This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of July 12, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

Second Half of Summer Campaign Kicks Off from Minnesota’s Spring Creek MX Park with Continued Support from FXR

The second half of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is set to kick off from the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” where Minnesota’s legendary Spring Creek MX Park will host Round 24 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship. The event’s 44th running will continue the track’s successful partnership with Canadian gear company FXR Racing, which will extend its title support of the FXR Spring Creek National Presented by Frescados Tortillas this Saturday, July 18.

“The first half of the Pro Motocross Championship has been exceptional, with an abundance of compelling storylines emerging through the first six races of the season. The fight atop the standings across both classes has gotten more dramatic with each gate drop, with the distance from first to second in each class sitting at a combined total of three points,” said Davey Coombs, President, MX Sports Pro Racing. “We knew we were in for a special season, but the action thus far has exceeded our expectations. Now, we head to one of our most dynamic venues at Minnesota’s Spring Creek MX Park, where the Martin family has painstakingly updated the property and racetrack for decades to make it one of the most anticipated races of the outdoor campaign. Since establishing a partnership with FXR, the Spring Creek National has enjoyed its most successful events over a history that spans more than 40 years and given the incredible racing we’ve witnessed thus far, this year’s 44th running could be the Martin’s biggest event to date.”

Spring Creek MX Park first joined the Pro Motocross Championship schedule during the 1983 season and has remained on the calendar every year since, for 44 consecutive years. The longest start straight in the sport gives way to a thrilling mix of technical sections like the infamous sand whoops, big air obstacles like Holy Schmidt, named after late Minnesota legend Donny Schmidt, and the ominous uphill and downhill challenge of Mount Martin, all of which combine to make Spring Creek not only one of the most demanding tracks in American motocross for racers, but also one of the most captivating venues for spectators. For the past four decades, the rural town of Millville has turned into the global epicenter of motocross for one weekend each summer, where its few hundred residents welcome tens of thousands of passionate race fans along with the most elite athletes and race teams on the planet.

Since 1988, the Martin family has called Spring Creek their home, residing just adjacent to the property. John and Greta Martin helped grow the track and National into the world-renowned event it is today and also fostered decorated racing careers for their sons, Alex and Jeremy, who are now ushering a second generation of family ownership. No moment exemplified the family legacy more than one of the sport’s most memorable finishes last summer, when Jeremy took the checkered flag at his home track in the final moto of his career. To add to the challenge facing racers this year, the infamous hillside centerpiece that bears the family’s name has been overhauled. Rather than challenging riders with the steepest and longest ascent and descent in the championship, Mount Martin has been transformed into a more technical section, bisected by a downhill s-turn that will split the descent into two parts, with the intent of adding even more passing opportunities.

Minnesota’s legendary Spring Creek MX Park will kick off the second half of the summer Pro Motocross Championship with one of the most dynamic racetracks on the schedule.

Established in the province of Manitoba in 1996, FXR Racing was created to fill a much-needed void in high performance snowmobile gear. With founder Milt Reimer at the helm, FXR quickly became a leader in the snowmobile category and has continued to dramatically diversify its product offerings over the past three decades to become one of the most versatile apparel and accessory brands for outdoor enthusiasts across an array of interests. FXR’s ascension within the motocross industry has allowed it to become the choice of many athletes and race teams in the Pro Motocross Paddock, including the likes of Garrett Marchbanks and Malcolm Stewart, as well as Quad Lock Honda and 5.11 Triumph Factory Racing.

The first half of the summer has lived up to the highly anticipated billing that accompanied the start of the regular season’s second half just under two months ago. While an unfortunate level of attrition has impacted several of SMX’s biggest stars, their absence hasn’t dampened the gripping competition produced through the first six races.

In the 450SMX Class, a historic title fight has unfolded between siblings and teammates Hunter and Jett Lawrence. The Australian duo have traded wins, with three apiece, in addition to the points lead, as both continue their fight to seize control of the championship from one another. Last weekend at Southwick, both riders endured through late race miscues that gave up moto wins, with Hunter’s incident in the final moto proving to be more adverse as it ultimately cost him the points lead. With his third victory of the season, Jett equaled his brother’s win total and has possession of the red plate for the second time this summer, albeit by just a single point over Hunter. Spring Creek has been a strong track for both riders in the premier class, with Jett owning a pair of victories in his two career starts and Hunter amassing back-to-back runner-up finishes in his two starts. While they’ll once again come into the weekend as heavy favorites for the win, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan continues to make progress during his rookie campaign. While he’s yet to lead a lap this summer, the brash young star has tried to make the most of his opportunities to go bar-to-bar with the Lawrences and is learning every step of the way. It may be a matter of time before Deegan finds himself in the mix on a more consistent basis with his Australian counterparts. Additionally, the recent news of a return to action for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac has the racing community buzzing as the four-time champion will add even more intrigue to the fight for victory.

Following his third win of the season, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence has regained control of the standings by a single point over his brother.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence has challenged his brother every step of the way and is leaning on his wealth of experience to continue his ascension this summer.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

As he continues to improve with each gate drop, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan will look to become a thorn in the side of the Lawrence brothers.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

The wide-open perception of the 250SMX Class has largely reigned true through the first six races, which have produced five different winners, including a trio of first-time breakthroughs. While heartbreaking injuries have ended the hopes of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker and Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda, both of whom held the red plate when they were forced out of action, the championship remains exceptionally close between the up and coming talent of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies and the veteran presence of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen. While both riders were beat out by a captivating one-off performance from MX2 points leader Sacha Coenen at Southwick, their ongoing battle in the championship tightened up following podium efforts. Davies has moved atop the standings for the first time in his young career and will feel the weight of the red plate for the first time during his Spring Creek debut. The New Zealander holds a two-point edge over Kitchen, who is the lone previous Spring Creek winner in the field, having captured his maiden victory there during the 2024 season. Davies’ novice knowledge of the track combined with Kitchen’s wealth of successful experience will create an intriguing dynamic as their battle continues to unfold.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies will carry the red plate for the first time at
Spring Creek as his breakout season continues.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen sits just two points shy of regaining control of the 250SMX Class standings and returns to the site of his first outdoor win.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

The FXR Spring Creek National will get underway this Saturday, July 18, with on-track action starting at 6 a.m. PT / 9 a.m. ET, followed by opening ceremonies at 10:15 a.m. PT / 1:15 p.m. ET before the gate drops on motos at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET. Comprehensive live streaming coverage from Spring Creek will air exclusively on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET before coverage of the motos gets underway at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET.

For information about the Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

Mixed results for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Southwick National

RJ Hampshire races to eighth in 450MX as Ryder DiFrancesco lands 250MX moto podium

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire qualified seventh-fastest in the premier class, posting a 1:57.531 lap-time during the morning sessions at the notoriously rough and sandy Southwick circuit.

Running inside the top-five in Moto 1, a mid-race fall dropped Hampshire down the order, with the 30-year-old recovering to salvage eighth. A first-turn crash in Moto 2 saw him charge back to 10th, with those combined scores earning P8 overall. As a result, RJ now sits tied for fifth in the 450MX standings as the series heads to Spring Creek on July 18.

“Honestly, Southwick was a really tough day,” commented Hampshire. “I crashed in the first moto, and never found the flow – I was struggling pretty badly. Moto 2, we made some changes and got a pretty good start, but lost the front in the first corner, so I was dead-last, but felt much better in the race. I worked my way back into the top-10, so overall we finished with P8 on the day – it wasn’t great, but I’m happy to salvage a result.”

Entering Southwick off the back of a career-first 250MX overall podium at RedBud, DiFrancesco qualified 10th aboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, before converting that pace into a hard-fought third-place finish in Moto 1. A solid start to Moto 2 was undone by an early crash, ultimately finishing just outside the points to claim 12th overall. Following six rounds of Pro Motocross, he retains fifth in the standings.

“I had a pretty good feeling on the track all day at Southwick,” reflected DiFrancesco. “Qualifying was so-so, but I knew that a start here is very important and was able to put myself in a good position in Moto 1. I rode solid to post my best moto at this venue to date, which shows we’re continuing to improve. It was unfortunate to crash in Moto 2, but we’ll shift our eyes forward to Millville.”

250MX teammate Casey Cochran powered his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition to a solid eighth-place finish in Moto 1. In the demanding conditions of race two, the 20-year-old charged forward to 16th position and secured 11th overall.

“To finish inside the top-10 in Moto 1, that was a solid start to the day,” Cochran said. “I pushed hard in that second moto also, had to come from a long way back, so it wasn’t easy but we can take some confidence from the weekend. On to Millville!”

It was a difficult weekend for fellow 250MX contender Daxton Bennick onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition. He qualified 13th and then recorded a 25th-place result in Moto 1, before his day finished with an unfortunate DNF following a crash in Moto 2.

Also in action at the Southwick National was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna amateur talent Landon Gibson, who finished 20th in Moto 1 before improving to an impressive 10th-place result in race two, with his combined scorecard enough to claim 14th overall in just his second-career 250MX start.

“This weekend was really good to get back into 250MX and build experience,”recalled Gibson.”We worked our way into the day and then were rewarded with a top-10 in that second moto – it means a lot and I’m excited with the result we’re able to take home this weekend.”

Next Race: July 18 – Spring Creek, Minnesota

Results 450MX Class – Southwick National1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)3. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)4. Jorge Prado (KTM)8. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)36. Lucas Coenen (KTM)

Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 6 of 11 rounds1. Jett Lawrence, 271 points2. Hunter Lawrence, 2703. Haiden Deegan, 2184. Jorge Prado, 2026. RJ Hampshire, 18311. Aaron Plessinger, 10219. Lucas Coenen, 4425. Dante Oliveira, 2535. Malcolm Stewart, 10

Results 250MX Class – Southwick National1. Sacha Coenen (KTM)2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)3. Cole Davies (Yamaha)5. Julien Beaumer (KTM)11. Casey Cochran (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)12. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)14. Landon Gibson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)32. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 6 of 11 rounds1. Cole Davies, 227 points2. Levi Kitchen, 2253. Jo Shimoda, 1944. Julien Beaumer, 1945. Ryder DiFrancesco, 16712. Casey Cochran, 10914. Sacha Coenen, 8322. Daxton Bennick, 43

Korie Steede claims sixth consecutive American National Enduro round win

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate Craig DeLong fourth in NE Pro1 Class

American National Enduro Championship – Round 6

Equipped with her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, Korie Steede arrived at the Barbed Wire National Enduro looking to continue her unbeaten run and further strengthen her advantage in the NE Pro Women’s Championship.

The 25-year-old claimed five of six test wins at the Pine City event, successfully securing a sixth win in a row for this season, ahead of the New England National Enduro on August 22-23 in Rhode Island.

“The first test was tough – I just missed the mark on setup a little bit,”reflected Steede.“We made some adjustments that really paid off. I still made some mistakes, but the track was super-gnarly and difficult to read. Lots of rocks and roots, and I just tried to be consistent and was able to grab another win. I’m stoked!”

NE Pro1 Class contender Craig DeLong put forward a convincing weekend in American National Enduro, claiming fourth overall aboard his Husqvarna FX 350, which was highlighted by earning a win in the sixth and final test of the round.

“I started a little slow early on at Barbed Wire,”commented DeLong.“I was in the mix for most of the day – just a couple of mistakes in the fifth test put me back a bit, and then the last test I had to lay it all out there and see what I could do, and we were able to win it. It was only just not enough for a podium, which stings, but we’ll get there. Thank you to the team for all the work they put in.”

NE Pro1 Class Results1. Grant Davis, KTM2. Grant Baylor, Kawasaki3. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki4. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

NE Pro Women Class Results1. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing2. Rachel Gutish, Beta3. Shelby Turner, Triumph

GRANT DAVIS TAKES NE PRO1 VICTORY AT BARBED WIRE NATIONAL ENDURO

KTM Offroad Update

AMERICAN NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 6

Equipped with the KTM 450 XC-F, Grant Davis lined up for his first ANEC appearance of the 2026 season and quickly made an impression, claiming three of the six test wins in NE Pro1 to secure the class victory and finish second outright.

Grant Davis:“It was a good day in New York – we got first in the NE Pro1 Class and second overall. I had some good tests and some bad tests – I smashed my shoulder pretty good, but for my first event of this kind in two years, I’m happy with the result. Thanks to the team for all the help dialing me in.”

Teammate Jason Tino arrived at the Barbed Wire National Enduro fresh from a runner-up finish last time out, following consecutive victories in Rounds 3 and 4.

Equipped with the KTM 250 XC-F, the New Jersey native remained in podium contention throughout the event, recording three second-place test finishes to secure second in the NE Pro2 Class for the round.

As a result, Tino extended his championship lead in the NE Pro2 category entering Round 7 of the series at the New England National Enduro on August 22-23.

Jason Tino:“Barbed Wire was pretty good. I started the day a little off the pace – the track was really dry and I think I was just trying to over-ride it. I cleaned it up by the end of the day with a solid final test, which I’m happy about, and it was nice to bank some solid championship points.”

NE Pro1 Class Results

Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Grant Baylor, Kawasaki
Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki

NE Pro2 Class Results

Jhak Walker, Beta
Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Thorn Devlin, Beta

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING’S SACHA COENEN SWEEPS 250MX AT SOUTHWICK

Round 6 – AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Current MX2 World Championship leader Sacha Coenen featured in his second Pro Motocross appearance of the year in Massachusetts, qualifying fastest aboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION before claiming a commanding Moto 1 victory by 33.411 seconds.

The 19-year-old was again the benchmark in Moto 2, overcoming a heavy late-race crash to secure victory and complete the overall win, making it three race victories from four starts in his American journey to date.

As a result of his incident in the final moto – before going on to take victory in the race – Sacha is due to undergo further medical evaluations on his shoulder to determine the extent of any potential injuries.

Following a strong start to his 2026 Pro Motocross campaign, Beaumer maintained his form in Round 6 at The Wick, qualifying seventh on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION before finishing fourth in Moto 1.

A determined ride in Moto 2 saw the 20-year-old produce a relentless charge from outside the top-20, climbing to fifth by race’s end to collect P5 overall for the weekend. ‘Juju’ is now tied for third in the 250MX standings entering Millville next.

Julien Beaumer:”I’m really strong and we’ve known that for [some time now]. Obviously, last weekend wasn’t great with two motos [coming from] 40th, but my riding was good today – I started that second moto around 30th, and just had to work through the pack. The bike is amazing, so we’ll keep plugging away and come back in Millville.”

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado qualified second in the 450MX Class courtesy of a 1:55.139 lap-time as he and the team looked to build on their convincing podium result at RedBud one week ago.

The four-time world champion started inside the top-10 in Moto 1 before charging to fourth, while a third-place finish in Moto 2 saw the Spaniard capture fourth overall at Southwick. He’s ranked fourth in the 450MX championship after six rounds of racing.

Jorge Prado:”The first moto start held me up big time – as soon as I got to fourth place, the guys up front were already over 20 seconds away. But we started together in race two, I was just fourth right there the whole time, and I couldn’t do more than that. I tried my best and we pushed very hard in the last laps – Haiden [Deegan] did a good job, and we were ripping on the last lap. Third in the second moto is okay, we’ll keep improving, and hopefully soon we get back on top.”

Current MXGP points-leader Lucas Coenen topped 450MX qualifying at Southwick with a flying 1:53.903 lap-time, finishing more than one second clear of teammate Prado in second onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.

The 19-year-old then had his work cut out for him in Moto 1 after a first-turn crash, charging from near last to fourth in a remarkable recovery ride before a late-race fall ultimately resulted in a DNF. Following the incident, Coenen and the team made the difficult decision to sit out Moto 2.

Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We’re super-proud of Sacha, he went 1-1 today – it’s an amazing result. He did end up having a crash and banging up his shoulder, and tomorrow he’s going to get some further evaluation on it, but I’m blown away because it was a superhero effort and a great ride by him. And then Lucas showed tremendous speed through practice, and then had a crash in the first moto and took a really hard hit. We got him and the bike back to the truck, and we’re checking the bike to make sure that there is nothing there, and he decided that he would not race for the rest of the day. I get it, next weekend he has a GP – he’s leading the championship – so I get that part, and I am glad they came over. They definitely tried their best, we can’t say that they held anything back, and it was a great day with them.”

Next Race: July 18 – Spring Creek, Minnesota

Results 450MX Class – Southwick National

Jett Lawrence (Honda)
Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Lucas Coenen (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 6 of 11 rounds

Jett Lawrence, 271 points
Hunter Lawrence, 270
Haiden Deegan, 218
Jorge Prado, 202
RJ Hampshire, 183
Aaron Plessinger, 102
Lucas Coenen, 44
Dante Oliveira, 25
Malcolm Stewart, 10

Results 250MX Class – Southwick National

Sacha Coenen (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
Cole Davies (Yamaha)
Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Casey Cochran (Husqvarna)
Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna)
Landon Gibson (Husqvarna)
Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna)

Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 6 of 11 rounds

Cole Davies, 227 points
Levi Kitchen, 225
Jo Shimoda, 194
Julien Beaumer, 194
Ryder DiFrancesco, 167
Casey Cochran, 109
Sacha Coenen, 83
Daxton Bennick, 43

With Southwick 450 Win, Honda HRC Progressive Remains Undefeated

As the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross series eclipsed its midway point and Southwick celebrated 50 years of racing, Jett and Hunter Lawrence once again battled at the front of the 450 field, securing another 1-2 overall finish on one of the toughest tracks on the calendar and the only true sand circuit of the season. The Honda HRC Progressive duo confirmed that they are each other’s only true competition, trading holeshots and moto wins. Every moto thus far has been topped by one of the brothers, with Jett holding a slim one-point title-chase lead—and third place now over a full race behind. In the 250 class, Chance Hymas continued his positive momentum to record sixth overall—his best result of the season—while an untimely injury for Jo Shimoda brought his championship pursuit to a halt.

The first 450 moto saw Jett launch his CRF450RWE to the front, with Hunter close behind. Jett controlled the pace early, but Hunter began closing the gap during the second half. Jett went down while leading late in the race, allowing Hunter to take over the top spot. A red flag then ended the moto one lap early, and Hunter secured his fourth moto victory in his last five starts. Jett remounted in time to salvage second place.

Hunter grabbed the moto 2 holeshot, with Jett third, and the leading quartet quickly pulled away from the rest of the field. Jett soon passed Haiden Deegan for second and began applying pressure on his brother. Hunter went down in a turn with less than five minutes remaining, and Jett took advantage to claim the moto victory and overall win. Meanwhile, Hunter remounted in fourth and was able to secure second overall.

Hymas enjoyed good starts in the 250 class and battled near the front of the pack. Despite fading slightly late in the second race, he continued to show strong pace, recording a respectable 5-7 tally for sixth overall.

NOTES

Between qualifying sessions, Honda HRC Progressive hosted a fan autograph session featuring all four factory riders.
On the Wednesday night before Southwick, Jett put in a request for a special right footpeg, and the team’s Southern California race shop quickly went to work. Fabrication/Engineering Specialist Ezra Ebberts and Honda Auto Division R&D associate Don Pastell designed and fabricated two versions of a peg with an extended rear platform. The defending champ pronounced the part a success following the race.
In 450 combined qualifying, Honda HRC Progressive riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence qualified in third and fourth, respectively. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Christian Craig was 16th, while SLR Honda riders Matti Jorgensen and Justin Rodbell were 23rd and 26th, respectively. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Angus Riordan was 31st, Hoag Racing’s Blake Hoag was 35th, 110 Racing’s Brett Heidorn was 47th and Team 887’s Shane Kelleher was 55th.
In 250 combined qualifying, Honda HRC Progressive riders Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas finished 11th and 15th, respectively. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers and Aden Keefer were 27th and 45th, Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Brodie Connolly was 33rd, 909 Motors’ Ryan Wadsworth was 66th and McGinley Clinic’s Kyle Czworkowski was 77th.
Shimoda came to Southwick with the 250 red plate, but a fall in qualifying cut his day and title run short. Although he was able to return to the truck under his own power, a medical evaluation confirmed a fractured left collarbone. The entire Honda HRC Progressive team wishes Jo a speedy recovery.
Jett recorded the fastest lap times in both 450 motos.
Jett’s premier-class overall win was the 27th of his career, and his fourth at Southwick, extending Honda’s record at the track to 18—an amazing 10 more than the next-closest manufacturer. The list of other Red Riders to win at the historic venue includes Pierre Karsmakers, Marty Smith, Donnie Hansen, Rick Johnson (twice), Jeff Stanton (four times), Jeremy McGrath, Ezra Lusk and Ricky Carmichael (three times).
Quad Lock Honda’s Christian Craig suffered a hard crash in the first 450 moto and was later diagnosed with a T3 spinous-process fracture. Fortunately, Craig is expected to recover without surgery.
The AMA Pro Motocross Championship continues this Saturday in Millville, Minnesota, with Jett carrying the 450 red plate, thanks to his one-point lead over Hunter in the 450 standings. Third place is another 52 points back.

Jett Lawrence
“Hunter and I had a pretty big lead in the first moto, so when I fell, I was able to get up in second, thankfully. In the second moto, I was just pacing myself and trying to save something for the end if I needed it. Obviously, you don’t want to see someone crash and gift you a race win, but we’ll take it. It’s definitely tough battling with my brother, but it’s fun—I wouldn’t want to be battling with anyone else. I know where I’m at, I know where he’s at, and I feel like we’re at the top of our sport right now. To battle your brother for a championship is really cool, and not many people get to experience that.”

Hunter Lawrence
“It was a bit of a bummer how it finished, but it shows we were pushing. I felt like I had found a good rhythm and put a good lap together, then I accidentally bumped the gear shifter into neutral which, in the sand, was enough to throw me off. I kind of half-winded myself, and at max heartrate in that heat, it felt like I was going to die; I needed a lap to gather myself and figure out the gap, and then I just brought it home. That’s what’s so unique about our sport; there are a million different possible outcomes every time you hit the track. If you were to ask me which track is going to be the toughest, it would be this one, just because we don’t have many sand tracks on the schedule; it’s kind of a one-and-done. I’m happy with the bike; we made a little change today for the second moto, to try and make the bike a little calmer. We have a good idea of what we might do for next weekend, but I know my setup has been so good this year, so I’m really happy.”

Jo Shimoda
“I truly feel disgusted on how Saturday went. Coming in with the points lead, it was really unfortunate to end up with a small crash and a small injury that’s enough to get me out of the series. But one thing that we can take away is that I feel really confident in myself to find my way back to the top level, no matter where the starting point is or under any circumstance.”

Chance Hymas
“Southwick was a big step in the right direction for me. I had two good starts and rode up front in both motos. I lost a little bit of energy in the second moto and kind of lost my legs, but overall, it was a really good day for me. I’m looking forward to next weekend.”

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager
“Jo’s injury is a huge punch to the stomach when you’re trying to battle for a title. We haven’t won a 250 Motocross championship since Hunter did it in 2023, and we really wanted to give Jo that opportunity. He was on his way, so it’s a setback, but we’ll keep moving forward. Over the last couple races, we’ve made some progress in the 250 class, especially with starts, and we saw Chance take another step forward today, which was awesome. Hopefully we can continue building in that direction. Even though the team was bummed for Jo, everyone still had a job to do, and it certainly helps when you see the 450 guys go out and finish 1-2. We were able to put together a solution for Jett to help with his foot, especially at this track, with the help of our team at the shop. I want to give a shoutout to Ezra Ebberts and Don Pastell, because it made a big difference today. Southwick was a track where I thought Jett would really struggle, because you have to be aggressive with the bike and the conditions are so demanding. For him to do what he did was really impressive, and I’m proud of the team for making it happen. Hunter didn’t put a wheel wrong that entire second moto, while Jett hounded him almost the entire race , so it was unfortunate to see him make that one mistake, which cost him the overall win. It’s keeping it interesting though, and we look forward to more battles from the brothers.”

Haiden Deegan and Cooper Webb Build Momentum at Southwick

In the thick of summer, the Pro Motocross Championship reached its halfway point in the legendary sands of Southwick. For the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 squad, it was a day of personal bests at one of the most physically demanding tracks on the calendar – The Wick 338 in Southwick, Massachusetts. After scoring a career-best premier-class moto finish in Moto 2, rookie Haiden Deegan returned to the podium, finishing third overall (3-2), while Cooper Webb earned his best result of the season, finishing sixth overall with a 10-6 score.

Deegan qualified fifth and had two great starts to his motos. He was third in Moto 1, where he rode a good pace to comfortably secure his sixth moto podium finish. In Moto 2, Deegan did one better and slotted into the runner-up spot. It was a three-rider fight, with Deegan in between the Lawrence brothers. The lead trio stayed within striking distance of one another, but ultimately, on Lap 5, Jett passed him, and Deegan ran his own race, maintaining a gap on Jorge Prado. Then, with just under five minutes on the clock, Hunter went down, and Deegan returned to the runner-up spot. In the final laps, Prado closed in, but the six-time 250 class champion continued to push and held on to second, scoring a personal best in the class. The runner-up finish was also what he needed to secure the final spot on the overall podium, his third of the season.

“Today was good,” said Deegan. “We tried a new setup in the first session, and I didn’t like it, so we ended up going with what we knew and liked for the second qualifying, and it was a whole lot better. I had great starts today – P3 in the first start and P2 in the second start – so they’re getting better, and the bike is too. Moto 1 was a good ride. I kept on digging as much as I could. Then Moto 2 was a dog fight. I get mad because I probably should have won that race. I shouldn’t have let Jett (Lawrence) by, but again, I’m here to learn. I’m trying not to do anything stupid because this year is kind of about building the foundation. I finished P2 in the second Moto for third overall, so it was a good day. I’m continuously getting better. We’ll keep working.”

For Webb, it was a gritty ride that saw him earn his best result of the season despite not feeling 100% while recovering from an illness. After qualifying 13th, he got a great start to Moto 1 in sixth, and although he dropped to 11th in the opening laps, he worked his way back into the top 10 in the end. Moto 2 was another good start from Webb, as the three-time 450SX Champion was back in sixth, and then into fifth four laps in. He later dropped back to sixth before the halfway mark, but maintained a gap to secure sixth and end the day sixth overall.

“My last Southwick was a dig, to say the least,” said Webb. “This place is gnarly, but I had my best overall yet with sixth overall, so I’m stoked on that. Once again, I had great starts and two solid motos. The first one, I struggled a little bit. Then we had a good bike change for the second one, and I felt really good. I ran up to the top five for a while, then made my way to sixth and kept it there. I’m really happy with that. I’m still a little under the weather, so it was definitely a dig. Southwick is no joke – it was hot and rough.”

“It was a good day here at Southwick,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “Qualifying went well for both guys. They got better in the second one, which wasn’t faster, but it’s always good to be better when the track’s rougher. It gives us an idea of what we’re going to race and where we stand going into the motos. Then, two good starts by Haiden. I think it’s a big improvement there with consistent starts. He ran a good pace in both motos until about that 20-minute mark, and then regrouped in the second moto. It was a really good push to finish that one off and keep Prado at bay. For Webb, the goal was a fifth-place overall coming into this race. I think his sickness kind of set us back last week, but he’s getting closer to that goal. His starts again were consistent, which is always good to see. So we’ll just keep building off this. I’m proud of both guys and the team. We’re looking forward to next weekend.”

Now it’s on to Round 7 of Pro Motocross and Round 24 of the SuperMotocross World Championship at the Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minnesota, on July 18. Deegan heads into the second half of the season, remaining steady in third in the 450MX standings, while Cooper Webb maintains the runner-up spot in the SMX 450 championship combined points.

Cole Davies Returns to the Podium and Leaves Southwick with the Red Plate

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s young guns continued to shine in Southwick, Massachusetts. At Round 6 of the Pro Motocross Championship, Cole Davies and Kayden Minear bounced back in Moto 2 to podium finishes, ending the day third and fourth overall, respectively. The reward for their efforts at The Wick 338? The red plate that now sits on Davies’ YZ250F.

It was a strong start to the day for Davies, who qualified second and grabbed the holeshot in Moto 1. The young New Zealander was shuffled back to second early and rode there before unfortunately going down on Lap 6. Davies rejoined in 10th and found himself in the midst of a battle with his teammates — sandwiched between Thrasher and Minear. Davies passed Thrasher and made his way to sixth with around five laps to go, but in the final laps, he was passed by Minear and finished seventh.

In Moto 2, Davies once again grabbed the holeshot and then maintained the lead for the better part of the first half of the moto. After being passed by Sacha Coenen, he rode on to finish second, securing third overall and the points lead. The 2026 250SX East Champion now heads into the latter half of the season with a two-point lead in the 250MX Championship and also has a 56-point lead in the SMX 250 combined championship standings.

“It was an up-and-down day, but all around it was pretty good,” said Davies. “I came out with the points lead, so I can’t complain. We’ll move on to Millville now and have a good day there. I’m looking forward to it and to keeping this going.”

Minear qualified sixth but did not get the start he was hoping for in the first moto and found himself back in 24th. Undeterred, the young Australian put his head down and charged through to 11th in the opening laps. He then battled with his teammates, passing Nate Thrasher after Davies went through and staying with the New Zealander, eventually passing him with three laps to go to finish sixth. In Moto 2, it was a better start in 13th, with Minear once again charging through and then passing Davies’ title rival, Levi Kitchen, with six laps to go. From there, he rode away to score his second career moto podium, finishing fourth overall with a 6-2 moto score and earning another strong result during his rookie season.

“What a good day,” Minear said. “I felt comfortable on this bike since this morning. The first moto wasn’t a great start, but I managed to battle my way through the pack, and I’m proud of myself for that. The second moto was a much better start. I got my way into third for a podium finish in the race, so it was a good day.”

Thrasher had another strong ride in his second race back. Although he qualified 24th, he had a good start to the first moto in ninth. Thrasher dropped back to 10th but continued to fight for a top-10 result, reclaiming ninth after Davies’ crash. Both teammates found their way past him on the following lap, and then he dropped further back to 12th. Thrasher continued to push and ultimately finished 11th. In Moto 2, he got another top-10 start in sixth and moved into fifth, where he rode for the first half of the moto. In the end, he finished sixth, securing another top-10 result.

“It was a solid weekend at Southwick,” said Thrasher. “The track was gnarly, but we were 11-6 on the day for seventh overall. We’ll get better this week and give it another go next weekend.”

Qualifying inside the top 10 in eighth, the day started out well for Mosiman, but after the start of Moto 1 he found himself way back in 32nd. The Californian went to work, putting in an impressive charge to ninth, and fighting to the end. In the final laps, he had eighth in sight, but crashed in the heat of the battle, finishing 12th. In Moto 2, it was another charge from the back, with Mosiman fighting his way through from 35th to another 12th-place finish and ending the day 10th overall.

“Tenth place at Southwick was not what we were hoping for,” said Mosiman. “But the positives are I’m very fast, and I’m very fit, and the improvement opportunities are my starts. I know if I can start up front, I can achieve the results everyone expects from me.”

It was a tough outing for Caden Dudney at The Wick 338, but the young rookie put in a good fight. He qualified 16th and then crashed in the first turn of Moto 1, putting him near the back of the field. The young Texan dug deep and pushed all the way to the finish, coming back from 38th to 14th. In Moto 2, he had a better start in 11th and made his way to eighth in the opening laps, but a crash damaged his bike, ending his day early and resulting in 20th overall with the 14-40 score.

“Qualifying was all right,” said Dudney. “So I need to work on that here. Then in Moto 1, I had a crash in the first turn, and I was almost dead last, and came back up to 14th. In the second moto, I had a better start and was up there in eighth, and then I got cross-jumped, and the throttle cable was cut in half, so I had a DNF.”

Another one of the team’s young rookies, Landen Gordon, also had his day cut short in the sands of Southwick. After qualifying 24th, he was 25th after the start and worked his way up to 14th, but then unfortunately had a crash in the latter half of the moto. Feeling beat up from the crash, Gordon withdrew from the race, scoring 41st.

“Overall, it was a really good day,” said Wil Hahn. “The first moto was a little up and down, for sure, but it was a great second moto. Cole finished second, Kayden got third, and Nate was up in the mix, too. We’re leaving here with the red plate, and we’re pretty stoked about that.”

Next up is the Spring Creek National, with the battle for the 250MX crown continuing at the Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minnesota, on July 18.

LEVI KITCHEN BACK ON THE BOX AT THE WICK 338 NATIONAL

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen returned to the podium with a second-overall finish (2-4) at Round 6 of the Pro Motocross Championship at The Wick 338. After two hard-fought motos in the demanding Southwick sand, Kitchen now sits just two points behind the championship leader. Teammate Drew Adams battled through the field in both motos to secure 13th overall (16-9). Nick Romano’s day came to an unfortunate end early on, after a crash over the finish line during the second qualifying session. Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Garrett Marchbanks continued his impressive run of Top 5 finishes with fifth overall (5-5). The team welcomed Cornelius Tøndel for his debut as a fill-in rider, where he delivered an impressive career-best 11th-overall finish (9-13).

Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki teammates Francisco Garcia and Jake Cannon took advantage of a break in the FIM European Motocross Championship schedule to compete at The Wick. Current EMX250 points leader Garcia impressed in his Pro Motocross debut, finishing eighth overall (9-8). Cannon returned to the United States for his second Pro Motocross National and rebounded from a difficult first moto with a hard-charging ride in Moto 2 to finish 18th overall (35-14).

In 250 Qualifying, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders delivered consistent laps throughout both sessions. Kitchen secured fifth overall, while Adams qualified 17th. Bud Racing teammates Cannon and Garcia lined up in Group B, which had the advantage of hitting the track first while it was smooth. The Kawasaki duo traded the fastest qualifying time between sessions. Cannon’s time from the first session ultimately placed him an impressive third overall in combined timing, with Garcia qualifying 14th. Romano’s qualifying crash required him to be transported to a nearby hospital, despite riding off after the crash, where further evaluation revealed a back injury that will leave him sidelined indefinitely.

In 250 Moto 1, Kitchen launched off the gate in eighth and quickly worked his way into sixth through the opening turns, while close behind, Garcia settled into ninth on the opening lap. Cannon and Adams started deeper in the field in 17th and 27th, respectively. By Lap 2, Kitchen had climbed to fifth before a small tipover dropped him back to ninth. After remounting, he found himself in an aggressive battle with Garcia before putting his head down and charging back to the front. The No. 47 Kawasaki made several assertive passes aboard his KX™250, climbing into second place with five minutes remaining in the moto. Kitchen held his position to the checkered flag, earning a Moto 1 podium finish. Adams continued working his way through the field, passing 11 riders to finish 16th. Garcia ran inside the Top 10 for much of the moto, holding ninth until contact with another rider dropped him to 10th at the finish. After a mid-race incident, Cannon was forced to retire early from the moto.

In 250 Moto 2, Kitchen rocketed off the gate aboard his KX™250, rounding the first turn in third before engaging in a side-by-side battle for second. He completed the pass just a few corners later to take over the position. Garcia also got another strong start, settling into eighth on the opening lap. Adams launched inside the Top 10 before a rider went down in front of him, forcing him to the back of the field. Cannon was also caught up in the first-turn chaos and began his charge from deep in the pack.

Kitchen found himself in tight battles for much of the moto before the demanding Massachusetts heat began to take its toll, causing him to slip to fourth in the closing laps. He held the position to the checkered flag, securing second overall on the day and moving to within two points of the championship lead.

Garcia spent most of the moto running eighth, exchanging positions with the rider ahead before ultimately crossing the line in eighth to finish eighth overall in his first Pro Motocross National. Adams charged back through the field to finish ninth just behind Garcia, earning 13th overall. Cannon completed an impressive comeback ride, topping the hard charger chart after passing 21 riders to claim 14th in the moto and 18th overall.

In 450 Qualifying, both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders recorded their fastest laps during the opening qualifying session as the sand track only got rougher and slower as the day progressed. Marchbanks secured ninth overall, while Tøndel followed closely in 11th.

In 450 Moto 1, Marchbanks powered out to a Top 10 start, while Tøndel emerged from the first turn in the middle of the pack after getting tangled up with nearby riders. Both riders immediately began working their way through the field, making consistent passes on the opening laps. Once Marchbanks settled into his rhythm, he charged through the demanding sand circuit and steadily closed in on the Top 4. Despite his push, the gap to fourth was too large to close, and he crossed the line with a solid fifth-place finish. Tøndel also put together an impressive charge, climbing to ninth by the checkered flag after passing 12 riders throughout the moto, including nine riders on the opening lap.

In 450 Moto 2, Marchbanks rocketed off the gate to his best start of the season, rounding the first turn in fifth. Tøndel also exhibited a much-improved start of 15th place. Marchbanks maintained his pace through the early laps until a small crash on Lap 4 dropped him to seventh. The No. 36 quickly recovered and charged back toward the Top 5, making a strategic pass to reclaim fifth before the checkered flag. His pair of fifth-place moto finishes earned him fifth overall, marking his fourth Top 5 finish of the season and moving him into fifth in the points standings. Tøndel steadily worked his way forward from 15th to ninth before the grueling heat and track began to take a toll. He slipped back to 14th but mounted a late-race charge, making a pass in the closing laps to finish 13th. His 9-13 moto scores secured a career-best 11th overall finish.

“In Moto 1, I got into third going into the back section of the track and crashed on the opening lap and went back to ninth place. This track is really tough when you fall because your heart rate goes up and it’s just physically demanding, so to get up to that second in the first moto took a lot of my energy. The second moto I just felt a bit flat after being pretty depleted from the first moto, but I’m glad to be back on the podium and to close back in on the points lead.”

– Levi Kitchen

“The day was solid. Qualifying was OK; I got off to a bit of a slow start trying to find the best settings for the track through both sessions. We nailed it pretty good for Moto 1 with a fifth-place finish. In Moto 2, I got off to my best start of the year in fifth place. I was trying to follow those top guys and tried a new line I hadn’t tried all day and tried jumping a section and just went down. I only had to pass two guys to get back into fifth, so it was a solid day.”

– Garrett Marchbanks

“It was a frustrating day with the starts, especially since I had a really good start in the second moto, but I had some guys go down in front of me. I’m happy with the way I fought back though. I gave it everything I had in both motos and made as many passes as I could. We’ll keep working this week and come into Millville ready to take another step forward.”

– Drew Adams

“It was a good first day with my new team today. Qualifying was decent. We made a little change during the second qualifying that made me feel more comfortable. The first moto was quite hectic in the beginning; I got tangled up on the start and almost went down, but managed it pretty well on the first lap and finished ninth, which I was pretty happy with. In the second moto, I had a better start, I was inside the Top 10 by the first couple of laps. Unfortunately, I made a small mistake, and I was a little gassed that led me to fade a little bit. It’s been a long week, and now I just have to go back to California and get some good nights of sleep, get some good testing done, and make sure I’m recovered and ready for next weekend, and we should be good to go.”

– Cornelius Tøndel

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