This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of May 3, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

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Hunter Lawrence Grabs Championship Momentum in Denver to Set Up Monster Energy Supercross Final Showdown

The penultimate race of a historic 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship traveled to the Mile High City for Round 16 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, where a jubilant crowd gathered inside Empower Field at Mile High to watch the latest chapter in one of the closest 450SMX Class title fights of all time. On a night in which he would greatly benefit from a winning performance, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence rose to the occasion to wrestle away the championship momentum from points leader and Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki racer Ken Roczen to set up the first winner-take-all showdown between two international athletes at the season finale.

Empower Field at Mile High was the setting for the latest chapter in what has been a captivating and historic season of Monster Energy Supercross.

The tension packed 20 Minutes + 1 Lap 450SMX Class Main Event began with a holeshot by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado, just ahead of Lawrence and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, the Colorado native making his anticipated return from injury. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb, the reigning Supercross champion, slotted into fourth ahead of Roczen, who was carrying the red plate for the first time this season. Lawrence went on the attack immediately and was able to take control of the race lead on the second lap, as Webb slotted into third and Roczen up to fourth after Tomac stalled his motorcycle and lost several positions.

A clear track allowed Lawrence to sprint to a multi-second gap over the field, which forced Roczen to push the pace and move forward. The German native got by Webb and then made his way around Prado to move into second. Roczen faced about a 4.5 second deficit to Lawrence with just under 17 minutes left in the race. As the lead pair pulled away, a spirited battle for third unfolded between Prado, Webb, and Tomac, who bounced back from his early misfortune. The hometown favorite got by both riders to move within podium position just past the halfway point of the race. Lawrence, meanwhile, added to his lead and moved out nearly 10 seconds clear of Roczen. The Australian continued to build on his advantage to put the race out of reach.

Lawrence wrapped up his fifth win of the season by 13.2 seconds over Roczen to swing the championship momentum into the Honda rider’s favor. Tomac rode to his ninth podium finish of the season in third after missing the previous two races. It marked the 111th podium of his Supercross career, which moved him into a tie with the “King of Supercross” Jeremy McGrath for second all-time.

Just a single point separates Lawrence and Roczen heading to the Salt Lake City finale, with Roczen holding the slim edge. The duo shares the class lead in both wins, with five apiece, and podiums, with 12 each, and are in pursuit of their maiden premier class crown in Supercross. They’ll be the lone combatants for the championship after mathematically eliminating Webb, who finished 11th following a late crash with Prado.

In support of the championship coming down to the wire, fans of Monster Energy Supercross still have time to enter the Kickstart for a Cause: Love Moto Stop Cancercampaign for a chance to win Ken Roczen’s Supercross Race Bike, a race set up Suzuki RM-Z450, by giving to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A minimum donation of $1 provides 10 entries, while larger donations go further to provide crucial help for St. Jude patients in a variety of ways. The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. PT on Monday, May 4, with a winner announced via random draw at the Salt Lake City Supercross Final.

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence captured a dominant and crucial victory in the historically close 450SMX Class title fight.

Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class

“It’s good. When I see the [30] second board go sideways I get so excited. Let’s go out, have fun, and do what I love to do. It couldn’t have been much better than that. I’m really happy. Let’s go to Salt Lake, baby.”

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen maintained his slim hold of the red place with a runner-up finish.

Ken Roczen – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class

“It was a great race, I’m honestly happy with it. I just wasn’t fast enough, all day really. I know I had a great lap in Qualifying, but Hunter [Lawrence] was on it all day. Once I got into second, I tried a little bit [to catch Lawrence] but I didn’t want to override because it was going to be a long Main Event. I just settled into second. We had a four-point lead, it’s one point now. It is what it is going into the last race. That’s most exciting for the fans, us, and everyone.”

In his anticipated return to action Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac gave the home crowd something to cheer about with a podium effort.

Eli Tomac – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class

“I’m just glad to land on the podium for the Colorado fans. I was so bummed when I stalled in the sand. I was able to claw back and have some fun on this track. It was a good bounce back [from the miscue]. I’m just happy to be back for these last two rounds. I love being on the West Coast and we’ll try to go get another podium next week.”

A single point separates Lawrence and Roczen entering the Salt Lake City finale.

450SMX Class Podium (left to right)
Ken Roczen, Hunter Lawrence, and Eli Tomac

Even though the championship had already been decided, anticipation was high for the return of the Western Divisional 250SMX Class, which last competed for a standalone race in February. All eyes were on newly crowned back-to-back champion Haiden Deegan and his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad, as both have been in the midst of dominant seasons rewriting the record books. The 15 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event kicked off with the Star Yamaha duo of Deegan and Max Anstie side-by-side, as Anstie narrowly grabbed the holeshot but quickly gave way to Deegan, who sprinted out to a multi-second advantage. Anstie proceeded to drop to fifth as Toyota Redlands BarX Yamaha’s Lux Turner moved up to second, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen up to third, and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco into fourth.

As Deegan’s lead grew to nearly five seconds, Kitchen was able to take control of second from Turner, as the Yamaha rider soon dropped out of podium position following passes by DiFrancesco and Anstie. The lead group went unchanged through the remainder of the race as Deegan managed a gap between five and six seconds over Kitchen, who strengthened his hold of second as the race wore on while DiFrancesco did the same from third.

Deegan lapped his way up into the top 10 and cruised to his seventh victory of the season, the most in all of Monster Energy Supercross, by a margin of 3.5 seconds over Kitchen, with DiFrancesco in third. Deegan’s triumph signified the 14th win of his career, which moved him into sole possession of third on the all-time 250SMX Class wins list in Supercross. It also set a new single season record for 250SMX Class wins by a manufacturer with 15, which have come from five different Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing athletes.

With the title in hand, Deegan heads to the East/West Showdown in Salt Lake City with an eye on cementing his status as one of the all-time greats in the smaller displacement in his final 250SMX Class start. The battle for second in the championship will come down to the wire between Kitchen (2nd), Anstie (3rd), and DiFrancesco (4th) with eight points separating the trio.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan’s first race as West Division Champion featured a dominant performance for his seventh win of the season.

Haiden Deegan – 1st Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class

“I’ve got to get [more] 250 [class] wins and add it to the record books. That was a good race; a perfect start and led it [from the beginning]. I got up to about a six second gap and just tried to pace myself and put on a show for the Colorado fans.”

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen went unchallenged on the way to a second-place finish.

Levi Kitchen – 2nd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class

“I’m actually really happy. Last week I hadn’t rode yet and I wasn’t sure if I was going to race. I had a really good week and I’m pumped [with this result]. I got up into second and just tried to put good laps in. The track was really difficult and could kind of bite you. I’m looking forward to finishing Supercross and heading outdoors.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco earned his third podium result of the season in third.

Ryder DiFrancesco – 3rd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class

“Moving up the championship standings has been the goal the past few weeks. Second would be ideal. Tonight, once I got into third there wasn’t really anything I could do. I just pulled it in and finished with a solid effort. We’ll go to Salt Lake City and try to stack [more] points.”

Western Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right)
Levi Kitchen, Haiden Deegan, and Ryder DiFrancesco

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will come to a thrilling and history-making conclusion next Saturday, May 9, with the Round 17 finale from Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by a special Pre-Race Show at 6:30 p.m. ET before Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, May 10, 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).

LEVI KITCHEN RETURNS TO THE PODIUM IN DENVER

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen charged to a podium finish as the Western Division returned for Round 16 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Denver. Kitchen’s impressive podium result comes after a brief stint off the bike to manage a lingering back injury. The Kawasaki rider resumed riding earlier in the week in preparation for his return to racing in the Mile High City. Teammate Cameron McAdoo made his return to racing after sustaining an injury at Round 6 in Seattle, with the No. 142 Kawasaki battling through a challenging night to claim 13th. Monster Energy Kawasaki riders Chase Sexton and Garrett Marchbanks delivered consistent performances throughout the day, earning fifth and seventh, respectively. In 250SX Qualifying, both Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders came out swinging at altitude, consistently dropping lap times as the track developed throughout the day. Kitchen traded the top spot throughout the second session before ultimately claiming second fastest in the class, only three tenths of a second off the leader’s time. McAdoo put in a solid effort to qualify eighth overall heading into the night show. In 250 Heat 1, McAdoo got a strong jump off the gate sitting just outside the Top 5, while Kitchen was shuffled towards the back of the field. Following the opening lap, McAdoo went down after the finish line. Buried in the field, he was forced to charge his way forward in the short six-minute race format. Kitchen flew by his competitors one by one while recording the fastest lap of the heat race. The No. 47 Kawasaki crossed the line in fourth place, setting up a strong gate pick for the main event. After dropping to last, McAdoo was able to pass 11 riders to move into ninth place. Although crossing the line in a transfer position, McAdoo was issued a two-position penalty for jumping on a red cross flag, forcing him into the last chance qualifier. In the 250 LCQ, McAdoo pulled another strong start inside the Top 5. Within the opening lap, he moved into third and had his eyes set on the lead. McAdoo applied pressure on the riders in front of him and was able to make up two positions to move into the lead on Lap 3 and secure his spot in the main event with the LCQ win. In the 250 Main Event, Kitchen redeemed his start from the heat race, rounding the first turn inside the Top 10 and quickly moving into podium position before the end of the opening lap. McAdoo’s far inside gate pick led to him being squeezed off down the start straight after contact with another rider resulted in a tipover. He remounted and put his head down to charge back through the field. Up front, Kitchen searched for an opportunity to move into second on the difficult-to-pass track. The unique layout in Denver featured two whoop sections, which Kitchen used to his advantage as he made a decisive pass to move into the runner-up position. Although outpacing the leader’s lap times, Kitchen was unable to close the gap to first and took home a well-earned second-place finish. McAdoo faced a demanding and fast-paced race, as he charged past an impressive nine riders to claim 13th place. In 450 Qualifying, both Kawasaki riders put down fast laps in the opening session. Sexton laid it all out on the final lap to secure the fastest qualifying time in the first session. In the second session, both riders improved their times, with Sexton once again putting on a heater for the final lap, placing him third overall, less than three tenths of a second off the fastest time. Marchbanks backed up his pace with two consistent sessions to qualify ninth overall.  In 450 Heat 2, Sexton and Marchbanks both got off to commanding starts, running third and fifth, respectively. On the opening laps, Sexton set the fastest lap time while holding off pressure from behind and started to close in on the leader. As the battle intensified, Sexton’s corner speed allowed him to close right up to the rear tire of the leader and made brief contact as the leader cut down before the whoops section. The bobble forced Sexton to take a calculated approach and settle for second place at the line. Marchbanks would ultimately get shuffled back a few positions on the intense opening laps. The No. 36 Kawasaki regrouped to get back near the Top 5 fight, regaining positions to finish sixth in the heat race. In the 450 Main Event, Marchbanks pulled a strong start inside the Top 10, while Sexton was pinched off going into the first turn. Both riders worked their way through the field, briefly linking up midway to make forward progress together. In the closing laps of the race, two separate racing incidents unfolded in front of the teammates, allowing both riders to make up ground on their competition. Both Kawasaki riders rode strong to push through to the checkered flag, with Sexton passing 11 riders to secure fifth and Marchbanks seventh. Marchbanks’ finish ties his career-best result from Daytona earlier this year.

“I’m actually really happy with this result. I took quite a bit of time off the bike to recover and rode for the first time on Monday this week. I felt good, so Mitch [Payton] and I had a conversation and decided to race Denver. This was a pretty last-minute decision, so to come in and have a good weekend like this feels great. In the main event, I got into second and just focused on putting in solid laps. The track was really difficult and could catch you pretty quick, so it was all about staying consistent. Overall, after a full race day, my back finally feels good again, and I’m relieved, especially with outdoors just a few weeks away. I really appreciate everyone sticking behind me through it. I’m looking forward to finishing strong next weekend in Salt Lake and moving on to outdoors.”  – Levi Kitchen

“It wasn’t the day I was looking for, but it felt good to be back racing. We had some things go wrong early that put me behind right away, and from there it was just damage control all day. Going through the LCQ and having to fight from the back in the main definitely made it tough, but I just kept putting my head down and getting laps in. There are a few positives to take from it, especially just being back behind the gate and getting a full day in. We’ll keep working and focus on getting better.”  – Cameron McAdoo

“I had a good start to the day with fastest qualifier in the first session. I didn’t expect to go to the top in the final lap, but it felt good to back up there. The track having two sets of whoops played into my favor a bit. I felt good in the heat race, but played it safe to finish in second place. I had a bad start in the main event. I had to work my way through the field and struggled to feel comfortable. The last few laps, I was able to capitalize on a few guys that went down, putting me fifth on the night.”  – Chase Sexton

“I had a good day here in Denver. Qualifying went well, and the bike felt good. I didn’t have to make any changes throughout the day. I qualified ninth overall and felt good going into the heat race. It took me a little bit of time in the heat race to get comfortable. I had to adapt to how much the track had changed since qualifying. I got another solid start in the main event and just focused on putting in some good laps. Once Chase [Sexton] got around me, I just latched on and knew if I could stay with him, we’d make some passes, and that’s what we did. We got helped out a bit with some guys tipping over at the end, but that’s part of it. Another seventh-place finish, which I’m pretty pumped on.”  – Garrett Marchbanks

Podium form continues for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in GNCC and U.S. Hard Enduro

Korie Steede claims P3 at The Old Gray GNCC, while Ryder LeBlond scores second at Battle of the Goats

Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 6

It was a consistent weekend for defending WXC Class Champion Korie Steede, who made a strong start aboard her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition and maintained a steady pace at The Old Gray GNCC.

Charging to third in the WXC Class with a total time of 2:04:41, the 24-year-old earned her sixth podium of the 2026 season in a row and sits 12 points off the series lead entering the halfway stages.

Following a podium finish at the previous round, former GNCC Champion Craig DeLong lined up at The Old Gray GNCC looking to build momentum aboard his Husqvarna FX 350.

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider holeshotted and led from the outset of the three-hour encounter, battling for the podium positions all race long in Tennessee to secure a hard-fought P4 finish, and remains fourth in the XC1 Open Pro Class standings.

“I ripped the holeshot – it’s been a long time since I have done that!”commented DeLong.”I kept the lead for probably four miles or so, and then rode a little tight once I got passed. I just had to regroup after that, and then I put a little late-race charge in there to reel in some of the other riders again, and man, it was a four-way battle until the end. I’m happy with my riding, just a little disappointed in the end result, but we tried hard. Overall, we took a step in the right direction this weekend, especially with how I rode, and now onto the next!”

Riders will return to the track in two weeks’ time for the Powerline Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

XC1 Open Pro Class Results1. Jordan Ashburn, Honda2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki3. Kailub Russell, Yamaha4. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing10. Ben Kelley, KTM12. Grant Davis, KTM

WXC Class Results1. Brandy Richards, KTM2. Danielle McDonald, Yamaha3. Korie Steede, Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing

U.S. Hard Enduro Championship – Round 5

Round 5 of the U.S. Hard Enduro Championship took place over the weekend at the Battle of the Goats Hard Enduro in North Carolina, where Ryder LeBlond secured second place in the Pro Class for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.

The 24-year-old ran inside the lead group during the early stages of the Main Race after qualifying second on Saturday, battling for the race lead on board his Husqvarna TE 300 across the technical terrain.

LeBlond’s race-long fight at the front of the field saw him post a total time of 3:19:01, securing his third podium of the season and valuable Pro Class championship points.

“I feel pretty good – although I made a lot of mistakes that whole race,”recalled LeBlond.“I was about two to three minutes back of the lead, so Trystan [Hart] and I must have been trading mistakes, and then the last lap was far from ideal with so many mistakes. Still, we’re P2, and we’ll look forward to the next one.”

Pro Class Results1. Trystan Hart, KTM2. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing3. Cody Webb, Yamaha

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco races to Denver podium

DiFrancesco was in form from the outset at altitude in Colorado, posting the third-fastest qualifying time via a 51.562s lap time, before powering his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition to second place in 250SX West Heat 2.

A strong start to the Main Event saw the Californian run fifth on the opening lap, before climbing to third during the race’s early stages. From there, Ryder D maintained a measured pace to secure third place on the podium – his third of the 2026 SMX World Championship season.

DiFrancesco currently holds fourth in the 250SX West championship standings – only one point out of P3 overall and within reach of second – with a single Supercross round remaining next weekend in Salt Lake City.

“It was a good night in Denver,”reflected DiFrancesco.“The main goal these last couple of weeks is to get to P2 – obviously the championship is wrapped up, so second would be ideal. Tonight, once I got into third, there wasn’t much more that I could do, so I just brought it home from there. It was a good night and now we’ll go to Salt Lake, try to stack some points, and go for second in the championship.”

Meanwhile, Stewart qualified 11th in 450SX, before a challenging Heat Race onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition sent him to the Last Chance Qualifier, where the 33-year-old took the win to transfer into the Main Event.

An ongoing battle throughout the Main Event saw Stewart charging forward inside the top 10 as the race progressed, with a sequence of decisive late-race passes seeing him climb to fourth position, and he maintains eighth in the 450SX standings.

“Every time we come to Denver, the track is tough,”Stewart reflected.“There was a lot going on in that race – you could’ve thrown a blanket over all of us! There was a lot of carnage, but at the end of the day, I guess Christmas came in May for me for a fourth! We’ve just got to continue moving forward. I struggled a little bit tonight and went to the LCQ, which I haven’t been to in a minute, but we just tried to ride our race [in the Main Event] and get it done.”

Next Race: May 9 – Salt Lake City, Utah

Results 450SX Class – Denver1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)3. Eli Tomac (KTM)4. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)6. Jorge Prado (KTM)15. Justin Hill (KTM)19. Kevin Moranz (KTM)20. Grant Harlan (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 16 of 17 rounds1. Ken Roczen, 332 points2. Hunter Lawrence, 3313. Cooper Webb, 2974. Eli Tomac, 2758. Malcolm Stewart, 18910. Jorge Prado, 16916. Aaron Plessinger, 9923. RJ Hampshire, 38

Results 250SX West – Denver1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)3. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250SX West Class 2026 after 9 of 10 rounds1. Haiden Deegan, 2152. Levi Kitchen, 1553. Max Anstie, 1484. Ryder DiFrancesco, 147

GNCC VICTORIES FOR JASON TINO AND BRANDY RICHARDS AS TRYSTAN HART WINS BATTLE OF THE GOATS

KTM Offroad Update

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 6

Jason Tino entered Round 6 of GNCC with the momentum of achieving his first XC2 250 Pro Class win last time out at The Dukes, and was targeting another solid score on board his KTM 250 XC-F in Tennessee.

A slow start was followed by a convincing charge through the field, with Tino taking over the lead on the last lap after a spirited climb. He ultimately powered his way to the top step of the podium in a total time of 2:43:55s.

The win marks another milestone in FMF KTM Factory Racing recruit Tino’s career, with his second victory in as many races seeing him close to within six points of the XC2 250 Pro championship lead.

Jason Tino:“Man, I got off to an absolutely last-place start, but I felt really comfortable on my bike today and picked my way up into third there for a while. Then, I made my way into second, and got the pass on Gus [Riordan] on the last lap, and just ran with it from there. We were pushing the limits out there, and overall, really happy with another win – a big thank you to my whole team.”

WXC Class contender Brandy Richards also continued her winning form this weekend, locked in an intense battle aboard her KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION throughout the two-hour race.

Richards claimed a second victory at the conclusion of the round and now sits 15 points out of the WXC Class series lead entering the seventh round at Powerline Park.

Brandy Richards:“That was a tough race! I was in a battle for the lead the whole time – it was a sprint the entire race. The first lap was a little tricky with how slippery it was, but after that, it was perfect. It’s definitely technical out there, but it was a lot of fun and had some flowy sections too. As I said, I think we sprinted the whole time, so it was a lot of fun, and I’m stoked to pick up the win here.”

Round 6 proved challenging for defending GNCC Champion Ben Kelley, who ran up front during the early stages aboard his KTM 450 XC-F before a late-race collision resulted in a heavy impact.

He was credited with 10th in the XC1 Open Pro Class for the round and now sits third in the standings following The Old Gray GNCC.

Ben Kelley:“I got off to a great start today, was there in the mix, and then stalled my bike in the rock garden. That put me back a bit, which wasn’t ideal. I settled into a pace, and with about a lap left, I clipped a tree, which caused me to have a big crash. I am bruised up pretty badly, but initial check-ups show nothing broken, which is good. I will get checked out later this week and hope to be back for the next one.”

It was also a challenging day in Tennessee for XC1 Open Pro Class newcomer Grant Davis, who rebounded from a slow start to join the lead group by Lap 2 onboard the KTM 450 XC-F. A crash on the following lap, however, brought an early end to his race, with Davis credited 12th in class.

Grant Davis:“A rider crashed in front of me off the start, so I started in the back. I was able to pass a few guys and get into the lead group by the end of Lap 2. The next lap, I hit something that caused me to crash badly. It’s a bummer, because I was feeling great on the bike today and know I could have been up front.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results

1. Jordan Ashburn, Honda
2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
3. Kailub Russell, Yamaha
4. Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
5. Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing
6. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing

XC2 250 Pro Class Results

1. Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Angus Riordan, Honda
3. Jhak Walker, Beta

WXC Class Results

1. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Danielle McDonald, Yamaha
3. Korie Steede, Husqvarna

U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 5

Five-time U.S. Hard Enduro Champion Trystan Hart posted his fourth round win of the 2026 season on Sunday, leading wire-to-wire across the 15 tests of the Main Race at Battle of the Goats.

Equipped with the KTM 300 XC, Hart topped Saturday’s Prologue, setting the fastest time across both stages to lay the foundation for a successful outing and target a sixth win at the event.

The 29-year-old was in-form from the outset on Sunday, overcoming challenging track conditions throughout the encounter to deliver a winning time of 2:58:24 and earn a fourth win in five starts for the year.

Trystan Hart:“It was challenging out here – more challenging than I thought it was going to be, actually. Once the lines got worked in, it was better, but there was one really tough waterfall on the track – and I knew from the second lap, because it took me three tries to get up it, that was going to be key. Ryder [LeBlond] was close, and it was a long three hours of racing, but I’m stoked to get my sixth win in a row here, it’s a good feeling for sure.”

Pro Class Results

1. Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna
3. Cody Webb, Yamaha

ELI TOMAC AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING RETURN TO 450SX PODIUM IN DENVER

Two-time premier class champion Tomac returned from injury for his home state race in Colorado after missing Philadelphia altogether, setting the sixth-fastest qualifying time onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in dry, technical track conditions.

Tomac finished fifth in his Heat Race, before completing the opening lap of the Main Event in fourth position, and in a strong place to race forward. A brief stall in the sand section then dropped him back to P7, however, he charged through the remainder of the race to secure a P3 finish.

Denver marks Cortez, Colorado, native Tomac’s ninth podium of the 2026 season – including four victories – and sees him ranked fourth in the 450SX standings with a single round remaining.

Eli Tomac: “I’m glad to land on this podium for the Colorado fans! I was so bummed when I stalled it in the sand. I just happened to stomp on my rear brake there and then, honestly, like double-stalled. Anyway, I was able to claw back there, had some fun on this track, and that was just a good bounce back. I’m happy to get back for these last two rounds, and love being on the West Coast, too – of course, home state in Colorado – and we’ll try to get another podium next week.”

Four-time world champion Prado set the seventh-fastest qualifying time onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION within Empower Field at Mile High, before capturing the holeshot and a convincing fourth Heat Race victory of the year.

After securing the Main Event holeshot, the 25-year-old ran inside the top-five for the race’s duration, including a mid-race battle with teammate Tomac for third position, before ultimately claiming a hard-fought sixth-place result. He is positioned 10th in the 450SX championship points tally.

Jorge Prado:I would say Denver was a pretty positive weekend for me – especially after a couple of tough weekends, it was nice to get back towards the front with a Heat Race win. I adapted to the track well for the night program, and small achievements like that Heat Race are a big confidence booster for me. And then in the Main Event, I got a good start and tried to race with the guys up front – their pace was a little stronger than mine, but I tried my best to hold on. I made a small mistake before the triple, which cost me, so I’d say 95 percent of the race was good, just that last five wasn’t perfect. P6 for the night was decent and now we have one round to go.”

Next Race: May 9 – Salt Lake City, Utah

Results 450SX Class – Denver

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

Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 16 of 17 rounds

1. Ken Roczen, 332 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 331
3. Cooper Webb, 297
4. Eli Tomac, 275
5. Malcolm Stewart, 189
6. Jorge Prado, 169
7. Aaron Plessinger, 99
8. RJ Hampshire, 38

Hunter Lawrence Wins Denver Supercross, Closes Gap to 1 Point Ahead of Finale

Coming into the penultimate race of the 2026 AMA Supercross season, Hunter Lawrence found himself four points behind the championship leader, in a situation where performing was a must to keep his title hopes alive. The Australian delivered when it mattered, racing his CRF450RWE to a convincing victory and closing to within a single point, with just one round remaining.

Racing at altitude places added importance on starts, and the 450SX main event saw Lawrence get an epic launch down the start straight, although Jorge Prado was able to claim the actual holeshot by sneaking around the outside. Lawrence took over the lead by lap 2 and never looked back. As battles unfolded behind him, he leveraged his pace to steadily extend his lead, ultimately crossing the finish line with a 12.3-second advantage over second-place finisher and title-rival Ken Roczen.

Quad Lock Honda racer Dean Wilson finished ninth, while teammates Christian Craig and Shane McElrath completed the race in 12^th and 16^th, respectively.

In addition to closing the championship gap to just one point, Lawrence’s fifth victory of the season matches Roczen’s win total on the year, so the Australian now holds the advantage for a potential tiebreaker as the series heads into the final round in Salt Lake City.

NOTES

• Hunter Lawrence was featured during Friday’s media day, where he handled interviews and later participated in riding sessions.
• Peak Honda World, Colorado’s top Honda Powersports dealership, enhanced the fan experience within the Honda HRC Progressive pit area through a pop-up activation. Staff engaged directly with fans and customers at the display, which featured a CRF450R, CRF150R and CRF110F.
• Hunter Lawrence participated in a private autograph session in the Honda HRC Progressive pits during FanFest, creating a premium fan experience.
• Honda HRC Progressive Team Manager Lars Lindstrom appeared on Race Day Live, answering questions from Chase Cook relating to the altitude.
• During the broadcast, Mikayla Nielsen (SLR Honda) and Charli Cannon (Quad Lock Honda) were interviewed by Jason Thomas and Will Christien ahead of the WMX Championship, which will kick off at Hangtown June 6. Nielsen was also interviewed on Race Day Live.
• In 250SX West combined qualifying, participating Red Riders included SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell in 14^th, Next Level’s Hunter Schlosser in 17^th, Western Honda Racing’s Ty Freehill in 27^th, and Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres in 28^th. Rodbell and Schlosser qualified for the main event by finishing fifth and ninth in their respective heat races.
• Lawrence had the second-fastest time in 450SX qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig, Dean Wilson and Shane McElrath qualified in 10^th, 12^th and 14^th, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) was 27^th, John Short IV (Short Racing) was 28^th, and privateer Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified 30^th. 
• Joey Savatgy went down during the first qualifying session and was transported to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with a dislocated wrist. He will undergo further evaluation this week. Savatgy has shown strong speed and impressive results this season, and American Honda wishes him a speedy recovery.
• Lawrence topped the first heat race, with Craig (fourth), Wilson (seventh) and McElrath (eighth) also advancing directly to the main event. 
• Heading into the last race of AMA Supercross season, Hunter Lawrence sits only one point behind points-leader Ken Roczen, setting up an exciting showdown at the season finale.
• Jett Lawrence, who is recovering from injury but plans to return for the upcoming AMA Pro Motocross series, attended the Formula 1 race in Miami over the weekend.
• Honda HRC Progressive heads to the final round of AMA Supercross in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9.

SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN DEFENDS POINTS LEAD AT DENVER SUPERCROSS

The 5280-foot elevation of Empower Field at Mile High brought thin-air restrictions to the teams and riders at the Denver Supercross, Round 16 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The hardpack track featured two sets of whoops with a tricky sand corner that followed one whoops pad. With only one more Supercross round remaining after Denver, the excitement was high and the packed stadium of fans was treated to great racing.  

Race Highlights:

• Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
  • 450 Class
    • Ken Roczen battled forward into second place and held the spot to protect his championship points lead.
• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
  • 450 Class
    • Colt Nichols continues to gain speed in his return to racing and scored championship points at the Denver round.

Ken Roczen (94) delivered his twelfth podium of the season with a second-place result in Denver.

Ken Roczen (94) started the day with incredible speed; he set the fastest lap time in the second qualifying session, which stood as the fastest overall lap time in qualifying. In his heat race, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in eighth position then pushed his way into fourth within the first lap. Before the race’s midpoint Roczen had taken over third place, which he held to the finish. In the main event, Roczen held a tight inside line around the first corner and emerged in sixth. Two minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race, Roczen blitzed the whoops and passed the third-place rider entering the track’s sand turn. Less than a lap later, Roczen took over second place and used his whoop speed to instantly distance himself from the pack. As the dry track lost traction, Roczen managed the race and strategized for the title. Roczen pulled a five second gap over the rider behind him then rode clean laps to maintain the cushion and earn second-place points. The performance protected Roczen’s championship lead heading into the final round.  

“Overall, we had a really good day,” said Roczen. “Being back at the altitude – the last time I was here it was at the 2023 [race] – it is always a surprise [regarding] the equipment [and] how much slower it is. Obviously, we’re all [of the teams] dealing with it, but it takes a lot getting used to it. From Q2 we had P-1 and went first [gate pick into] the night show. I had just an alright heat race; it was a third place, but I was really trying to figure out the track. I feel like we rode the best in the main event when it really counted. I wasn’t fast enough to get with [the rider in the lead], but I got into second place and just kind of maintained. Yeah, just wasn’t good enough for first, but good enough for second [tonight], so now we’re one point ahead and it’s really fun to see how this unfolds. Overall, I would say we had a really good day with a second place and we’re going into the last round happy and stoked to be in this position and we’re going to give this a shot.”

Colt Nichols (45) showed strong speed while gaining positions in his heat race at Empower Field at Mile High.

Colt Nichols (45) crossed the holeshot stripe of his heat race in sixth place, but first-lap chaos put him further back once the pack sorted itself out. Nichols put his head down and gained back positions to secure a direct transfer to the main. In the main, Nichols rounded the first corner outside the top fifteen. Nichols clicked off fast, steady laps and eared one track position before the checkered flag flew. 

“Round 16, Denver Supercross, done and dusted and it was kind of a struggle day once again,” stated Nichols. “I’m still struggling to get myself fully healthy, and altitude sickness got me a little bit this weekend as well, so it’s kind of a double whammy. But overall, I just need to be a lot better than what I was today; but one more round to go to finish off the season strong, so I’m looking forward to that.”

“A great night tonight for the team,” said Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “Ken qualified first and then [got] third in the heat race, which was great to see. In the main we got a sixth-place start and then got up to second, which is what we needed to do. We retained a one-point lead and the red plate, so we have a chance to win this next week at the final round, which is all that we could hope for going into this week. So, [we’re] very stoked on the way that Ken rode. Once we got into second, he managed the race, did very well to limit the mistakes, so it was great to see… I feel like we’re going into next week with a great team and a great group of people around us and I wouldn’t change that for the world. Colt had a so-so day. We’re really looking for more from him, but the good news is that I know he has it. Seventeenth in the main tonight, battled the altitude, so we’re going to go to the drawing board with him this week and see how we can help him get over that. So hopefully we finish the season strong and hopefully we finish it with a #1 plate. But [there are] a lot of tough guys out there so we’ll have to go racing.”

Based on the fan reaction for Ken Roczen during opening ceremonies in Denver, Suzuki and Roczen have incredible fan support to take the title. Roczen leads the season by a single point, but the AMA tiebreaker would not favor Roczen so it’s a true “winner take all” between Roczen and one other rider. The final Supercross of 2026 takes place on Saturday night inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Suzuki riders, team members, and an army of race fans will pull together to try to put Ken Roczen and his Suzuki RM-Z450 into the history books as the 2026 Supercross champion.  

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

AMA Extends Condolences to Family and Friends of AMA Hall of Fame Legend Mert Lawwill

The American Motorcyclist Association is saddened by the passing of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend Mert Lawwill and offers its condolences to his family and friends at this time. He was 85.

One of the most defining racers of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Lawwill left an undeniable mark on the motorcycling community. The 1969 AMA Grand National champion and star of the classic moto-film On Any Sunday, Lawwill became one of the most recognizable figures in motorcycling throughout his journey aboard two wheels.

Born in Boise, Idaho, in 1940, Lawwill was introduced to riding by his older brother, Roy, despite apprehension from his parents. Not long after, Lawwill began racing at the local TT track in Boise before expanding his racing efforts throughout the Northwest region, mainly finding his home in hare scrambles.

Capturing the attention of famed Harley-Davidson dealer Dudley Perkins, Lawwill moved to California to begin his professional racing career in 1963. Ultimately, Lawwill signed a factory contract with the brand in 1964 and would remain with Harley for the rest of his racing career.

Lawwill earned his first AMA Grand National victory at the Sacramento Mile in 1965, after registering a collection of podium finishes across his first two seasons of professional competition.

Four years later, Lawwill raced his way to the 1969 AMA Grand National championship and was voted AMA “Most Popular Rider of the Year” for his efforts that season.

Two years after his championship-winning season, Lawwill appeared in Bruce Brown’s legendary moto-documentary On Any Sunday, where his AMA Grand National title defense during the 1970 campaign was put on display for a national audience.

In 1977, an inner-ear disorder that affected his balance caused Lawwill to retire from racing. Across his iconic racing career, he captured 15 AMA Grand National victories and amassed 161 AMA Grand National finishes. In this time, Lawwill completed the prestigious dirt track grand slam, winning at least one race in all four disciplines of dirt track racing — including the Mile, TT, Half-Mile and Short Track.

Following his racing career, Lawwill shifted his attention to designing and building frames for motorcycle race bikes. In 1997, he was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, largely thanks to his work with Yeti Cycles. During this time, Lawwill also began production on his famed Mert Lawwill Street Tracker motorcycles, which were street-legal versions of the factory Harley-Davidson XR-750 flat track racers that he excelled on.

Inspired by his former teammate Chris Draayer, who lost his arm in a racing accident, Lawwill also used his engineering talents on the production of human prosthetics, developing a system that would help amputees ride motorcycles and bicycles again. Dubbed “Mert’s Hands,” this device was built around a ball-and-socket attachment that snapped onto the rider’s handlebar to allow them to steer easily.

For all his contributions to the motorcycling community, Lawwill was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2012, Lawwill was granted AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend status, which is reserved for those whose accomplishments transcend their induction category in impactful ways throughout the motorcycle community.

Husqvarna Mobility to reposition SMX program following the 2026 season

Husqvarna Mobility’s professional motocross and supercross racing program in the United States will enter a new phase at the conclusion of the 2026 SMX World Championship season. From 2027 onward, the brand will transition away from operating an in-house factory racing team and instead, support independent teams and riders with factory level materials and technical expertise for the SMX series. This evolution ensures the brand’s presence in racing at the highest level, while repositioning its focus on the brand’s heritage and wider riding community.

For 2027, Husqvarna Mobility will realign its direction in the North American market, aiming to further differentiate and broadly support Husqvarna’s place within the motorcycle industry – spanning its extensive Motocross, Enduro, Travel, Naked, Supermoto, and Electric model lineup.

A legacy brand built upon performing at the highest levels of competition, Husqvarna’s loyal customer base and collective enthusiasts are passionate about riding – and racing – with a widespread involvement in motorcycling that often stretches across an assortment of disciplines, activities, and events.

Husqvarna Mobility’s influence extends far beyond stadium racing and the professional motocross scene. With the exceptional line-up of offroad competition motorcycles leading the way, the brand has forged a deep connection with riders and explorers alike. Backed by more than 120 years of innovation and a commitment to its pioneering spirit, Husqvarna continues to inspire riders to embrace every kind of journey, whether it’s racing, tackling rugged offroad trails, navigating daily commutes, or touring the open road in between.

As part of this transition point and strategic evolution, Husqvarna will develop an engine leasing program in North America within professional racing. Building on an existing structure, the program will make factory level engines and suspension components available for select teams and riders through a leasing model. The program allows the brand to remain active within SMX into the future, continuing to connect with the Husqvarna fanbase at the races and reinforcing the manufacturer’s ongoing commitment to motorsport.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is fully committed to competing at the pinnacle of sport through the remainder of 2026, including this weekend’s AMA Supercross Championship finals, followed by the entire Pro Motocross Championship and SMX post-season.

Late Race Chaos Derails Results for Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper in Denver

As the saying goes, sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug. Denver Supercross was one of those nights. At the penultimate round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, things didn’t quite come together for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper. Despite good starts and flashes of speed inside Empower Field at Mile High, both riders saw promising main event rides unravel late.

The hard-packed, technical track challenged riders all day. Webb got off to a strong start to his heat race in third and battled with Ken Roczen before ultimately finishing fourth. In the main event, the reigning 450SX Champion quickly moved to third, but it was an intense race with multiple riders in the mix. Webb ultimately dropped back to fifth but continued to fight, holding off his teammate who closed in the latter half of the main event. In the final laps, he and Jorge Prado came together with Webb going down. He rejoined in 11th and, with little time left, would finish there.

“Denver was a tough day all around, honestly,” said Webb. “From qualifying, to the heat, to the main event – we just struggled all day. It was one of those days where you’re just off. I was around fifth and trying to make the pass on (Jorge) Prado. We were playing a lot of cat and mouse, and he kind of came over, and we locked bars. My front brake got stuck, and I ended up going down. So that ended my night results-wise. It was an overall bummer.”

Justin Cooper also showed determination throughout the night. He started fourth in his heat race, moved into third, and after a red flag reset shuffled him back, fought his way once again to a third-place finish. In the main event, Cooper didn’t get the start he was hoping for but quickly went to work, charging from around 15th to sixth by the halfway point. On the heels of his teammate, he made his move, but Webb reclaimed the position shortly after. It then turned into a multi-rider fight for fourth. With four laps to go, he and Dylan Ferrandis came together in the sand, with both riders going down. Cooper rejoined in 13th, where he would ultimately finish.

“It was really hard-packed today, which is typical Denver,” said Cooper. “So we were challenged all day with that. It was a really tough track, honestly. I was third in the heat, but just didn’t get the greatest of starts in the main. I think I started around 15th and got up to sixth. I just got caught behind Coop (Webb) there for a little bit, and went back and forth with him. I got stuck in a battle with him, Jorge, and then Dylan (Ferrandis) caught up there. We came together, and that was kind of it. I made some really good progress. I really felt like I had the speed to continue moving forward, but as you move up, the competition gets harder to pass. I gotta be better there. We’ll move on to the last one.”

“A bit of a rough day here in Denver,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “The guys were just a little bit off, but there were some positives. We had decent starts. Justin rode really well in the main event. He came from 15th and caught up to his teammate. The speed he showed and how he rode, in that main event, I’m happy with that. We have these nights in racing, so we’ll just regroup and try to be back on the podium next weekend.”

The team heads to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season finale and Round 17 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship on May 9. Webb remains third in the standings, with Cooper holding fifth, as both look to finish the season strong.

Haiden Deegan Dominance Continues in Denver

With the 250SX Western Division returning to action at Empower Field at Mile High, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan picked up right where he left off – winning. His seventh victory of the season also secured a record-breaking 15th 250SX win for Yamaha and the team – the most by any manufacturer or team in a single season.

Adding to the standout night were a pair of heat race wins and all three riders finishing inside the top five, with Max Anstie fourth and Kayden Minear fifth in his Monster Energy AMA Supercross pro debut.

“Honestly, it was a big night for us,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “It’s nice to get another win with Haiden, but breaking the record tonight for manufacturer wins and team wins was really cool. And with Minear showing up for his first pro supercross race, and having all three guys in the top five – we’re stoked.”

It was another perfect day for Deegan. He earned his seventh fastest qualifier honor of the season, then went on to claim his eighth heat race win of the year. After getting a solid start, he took over the lead on Lap 2 and built a comfortable gap to kick off the night show with a victory. In the main event, he narrowly missed the holeshot but quickly took control, claiming the lead and riding away to earn his 14th-career 250SX win.

“Today was solid,” said Deegan. “I qualified first, P1 in the heat, and then the main event was solid. Another perfect day, which is pretty nice. I got a good start, which makes the race a lot easier, especially here, where it’s going to be really hard to pass. It’s really one-lined and hard-packed. So, I’m glad I was able to get a good start and bring her on home.”

After qualifying fourth, Anstie got a strong start in the first heat race, slotting into second before taking the lead on Lap 2. From there, he went unchallenged to earn his second heat race win of the season.

In the main event, Anstie grabbed the holeshot but was passed shortly after by Deegan and shuffled back to fourth. After briefly losing another position, he regrouped and reclaimed fourth a couple laps later, maintaining a strong pace to finish there. Anstie heads into the season finale third in the 250SX West standings, just seven points shy of second.

“It was a decent night,” said Anstie. “I ended up fourth in the main and got the win in my heat. I’m looking forward to the final round in Salt Lake next weekend.”

Minear’s pro debut was a roller coaster from start to finish. The young Australian was eighth after the start of his heat race and worked his way up to fourth, holding the position for much of the race. However, in the closing moments, he was pushed wide and did not cross the finish line jump at the checkered flag, and was credited with a 12th-place finish, requiring a trip to the LCQ.

In the LCQ, Minear showed resilience. After a crash in the sand while pushing toward the front, he quickly regrouped and charged back to finish second and transfer to the main event. Despite that less-than-ideal gate pick, he got a good start to the main event in 11th and quickly made his way through to sixth by Lap 3. Breaking into the top five with five laps remaining, Minear went on to secure a fifth-place finish.

“I made my pro debut in Denver this weekend, and wow, what a roller coaster of emotions,” said Minear. “Having to go through the LCQ because of an unfortunate incident in the heat race, and then the main event went really well. I felt like I proved what I was capable of doing.”

Next up is the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season finale and East-West Showdown at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 9. With both 250SX titles already secured by Deegan and Cole Davies, the stage is set for a final showdown and bragging rights between East and West.