th career 450SX Class win at the Detroit Supercross and dramatically closed the points gap in his bid for the 2026 title.

Ken Roczen (94) was impressive from the moment the riders hit the track inside Ford Field. Roczen emerged from the first qualifying session with the fastest lap time and followed that by matching his season-best results in the second and overall qualifying spots. In his heat race, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe outside of the top five then quickly advanced through the pack. While setting the fastest times in track Sectors 2, 4, 6, and 9, Roczen delivered a second-place heat race result. In the main event, Roczen launched off the gate, then used his Suzuki RM-Z450’s strong torque to earn a second-place start. With less than two minutes off the race clock, Roczen took over the lead and secured the position with a clean blitz through the whoops. Roczen quickly pulled a three second gap over the rest of the field then managed the race from the front. On his way to his second win of the season, Roczen again topped several track sections with the race’s fastest times through track Sectors 4, 5, and 9. Roczen was nearly flawless on a track that bit several of his competitors. When the dust settled, Roczen had gained 17 points toward the title chase lead with six rounds remaining.

“We knew what we had to do; it was obvious that being 31 points down we had to start to execute a little bit,” said Roczen after the win. “So, it was kind of fun to be in this little bit of a pressure position. And we made it happen tonight. We just had a really good day all day; I do have to say that [the track] was overall the trickiest in the main event. But we executed it; we got a good start and I just hung in there… I don’t feel like I was the fastest in the beginning necessarily, but it was tricky. The whoops got really beat up, it was rutty, it was kind of grabby, and certain sections were a bit technical. But we hung in there, 20 + 1, so it was an amazing win for us. And it’s just fun to keep these dreams alive and it’s fun to be in that position. I’m just trying to let it set in, sit down a little bit and, after the race/before the race, we’ll be excited to go again next weekend and have fun with it.”

Colt Nichols (45) had flashes of speed in Detroit but was unable to match his top-ten result from the previous round.

Colt Nichols (45) was pinched off entering the first corner of his heat race and emerged in 15th place at the holeshot stripe. Nichols wasted no time and had his Suzuki in a qualifying position by the time the riders had reached the green flag. Nichols continued his march forward, gaining two more spots through the six-minute plus one lap race. In the main, Nichols delivered a steady ride and moved inside the top-fifteen just before the race’s midpoint. A crash late in the race, and an unintentional infraction, delivered results that don’t reflect Nichol’s impressive speed in the second half of the season.

“Detroit was a struggle. I felt a little off all day, to be honest,” admitted Nichols. “I don’t have any excuses. I just was kind of on the struggle bus. I crashed on the last lap of the main. I think I got docked as well for jumping on a red cross [flag], so [it was] just a really, really rough day. [I’ll just] wipe it from the memory and try again next week.”

Justin Bogle (891) showed gains in outright speed and topped the field in his first qualifying session at Ford Field.

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.

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

Cole Davies Storms to Third-Consecutive Victory

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies continued to lead the way in the 250SX East Championship, delivering a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was a statement ride from the young New Zealander, who continues to build momentum in his Monster Energy AMA Supercross title campaign.

It was a near-perfect day for Davies in Detroit. He showed speed from the start, ultimately qualifying second after a sound penalty. Then in his heat race, he got a good start and quickly made his way to third on the opening lap. Davies rode a calculated race in the slick conditions, keeping the leaders in sight and making his move in the closing laps to take the win.

In the main event, Davies found himself back around 14th off the start but quickly charged to third within four laps. He made the pass on Jo Shimoda the following lap and, after a brief battle, set his sights on the leader. Davies put his head down and closed the four-second gap, setting the fastest lap of the race on Lap 8. Just past the halfway mark, he made a decisive move on Seth Hammaker after the whoops to take control and never looked back, stretching his lead to 12 seconds for a dominant victory. The win marked Davies’ third consecutive victory and extended his championship lead to nine points.

“When I don’t perform the way I know I’m capable of, I’m pretty hard on myself,” said Davies. “Myself, my family, and the team put in so much work – that main event was how I know I can ride, and I’m proud of that. I put everything together, except for the start, and still made it happen. The bike was incredible through the whoops, which is where I made most of my passes. Going from 14th to first and extending our championship lead to nine points feels amazing.”

It was a rollercoaster day for Caden Dudney. The rookie had another strong qualifying effort in fourth, and when the gate dropped for the heat race, he grabbed the holeshot and led for most of the race. Unfortunately, with two laps remaining, Dudney crashed in the whoops but quickly rejoined to finish fourth. In the main event, he found himself back in 21st on the opening laps and ultimately crossed the line 18th.

“It was a rough day today,” said Dudney. “Just mistake after mistake, but there were a lot of positives to take away from it as well, with the heat race and leading laps. Qualifying was pretty decent, too. I just need to learn from my mistakes and be better for next weekend.”

Nate Thrasher also looked back to form after dealing with shoulder issues early in the season. He qualified fifth and delivered a commanding heat race win, grabbing the holeshot and leading every lap to take his first heat race victory of the season by over five seconds. In the main event, he secured another holeshot and led before an unfortunate crash in the whoops ended his night early.

“It was a better weekend for me,” said Thrasher. “It didn’t end how we wanted it to, but I finally felt like myself. I’ve been dealing with some nerve problems in my left shoulder, so it was good to feel healthy again. I just can’t make that mistake in the whoops in the main. I need to be better. We’ll keep working and move on to St. Louis.”

It was another strong night overall for the team, highlighted by two heat race wins, three holeshots, and Davies’ main event victory—giving the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team 10 overall/main event wins in 11 rounds.

“Honestly, it was a great night for all of us,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team General Manager. “A win in both heats was cool with Nate and Cole. It was a shame in the main for Nate and Caden after showing the speed they had all day, but for Cole to come through the pack like that, it was definitely a statement ride.”

Next up, the team heads to St. Louis, Missouri, for the second East-West Showdown of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season at The Dome at America’s Center on April 4.

No Quit in Detroit: Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb Fight to the Finish

It was another night of intense racing in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross premier class at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, with a shake-up in the 450SX title fight as the championship continues to take shape. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper delivered another impressive charge through the field to finish fourth, while Cooper Webb fought back to sixth after an early-race crash.

Qualifying fifth, Cooper got a strong start in his heat race, battling up front and finishing third. In the main event, he didn’t get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself back in 14th on the opening lap. The New Yorker quickly went to work, breaking into the top five before the halfway mark. Cooper kept pushing and closed the gap to Eli Tomac, making the pass with around six laps to go. With too much time lost to advance further, Cooper rode on to secure his third consecutive fourth-place finish and his sixth top-five of the season, which has him maintaining a strong fifth in the championship standings.

“The race day went well,” said Cooper. “The only thing I can really think back on is the start in the Main. I wasn’t ready for the gate drop, so I was a little off-balance and way back. I rode really well, and I came from 14th to 4th, but I needed the start tonight. I had really good speed in the beginning. I felt like, until halfway, I had a really good pace, and then it just caught up to me a little bit. I started slowing down and getting a little bit winded. I was able to catch Eli and pass him there, but yeah, fourth is what we had tonight. We needed to start up in at least the top five to finish better, but overall, the bike felt awesome all day, and I was just riding really well. We’ll take it to next weekend. I’ve got to get that start in the Main and get on the podium.”

For Webb, it was also a strong start to the day, with the reigning champion setting his sights on the win. He got a great start in his heat race, made the pass on his teammate on the opening lap, and held the runner-up spot to the checkered flag. In the main event, Webb quickly worked his way into third and looked poised to challenge for the lead. However, while attempting a pass on Jorge Prado, the pair made contact and went down. Webb remounted in 11th and charged forward, climbing back to sixth by the halfway mark, where he would finish.

“It was an okay day,” said Webb. “I qualified seventh overall, and then had a decent heat race. In the main event, that was just a really dumb move on my end. I thought I saw an opening and obviously didn’t, and took myself and Prado both down, which was a bummer. I went and apologized to him. So, I’m really bummed about it because I rode so well in that main event. I felt like I had the speed to win tonight. We’ll keep plugging away. It’s been a tough year, but it is what it is, and you’ve got to move on.”

Although it was not the result he was looking for, his efforts scored valuable points to make some championship gains – an eight-point swing to move within 26 points of the leader with six rounds remaining.

“I think it was a pretty decent day overall,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “Both guys had good qualifying sessions and strong heat races. In the main, Justin got a bad start, and Webb got a good start and put himself in a good position, but unfortunately went down trying to pass (Jorge) Prado early. It was a good recovery by him to come back to sixth, and Justin came from 14th to get Eli (Tomac) for fourth. We want to be on the podium and missed that opportunity tonight, but you can’t be upset when the guy’s going for a win. We’ll take the positives, move on to St. Louis, and look to get back on the podium.”

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team now heads to St. Louis, Missouri, for Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at The Dome at America’s Center on April 4.

ELI TOMAC AND RED BULL KTM RECLAIM 450SX RED PLATE AFTER DETROIT TOP-FIVE

Round 11 – AMA Supercross Championship

Tomac qualified ninth on the 450SX combined timesheets as he familiarized himself with the technical track layout, before racing his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a third-place result in the opening premier class Heat Race.

The 33-year-old then completed the first lap of the Main Event in eighth position, before steadily climbing into the top-five. Maintaining consistency on the deteriorating surface, Tomac secured fifth place and a valuable haul of championship points.

Former two-time champion Tomac now leads the 450SX standings on 229 points, as the SMX World Championship series heads to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, next weekend.

Eli Tomac:“I knew I was going to take advantage of [Hunter Lawrence’s crash] once I saw that he was a lap down, but overall it was a bit of a frustrating day here. I have actually struggled here with my last couple of rides, so I don’t know what it is – I just haven’t had the best success at Detroit lately and maybe I’ve been in a bit of a mid-season slump. So, we’ll do what we can to get better and improve, and try to get back to winning some races and getting closer to the front.”

Spanish four-time world champion Jorge Prado recorded the 11th-fastest qualifying time in Detroit aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before earning a direct transfer to the Main Event with a P5 score in his Heat Race.

In holeshotting the Main Event, the 25-year-old ran strongly at the front of the field during the opening laps, before unfortunately going down in an incident with another rider. Prado recovered to 13th position by race’s end, again demonstrating front-running potential in the Motor City.

Prado currently sits ninth in the 450SX championship standings as he continues to build experience and added confidence in Supercross during the 2026 season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Jorge Prado:“Detroit Supercross was a bit of a rough day! The Heat Race was actually not too bad. At the end of it, I found a good rhythm and was feeling good. In the Main Event, I had a super-good start – I got the holeshot, which was my main goal – and then I wanted to stay up front for as long as possible. Kenny [Roczen] passed me on, I think Lap 3, and then once he passed me, I really tried to stick with him, but another rider ended up taking me out and we both crashed. That impacted my rhythm from there, so we have some work to do – as always – but I am putting in maximum effort with my training and racing, so hopefully it’ll pay off soon. We’re taking a lot of this year’s Supercross championship as experience for next year, so it’s good that these things happen now so when we’re fighting up front in the coming years, we can be prepared and ready. It’s part of the process – we’ll learn and continue to get faster.”

Next Race: April 4 – St. Louis, Missouri

Results 450SX Class – Detroit

Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
Chase Sexton (Kawasaki)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Justin Hill (KTM)
Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Kevin Moranz (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 11 of 17 rounds

Eli Tomac, 229 points
Hunter Lawrence, 225
Ken Roczen, 215
Malcolm Stewart, 127
Jorge Prado, 113
Aaron Plessinger, 99
RJ Hampshire, 38

FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S GRANT DAVIS CLINCHES CAMP COKER BULLET GNCC VICTORY

KTM Offroad Update

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 4

XC1 Open Pro Class newcomer Grant Davis turned his pace into a P1 finish amid challenging conditions at Camp Coker, taking the lead soon after a strong start onboard the KTM 450 XC-F this weekend and managing the race from the front of the field.

With a total time of 3:06.04, Davis recorded his first victory of the 2026 season and moved up to sixth in the XC1 Open Pro Class and Overall standings after four rounds.

Grant Davis:“I’m pumped! It was a good day – I got off to a good start and was in third place entering the woods, then powered to the lead and really tried to put the hammer down and open up a gap. I managed to do that, and just maintained my position for the duration of the race. That’s honestly the best I have felt all year, so I’m pumped with how I am riding and I’ll be ready for Kentucky.”

Defending GNCC Champion Ben Kelley entered Round 4 with momentum after a third-place finish at the Talladega GNCC, aiming to power his KTM 450 XC-F to the front once again at the Camp Coker Bullet GNCC.

A strong start put the number one rider in contention from the outset, battling near the podium throughout the three-hour race duration and ultimately securing a consistent P3 finish along with valuable championship points.

Kelley maintains his lead on top of the XC1 Open Pro Class and Overall standings following Camp Coker, holding a 13-point advantage as the series heads to The Dukes GNCC on April 18-19.

Ben Kelley:“It was a pretty good day for me overall. I had a decent start and made a couple of quick passes in that first lap. From there, I was in a good flow, but then lost a bit of that comfort during the middle stages. I fought late as best as I could, and managed to salvage a third, which gives me good championship points. I wanted a little more, but we’ll regroup and come out strong for the next one!”

Round 4 also proved a solid outing for FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Jason Tino, who battled for the podium in the XC2 250 Pro division aboard his KTM 250 XC-F. He ultimately crossed the finish line in third, marking his second podium of the 2026 season.

Tino now sits fifth in the XC2 250 Pro Class standings after four rounds, with championship points remaining tight as the series heads into Round 5 next month.

Jason Tino:”Today was a grind! I got off to a pretty decent start – I think I was P4 going into the woods – then dropped back to fifth, before getting back on the pace from there. I felt better as the race went on, and overall, I’m pretty stoked that I was able to come away with a podium result on my KTM.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Brandy Richards was also competitive this weekend, holding the WXC Class lead aboard her KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION before an incident with a lapped rider saw her eventually credited with seventh in South Carolina.

Brandy Richards: “Not the best day for me at Round 4 in Camp Coker. I was leading and feeling good when I made a miscalculation with a lapped rider, which sent me pinballing through some trees! Luckily, I was okay, but I bent my rear sprocket and wasn’t able to go anywhere. I was brought a new wheel and finished the race. I’m happy to finish and be healthy.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results

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

XC2 250 Pro Class Results

Angus Riordan, Honda
Jhak Walker, Husqvarna
Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing

WXC Class Results

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

NATIONAL HARE & HOUND SERIES – ROUND 3

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Dante Oliveira claimed a wire-to-wire win at Round 3 of the 2026 National Hare & Hound series in Murphy, Idaho, controlling the race from the front for victory.

The defending Pro Class champion was in exceptional form from the very beginning, racing his KTM 450 XC-F through the fast-paced, rugged and dry terrain to record a total time of 3:07.42 and earn his third win of the season.

After establishing more than a minute lead on the opening loop and making a swift pit-stop, Oliveira maintained that advantage in first position all the way to the checkered flag for a well-earned P1 result on Sunday.

Three wins from three starts this year now give Oliveira a perfect 90 points following Round 3 in Murphy this weekend, with four races left to run on the National Hare & Hound schedule. Next up is Jericho, Utah, on April 11.

Dante Oliveira:”I made a good start and managed to race ahead from there – it was all about executing the start this weekend and that’s what I did. I put the hammer down and it was smooth sailing from there, was able to bring it home for the win. Let’s keep it going!”

Pro Class Results

Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Zane Roberts, Beta
Daemon Woolslayer, Husqvarna

Korie Steede scores third-place finish in WXC at Camp Coker Bullet GNCC

Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 4

Having opened her 2026 campaign with podium results in each of the first three rounds – including a victory at Talladega – Steede entered Round 4 looking to maintain her momentum aboard the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition.
Running near the front throughout the four-lap duration, the defending WXC Champion finished third with a total time of 1:57.45. That Camp Coker Bullet result moves Steede into second in the standings as she heads into the all-new The Dukes GNCC on April 18-19.

“Camp Coker sure was a wild ride!”Steede said.“Fought hard from the beginning of the race and left it all out there on the track – grateful to be out of that place in one piece!”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Craig DeLong was also competitive at Camp Coker despite an early crash, racing his Husqvarna FX 350 forward to sixth place in both the XC1 Open Pro Class and Overall.

Combining his results from the first four rounds of 2026, the former GNCC Champion moved up to fourth in the Overall standings, signaling steady progression as he continues to build momentum in his 2026 campaign.

“Got a good start and was inside the top-five,”DeLong recalled.“A fall on the first lap had me drop back to about eighth. I felt good and made a couple of passes, but had a really hard time getting around a few guys that kept me from a top-five or even more. It’s frustrating because I felt strong at the end and had good speed, so we’ll just use it for fuel for the next couple of weeks to be ready for the next one.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results1. Grant Davis, KTM2. Liam Draper, Yamaha3. Ben Kelley, KTM6. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
WXC Class Results1. Danielle McDonald, Yamaha2. Tayla Jones, Honda3. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing7. Brandy Richards, KTM

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart lands Detroit 450SX podium

Another season-best in Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship series

Stewart recorded the third-fastest time in 450SX qualifying with a 51.894s lap, quickly finding comfort aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition and converting that pace into a P4 finish in 450SX Heat 2.

Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in fifth position, the 33-year-old maintained a consistent pace throughout the race, successfully negotiating the technical, deteriorating race-track to secure his first podium of the year. Stewart retains eighth in the 450SX Championship standings with six rounds remaining.

“It’s been tough after we had that unfortunate situation in Anaheim to start the season,”reflected Stewart.“After that, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I am going to get on the podium,’ and that’s just part of not believing in yourself. But I had to pull myself out of that and I want to give it up to Nathan Ramsey and the team – they’ve been in my ear all year long saying, ‘Hey, you can do this!’ So, a huge shoutout to the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team, and just everyone who is behind me… I’m stoked with this result! The track was really tough tonight and it could bite you if you weren’t paying attention. I had a lot of trust in my motorcycle, which made a huge difference, and having now popped some champagne again, we want more.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX East teammates Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran were both in action at Detroit, with Cochran making his first start of the 2026 SMX World Championship following a pre-season collarbone injury.

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, the pair each recorded P5 finishes in their respective Heat Races, securing direct transfer positions to the Main Event inside Ford Field.

Bennick went on to claim sixth in the Main Event, rebounding from a slow start and mid-race incident, which sees him maintain fourth position in the 250SX Eastern Division standings entering next weekend’s 250SX East/West Showdown in St. Louis.

“It was a rough day, all day, honestly,”Bennick reflected.“I didn’t really ride like myself and didn’t do anything great, so was never really able to turn it around. I was just off all day, but we’ll go back to work this week. It was frustrating, although we’ve had really good rides so far this year because my speed is good and so is my training, so we’ll get back to how I know I can ride and we should be fine.”

For Cochran, he started the Main Event outside the top 10, making early progress through the field before a crash ultimately forced him to retire at the halfway mark – he will undergo further evaluations this week. Still, he was excited to be back at the races with his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.

“The Heat Race and qualifying were decent in Detroit, for not having had too much time on the bike,” commented Cochran.“Then, unfortunately, I slid out in the Main Event and landed on my injured collarbone. We weren’t able to finish the race, but we’ll get it checked out – hopefully everything is all good – and we’ll be back.”

Next Race: April 4 – St. Louis, Missouri

Results 450SX Class – Detroit1. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)2. Chase Sexton (Kawasaki)3. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) 5. Eli Tomac (KTM)13. Jorge Prado (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 11 of 17 rounds1. Eli Tomac, 229 points2. Hunter Lawrence, 2253. Ken Roczen, 2158. Malcolm Stewart, 1279. Jorge Prado, 11312. Aaron Plessinger, 9921. RJ Hampshire, 38

Results 250SX East – Detroit1. Cole Davies (Yamaha)2. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)3. Jo Shimoda (Honda)6. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)20. Casey Cochran (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250SX East Class 2026 after 5 of 10 rounds1. Cole Davies, 1142. Seth Hammaker, 1053. Jo Shimoda, 1004. Daxton Bennick, 87

Casey Cochran, 2

MotoAmerica Talent Cup Doubleheader Signals Start To High-Octane Championship Season

The first round of the 2026 MotoAmerica Talent Cup Championship is in the books, with two races completed at the famed Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, alongside the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix Of The United States.

The 2026 Talent Cup field climbs the hill to COTA’s tight turn one as they kick off their 2026 racing season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

With the grid set, riders exited pit lane for race one looking to establish their dominance early in what will likely develop into a tight championship battle, right down to the last race of the season.

MotoAmerica Talent Cup – Race One

Polesitter Nathan Gouker won MotoAmerica Talent Cup Race One at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, followed closely by three of his fiercest competitors.

The victory did not come easily, as Gouker spent the duration of the contest fending off his rivals, who were tucked into his slipstream all the way to the checkered flag. The Lexington, North Carolina-based rider led the field out of the first turn on lap one, nearly lost traction with both tires while exiting the very same corner on lap three, bucking him out of the saddle and relegating him to fourth position. Gouker kept his composure and remained connected to the lead group, ultimately climbing back up the order to lead the last four laps and take the win by just .183 of a second.

Nathan Gouker (#19) celebrated his race one victory in the same parc fermé as the MotoGP stars. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Team Roberts rider Kensei Matsudaira continued his COTA podium run with a second-place finish in race one. The Californian consistently ran in the lead group of four riders, racing in P1 for two of the early laps and showing his stopping prowess through COTA’s brutal hard-braking sections. Matsudaira also beat his qualifying time during the race, and was one of only three riders to dip into the 2:26 range, narrowly missing the fastest lap of the race by a little over half a second.

Kensei Matsudaira’s (#74) second place was not from a lack of trying, as he attempted multiple inside lunges for the lead. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

The fastest lap of the race belonged to third-place finisher Jake Paige. The Team Hammer rider’s blistering 2:26.213 on lap seven set a new class lap record and race lap record, eclipsing the record-setting lap of 2:26.620 that 2025 Talent Cup Champion Alessandro Di Mario achieved in Race Two at COTA this past September. Paige started from fourth on the grid in his MotoAmerica Talent Cup debut and looked poised throughout the race, narrowly missing Gouker’s knifing front wheel on lap three. Paige led one lap of the eight-lap contest and was part of the thrilling final-lap battle, culminating at the end of COTA’s massive backstretch.

Jake Paige (#55) led the pack out of COTA’s tricky “esses” section. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane narrowly missed the podium behind Paige by just .213 of a second. The 15-year-old, mild-mannered Aussie looked composed and patient while constantly leap-frogging between first and fourth. Ultimately, Drane made a last-lap attempt at the lead, running wide out of Turn 12 after COTA’s 0.62 mile back straightaway, bringing it home in fourth place just .526 of a second behind race winner Gouker.

Sam Drane (#59) battled with race winner Nathan Gouker (#19). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Texas native Rossi Garcia used his home state as inspiration and brought his family-run Rossi Motorsports effort from an 11th-place grid position to fifth on the final lap. The local standout fought hard through a three-rider battle that lasted the full eight laps, securing his position just .183 of a second ahead of sixth place and besting his qualifying lap time by nearly three seconds in the process.

Phison/Pascari-Rocksolid Racing’s Reese Frankenfield took sixth position and leveraged his dirt track and mini-moto background to hold his ground against a fierce mid-pack. The young Hoosier remained calculated throughout his steady performance, secured vital points for his inaugural Talent Cup campaign, and looks to reel in the frontrunners as the season goes on.

Real Steel Honda’s Derek Sanchez King found himself locked in the intense second group while battling for fifth position throughout the contest. The Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, native remained a fixture in the slipstream battle, ultimately finishing just .329 of a second behind sixth place, and he established himself as a top-five threat.

Derek Sanchez King (#23), Rossi Garcia (#30), and Reese Frankenfield (#11) were in close quarters for the whole race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Quote from MotoAmerica Talent Cup Race One Winner, Nathan Gouker:

“I was able to go into turn one (in the lead), and I tried to break away from the front group, but that wasn’t going to happen. I mean, they were all really fast. Going in the first start of the laps … exiting out of one, I had a big moment, so that kind of spiked my adrenaline a little bit. But, a couple of laps in it, I started to cool down and towards the end, someone made, I forget who it was, but pushed everyone wide, and I tried to put my head down and break away. I thought I broke away because I didn’t get passed for, like, two laps.

“But, on the last lap going down the back straightaway, you know, two people passed me, and I kind of broke a little early because I, I kind of thought that they were all going to try and brake as deep as possible and they were going to run wide, which happened, and I just kind of cut underneath and I just tried to pole putt around the rest of the track.

“I knew I needed to leave the last turn first, and I did and yeah, P1.”

MotoAmerica Talent Cup – Race Two

Team Roberts’ Kensei Matsudaira withstood a barrage of final-lap attacks to take the MotoAmerica Talent Cup Race Two victory at COTA. The race began as a carbon copy of the prior, with Matsudaira leading out of the first corner aboard his King Kenny Roberts-liveried machine. The young Californian was part of another four-way scrap, peaking on the final lap where he refused to relinquish the lead through the stadium section, and he went on to take the win by just under a quarter of a second.

Kensei Matsudaira celebrated with King Kenny Roberts and team after his Talent Cup Race Two victory at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Nathan Gouker rode aggressively to take second place in race two. After chasing Matsudaira off the start out of turn one, Gouker spent much of the race in second place directly plugged into the lead battle before taking the lead on the final lap. The Lexington, North Carolina, native joined the rest of the top four with a 2:26.617 lap time on lap four and made an aggressive inside pass in the stadium section to take second place. He now looks forward to Road Atlanta as co-points leader alongside Matsudaira.

Nathan Gouker (#19) missed a double-win weekend by finishing just .236 of a second behind winner Kensei Matsudaira (#74). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane moved up one finishing position in the second Talent Cup race on Saturday afternoon. Drane spent the greater part of the race lurking in fourth position as the tail rider in the lead group. After the start, it almost appeared as if the Australian rider would be separated from the top three, but he was able to close back up to them by lap four. On the final lap, he made a lunge at turn 12 but ran wide. Drane kept his Krämer APX-350 MA pinned along the inside before an aggressive pass from Gouker in the stadium section dropped him to third.

Sam Drane was happy to stand on the podium after barely missing it in Talent Cup Race One. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Team Hammer’s Jake Paige entered race two as the newest lap record holder at COTA. Paige once again lapped consistently in the 2:26 range, with only his final two laps falling in the neighborhood of 2:27. The younger Paige brother battled with the lead group throughout the race and narrowly passed Drane at the final corner to steal third before having to let off the throttle as his Dunlop rear tire broke traction, riding across the line in fourth. He leaves COTA after swapping race one positions with Drane, and both are tied for second in points.

Jake Paige will be a podium contender all season long. The younger Paige brother has found himself in the middle of the front pack after the first round. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Rossi Motorsports’ Rossi Garcia repeated his fifth-place finish for the hometown crowd. Garcia continued to trim his lap times and dropped to a 2:27.192, from a 2:28.675 in race one, continuing to show progress towards the front group. He now sits fifth in championship points behind the tied first- and second-place duos.

Reese Frankenfield repeated his race one performance aboard his Phison/Pascari-Rocksolid Racing machine. The Mooresville, Indiana-based rider finished some six seconds behind fifth place and fought hard for his finish just .223 of a second ahead of seventh.

Bettencourt Racing’s Nathan Bettencourt improved by one position, coming across seventh and dropping Real Steel Honda’s Derek Sanchez King to eighth.

Sawyer Lafayette Racing’s Sawyer Lafayette and another Real Steel Honda of Ian Fraley rounded out the top 10, respectively.

With the first round in the books, the Talent Cup races are bound to be some of the best action on the racing schedule this year. Both races saw a lead group of the top four separated by approximately half a second, and Race Two saw over 30 lead changes between the group with split-second finishes.

The points chase leaves COTA as tight as it can possibly be with two-way ties for first and second places between the top four riders, making this the most exciting Talent Cup Season yet.

Quote from MotoAmerica Talent Cup COTA Race Two winner, Kensei Matsudaira:

“You know, it’s awesome to be racing with MotoGP alongside them this weekend, and race two was really good for me. I got the holeshot, and I just stayed in front for most of the race, obviously, having some battles with Nathan, Jake, and Sam throughout the entire race.

“I tried to fix my mistake from race one, which is kind of staying back the entire race, and I tried to be more aggressive. Yeah, I mean, last lap was pretty hectic. A lot of passing. I went from first to second all the way back to fourth, and then, you know, on the last lap, I was able to pass everybody back into first. Overall, it was a really good race for me.”

To watch all the races from the 2026 MotoAmerica Talent Cup Championship season, visit https://www.motoamericaliveplus.com/

To follow along with live timing and scoring, visit https://livetiming.motoamerica.com/

For a link to all photos included in this release, please click here.

For MotoAmerica Race One Results, click here.

For MotoAmerica Race Two results, click here.

Shimoda takes podium finish during challenging Detroit SX for Honda HRC Progressive

Round 11 of AMA Supercross in Detroit presented several trials for Honda HRC Progressive, although there were positives for the team and riders to take away. Despite adversity, Jo Shimoda secured a podium finish as the 250SX East class reached its season’s midway point. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence was the fastest 450SX qualifier, won his heat race and set the fastest lap time of the main event, before a crash and subsequent visit to the mechanics’ area resulted in an 18th-place result. Although the misfortune resulted in the Australian slipping out of the points lead, he sits just four points behind the leader.

Lawrence did not get his usual stellar start in the 450SX main, but he quickly advanced from fifth place out of turn 1 to third place by lap 3. Unfortunately, while challenging Chase Sexton for second just before the halfway mark, he suffered a hard crash at the end of the whoop section. Although Lawrence remounted quickly, the fall had resulted in a bent handlebar and a jammed front brake. A stop by the mechanics’ area to remove dirt from the brake lever cost him even more time, and he finished in 18^th place. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath turned in ninth-, 12^th– and 14^th-place results, respectively.

Shimoda launched to a strong second-place start in the 250SX East main event and ran third early on. He moved back up to second on lap 3 and then lost the position a couple of laps later, running at a good pace while managing arm pump. The Japanese rider slipped to fourth just past the halfway point, but a late-race crash by Coty Schock opened the door for Shimoda to secure a podium finish. He remains third in the standings, 14 points behind the leading Cole Davies. Additional Red Rider highlights included a strong ride from Luke Neese, who finished inside the top 10, while Phoenix Racing Honda’s Evan Ferry delivered a career-best performance with an 11th-place result.

NOTES

Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers took part in Friday’s Media Day activities.
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park suffered a dislocated shoulder injury during last week’s 250SX East/West Showdown main event in Birmingham. Further examination revealed a fracture, and Park underwent successful surgery on March 25. The Floridian will miss the remainder of the series.
While Honda HRC Progressive riders Jett Lawrence and Chance Hymas continue to progress well in their recoveries from injury, both attended the U.S. MotoGP round in Austin, Texas.
Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy made his return to racing in Detroit, having recovered from a March 7 foot injury sustained in Indianapolis.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda placed 12^th in 250SX combined qualifying. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified seventh and 11^th, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) qualified in 20^th, John Short IV (Short Racing) was 21^st and Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 27^th, while Storm Lake Honda riders Luke Neese and Izaih Clark were 23^rd and 24^th, respectively.
Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence placed first in 450SX combined qualifying, followed by Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig, Joey Savatgy and Shane McElrath, who were 12^th, 13^th and 15^th, respectively. Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified in 27^th.
Shimoda got a rough start in the first 250SX East heat race, getting to the first corner in 10^th. He steadily worked his way forward, moving to fourth toward the end of the race, before a crash by Caden Dudney allowed him to take third. Ferry, Towers and Neese advanced directly through the second heat race, while Hand secured his spot in the main event with a second-place finish in the LCQ.
Lawrence dominated the second 450SX heat race with a holeshot and wire-to-wire victory, while Savatgy (seventh) and McElrath (eighth) also transferred directly to the main event. Earlier, Craig had grabbed the holeshot in his heat race before finishing fifth.
Lawrence now sits second in the 450SX championship standings, four points behind Eli Tomac, with six rounds remaining.
Honda HRC Progressive will look to rebound at round 12 of AMA Supercross this Saturday in St. Louis. The 250SX class will feature an East-West Showdown.