This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of August 23, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

Honda HRC Progressive Sweeps Budds Creek MX, Clinches Manufacturers and 450 Riders Championships

Honda HRC Progressive had plenty to celebrate following this weekend’s penultimate round of AMA Pro Motocross at Budds Creek MX Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Despite muddy conditions, the team swept the overall wins in both classes, clinched Honda’s fourth AMA Pro Motocross Manufacturers Championship in the past five seasons and secured the premier-class Riders Championship as well. The only question left to answer is which Honda rider—Budds Creek-winner Hunter Lawrence or defending champion Jett Lawrence—will claim the title, as third place in the standings is out of mathematical contention.

The first 450 moto saw Hunter get a good start, while Jett momentarily veered off the track on the start straight, an unintentional move that resulted in him being assessed a license point. Hunter took over the lead by the end of the opening lap, while Jett was forced to battle from the back of the field. Hunter controlled the race from the front to take the checkered flag with a five-second advantage, while Jett charged through to finish fifth.

Hunter continued his momentum in moto 2, grabbing the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE, while Jett began the race in 11^th before moving into third within the first five minutes. Hunter completed the moto sweep with another five-second victory, while Jett continued his charge late in the race, passing Jorge Prado on the last lap for second and securing valuable points.

Hymas put in a strong performance in both 250 motos, finishing second in the opening race after leading early and closing to within 2.2 seconds of the winner. With improved track conditions in moto 2, the Idaho native grabbed the holeshot aboard his CRF250RWE and led from start to finish, managing late pressure from Levi Kitchen to secure his second moto win of the season and first overall victory, with a 2-1 tally. The result vaulted Hymas forward in the championship standings, moving him from fifth to fourth, within five points of third with one round remaining.

NOTES

・On Friday, Hunter and Jett Lawrence participated in Budds Creek press-day activities, speaking with media and taking part in the single 20-minute riding session.

・As was the case last week, SMX Friday Live Presented by Honda streamed Friday’s AMA Pro Motocross press-day session, along with the opening WMX moto.

・In addition to the normal Peacock coverage, NBC broadcast the second 450 and 250 AMA Pro Motocross motos, along with the second WMX moto.

・Honda’s Brandon Wilson and Jeff Weiner (Manager of Powersports Racing & Experiential Marketing and Assistant Manager of Racing, respectively) were interviewed, highlighting Honda’s support of the Friday programming and the continued growth and exposure of the sport.

・Honda HRC Progressive Team Manager Lars Lindstrom appeared on Race Day Live, discussing the season-long championship battle between Hunter and Jett Lawrence, who have exchanged the red plate throughout the summer, as well as the impact of the weather heading into the weekend.

・Atlantic Cycle & Power, a Honda dealership located a half-hour north of the track, joined Honda HRC Progressive in the paddock with a pop-up display, engaging with fans and showcasing the 2026 CRF110F and CRF50F.

・Between qualifying sessions, and despite the rain, Honda HRC Progressive hosted a fan autograph session featuring all three active factory riders.

・Budds Creek hosted the penultimate round of the Women’s Motocross Championship, with Honda-supported riders delivering strong results. After setting the fastest qualifying time, Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon posted a 2-2 moto tally for second overall, while SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen followed with a consistent 3-3 score for third overall. SLR Honda’s Mayla Herrick rebounded from a difficult first moto to finish fifth in moto 2, while Phoenix Honda Racing’s Tayla Jones earned 10^th overall with a 10-11 tally. With one round remaining, Cannon sits second in the championship standings, 21 points off the lead and 50 points clear of third.

・Heavy rain impacted Saturday-morning activities, including the second qualifying session, which was limited to only a few laps. Jett Lawrence qualified second in the 450 class, with Hunter Lawrence fourth. Quad Lock Honda’s Christian Craig was 16^th, Valley Motorsports’ Jeremy Hand was 19^th, SLR Honda riders Justin Rodbell and Matti Jorgensen were 24^th and 37^th, respectively, Short Racing’s John Short was 43^rd, Scotty Clark was 45^th, Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres was 49^th, 110 Racing’s Brett Heirdorn was 55^th, Feine Tune Racing’s Gavin Tilford was 67^th and Lennon Racing’s Michael Lennon was 72^nd.

・Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas qualified fifth in the 250 class. Quad Lock Honda riders Brodie Connolly and Alex Warwood were 15^th and 36^th, respectively, Phoenix Racing Honda riders Gavin Towers and Aden Keefer were 20^th and 31^st, and SLR Honda riders Caden Bradley and Alvin Hillan were 33^rd and 37^th.

・Thanks to the combined efforts of all three Honda HRC Progressive riders throughout the season, Honda clinched its fourth Manufacturers’ Championship in the past five AMA Pro Motocross seasons, securing the title one round early.

・Hunter’s overall victory marked his sixth of the year (seventh of his 450 career) and brought his season moto-win total to 12. The premier-class overall win also extended Honda’s total at Budds Creek to 11, three more than the next-closest manufacturer. Hymas’ overall win was his first of the year and the second of his career.

・At the conclusion of Saturday’s racing, Hunter’s and Jett’s mechanics, Cameron Camera and Christien Ducharme, were interviewed by Will Christien, discussing the unique experience of seeing their riders share the red plate throughout the season, as well as their close working relationship during the championship battle.

・The 2026 AMA Pro Motocross season concludes Saturday at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The championship will come down to Honda HRC Progressive teammates and brothers Hunter and Jett Lawrence, with Hunter carrying a one-point advantage into the final round. In the 250 class, Hymas sits fourth in the standings, just five points behind third place.

Lachlan Turner Tightens Grip on Women’s Motocross Championship Points Lead with Dominant Victory at Budds Creek

The penultimate round of the 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony [WMX] was a tale of two motos, with dramatically different weather and track conditions across the two days of competition. While sunny skies shined down for Friday’s first moto, heavy morning rain on Saturday gave way to sunny skies in the afternoon, with a continuously evolving racetrack. Through it all, Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha’s Lachlan Turner [#1] proved why she has the No. 1 on her motorcycle and why she’s held possession of the red plate all season, with another dominant performance that tightened her grip of the points lead and moved her one step closer to a third consecutive title.

Qualifying

Due to weather mitigation efforts to protect the racetrack, Friday’s morning qualifying was limited to a single session. In it, Quad Lock Honda’s Chari Cannon [#7] emerged with a top time of 2:08.261, which placed her a tenth of a second ahead of Turner’s time of 2:08.340. SLR Honda’s Mayla Herrick [#7] rounded out the top three [2:14.410].
Moto 1 [12 Minutes + 1 Lap]
Before the gate dropped on the first moto of the weekend misfortune struck Dusty Rocks Yamaha’s Jordan Jarvis [#301], who sits third in the championship, when she lost power on her motorcycle and missed the start of the moto. She was able to get on track and log a single lap but ultimately retired from the moto.
The moto began with Partzilla Blaster Power PRMX Kawasaki’s Taylah McCutcheon [#10] out front with the holeshot ahead of Phoenix Racing Honda’s Tayla Jones [#713] and Team KOH-Z Yamaha’s Nanami Honda [#33]. The series’ championship rivals were both forced to fight through starts outside the top 10, with Cannon 12th and Turner 15th.
As the field jockeyed for position on the opening lap it was SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen [#51] who made a charge up to second, followed by her teammate Herrick and Cannon. Turner, meanwhile, clawed her way up to fifth.
Soon a five-rider battle unfolded at the front of the field, as Nielsen was able to take the lead from McCutcheon with around nine minutes to go. Cannon followed through into second, while Turner made her way into third. Amidst this battle, Herrick lost touch with the leaders and eventually dropped out of the moto after her Honda lost power.
While Nielsen looked to assert her hold on the top spot Cannon and Turner began a battle for second. That allowed Cannon to push onto the rear fender of Nielsen. As Cannon attempted to make a move for the lead, Nielsen took her line, which allowed Turner to capitalize and make the pass for second. That sequence was replicated moments later when Turner’s pass attempt was also defended by Nielsen, which allowed Cannon to reclaim the position.
With a little more than six minutes remaining on the race clock Cannon made the move around Nielsen to grab control of the lead. Turner quickly followed through with a pass for second. The lead duo then pulled away from Nielsen.
On the following lap, Cannon overjumped a section and went wide in a turn. That opened the door for Turner to slip into the lead with about four minutes to go. On the following lap, Turner dropped the hammer and laid down her fastest lap of the moto, which was 2.6 seconds quicker than Cannon and allowed Turner to establish nearly a three-second advantage.
The distance between Turner and Cannon continued to grow over the final stages of the moto as the reigning champion and points leader put the finishing touch on her seventh moto win of the season by 4.4 seconds over Cannon. Nielsen carded her fifth moto podium of the season in third, with McCutcheon in fourth and Built Hard Racing KTM’s Piper Bell in fifth.
Moto 2 [12 Minutes + 1 Lap]
Saturday’s second moto began under improving track conditions and sunny skies, as Nielsen stormed to the holeshot ahead of Turner and Cannon, while McCutcheon was involved in a first-turn incident with another rider.
Turner went on the attack right away and was able to make the move around Nielsen for the lead after just a few corners. Cannon followed into second moments later.
The clear track allowed Turner to push the pace as she opened a near three-second lead on Cannon. Behind them, Nielsen ran solidly in third as her teammate Herrick gave pursuit from fourth. As she closed in on Nielsen to begin a battle for third Herrick went down and dropped to sixth.
As the moto dipped into its final five minutes, Turner’s lead grew to more than eight seconds over Cannon. She continued to add to the advantage, which grew to double digits as the moto wore on.
Turner wrapped up another dominant performance with her eighth moto win, crossing the finish line 14.9 seconds ahead of Cannon. Nielsen followed in third.
Overall
Turner’s fourth victory and fourth 1-1 performance of the season further asserted her hold on the championship lead heading into the final round.
Cannon was once again consistent in pursuit of Turner, finishing in the runner-up spot for the fourth time this summer, posting her third 2-2 effort.
Nielsen ended an overall podium drought that dated back to the opening round, posting a solid 3-3 effort for her second top three finish of the season.
With the sweep of the motos, Turner extended her points lead to 21 points over Cannon heading into the final round. McCutcheon, who finished fourth overall (4-10), remained third, 71 points out of the lead, but just three points ahead of Nielsen and Jarvis, who finished 12th (33-4).

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing endures a mixed Budds Creek National

RJ Hampshire and Daxton Bennick finish inside the top-10 overall at Round 10

Hampshire and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition made the most of the Mechanicsville circuit in 450MX qualifying, powering to third-fastest on the combined timesheets with a 1:55.501 lap-time to set a positive tone for the day.

An incident in the early stages of Moto 1 and a damaged gear shifter forced Hampshire to charge from outside the top 20, eventually recovering to 12th by the checkered flag. He then improved to a consistent sixth in Moto 2 to claim 10th overall. He retains fifth in the 450MX standings heading into next weekend’s finale at Ironman Raceway.

“My day started good,” commented Hampshire. “The skies then opened, and it got pretty muddy! I didn’t get off the gate well in Moto 1, and then made contact with someone and damaged my gear shifter. I was stuck in second gear the whole first moto and salvaged what I could, and then second moto was a bit better. I just needed to be a little better today and didn’t really have it, so we have one to go, and I want to finish the season strong in Indiana.”

Also equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Malcolm Stewart posted 15-14 moto scores at Budds Creek to claim 13th overall, marking his second round back in action since the season-opener.

“The crowd was awesome at Budds Creek – I felt nothing but love,” said Stewart. “This is one of those races that I look forward to coming to every year, and although the results weren’t exactly what we wanted, at the end of the day I felt like we rode a lot better than last weekend. I enjoyed myself. The rain threw a little plot twist into the mix for everybody, but anyway, we’ll keep trying and I feel like we’re making solid progress in getting back to race form.”

250MX challenger Bennick showed promising speed at Round 10, qualifying 11th on the combined 250MX timesheets before finishing ninth in Moto 1 aboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition. He followed that with an 11th-place score in Moto 2 to secure ninth overall for the weekend.

“Budds Creek was good,” said Bennick. “I felt like I went back to making it a little more simple for myself this weekend, and just tried to have fun with it. My start was really good in Moto 1, and then I had a big bobble with another rider on the opening lap, so had to work my way back to ninth. In the second moto, I was again able to charge forward, which I have been struggling with lately, so I think today was a good step for me, and I want to take this momentum into the final round to finish the outdoor season strong.”

Also aboard the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, Ryder DiFrancesco qualified third in 250MX with a 1:56.944 lap-time, carrying strong form into the opening moto.

The 21-year-old started Moto 1 outside the top 10 before steadily working his way forward to sixth by race’s end. A crash during the early stages of Moto 2 sent him down the running order, eventually recovering to finish 25th and that placed him 15th overall.

“I had a good day going at Budds Creek,” commented DiFrancesco. “Qualifying was good with P3, and Moto 1 was a good comeback ride from starting pretty deep in the pack. I was also in a good position in Moto 2, but I high-sided coming down the hill, which cost me a lot of time and positions. I’m looking forward to next weekend, because Ironman is a good track for me, so I want to finish the outdoors off on a good note.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing prospect Landon Gibson also contested the Budds Creek National this weekend, gaining added experience in the pro ranks and posting a 12-15 scorecard for 12th overall in 250MX.

“I didn’t make it easy on myself!” recalled Gibson. “But overall, it was a good day. I crashed in each of the motos, so considering I was on the ground both times, I’m happy that I continued to fight all the way until the end and scored some decent results that we can build from.”

Next Race: August 29 – Crawfordsville, Indiana

Results 450MX Class – Budds Creek National

Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Jorge Prado (KTM)
Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
Eli Tomac (KTM)
RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 10 of 11 rounds

Hunter Lawrence, 442 points
Jett Lawrence, 441
Haiden Deegan, 376
Jorge Prado, 351
RJ Hampshire, 308
Aaron Plessinger, 129
Eli Tomac, 89
Lucas Coenen, 44
Malcolm Stewart, 31

Results 250MX Class – Budds Creek National

Chance Hymas (Honda)
Cole Davies (Yamaha)
Landen Gordon (Yamaha)
Julien Beaumer (KTM)
Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
Landon Gibson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 10 of 11 rounds

Cole Davies, 378 points
Levi Kitchen, 364
Julien Beaumer, 322
Ryder DiFrancesco, 291
Casey Cochran, 146
Daxton Bennick, 118
Sacha Coenen, 83

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna and Korie Steede claim seventh American National Enduro win in a row

Important points scored toward the 2026 NE Pro Women’s title in New England National Enduro

American National Enduro Championship – Round 7

Following a six-week break in the schedule, Korie Steede and her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition arrived at the New England National Enduro looking to continue her unbeaten run after delivering a perfect scorecard in the NE Pro Women’s division throughout the 2026 season.

Three of six test victories in challenging conditions were enough for Steede to earn her seventh victory in a row, extending her championship lead with Round 8 of the series scheduled for the Burning Rock National Enduro on September 12-13.

“It was awesome to be back at the races this weekend,”reflected Steede.“We’ve had a good run so far in National Enduro, and keeping our unbeaten streak alive here in Rhode Island feels awesome. A big thank you to the whole team – let’s keep this momentum rolling!”

NE Pro1 Class contender Craig DeLong also pieced together a consistent weekend in American National Enduro, claiming sixth overall aboard his Husqvarna FX 350 as he and the team set their sights on the next round.

“I had a bit of an off day today,”commented DeLong.“I struggled for comfort and confidence in these conditions, and even hit the ground a couple of times just trying to push through it. So it was a struggle, but we’ll regroup and get ready for the next one.”

NE Pro1 Class Results1. Grant Davis, KTM2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki3. Liam Draper, Yamaha6. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

NE Pro Women Class Results1. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing2. Shelby Turner, Triumph3. Kayla Oneill, Yamaha

SECOND OVERALL FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING’S JORGE PRADO AT BUDDS CREEK NATIONAL

Round 10 – AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Following his second-place result at Unadilla last weekend, Prado qualified sixth aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION at the rain-affected Budds Creek National, posting a 1:56.300 lap time before racing to P3 in Moto 1.

The four-time world champion started Moto 2 from second and remained firmly in contention for the victory throughout the race. He ultimately settled for a spirited third position, securing second overall and his fourth podium of the season outdoors.

With one round remaining in the 2026 Pro Motocross season at next weekend’s Ironman National, Prado sits fourth in the 450MX standings and is currently third in the wider SMX World Championship rankings.

Jorge Prado:”My riding was pretty good today and a podium is always nice. I need to get better at dealing with traffic in those last 10 minutes, so we’ll work on that, and it will help a lot with my results. Hopefully we can get a moto win or an overall at Ironman – I like that track and am feeling really good on the bike.”

Four-time 450MX champion Eli Tomac set the fifth-fastest time on the combined 450MX timesheets in qualifying, before featuring toward the front of the pack from the outset in Moto 1 aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.

The 33-year-old finished a solid fourth in the opening race, before a difficult start in Moto 2 left him to recover to 13th, with Tomac completing the weekend ninth overall as his late-season momentum continues to build.

Eli Tomac: “We had a much better weekend, even though the overall results may not show that – I was happier with my riding. I was battling for a podium position almost the whole first moto, and then in the second moto, I just put myself in too bad of a position off the start to really get to the front. At this point, I’m just getting stronger and stronger, and I feel like I’ll be in the podium fight for Ironman and for the SMX series.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger continued his return to Pro Motocross competition at Budds Creek, with ‘The Cowboy’ converting a strong start in Moto 1 into a 10th-place result.

Plessinger completed the opening lap of Moto 2 in sixth on board his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and eventually claimed seventh, taking P7 overall for the round in his second race back since injuring his tailbone at RedBud.

Aaron Plessinger:”Budds Creek went pretty good, I’d say! It was a lot better than my last few weeks at the track – practice was alright, then it started raining, and I got excited, but it stopped just in time for the track to kind of dry out a little bit before Moto 1. We got 10th in that one, which was decent given I am racing myself back into form, and then the second one I got a really good start, before being shuffled back early. From there, I battled around seventh and stayed there the whole moto to earn seventh overall. This is solid, it’s good momentum, and we’ll take the positives into Ironman!”

Equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in the 250MX Class, Beaumer qualified 10th quickest on combined times, before racing to an eighth-place finish in Moto 1 amid technical, drying track conditions.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider charged forward from outside the top 10 in Moto 2 to take an impressive fourth-place finish. His 8-4 moto scorecard earned fourth overall for the weekend, maintaining third in the 250MX standings with one round remaining.

Julien Beaumer:”P4 at Budds Creek. I struggled a little bit in Moto 1, but rode more like myself in Moto 2. I had to fight from around 15th to fourth in that second moto, so happy with the progress, and we will keep building. Let’s finish this thing off strong at Ironman!”

Next Race: August 29 – Crawfordsville, Indiana

Results 450MX Class – Budds Creek National

Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)

Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 10 of 11 rounds

Hunter Lawrence, 442 points
Jett Lawrence, 441
Haiden Deegan, 376
Jorge Prado, 351
RJ Hampshire, 308
Aaron Plessinger, 129
Eli Tomac, 89
Lucas Coenen, 44
Malcolm Stewart, 31

Results 250MX Class – Budds Creek National

Chance Hymas (Honda)
Cole Davies (Yamaha)
Landen Gordon (Yamaha)
Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna)
Landon Gibson (Husqvarna)
Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna)

Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 10 of 11 rounds

Cole Davies, 378 points
Levi Kitchen, 364
Julien Beaumer, 322
Ryder DiFrancesco, 291
Casey Cochran, 146
Daxton Bennick, 118
Sacha Coenen, 83

VICTORY FOR FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S GRANT DAVIS AT NEW ENGLAND NATIONAL ENDURO

KTM Offroad Update

AMERICAN NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 7

Equipped with the KTM 450 XC-F, Grant Davis lined up for his second ANEC appearance of the 2026 season and was in form from the outset, claiming three of six test victories in the NE Pro1 category to secure both the class and outright victories in Rhode Island.

Grant Davis:“Today was a really good day! My bike was working great, and I felt really solid all day in the conditions. It also helped that I was able to keep it on two wheels – I also really enjoyed all the tests out there. I’m stoked to come away with a win.”

Teammate Jason Tino arrived at the New England National Enduro leading the NE Pro2 standings after recording four podium finishes – as well as two victories – throughout the 2026 season.

On board the KTM 250 XC-F, he remained in podium contention throughout the round, posting five second-place test finishes to secure second in the NE Pro2 category and maintain his points lead entering the Burning Rock National Enduro on September 12-13.

Jason Tino:“I gave it my all today, but came up just a little bit short of the win – I will get back to work and come out swinging next round! Thanks to the FMF KTM Factory Racing team for all the support.”

NE Pro1 Class Results

Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
Liam Draper, Yamaha
Craig DeLong, Husqvarna

NE Pro2 Class Results

Jhak Walker, Beta
Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Ryan Piper, KTM

MONSTER ENERGY® KAWASAKI BATTLES THROUGH CHALLENGING CONDITIONS AT BUDDS CREEK

Coenen Brothers to make SuperMotocross Transition for 2027 after Fresh Contract Extension

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Grand Prix winners, Lucas and Sacha Coenen, will transfer from MXGP FIM World Championship competition to AMA SuperMotocross for 2027 and onwards.

The Belgian twins signed a multi-year deal to remain as Red Bull KTM factory riders and embarked on a successful first wildcard appearance in the AMA Pro National motocross series in Colorado. Lucas, who held the red plate as MXGP world championship leader in just his second season in the premier class with the KTM 450 SX-F, and Sacha –in MX2 title contention with the KTM 250 SX-F – have already earned multiple Grand Prix winners’ trophies this season.

Lucas finished 5th and 2nd in his two full-time MX2 years before classifying as 2025 MXGP runner-up in his rookie campaign; becoming the sport’s youngest-ever premier class GP winner at the same time. Sacha has been a front-runner in MX2 from the outset. He claimed at least one Grand Prix in MX2 for the last three years and grasped the red plate in 2026 as he remains in play for the championship. In 2027 Lucas and Sacha will contest the AMA 450SX/MX and 250SX/MX classes respectively with the East/West scheduling still to be decided.

Lucas Coenen: “I’m pumped to be able to confirm that we’ll be in the U.S. next year. When we went to Thunder Valley it was amazing and we’ve also been bringing the results for the team in GPs until some bad luck with the hip problem. 2027 will be a big change for the family but it’s a dream to make this move. Thanks to everyone at Red Bull KTM for making this next chapter possible.”

Sacha Coenen: “Super-excited. We still have big goals for the rest of MX2 this year but to have this deal confirmed means we can focus on the target and also get organized for 2027. There will be a lot to learn but it’s what we want to do. It’s very cool to have this opportunity. I can’t wait already.”

Robert Jonas, KTM Director Offroad Racing: “We know this is an amazing chance for both Lucas and Sacha to achieve new goals in their young careers after reaching the top of their Grand Prix categories in the world championship. It’s one of Red Bull KTM’s strengths that we can coordinate and provide these opportunities in different series for talented winners like the Coenens. We’ve believed in their potential for quite some time. There is still some Grand Prix wins to attempt before the start of a new adventure for all of us.”

Cole Davies Reclaims 250MX Red Plate at Budds Creek

The 250 Pro Motocross title fight took another dramatic turn at the Budds Creek National, and this time, it was a 15-point swing in Cole Davies’ direction. Entering the penultimate round one point shy of the championship lead, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider put together a 1-3 moto score aboard his YZ250F to finish second overall and leave Mechanicsville, Maryland, with the red plate and a 14-point advantage.

There was even more to celebrate for the team at the Budds Creek Motocross Park, with rookie Landen Gordon having a breakthrough day and earning his first Pro Motocross overall podium in third. In addition to two riders finishing on the box, teammates Kayden Minear and Caden Dudney also finished inside the top 10 overall.

The conditions changed throughout the day, especially for the 250 class, and with heavy rains during the second qualifying session, everyone was bracing for a full-on mudder. But while it was muddy at the start of the first moto of the day, the track began to dry during the 30-minute-plus-two-lap moto, making for challenging conditions for both riders and machines.

Davies showed speed from the start, qualifying second and narrowly missing the holeshot in Moto 1. He slotted into second behind his championship rival before being shuffled back to third on the opening lap. The New Zealander stayed in the fight, and when the points leader went down, Davies moved back into second before making the pass for the lead on Lap 3. From there, he took control of the race, building a gap on the competition and remaining unchallenged to the checkered flag to score his eighth moto victory of the season and reclaim the championship lead.

In Moto 2, Davies got another great start in third and quickly made his way into the runner-up spot in those opening laps. He held the position for more than half the moto before his championship rival made his way past. Davies rode on to finish third, securing second overall and, more importantly, leaving Budds Creek with a 14-point championship lead and the red plate.

The 2026 250SX East Champion’s efforts also clinched the number-one seed in the 250 class for the SMX World Championship Playoffs, with Davies leaving Budds Creek with a 68-point advantage in the combined 250SMX standings.

“It was a really good day,” said Davies. “We got the points lead back for the last round, but it’s not over until it’s over. I’ve got to get two good starts next weekend. I reckon I can, and hopefully we’ll come out on top. So yeah, it was a good weekend at Budds Creek, but eyes are on next weekend.”

It was a milestone weekend for Gordon, who put together his best Pro Motocross performance to date. The rookie qualified fourth and got a great start to Moto 1, slotting into third behind his teammate Davies. Although he was shuffled back to fourth on the opening lap, Gordon regained third when the championship leader went down and rode a strong pace to the finish, earning his first career 250MX moto podium.

“I’ve been feeling it all morning,” said Gordon after Moto 1. “Qualifying was good, and I was just getting off to a good start and not being in a mess in the first turn. I’m stoked with the way I executed that moto. First podium checked off, and yeah, let’s put two together.”

Gordon backed it up with another strong start in Moto 2, coming through to fifth and quickly moving into fourth. Although he dropped back to 11th five laps in, the Californian regrouped and fought his way back through to seventh, securing third overall with his 3-7 score and his first Pro Motocross overall podium.

“I finally put together a good day,” said Gordon. “I got off the gate well all day, and qualifying was good. I was grooving with the track, but I think I’m also just starting to get comfortable with the racing. I finally brought my practice speed to the race, so I’m stoked, and I’m glad to be progressing as this year ends.”

After a tough couple of rounds, Minear bounced back with a solid sixth-place overall finish at Budds Creek. The young Australian qualified eighth and got a good start to Moto 1 in sixth. He quickly made his way into fourth on Lap 2 before being shuffled back to fifth a couple of laps later, where he rode on to earn a top-five finish.

Moto 2 was a different story, with Minear having more work to do after finding himself 12th on the opening lap. He continued to fight and broke into the top 10 before the halfway mark, ultimately crossing the line 10th to secure sixth overall. Minear heads into the finale sixth in the 250MX Championship and eighth in the combined 250SMX points.

“Budds Creek is done and dusted,” said Minear. “In the first moto, there were a lot of positives. I put myself in a good position off the start and found a flow. In the second moto, I spun off the gate and struggled to find a rhythm. Overall, there were a lot of positives to take away from the weekend and a great turnaround after struggling the last few rounds!”

Dudney also put together another consistent weekend, earning his second consecutive eighth-place overall finish. After qualifying 16th, the young Texan was 10th after the start of Moto 1. He was shuffled back to 12th early but fought his way forward to eighth and spent much of the first half of the moto inside the top 10. Dudney crossed the line 11th but was credited with 10th after a four-position penalty was assessed to Davies’ title rival for gaining an advantage off track. In Moto 2, Dudney got a much better start in fourth and battled for a top-five result. He continued to fight, eventually crossing the line eighth to secure eighth overall.

“I felt decent, but I definitely have more in the tank,” said Dudney. “I had another eighth overall, so it’s good to finally see some consistency. I’m feeling good about Ironman already!”

It was an up-and-down day for Michael Mosiman. The Californian started the weekend with another top-10 qualifying effort in ninth, but a pair of crashes and a three-position penalty for gaining an off-track advantage at the start of Moto 1 ultimately left him 29th in the results. Despite the setback and a less-than-ideal gate pick, Mosiman bounced back in Moto 2. He got a good start in 10th and quickly made his way to seventh by Lap 4. He continued to battle for position and moved into sixth on Lap 10, riding on to finish there and improving to 13th overall.

“It was a rough first moto,” said Mosiman. “I made a bad setup decision preparing for a full mud race and struggled a lot. In the second moto, we went back on the setup, and I rode to a solid sixth. It was a challenging day, but I’m proud of my resilience to finish on a stronger note. We’ll take the lessons and move forward.”

Pierce Brown continued to fight through adversity in his third race back. After qualifying 14th, the Utah rider was 15th after the start to Moto 1 and quickly charged forward, making his way to seventh. As the race wore on in the challenging conditions, he started to lose ground, with a technical issue around the halfway mark dropping him to 20th. Brown was able to get going again and salvage a 16th-place finish.

Unfortunately, more adversity came his way in Moto 2 when Brown fell in the first turn and rejoined at the back of the field. Undeterred, he put his head down and charged his way back to 16th, ending the day 17th overall.

“Yeah, it was a bummer day at Budds for me,” said Brown. “In the first moto, I had a decent start. I passed some guys early, got into seventh at one point, and then ran ninth for a little bit. Unfortunately, I lost my clutch about halfway through, stalled the bike, and couldn’t get it fired up. It took me a while, and I got passed by a bunch of guys. Once I finally got going, I was kind of just stuck where I was and ended up 16th. In the second moto, I had a good start but clipped someone’s wheel in the first corner and fell. I got back up and charged to 16th again. On paper, it was a terrible day, but we’re just going to put our heads down and get to work this week. We have one more outdoor and then onto SMX, so we’re going to try to put our best foot forward.”

Nate Thrasher’s results also didn’t reflect his speed at Budds Creek. After qualifying 12th, he was 17th after the start of Moto 1 but quickly charged into ninth by Lap 2. The Tennessee rider battled around the top 10 throughout the moto and had worked his way back to ninth with three laps remaining before a technical issue on the final lap left him 23rd in the results.

With a less-than-ideal gate pick for Moto 2, Thrasher found himself 34th after the start and once again had his work cut out for him. He steadily made his way forward throughout the moto, charging all the way back to 14th to finish 20th overall. Thrasher continues to hold a top-10 position in the combined 250SMX standings.

“We had terrible luck today, but a positive takeaway is that I felt really good on my bike,” said Thrasher. “We have one more until we take it into the playoffs.”

“What a good day again,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “For Cole to gain that many points today, it was just a brilliant ride. And getting Landen up there on the podium as well was great. We had a lot of guys up front in both motos, and had some mixed results, but all around, it was a really good day. We have momentum, and we’ve got to keep it rolling through Ironman, for sure.”

With one round and two motos remaining, Davies heads to the Pro Motocross season finale with the red plate and a 14-point advantage as he looks to add the 250MX crown to his 2026 250SX East Championship. The final showdown is next weekend at Ironman Raceway, with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team looking to finish the outdoor season strong in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Lachlan Turner Moves Closer to the Crown with Budds Creek Sweep

Lachlan Turner’s win streak continued at Budds Creek Motocross Park, where she swept both motos at the penultimate round of the WMX Championship in Mechanicsville, Maryland. For the Altus Motorsports BLU CRU Yamaha rider, it was a tale of two motos, with Turner winning in two very different ways – an impressive comeback through the field to win Moto 1 and a masterclass ride from the front in Moto 2.

Fresh off a perfect weekend at Unadilla, Turner entered Budds Creek with momentum on her side and a 15-point advantage in the championship. After qualifying second, she had her work cut out for her in Friday’s opening moto when a bad start had her 15th.

Turner wasted little time, quickly advancing to fifth by Lap 2 and continued her charge toward the front aboard her YZ250F. On Lap 5, Turner set the fastest lap of the race as she took over the lead. From there, she put her head down and rode on to secure her seventh moto victory of the season with a clutch comeback ride.

“It was a good weekend overall,” said Turner. “I definitely showed my speed in both scenarios in both motos. In Moto 1, I got a terrible start. I came across the finish line 15th, and I just worked my way up to the front. That was a good race. It was probably the best race of the season for all the fans.”

Saturday’s second moto was an entirely different story. Turner got a much better start and slotted into the runner-up position before taking over the lead early. With clear track ahead, the two-time defending champion set a blistering pace and rode away from the competition, taking the checkered flag by nearly 15 seconds.

“In Moto 2, I got a good start,” Turner said. “When you get a good start, you don’t have to worry about anything. So then I just had some fun with the fans jumping big. We had a good weekend going on, and I’m happy to be going into Ironman with the points I have.”

The Budds Creek sweep marked Turner’s fourth perfect score in five rounds and her second consecutive moto sweep. With eight victories this season, Turner added another six points to her championship advantage for the second consecutive round and heads to the WMX Championship finale at Ironman Raceway with a 21-point lead and a third consecutive title within reach.

Haiden Deegan’s Podium Streak Continues at Budds Creek

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan continued to make strides in his debut 450 Pro Motocross season at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Once again showing the pace to run up front, the 20-year-old put together a 2-4 moto score for third overall and his fifth consecutive overall podium. Cooper Webb also took another step forward at the penultimate round of the Pro Motocross Championship. The three-time 450SX Champion put together a 6-9 score to finish sixth overall at his home outdoor national, equaling his best moto and overall results of the season.

Weather once again added another element to the day at Budds Creek. The first qualifying session ultimately set the times after a downpour hit during the second session. Deegan led the way to earn his second-fastest qualifier honors of the season, and also put on a show in the rain for the fans at the Yamaha Racing Budds Creek National.

When the gate dropped for Moto 1, Deegan got a flying start, grabbing his third holeshot of the season aboard the YZ450F and leading the opening lap. Hunter Lawrence made his way past on Lap 2, but Deegan kept the Australian within sight. After losing some time on the leader, the rookie started to close the gap again around the halfway mark as the pair set a blistering pace at the front of the field.

Both riders continued to push all the way to the checkered flag, setting their fastest laps of the moto on Lap 15 and building a sizeable gap over the rest of the field. In the end, Deegan crossed the line second for his 11th 450MX moto podium so far this season.

In Moto 2, Deegan had his work cut out for him after finding himself ninth after the start. He quickly made his way to seventh and found himself in a multi-rider battle for position. The rookie continued to push forward, moving into sixth before the halfway mark and then closing in on the riders ahead. He advanced to fifth on Lap 12 and made the pass for fourth a couple of laps later, where he would finish to secure his fifth consecutive overall podium in third. It also marked Deegan’s seventh overall podium of the season, and he continues to hold third in the championship.

“It was good,” said Deegan about the day. “I’d say the second moto was a little rough, but I qualified P1, and in the first moto I finished second. I was right on the leader the whole race, so that’s a positive. In Moto 2, I got off to a decent start and kind of got pinched off a little, and then got stuck in the pace of around the fifth-place guy. It kind of messed up my flow, but it’s another podium finish. Obviously I want that moto win, and we were close in that first race. I’ve got one more outdoor to swing at it, and then it’s onto SMX. So I’ve got a lot of racing still to go before the season’s over, and a lot more chances to go out there and show some more speed.”

For Webb, Budds Creek was another positive step forward at a venue that has been his home race in Pro Motocross. The North Carolina rider qualified 10th and then got a great start to Moto 1, coming through in fourth. He was shuffled back to fifth early but maintained the position through the first half of the moto. Webb continued to battle around the top five, but came under pressure from Jett Lawrence late in the moto. While fighting for position, Webb went off track and was shuffled back to sixth, equaling his best moto result of the season.

Like his teammate, Webb did not get the start he was looking for in Moto 2 and found himself 13th on the opening lap. He quickly made his way into 10th by Lap 3 and continued to fight his way forward on a track where passing was difficult. Webb advanced to ninth in the latter stages and rode on to finish there, with his 6-9 score securing sixth overall and equaling his best overall result of the season.

“It was a crazy day,” said Webb. “We had all kinds of weather. We had rain, like, tropical rain, and a mudder for practice. Then it got hot and humid, but the track was crazy. It was a good day for me, though. I went 6-9 for sixth overall. So, I tied my best again. I got a bad start in the second one, which I feel held me back, but I rode really well, though. I’m really happy with today. I feel like I made a good step and was a little closer to that group ahead of me, so I’m happy with that.

“It was awesome to race here at Budds Creek one last time. This is the track I grew up coming to as a fan and was climbing these fences as a little guy. So, it’s a special place, and a great day. Let’s enjoy our last outdoor round next weekend.”

It was a positive day overall for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 squad, with both riders showing improved speed as the outdoor season winds down. Their teammate Justin Cooper sat out the penultimate round while recovering from an illness, with the focus on returning at 100%.

“The second qualifier was a wash, but the first qualifier was good,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “I thought both guys rode really well. Haiden was P1 in qualifying, and Webb showed better speed, so that was good to see. Then Haiden got the holeshot in Moto 1, and I thought it was maybe one of the stronger motos we’ve seen out of both him and Webb. They both rode really well.

“In the second moto, it was just a bad start for both guys, and they didn’t really move through the pack like we would’ve liked. It was a good fight for Haiden to get himself on the overall podium, and Webb was really close to fifth overall. So I’m pumped about that. I think he showed more fitness today. Overall, a good job from the team, and we’ve got one more left outdoors.”

With one round remaining before the SMX World Championship Playoffs, Webb continues to hold the runner-up spot in the combined 450SMX standings, while Deegan’s strong rookie outdoor campaign has moved him up to seventh. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad heads to Crawfordsville, Indiana, next weekend for the Pro Motocross season finale at Ironman Raceway.

Lachlan Turner & Charli Cannon Square Off for Final Women’s
Motocross Championship Showdown from Ironman Raceway

After another memorable summer of competition, the rapid growth of the Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony [WMX] continued to reach unprecedented levels of attention and exposure over the course of the 2026 season. That memorable and groundbreaking journey will culminate this weekend from Indiana’s Ironman Raceway, in the shadow of the motorsports epicenter of Indianapolis, with a championship showdown between Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha’s Lachlan Turner, the reigning back-to-back series champion, and Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon, the Australian foil to Turner’s dominance. The U.S. Army Ironman National Finals will be historic, as a trio of champions will be crowned for the first time following three exceptionally close title fights. The WMX will kick off the weekend’s festivities on Friday, August 28, with its first moto that will air exclusively via SMX Friday Live Presented by Honda on the SuperMotocross YouTube channel. On Saturday, August 29, Turner and Cannon will square off one final time, live on Peacock, to determine who will walk away as the 2026 WMX Champion

All eyes will be on the friendly rivals that have dominated the season thus far, having captured all but one moto and every overall result of the summer. Turner’s eight moto wins and four overall victories has set the standard, allowing her to bring a 21-point advantage into Ironman. To her credit, Cannon has also enjoyed a breakthrough season, earning both her first moto win and maiden overall victory on U.S. soil to highlight a consistent campaign featuring nine moto podiums and four runner-up efforts. The pair are also the two best starters and finishers in WMX, which means the battle for victory at Ironman will likely be decided between them.

Turner comes into Friday’s moto in position to clinch the title early. If she gains four points over Cannon, it will push Turner’s advantage to the 25-point threshold she needs to end the title fight, as she also possesses the tiebreaker over Cannon. For Cannon, if she is unable to beat Turner on Friday, the Australian simply needs to follow the Yamaha rider across the line to extend their battle into Saturday’s final moto.

All the action on Friday can be seen live during SMX Friday Live Presented by Honda livestream on the SuperMotocross YouTube Channel and SMX Video Pass for international viewers. A two-hour block of coverage will begin at 10 a.m. ET / 1 p.m. ET.

Adding another layer of intrigue into the Ironman finale is the addition of international star Daniele Guillen. The Spaniard currently sits atop the MXW standings of MXGP with one round remaining and has a pair of victories and a pair of runner-up finishes through the first four rounds of that championship. She’s been a perennial championship contender overseas and is poised to challenge Turner, Cannon, and the rest of the WMX field for victory this weekend. Guillen will join forces with the Wildcat Race Team, helmed by Venezuelan racer Lorenzo Locurcio, for her U.S. debut, riding a GASGAS machine. She brings another compelling storyline to the dramatic culmination of this championship, with the potential of being a central player in its outcome.

While Turner and Cannon’s showdown, along with Guillen’s anticipated debut, headline this weekend’s action at Ironman, there is also a tightly contested battle unfolding for the third and final spot on the championship podium. Currently, Partzilla Blaster Power PRMX Kawasaki’s Taylah McCutcheon holds down third place in the standings but is just three points ahead of SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen and Dusty Rocks Yamaha’s Jordan Jarvis, who sit tied for fourth. Both McCutcheon and Jarvis are coming off their lowest point scores of the season at Budds Creek, while Nielsen made an overdue return to the overall podium to make this a three-rider fight to the finish. With just two motos remaining, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will seize the moment at Ironman.

In addition to Moto 1 coverage on SMX Friday Live Presented by Honda, the second and final moto of the 2026 season on Saturday will be showcased as part of the comprehensive live coverage on Peacock and SMX Video Pass from Ironman, which will feature the official championship ceremony for either Turner or Cannon. Coverage of the motos on Peacock begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.

On-track action for the WMX at Ironman will span two days, with qualifying and the weekend’s first 12 Minutes + 1 Lap moto scheduled for Friday, August 28. The women will return to the track on Saturday, August 29, for a midday warm-up before contesting Moto 2 in between the first and second motos of the 450SMX and 250SMX classes.

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: @racewmxInstagram: @racewmx

Additional menu