This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of June 7, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

Bauman Storms to Fourth Straight Victory with Nashville Master Class

Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) extended his run of dominance by claiming a fourth successive Mission AFT SuperTwins victory at the inaugural Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades, Round 7 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

All day long in Hohenwald, Tennessee, the Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track provided a racy surface, allowing riders to select from a wide variety of lines while encouraging creative overtakes and close racing at that front. But that trend proved no match for Bauman’s outright superiority.

The Rick Ware Racing ace slipped under Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) on the opening lap of the Main and then sprinted hard to stretch open a gap. Points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) immediately moved into second and tried at least as hard to keep Bauman locked in his sights.

Perhaps too hard, as it turned out. Kopp chattered and wheelied his way around in second while riding desperate to stop the bleeding. That allowed Bauman to gradually work his advantage up, and he built a lead of more than three seconds before easing his way to a 2.689-second margin of victory over Kopp in the end.

It was a controlled, confident performance from Bauman throughout – at least until the final corner in which he suffered a real scare before taking the checkered flag. 

“I didn’t know how much of a gap I had on Kody,” Bauman said, explaining his last-lap mishap. “I looked back about halfway and saw we had a little bit of breathing room. But I’m like, ‘Man, he’s probably here… He always charges hard.’ I hit a hole and almost went over the bars!

“But no matter what, this Rick Ware Racing/Super.com team… I just love it. We’re probably in the honeymoon stage right now, but we were seeing couples counseling after Daytona. We’re super proud. I can’t thank them enough. It’s just a team effort.”

Third place went to Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07). The result comes as little surprise when considering the reigning Grand National Champion’s historical podium success rate. However, it seemed highly unlikely early in the contest when he was buried in sixth and under threat from the pack behind him.

Daniels maintained his composure and patiently picked his way forward, finally passing Bender for third with a minute remaining on the clock.

Despite losing out on his shot at the box, the fourth was a major uptick in form for Bender, who had yet to finish better than 10th this season. Behind him, Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) made it three Harley-Davidson XG750R in the top five in fifth.

Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) finished sixth while Cameron Smith (No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07), and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) rounded out the top 10.

Bauman’s hot streak combined with the race-by-race consistency of Kopp and Daniels has resulted in a titanic three-way Grand National Championship battle as the series approaches its midpoint. Kopp continues to lead with 136 points, however, Bauman (131) and Daniels (126) are both within easy striking distance with a doubleheader in Lima, Ohio, coming up next.

KICKER AFT Singles

Estenson Racing Yamaha’s Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) responded like the defending KICKER AFT Singles champion that he is, bouncing back from a season’s worst finish of fifth with his third victory of the season.

Saturday’s victory came following a tense, defensive ride on the Australian’s part. Drane fought his way past second-ranked Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) on the opening lap and then spent the bulk of the race doing everything possible to keep Tadman at bay despite the Honda pilot having the edge in pace.

Their showdown became a three-way tilt at half-distance when Tadman’s teammate, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), joined the party. Like Tadman, Porter had the high line working and appeared capable of hauling into the lead at any moment. 

But a significant mistake on Porter’s part removed him from victory contention while breaking Tadman’s concentration. That allowed Drane the space he needed to settle in and power to the checkered flag.”

Drane said, “We’ve been fast all day. I knew the bike was good enough, I just needed to get a good start. I put my head down, but Kage was giving me a lot of hell behind me there. He was pushing me real hard, but I just had to keep focused and do the best I could. I can’t thank my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team enough. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

Porter made an equally significant save to stay upright. When back at speed, he found himself alongside polesitter Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), title hopeful Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and rookie ace Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) in a fight for the final spot on the podium.

That battle wasn’t decided until the final lap, when Saathoff charged his way up into third. Santero secured fourth, while Porter narrowly missed out on his maiden top three yet again in fifth.

Brucks finished a close sixth, while Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), and Dylan Cunningham (No. 252 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM SX-F) completed the top ten.

Drane now leads Tadman by 20 points (134-114). Saathoff is third at 110.

AFT ProSport 450

Estenson Racing prodigy Sam Drane (No. 7 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) returned to AFT ProSport 450 action after missing the previous three rounds and picked up right where he left off.

Drane, who was victorious in the new class’ first two Main Events, made his way back to the top of the podium but only following a spirited scrap with Silver Dollar ST winner Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R).

After Drane successfully got the holeshot from pole, there were justifiable fears that he’d run away with it as he’d done in Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase race and Saturday afternoon’s Heat Race. 

However, Costan-Wood had other plans. He stepped up his game significantly in the Main Event thanks to a high line that allowed him to sling around the circuit at remarkable speed.

On lap 8 of 12, Costan-Wood used that strategy to overhaul Drane, and the two subsequently executed a series of crisscrossing passes on one another, with Drane countering by throwing it down underneath and Costan-Wood squaring him back up in return.

The Australian finally ended that back-and-forth by placing himself in Costan-Wood’s preferred path, stalling his challenger’s momentum ever so slightly. That allowed Drane to reclaim a firm grasp on the lead, which he then held to the checkered flag.

Third went to Dillon Durelle (No. 58 Durelle Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and was earned by overtaking ThrottleFest winner Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) for the position.

Brody Hanson (No. 99 Hanson Racing KTM 450 SX-F) scooped up his third top-five result of the season in fifth.

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR)

Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) picked up her first victory of the 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) season in convincing fashion.

Rodriguez, who’d taken two thirds and a fourth in the year’s three prior races, finally found her race-winning form of a year ago in the season’s penultimate round. She executed an impressive outside pass on early leader Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) and then powered off into the distance.

Despite seeing her season-long win streak come to an end, points leader Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) minimized the damage by working around Heess to come home second. 

Heess notched up her fourth podium in four races by locking down third. 

U.S. ISDE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR 2026

The American Motorcyclist Association is proud to announce the 31 racers that will represent the United States at the 100th FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), with 10 Trophy and 21 Club riders to compete for the Stars and Stripes in the Alentejo Region of Portugal on Oct. 12-17.

The 10 Trophy riders will be spread across the U.S. World Trophy, Junior World Trophy and Women’s World Trophy Teams. Each participating country can allocate four riders to its World Trophy team, three riders aged 23 or younger on its Junior Trophy team, and three female riders on its Women’s Trophy Team.

The United States Women’s World Trophy Team secured its third-consecutive FIM ISDE title in 2025, continuing its run of dominance over the event. The American World Trophy and Junior World Trophy Teams are aiming for a return to the podium, after both teams finished in fourth place in 2025.

Eyeing its fourth-straight ISDE crown, the 2026 U.S. Women’s World Trophy Team will run it back with the terrific trio of Rachel Gutish, Korie Steede and reigning women’s individual ISDE champion Brandy Richards.

“The Women’s Team will remain unchanged. Brandy, Korie, and Rachel continue to make up a fantastic team, and we are looking forward to defending our title once again,” U.S. ISDE Team Manager Antti Kallonen said. “This trio is at the top of their game right now, but we are approaching the race like any other. We know we will need to stay focused through all six days of racing to achieve our goal.”

Seeking a return to prominence in Portugal, the 2026 U.S. World Trophy Team will be comprised of four ISDE veterans with plenty of experience at the event. Johnny Girroir, Grant Davis, Dante Oliveira and Steward Baylor will race on behalf of the United States.

“Our World Trophy Team will be a strong contender for sure,” Kallonen said. “Johnny and Dante return with excellent speed and skill, while Grant moves up to the World Trophy Team and Steward rejoining the squad should provide a big boost in our push for the top step of the podium.”

The 2026 U.S. Junior World Trophy Team, which is aiming for a return to the ISDE podium, will be comprised of Cooper Jones, Jason Tino and Toby Cleveland.

“Our Junior Team will also be competitive, even with some new faces,” Kallonen said. “We are strategically bringing in younger, fast riders and developing them for the future over the next several years. Cooper, Toby, and Jason have all demonstrated strong speed here at home, and now the goal is to carry that performance onto the world stage.”

In addition to the U.S. Trophy Teams, 21 U.S.-representing club riders will also compete in Portugal.

The AMA’s East and West Coast qualifiers decided the seven club teams that will compete on behalf of the United States, including:

Team Rabaconda

Jhak Walker
Colton Shields
Thorn Devlin

Team GTBN

Layton Smail
Tyler Vore
Jaden Dahners

Team Missouri Mudders

Lane Whitmer
Will Sievenpiper
Collier Martinez

Team Mojo/SXS

Anson Maloney
Anthony Ferrante
Nathan Ferderer

Hough Legacy Racing Team

Clayton Gerstner
Lowe Lord
Chase Bright

Team XC Gear

Henry Symanski
Austin Tsakanikas
Trevor Hulin

Randy Mastin Memorial Team

Maverick Alaway
Levi Wilkins
Eric Forsberg

To learn more about the U.S. ISDE Team, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/racing/off-road/isde-international-six-days-enduro/ .

Reigning Champion Lachlan Turner Fends Off Challenge to Open 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship with Hangtown Win

The opening round of the 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony (WMX) commenced with unprecedented anticipation and fanfare at the Coker Pump Hangtown Motocross Classic. A pair of tightly contested and highly entertaining motos saw the series’ top riders wage battle, from which Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha’s Lachlan “Lala” Turner, the reigning back-to-back champion, prevailed with a 1-1 victory after she withstood a fierce challenge from her rivals.

Moto 1

The first 12 Minutes + 1 Lap moto of the weekend took place on Friday afternoon and began with Turner leading the field to the holeshot ahead of Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon and Partzilla Blaster Power PRMX Kawasaki’s Taylah McCutcheon, who made her U.S. debut. As Turner looked to sprint away with the lead she went down and gave up the lead but was able to quickly remount in fourth place. That allowed Cannon to move out front and put some distance over McCutchen and SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen, who moved into third.

Turner was able to quickly recompose herself and began a march back to the front. She got by both Nielsen and McCutchen on the same lap to climb from fourth to second and then looked to make inroads on a multi-second deficit to Cannon. With each passing lap, Turner closed in on Cannon and soon the two were bar-to-bar after Cannon went off track and re-entered just as Turner looked to take the lead, but Cannon held on. The closing laps featured an all-out battle between the two, with Turner able to pull off an incredible last lap pass that forced Cannon to take evasive action.

An impressive come-from-behind effort gave Turner the moto win by a margin of 5.6 seconds over Cannon, with Nielsen third. McCutcheon finished fourth in her first WMX moto, while Jordan Jarvis Racing Yamaha’s Jordan Javis finished fifth.

At the conclusion of the moto, race officials reviewed Cannon’s off-track excursion and deemed she accelerated before re-entering, a violation of the rulebook. As a result, she was assessed a one-position penalty. Nielsen was credited with second while Cannon was relegated to third.

Moto 2

The second and deciding moto took place on Saturday alongside the Pro Motocross Championship. The field was faced with a much different, more demanding racetrack and off the start it was Built Hard Racing KTM’s Piper Bell who grabbed the holeshot, only to be passed by Cannon, Nielsen, and Turner. The clear track allowed Cannon to put some distance on her rivals.

Turner was aggressive early and made her way around Nielsen for second. She then looked to erase the deficit to Cannon, only to find that the Honda rider had gone down. The Australian was in the process of picking up and remounting her motorcycle when Turner and Nielsen came through and resumed in third place. A determined Cannon went back on the attack and quickly got by Nielsen to move into second. She then tracked down Turner to set up another showdown for the win. While she kept Turner close, Cannon was unable to make a pass attempt.

Turner withstood Cannon’s pressure to put the finishing touch on a sweep of the motos by a mere 0.781 tenths over her Honda counterpart. Nielsen finished a distant third.

Overall

With a 1-1 effort, Turner’s pursuit of the championship three-peat got off to an ideal start. Cannon impressed in a 3-2 effort to secure the runner-up spot, which came via a tiebreaker over Nielsen’s 2-3 finishes that placed her third overall.

Turner has established an eight-point lead over Cannon and Nielsen after the opening round.

Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)Lachlan Turner, Gardnerville, Nev., Yamaha (1-1 // 50)Charli Cannon, Maroochy River, Qld., Australia, Honda (3-2 // 42)Mikayla Nielsen, Riverside, Calif., Honda (2-3 // 42)Jordan Jarvis, Leesburg, Fla., Yamaha (5-4 // 35)Taylah McCutcheon, Cornubia, Qld., Australia, Kawasaki (4-5 // 35)Lilly-Ann Pettus, Hanceville, Ala., Triumphi (6-6 // 32)Emma Milesevic, Lal Lal, Victoria, Australia, Yamaha (7-7 // 30)Piper Bell, Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., KTM (8-9 // 27)Destiny Slingerland, Cowley, Alberta, Canada, Yamaha (14-8 // 22)Haileigh Williams, Grass Valley, Calif., Husqvarna (11-11 // 22) Championship Standings (Round 1 of 6)Lachlan Turner, Gardnerville, Nev., Yamaha – 50Charli Cannon, Maroochy River, Qld., Australia, Honda – 42Mikayla Nielsen, Riverside, Calif., Honda – 42Jordan Jarvis, Leesburg, Fla., Yamaha – 35Taylah McCutcheon, Cornubia, Qld., Australia, Kawasaki – 35Lilly-Ann Pettus, Hanceville, Ala., Triumphi – 32Emma Milesevic, Lal Lal, Victoria, Australia, Yamaha – 30Piper Bell, Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., KTM – 27Destiny Slingerland, Cowley, Alberta, Canada, Yamaha – 22Haileigh Williams, Grass Valley, Calif., Husqvarna – 22

Box Score

Championship Standings

The 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony will continue next weekend with Round 2 from Colorado’s Thunder Valley Motocross Park. The WMX will be a part of the Toyota Thunder Valley National Presented by American Petroleum Institute with two days of racing. Moto 1 will take place on Friday, June 12, with Moto 2 alongside the Pro Motocross Championship on Saturday, June 13. Live coverage of the second moto can be seen on Peacock as part of the network’s comprehensive coverage of Thunder Valley that begins at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET.

CAREER-FIRST 250MX PODIUM FOR RED BULL KTM’S JULIEN BEAUMER AT HANGTOWN

Round 2 – AMA Pro Motocross Championship

After opening the season with an impressive P5 overall at Fox Raceway on return from injury, Beaumer continued his momentum at Round 2 by qualifying seventh aboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and then charged to fourth in Moto 1.

The 20-year-old was even stronger in Moto 2, climbing from outside the top 10 on the opening lap to finish in a hard-fought third position. His 4-3 scorecard resulted in P2 overall for the round and marked the first Pro Motocross podium of his young career.

Beaumer now sits third in the championship standings after two rounds, continuing an impressive return to competition after being sidelined since the SMX Playoffs last September.

Julien Beaumer:”I definitely didn’t think it [this podium] would come so quick! Man, I feel like I am dreaming – it was a long nine months, and I think today shows the work that we put in, and that the decisions we’ve made while I was away were the right ones. I’ve been working hard and I couldn’t be happier to do this for the team. They stuck behind me for the last nine months and believed in me, so to be up here for them is amazing – I can’t thank them enough. They put an amazing bike underneath me, my bike was awesome all day, and I couldn’t be happier to be on the podium.”

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Jorge Prado qualified third fastest with a 1:50.543 lap-time as he looked to build upon his runner-up finish achieved at Fox Raceway one week ago.

The four-time world champion launched to a strong start in Moto 1 and held fourth place while closing on a podium during the latter stages of the race. However, a late issue resulted in a DNF, also leaving him with a difficult gate pick for Moto 2.

After completing the opening laps outside the top 20 in the second moto, Prado charged through the field to finish in 13th position. He now sits seventh in the 450MX standings entering Round 3 in Colorado next weekend.

Jorge Prado:”It was a rough day at Hangtown. The issue in Moto 1 while running fourth place really cost us, which was especially true knowing my gate pick was going to end up being on the far outside for Moto 2. That wasn’t good for me, but we did what we could to salvage points, and all I can do is be my very best for the remainder of the rounds and see where we can end up overall.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450MX teammate Aaron Plessinger was the eighth-fastest 450MX qualifier at Hangtown and featured in P4 at the start of Moto 1. An early off-track excursion sent him down the order, with ‘The Cowboy’ recovering to 12th place.

After falling heavily before an early restart to Moto 2, Plessinger was sitting 10th at the conclusion of Lap 1, but was later forced out of the race prior to its halfway mark. He will look to reset for Thunder Valley’s third round of the 2026 outdoor season.

Aaron Plessinger:”Hangtown was not the greatest of days. I qualified pretty well and was actually feeling good on the bike, and then in Moto 1, I got off to a good start, but on Lap 1, coming down one of the hills, I stuffed the front-end into a hole. I went off the track and didn’t get back on until around 40 riders went past me. I was in last and did some good laps to come back to 12th, but overall, the mistake on my part took away from the result. And then Moto 2, going around the first turn, I tucked the front, then a couple of people ran over me. Off the restart, I got another okay start, and then we had an issue that forced me to pull out of the race, unfortunately. We’ll regroup now and get ready for Colorado.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing was without four-time 450MX champion Eli Tomac at Round 2 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, with the Colorado native remaining sidelined while recovering from injuries sustained at the season-opener.

Next Race: June 13 – Thunder Valley, Colorado

Results 450MX Class – Hangtown National

Jett Lawrence (Honda)
Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Dante Oliveira (KTM)

Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 2 of 11 rounds

Hunter Lawrence, 94 points
Jett Lawrence, 88
Haiden Deegan, 75
RJ Hampshire, 63
Jorge Prado, 53
Aaron Plessinger, 37
Dante Oliveira, 18
Malcolm Stewart, 10

Results 250MX Class – Hangtown National

Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna)
Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna)
Casey Cochran (Husqvarna)

Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 2 of 11 rounds

Seth Hammaker, 85 points
Levi Kitchen, 78
Julien Beaumer, 71
Ryder DiFrancesco, 47
Daxton Bennick, 24
Casey Cochran, 12

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire races to P6 at Hangtown

450MX front-runner climbs to fourth in the championship standings after two rounds

Equipped with his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire posted the sixth-fastest qualifying time during the morning sessions at the Northern Californian venue, before achieving a hard-fought fifth-place finish in Moto 1 after a spirited charge forward.

The 30-year-old started outside the top 10 in Moto 2, although again he was unrelenting in his climb through the pack as he completed the race in sixth place, with his combined score earning him sixth overall, and sees him ranked P4 in the standings after two rounds.

“It was another solid weekend at Hangtown,” commented Hampshire. “I was around that top-five for most of the day again – my second moto start was a little better, but still, I need to start further toward the front. I was battling all day long, ate a lot of roost, but it’s a solid start to the season with four good motos. I’m looking forward to Colorado next weekend and then heading east, because I think we have a lot more still to give.”

California native Ryder DiFrancesco qualified second in the 250MX division onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition with a 1:52.871 lap-time, but a difficult start in Moto 1 saw him finish in 12th position. He rebounded with an eighth-place finish in Moto 2, with the combined results earning him 11th overall for the round.

Following two rounds of Pro Motocross competition, DiFrancesco sits 10th in the 250MX standings as the series heads to Thunder Valley in Colorado next weekend.
“Qualifying was really good at Hangtown,”said DiFrancesco.”I was first in the first session and then second overall. First start led me to be in the back the whole time fighting to come forward, and I spent some energy doing that. Then I dodged a bullet by missing the first turn pile-up in Moto 2, but I still need to be up front. I’m capable of winning and taking podiums every weekend, but I can’t be starting from the back.”

250MX teammate Daxton Bennick finished 13th in Moto 1 aboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, but was caught up in the multi-rider first-turn incident at the start of Moto 2 and ultimately withdrew from the race.

Also representing Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in the 250MX Class was Casey Cochran, who qualified 12th fastest before recording a 15th-place finish in Moto 1. Cochran was also ruled out of Moto 2 after becoming caught up in the costly crash at the first corner.

Next Race: June 13 – Thunder Valley, Colorado

Results 450MX Class – Hangtown National1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)3. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)6. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)16. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)17. Jorge Prado (KTM)

Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 2 of 11 rounds1. Hunter Lawrence, 94 points2. Jett Lawrence, 883. Haiden Deegan, 754. RJ Hampshire, 637. Jorge Prado, 5313. Aaron Plessinger, 3722. Malcolm Stewart, 10

Results 250MX Class – Hangtown National1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)2. Julien Beaumer (KTM)3. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)11. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)16. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)19. Casey Cochran (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 2 of 11 rounds1. Seth Hammaker, 85 points2. Levi Kitchen, 783. Julien Beaumer, 7110. Ryder DiFrancesco, 4714. Daxton Bennick, 2422. Casey Cochran, 12

Dominant 1-2 Results for Jett and Hunter Lawrence at Hangtown MX Classic

Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence has been nearly untouchable in his 450 AMA Pro Motocross career thus far, so a third-overall finish at last week’s 2026 opener—while a dream result for nearly anyone else—had some wondering if his superiority had slipped. At this weekend’s Hangtown Motocross Classic however, Lawrence shrugged off the pain of a still-healing ankle and dominated, topping qualifying and winning both motos. Teammate and brother Hunter Lawrence—who had turned in a similar performance one week earlier—was also impressive, finishing a strong second in both motos and retaining a lead in the championship fight.

A moto 1 holeshot and another strong start in moto 2 allowed Jett to control the races from the front. Looking increasingly comfortable aboard his CRF450RWE, the defending AMA Pro Motocross Champion was nearly flawless on his way to securing his first overall victory of the season. Still, he was pushed most of the way by Hunter, who displayed his signature consistency and speed throughout the day. He spent most of moto 1 in third place but made a late pass on Haiden Deegan and then immediately pulled away to finish second. Moto 2 saw the Australian grab the holeshot and lead lap 1 before a red flag reset the race. After the restart, Hunter found himself in second place and spent the remainder of the moto applying pressure to his younger brother. His efforts secured second overall and completed another 1-2 finish for Honda HRC Progressive.

In the 250 division, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas took significant steps forward from the opening round, showcasing improved starts and podium-contending speed on their way to securing fifth and eighth overall, respectively.

Shimoda delivered a solid third-place finish in moto 1 after spending much of the race challenging for second, while Hymas impressed with a fifth-place result. Unfortunately, both riders were caught in a massive first-turn incident at the start of moto 2, forcing them to charge from deep in the pack. Despite the setback, both riders mounted determined comeback rides, with Shimoda steadily working his way forward to finish sixth in the moto and fifth overall, while Hymas finished 12th in the moto and eighth overall. Although the final overall results do not fully reflect the pace demonstrated by both riders, their performance highlighted important progress.

NOTES

All four Honda HRC Progressive riders took part in Friday’s media activities, conducting interviews with the attending outlets and getting some time on the Hangtown track. Weather conditions were much hotter than on race day.
Roseville Honda Motorsports—a Powerhouse dealer based about 35 minutes north of the track—staffed a popup display in the Honda HRC Progressive pits at Hangtown, showing a 2026 CRF450R, as well as a CRF50F (Honda also had a 2027 CRF450R on display). The activation was also an opportunity for the dealership to engage with local fans and customers.
Between the first and second qualifying sessions, the four factory Honda riders took part in an autograph session in the Honda HRC Progressive pits.
AMA Pro Motocross announcer Katie Osborne was featured on Race Day Live, as she was invited to the Honda Rider Education Center to ride a CRF250F with her family.
Hangtown marked the first round of the 2026 WMX series, and two Red Riders—Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon and SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen—were representing. This season finds the class contesting one moto on Fridays and one moto on Saturdays, with the latter included in the Peacock coverage. Cannon finished second overall with 3-2 results, while Nielsen placed third overall with a 2-3 tally.
Before the start of the second moto, Peacock aired a feature on Nielsen, which included a look at her career so far and interviews with her parents.
Peacock also included a feature on Jett Lawrence’s comeback from injury.
For the second week in a row, a Lawrence topped 450 combined qualifying, only this time it was Jett instead of Hunter. The older Lawrence brother had a stellar hot lap going at the end of the second session, but a late tip-over left him a respectable fourth. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig and Kyle Webster were 10th and 19th, respectively, with SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell 23rd, Limited Decal-backed Sage Powers 39th, Hoag Racing’s Blake Hoag 41st, JCR Honda’s Ryan Surratt 43rd, Clinton Racing’s KC Clinton 55th, Feine Tune Racing’s Gavin Tilford 58th, Factory Moto Kids’ Talon Gorman 61st, Morse Racing’s Rocco Morse 68th, Factory Moto Kids’ Jeffrey Gorman 69th, Strode Racing’s Kaiser Strode 71st, Badell Racing’s Jack Badell 72nd and Jordan Isola Racing-sponsored Jordan Isola 75th. Surratt finished third in the 450 last-chance qualifier, slotting him into the motos.
Honda HRC Progressive riders Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas had a respectable showing in 250 combined qualifying, placing third and sixth, respectively. Phoenix Racing Honda rookie Aden Keefer was 24th-best, two spots ahead of teammate Gavin Towers. SLR Honda’s Alvin Hillan was 42nd, MPS Enterprise-backed Ty Freehill was 54th, and Honda Switzerland AGMX Racing rider Tim Jaunin was 57th. Hillan won the 250 last-chance qualifier, earning a spot in the motos.
Jett posted the fastest lap times in both 450 motos, and his moto 2 best was particularly impressive—over 1.3 seconds better than anyone else. Hunter was second on the lap-time sheets in both motos.
With this weekend’s victory, Honda extends its premier-class overall-win record at Hangtown to 21—nine more than the next-closest manufacturer. Red Riders on the list include Billy Grossi, Marty Smith, Bob Hannah, Alan King, Rick Johnson (three times), Jeff Stanton, John Dowd, Jeremy McGrath, Kevin Windham, Sebastian Tortelli, Ricky Carmichael (three times), Chad Reed, Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen and Jett Lawrence (three times).
Honda HRC Progressive heads to Lakewood, Colorado, for the Thunder Valley National Motocross this Saturday. Hunter Lawrence will continue to carry the red plate on his CRF450RWE. The event will also mark the second round of the WMX Championship, with Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon and SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen competing again.

Jett Lawrence
“I worked on my starts a lot this week, but didn’t ride as much, to try and save my ankle. I honestly think this track looked after my ankle a lot more than Pala; I had a lot of moments where I could rest my foot, and my ankle is definitely not as sore as last week. Obviously, Hunter’s my brother, so I know him very well—he’s always right there for the whole race. I spent the first 15 minutes getting a flow, using the least amount of energy, and then halfway through did one really fast lap to get a gap where I could pull away. It was a good day, and I’m happy I was able to go 1-1, like I used to; it gives me some confidence going into the rest of the season.”

Hunter Lawrence
“It was a different kind of race craft today. Where normally most tracks, you can sit on a guy’s rear wheel for a good amount of time, and you can take different lines and not really lose that tag—you had to time things. Multiple times in the first moto, I’d take half a lap or a lap as a breather, and then I’d try and make another little push and make something happen. I tried doing the same thing with Jett in the second moto, but when I took the breather, he ended up sprinting for his fastest lap, and I couldn’t bridge that gap again. I feel like any time you were following someone and tried a different line, you just lost time, so I really do feel like that red flag messed me up.”

Jo Shimoda
“Overall, it was a positive day. I think the bike has gotten better for me, but we still need to work on the starts a little bit. If we can get up in the front, I think we can avoid the carnage and get away with better results. But my riding is good, I feel pretty fit, and I’m excited for next weekend.”

Chance Hymas
“Round 2 at Hangtown was alright. It’s just too bad I got caught up in a pileup in the second moto. That wasn’t great, but we made improvements on the bike coming into this weekend, and we’re looking forward to restarting next weekend.”

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager
“Last weekend was kind of an anomaly, because Jett is typically one of the best starters. But we worked on that this week, and it literally took him 15 minutes on Tuesday before he was already ripping starts. Today, the racing between him and Hunter was epic. Hunter was absolutely going for it in the second moto, and it was really fun to watch. They’re super competitive, so it’s going to be a dogfight for this championship. It reminded me of 2022, when they went back and forth in 250 outdoors, and just had these really awesome races.

“The 250 class is super difficult—when everybody’s so close, you have to get a good start. Jo made his way through the pack in the second moto, but our goal is to get really consistent starts, like we did at the end of last summer. Jo almost got a great start in that second moto, but then Seth Hammaker’s bike came over and kind of got in his way. If he would’ve been P2 then, I think he would’ve won that moto, and then it would have been a different conversation. For Chance, he just needs to find his groove and get his craft and fitness back. Colorado is the track that he’s the most comfortable at, so I’m hoping we can make a big step there and then keep building.”

Podium result for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Korie Steede at Watkins Glen GNCC

Defending WXC Class Champion Korie Steede took a third-place finish in Round 8 of the 2026 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series at Watkins Glen this weekend, as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Mateo Oliveira took a P2 result in West Hare Scrambles at the Timber Beast Hare Scramble.

Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 8

It was another strong outing for Korie Steede onboard her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition at the Watkins Glen International GNCC, arriving off the back of an impressive GNCC campaign that had seen her earn seven-consecutive podium finishes.

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was once again in contention at Round 8 of the season, which featured a technical race track characterized by tree roots and a challenging, natural terrain layout.

Steede powered to a total time of 2:15:42 by race’s end after an opening lap crash, earning third place on the podium and retaining P3 in the overall WXC standings – just 10 points from the lead entering the Snowshoe GNCC on June 26-29.

“I got off to a solid start in P2 and pushed early to challenge for the lead,” Steede commented. “Unfortunately, a couple of mistakes on the opening lap put me on the ground, and from there I spent the rest of the day trying to recover. I made the wrong tire choice for the conditions, which left me fighting the bike throughout the race and made it difficult to maintain the pace I wanted. It wasn’t the result we were looking for, but days like this are part of racing. We’ll learn from it, make the necessary adjustments, and come back stronger at the next round.”

Former GNCC Champion Craig DeLong arrived with momentum after finishing second on the podium at Powerline Park, although he faced a tougher weekend in adapting to the terrain at Watkins Glen.

Still, a measured performance aboard his Husqvarna FX 350 saw him earn an eighth-place result in class, continuing to hold third-place in the XC1 Class standings and sitting just 22 points out of the series lead.

“I got a good start today but struggled to find a flow through all the roots,” said DeLong. “Little mistakes ended up costing me today – I’m looking forward to having another shot at it later this month!”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results

1. Grant Baylor, Kawasaki

2. Liam Draper, Yamaha

3. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki

4. Ben Kelley, KTM

5. Grant Davis, KTM

8. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

WXC Class Results

1. Danielle McDonald, Yamaha

2. Brandy Richards, KTM

3. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

West Hare Scrambles – Round 5

Also in action over the weekend was defending West Hare Scrambles number one Mateo Oliveira, who earned second at the Timber Beast Hare Scramble onboard his Husqvarna FE 450.

Oliveira led the opening two laps in Orofino, Idaho, before settling into second position for the remaining five laps to record a total time of 2:28:03. That was where he would remain for a second-place result on the podium.

As a result of his fifth podium in five rounds to date this season, Oliveira holds a 29-point advantage in the Pro Class standings with only two rounds remaining.

“Good racing at Round 5,” Oliveira reflected. “I passed into the lead within the first couple of miles, then lost the lead around halfway. By the time I figured out the track and found my flow, it was a little too late! We ended up in second place for this round.”

Pro Class Results

1. Ricky Russell, Kawasaki

2. Mateo Oliveira, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

3. Layton Smail, Kawasaki

ANOTHER STRONG WEEKEND FOR FMF KTM FACTORY RACING AT WATKINS GLEN GNCC

FMF KTM Factory Racing riders Ben Kelley and Grant Davis delivered top-five finishes in Round 8 of the 2026 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series at the Watkins Glen International, on a weekend where Jason Tino and Brandy Richards both claimed podium results in class.

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 8

Equipped with the KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION this weekend, defending GNCC Champion Ben Kelley ran at the front throughout the race’s three-hour duration, taking over the lead on the second-to-last lap.

After spending an extended period off the bike in recent months, Kelley was unable to maintain his late-race charge, ultimately crossing the finish line in a well-earned fourth position in the XC1 Open Pro Class.

Following eight rounds, the 30-year-old sits fourth in the XC1 standings, just one point shy of third place as the series heads to the Snowshoe GNCC later this month.

Ben Kelley: “I had a good race and I was battling at the front all day. I did have three crashes, but I was able to race my way back to the front each time. I got into the lead and led that second-to-last lap and had a gap, although, just having been off the bike for five weeks, I just got tired. Fourth was what we had today, and overall, I’m happy with the result.”

Davis also spent time at the front of the field, leading a portion of the race aboard his KTM 450 XC-F before claiming a solid fifth-place finish in the XC1 Open Pro category as he continues to build experience during his first full season in the XC1 Class.

Grant Davis: “It was a good day! I got off to a decent start and then entered the lead around halfway, but then melted my hand on a lapper’s pipe after going down. Came back for a top-five, which I’m happy with – I’m happy to record a solid score at this round.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Jason Tino arrived at Watkins Glen looking to extend his four-race podium streak in 2026, which included back-to-back victories at Rounds 5 and 6. A difficult start aboard his KTM 250 XC-F left him with work to do.

Tino steadily worked his way forward to join the leading group of XC1 and XC2 contenders, but a late-race crash ended his hopes of challenging for the class victory. Despite that setback, he fought on to secure second place and extend his podium streak to five consecutive rounds. Following eight rounds, Tino sits tied for the lead in the XC2 standings with one round remaining before the summer break.

Jason Tino: “I got an absolutely terrible start, so I had to work really hard out there – by the first lap, the leaders had already put 15 to 20 seconds on me. Once I got into third, I had to push, and my lap times late in the race were really solid. I closed up to the train of front-runners, then Gus [Riordan] put the hammer down, and we were trying to chase him after that. I had a pretty good crash towards the end there, but overall I am satisfied with Watkins Glen – it got super-rough here, but it was sweet.”

The battle atop the WXC division reignited at Round 8, with Brandy Richards launching strongly aboard her KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION to secure an important holeshot.

A race-long fight for the lead unfolded from there, with Richards pushing the pace right to the checkered flag. She ultimately secured second place on the podium, recording a total time of 2:08:00. With another strong result added to her campaign, Richards now sits just seven points off the series lead.

Brandy Richards: “I took the holeshot and stayed consistent on Lap 1, just knowing the conditions were going to get treacherous with all the tree roots. [I] led most of the opening lap but then had a little spill, which let Danielle [McDonald] get by me, and I knew she was going to go fast. I tried to latch on, and we ended up going back and forth quite a bit, which was a lot of fun. I threw a Hail Mary at the end there, but tucked the front, and that was kind of the end of my charge.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Grant Baylor, Kawasaki
2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
4. Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing
5. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing

XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Angus Riordan, Honda
2. Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing
3. Jhak Walker, Beta

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

LEVI KITCHEN EARNS FIRST OVERALL WIN OF 2026 AT HANGTOWN

Mile-High Tradition from Thunder Valley Continues with Longstanding Support from Denver Toyota Dealer Association

The second half of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship is already off to a captivating start just two races into the summer Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The battle at the head of the pack across both classes has produced unexpected outcomes thus far and is poised to continue as the season’s most unique challenge awaits in the mile-high altitude of Lakewood, Colorado. This year’s annual visit to Thunder Valley Motocross Park will extend the venue’s longstanding partnership with the Denver Toyota Dealer Association, who will provide title support of the Toyota Thunder Valley National Presented by American Petroleum Institute this Saturday, June 13, for Round 20 of the SMX regular season.

“We knew the 2026 season was going to be exciting, but the myriad of storylines that have unfolded in the first two weekends is incredible. We’ve been witness to everything that makes the Pro Motocross Championship so uniquely compelling. You just never know what might happen or how quickly things can change,” said Tim Cotter, Director, MX Sports Pro Racing. “This weekend’s trek to the Rockies is always special, with perhaps our most unique setting in all American motocross. Over the past quarter century Thunder Valley has truly ascended into a world class venue and has become one of the summer’s must-visit destinations. The longstanding partnership with the Denver Toyota Dealers is a significant part of that as thousands of passionate fans will once again line the mountainside racetrack.”

Thunder Valley’s emergence on the championship calendar in 2005 provided a dramatically different challenge from what competitors were accustomed to each summer. The early years required meticulous fine-tuning of the motorcycles to account for the altitude. As a result, the demands required to achieve success at Thunder Valley have ultimately contributed to the incredible performance capabilities of today’s models. While the racing itself is unique, the scenic mountainside setting of the venue has made it one of the summer’s standout events. Throughout its existence, Thunder Valley has charted its legacy by being the site of several milestone moments in American motocross history. Perhaps most notably is the first ever night race in 2008, while serving as the host venue of the 2010 FIM Motocross of Nations, won by Team USA, has also served as a monumental achievement. Those landmark moments and two decades worth of summer memories are why excitement is always high when the championship visits Thunder Valley

The scenic landscape of Thunder Valley Motocross Park will provide one of the most captivating settings in American motocross along with the summer’s most unique challenge on the racetrack.

The Denver Toyota Dealer Association (TDA) is a collective of six Toyota dealerships located within the Denver/Boulder area. The dealerships that comprise TDA are AutoNation Toyota Arapahoe (Centennial), Groove Toyota (Englewood), Larry H. Miller Toyota Boulder, Mountain States Toyota (Denver), Stevinson Toyota East (Aurora), and Stevinson Toyota West (Lakewood). The Association is rooted within each community throughout the greater Denver area, with several additional partnerships that have served to support the best experiences, events, initiatives, and programs the region has to offer for many years.

The competition out on the racetrack thus far has been nothing short of amazing. A mere four motos into the season and each respective class has produced dramatically different outcomes. In the 450SMX Class, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence shocked the racing world with a dominant return to form last weekend. Still visibly a long way from being fully recovered from an offseason ankle and foot injury, the defending champion looked like the rider we’ve grown accustomed to the past three seasons with a convincing 1-1 effort. While it was a statement performance from Jett, it doesn’t diminish how tight the margins were with his older brother. Hunter Lawrence kept Jett within his sights all afternoon and made it clear he doesn’t intend to give up the red plate atop the standings. The stage is set for another Lawrence vs Lawrence battle this summer, but coming off his first podium appearance in the premier class Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Haiden Deegan took another significant step forward to running up front.

The sibling rivalry between the Honda HRC Progressive duo of Jett (1) and Hunter (96) Lawrence was renewed at Hangtown and now just six points separate them atop the 450SMX standings.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

With first and second place finishes to open the season, Hunter Lawrence retains possession of the red plate at the 450SMX Class points leader.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Haiden Deegan joined the fray up front at Hangtown and earned the first podium result of his premier class career.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

In the 250SMX Class, another wild afternoon rewarded consistency for race winner Levi Kitchen, who followed the lead of his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Seth Hammaker the week prior. One week after misfortune in the second moto derailed what could have been a triumphant afternoon for Kitchen, the Washington native capitalized on the misfortune that befell Hammaker in last weekend’s second moto. Kitchen not only ended a 13-race winless drought that dated back to 2024, but he also closed to within single digits of Hammaker in the point standings. Virtually no rider in the class has managed to avoid adversity thus far, and it has made for a wilder start to the title fight than expected.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen made his long awaited return to the top step of the podium and has moved to within single digits of the 250SMX Class points lead.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker overcame a big crash at the start of the second moto to salvage a podium result and possession of the red plate.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Adding another intriguing wrinkle to the mix this weekend will be the U.S. debut of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing mounted Coenen brothers, the rising star twins from Belgium that have taken MXGP by storm this season. This past weekend in Latvia, Lucas Coenen led every lap across the two MXGP motos, while Sascha Coenen duplicated those efforts in the MX2 division. They’ll bring a boost of confidence and a surge of momentum overseas to Colorado, where Lucas Coenen will square off against the likes of the Lawrences and Deegan in the 450SMX Class, while Sascha Coenen will look to disrupt the early success of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki in the 250SMX Class.

Additionally, the Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony will contest its second round of the season. Points leader and reigning champion Lachlan Turner will lead the way aboard her Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha on the heels of a 1-1 effort at the opening round, but Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon is ready to unseat the champ and will look to claim her first victory on U.S. soil.

Following an exciting opening round the Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony will be back in action at Thunder Valley.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

The Toyota Thunder Valley National will get underway this Saturday, June 13, with on-track action starting at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET, followed by opening ceremonies at 11:15 p.m. PT / 2:15 p.m. ET then motos for the 450SMX Class and 250SMX Class starting at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET. The Pro Motocross Championship will make its live network broadcast premiere this summer on NBC with a special showcase starting at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET. Additionally, comprehensive live streaming coverage will air exclusively on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET before coverage of the motos gets underway at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET.

Impending Arrival of World Champion Lotte van Drunen Injects More Excitement into Must-See WMX Round from Thunder Valley

After a thrilling opening round, the 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony (WMX) received an added jolt of excitement with this week’s breaking news that reigning back-to-back FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion Lotte van Drunen will make the overseas journey to compete against stars of the WMX. The 18-year-old Dutch phenom will join the fray starting this weekend, at the second round from Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, Colorado, as part of the Toyota Thunder Valley National Presented by American Petroleum Institute.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lotte van Drunen to the U.S. to compete in the Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony. The opportunity to add a two-time World Champion into the mix serves as yet another milestone for this series and is a testament to the talent of our athletes,” said Christina Denney, WMX Director. “This is confirmation that the world is watching WMX and it’s incredibly rewarding to know we’re building a championship that the most elite racers from across the globe want to be a part of.”

Reigning back-to-back FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion Lotte van Drunen, of the Netherlands, will make her U.S. debut at the second round of the 2026 season from Thunder Valley.
Photo: De Baets Yamaha MX Team

Leading the field into action in the mile-high altitude of Thunder Valley is Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha’s Lachlan Turner, who began her quest for a third straight WMX crown with a hard-fought 1-1 performance at the opening round this past weekend from Hangtown in Northern California. While Turner ultimately walked away with a sweep of the motos, it didn’t come easy as Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon went bar-to-bar with Turner in each moto and nearly came away with a 1-1 sweep of her own if not for some self-inflicted misfortune. The 20-year-old Australian has yet to enjoy the thrill of victory since coming to the U.S., but if she continues to race at the level she showed at the opening round and avoids miscues, that winless distinction seems destined to end. While Turner and Cannon reached a level of their own at Hangtown, it was hard to not take notice of strong starts to the season for SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen, 20, multi-time champion Jordan Jarvis, 25, and Partzilla Blaster Power PRMX Kawasaki’s Taylah McCutcheon, 21, who made her U.S. debut coming over from Australia.

Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha's Lala Turner [1]

Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha’s Lala Turner brings the momentum of a 1-1 effort
at the opening round into Thunder Valley.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon had winning speed at the opening round and will look to break through for her first win on U.S. soil at Thunder Valley.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

It was Turner versus Cannon across both motos at Hangtown
as the second chapter of the 2026 season awaits.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

The addition of van Drunen to the WMX field is poised to bring even more attention and fanfare to the growing series, with a pair of back-to-back champions from opposite sides of the world set to line up together for the first time. As a result, the anticipation of a Turner versus van Drunen showdown has grabbed the attention of the motocross world and adds even more international diversity to the WMX Championship, which will welcome six different athletes from four countries outside the United States at Thunder Valley.

van Drunen will take advantage of a break in MXW action to test her meddle against America’s best.
Photo: De Baets Yamaha MX Team

Sitting more than 6,000 feet above sea level and nestled into the side of a mountain, Thunder Valley Motocross Park is unlike any other venue in American motocross. With an uphill start accompanied by multiple elevation changes, several air-inducing jumps, and an array of technical, rut-lined corners, the track layout provides a dynamic mix of obstacles that flow smoothly but become increasingly difficult as the day progresses.

On-track action for the WMX at Thunder Valley will span two days, with qualifying and the weekend’s first 12 Minutes + 1 Lap moto scheduled for Friday, June 12. The women will return to the track on Saturday, June 13, for a midday warm-up before contesting the second and final moto following the conclusion of the men’s 450SMX and 250SMX classes. For fans watching from home, the second moto can be seen live, exclusively on Peacock, with comprehensive coverage of every moto at the Thunder Valley National kicking off at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET.

For more information on the WMX series, visit the official website at www.RaceWMX.com or call (304) 284-0101. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #RaceWMX.

Facebook: @racewmx
Instagram: @racewmx

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