This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of September 20, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

Jorge Prado Prevails with Memorable Playoff 2 Victory After Captivating Battle in Los Angeles

The penultimate race of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship saw the series return to Southern California for Playoff 2 inside Dignity Health Sports Park, where abundant sunshine provided drastically different track conditions from last weekend’s rain-drenched postseason opener. Double points were on the line, providing an opportunity for a shakeup in the Playoff standings. What followed was a truly memorable afternoon and evening of racing, from which Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado prevailed with his first postseason victory following a captivating battle in the 450SMX Class, adding to his points lead. In the 250SMX Class, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer made it a sweep for the Austrian brand with a decisive win.

450SMX Class Playoff Results – Los Angeles

450SMX Class Box Score – Los Angeles

250SMX Class Playoff Results – Los Angeles

250SMX Class Box Score – Los Angeles

The premier class started its first 20 Minutes + 1 Lap moto with Prado out front for the holeshot ahead of the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing pair of Cooper Webb and Haiden Deegan, while Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen slotted into fourth. Prado inched away to assert his hold of the position while the trio behind him swapped spots, with Roczen able to get by both Yamaha riders to take control of second as Deegan slotted into third. Behind them, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac moved into fourth.

Prado and Roczen proceeded to trade fast laps through the first half of the moto, with the lead hovering as just over a second. Then, just before halfway, Roczen made his move with an aggressive and decisive pass on the Spaniard to seize control of the lead. Once out front, the Supercross Champion quickly opened an advantage of more than two seconds. The lead stabilized until inside the final five minutes when Prado was able to close back in on the German native as they navigated lapped riders. Deegan put in a charge as well to close in from third.

The lead duo was separated by less than a second to begin the final lap. The international champions duked it out, to the thrill of the crowd, but Roczen held off Prado to take the moto win by 1.3 seconds. Deegan finished in a close third, with Pro Motocross Champion and Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence fourth. Webb rounded out the top five.

The final moto saw Lawrence emerge with the holeshot but he was soon passed by Prado. Moments later, a bobble by the Spaniard allowed the Australian to reclaim the lead. Behind them, Webb slotted into third, while Roczen charged up to fourth ahead of Deegan. Lawrence was able to move out to a lead of more than a second over Prado, as Roczen made the move on Webb for third. As the opening five minutes drew to a close, Lawrence’s lead grew to more than three seconds. Prado fended off heavy pressure from Roczen to maintain his hold of second, while both Webb and Deegan remained within striking distance of the top three.

At the halfway point of the moto Prado went down in the sand. As they made their way around the downed KTM, Deegan made the pass on Roczen for second. Prado remounted in fourth and went back on the attack, catching Roczen and making the pass for third. Each pass during this thrilling sequence carried major implications in the championship standings, as a four-way tie for first in the overall classification was in play.

With three minutes left on the race clock an intense battle for second between Deegan and Prado took shape until Deegan went down in the sand. As Prado carried on in second, Deegan and Roczen got tangled up as Deegan reentered the race. That allowed Webb to slip past both riders, only for Deegan to make contact during a pass by his teammate that put Webb on the ground. Deegan continued in third, with Roczen fourth, while Webb lost touch in fifth.

Lawrence enjoyed a dominant, trouble-free moto and stormed to the moto win by 14.9 seconds. Prado secured a resilient second-place finish, with Deegan third and Roczen fourth.

Prado’s consistent 2-2 effort put him atop the overall classification by a single point over Lawrence (4-1) and Roczen (1-4), who finished tied for second. Lawrence’s second moto win gave him the tiebreaker for the runner-up spot, leaving Roczen third. Deegan finished just off the overall podium in fourth despite two moto podiums (3-3).

Prado added to his lead in the SMX World Championship standings, as double points moved him 16 points ahead of both Deegan and Lawrence, who sit tied for second. Roczen sits 18 points out of the lead in fourth, while Webb, who finished fifth (5-5), is 20 points back. Triple points will be up for grabs at the Final, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the postseason.

Jorge Prado (2-2) – 1st Place – 450SMX Class
“We just keep improving. We got out of the gate good and made a pass [for the lead], but then I almost went down. I knew this race was going to be hard. I tried to risk it in the sand and ended up on the ground. Sometimes you have to take those risks. I put in a charge and tried to wait for my chance, then Haiden [Deegan] went down and then I rode safe to get to the finish.”

Hunter Lawrence (4-1) – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class
“The start was everything. The track was pretty simple and didn’t offer much for separation. I’m happy to finish that one off with a good race win. We’ll see everyone in Missouri.”

Ken Roczen (1-4) – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class
“I’m very happy with my effort in the first moto, but I don’t remember the last time I raced two motos [like this]. You can’t buy that kind of intensity. I’ll absorb it and it’ll benefit me for next weekend. Happy to get this one out of the way and looking forward to improving.”

450SMX Class Playoff Standings

450SMX Class Playoff Highlights – Los Angeles

The opening 20 Minute + 1 Lap 250SMX Class moto began with Beaumer out front ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco. A collision between several riders bunched the field and allowed the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki duo of Drew Adams and Levi Kitchen to move into third and fourth, respectively. Beaumer quickly established his hold of the lead while DiFrancesco settled into second. Further back, Kitchen, the points leader, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies closed in on Adams for third. Davies then made the move around both Kawasaki riders to take control of the position.

The top three settled in through the middle of the moto, with Adams staying within striking distance from fourth. Kitchen, meanwhile, went down while running fifth and dropped to 11th. Back up front, Davies began to pressure DiFrancesco for second, which pushed them closer to Beaumer. The top three were separated by less than 1.5 seconds with just over five minutes to go. As he looked to make the pass on DiFrancesco, Davies went down in the sand, which dropped him to fourth behind Adams.

Beaumer never put a wheel wrong and completed the wire-to-wire performance for his first moto win in postseason competition. DiFrancesco followed 5.6 seconds behind in second, with Adams in third. Davies finished fourth, followed by his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Kayden Minear in fifth. Kitchen recovered to finish seventh.

The second and deciding moto saw Beaumer lead the field with the holeshot once again, with DiFrancesco and Davies in tow. As Beaumer sprinted out to a lead of more than a second, Davies made the pass on DiFrancesco, while Kitchen moved his way into fourth. As he looked to give chase to Beaumer, Davies crashed hard out of second, which caused DiFrancesco to hit his motorcycle and go down. DiFrancesco dropped outside the top 10 before continuing, while Davies eventually remounted and retired from the race.

Amidst the chaos, Beaumer maintained his hold of the lead ahead of a hard-charging Kitchen, who moved up to second, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Landen Gordon slotted into third. Kitchen continued to chip away at Beaumer’s lead and with just under 13 minutes to go on the race clock he made the pass. Once out front, Kitchen quickly opened an advantage of more than three seconds. Several laps later, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda, the reigning SMX World Champion, made the pass on Gordon for third. The Japanese rider didn’t stop there. He methodically closed in on Beaumer and made the move for second with just over a minute to go. Further back, DiFrancesco’s recovery from his early misfortune saw him make a valiant charge into the top five, which loomed large in the overall classification.

Kitchen was never challenged the rest of the way and took his first postseason moto win by 5.7 seconds over Shimoda, with Beaumer in third.

By virtue of his consistent 1-3 performance Beaumer easily secured his first ever Playoff triumph, continuing an incredible comeback story from a broken back suffered one year ago. DiFrancesco’s late-race pass for fifth moved him from fourth to second overall (2-5), for a pass worth eight points in the championship standings. Kitchen bounced back from a challenging first moto to round out the overall podium (7-1).

Kitchen maintained his possession of the points lead and will carry a three-point lead over DiFrancesco into the SMX World Championship Final. Beaumer gained seven positions in the standings with the win to move into third, 16 points out of the lead. The three riders all remain within the thick of the title fight with triple points on the line next weekend.

Julien Beaumer (1-3) – 1st Place – 250SMX Class
“I saw Davies was down and kind of knew where I was at. I wasn’t really myself [in Moto 2], but I also know Levi [Kitchen] and Jo [Shimoda] weren’t a factor for the win, so I didn’t risk it. It’s good to get a win and get things going back in the right direction.”

Ryder DiFrancesco (2-5) – 2nd Place – 250SMX Class
“My riding was really good today. I was unlucky when Davies went down. I tried to avoid hitting him but hit the bike and went down. I knew I had to fight to get back into this championship. I executed the way I wanted to, but it went south, but we’ve got a shot in Missouri and that’s what matters.”

Levi Kitchen (7-1) – 3rd Place – 250SMX Class
“I don’t know who was riding in the first moto, but it wasn’t me [laughs]. I ended up with a flat tire after the sight lap [for Moto 2] and luckily my mechanic caught it. He saved me. Still in the points lead, which is great, so we’ll carry that momentum into the final race.”

250SMX Class Playoff Standings

250SMX Class Playoff Highlights – Los Angeles

The championship-deciding 8 Minute + 1 Lap SMX Next World All-Stars Main Event got underway with KTM Orange Brigade’s Wyatt Thurman out front for the holeshot ahead of ClubMX Yamaha’s Ryder Malinoski and Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Kade Johnson, the points leader. Thurman and Malinoski battled early for the lead until Thurman went down, which put the Yamaha rider out front ahead of Johnson and KTM Orange Brigade’s Luke Fauser. It didn’t take long for Malinoski and Johnson to sprint away from the field to make it a two-rider battle for the win. Behind them, Fauser lost his hold of third to Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha’s Kane Bollasina.

Malinoski strengthened his hold of the lead in the closing stages of the race and carried on to take the win by 3.9 seconds over Johnson, with Bollasina in third.

With his runner-up effort, Johnson was crowned the 2026 SMX Next World All-Stars Champion.

Kade Johnson – SMX Next World All-Stars Champion
“I qualified fastest in practice and timed qualifying, so I really wanted to make a statement today. This is my fifth straight SMX Next podium. I really wanted the win, but Ryder [Malinoski] was riding awesome. I didn’t want to risk throwing away the championship, so I’m satisfied with that. I’m just so happy and so proud of myself to accomplish this. I’m ready for someone to give me an opportunity [at the professional level].”

SMX Next World All-Stars Results – Los Angeles

SMX Next World All-Stars Final Standings

SMX Next World All-Stars Highlights – Los Angeles

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship postseason will come to a dramatic and exciting conclusion next Saturday, September 26, with the Final from Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by a Pre-Race Show at 6:30 p.m. ET and Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET.

For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:Instagram: @supermotocrossFacebook: @supermotocrossX: @supermotocrossYouTube: @supermotocrossTikTok: @supermotocross

LEVI KITCHEN MAINTAINS THE RED PLATE HEADED INTO THE SMX FINAL AND KADE JOHNSON IS CROWNED SMX NEXT WORLD ALL-STARS CHAMPION

Korie Steede and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing take John Penton GNCC victory

Defending WXC Champion climbs to the top of the standings with three rounds remaining

Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 10

Riders faced a near three-month break in the GNCC schedule over the summer, with Korie Steede and her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition looking to pick up where they left off in Ohio after claiming victory at the previous round.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Steede was all class in what were difficult, wet conditions, powering her way to a well-earned win with a total time of 1:24:59, and taking a critical 30 points toward her title defense.

After achieving 10 consecutive podiums – including three victories – Steede now takes the lead of the WXC division entering The Mason-Dixon GNCC on October 2-4.

“I got off to a really good start in P2, and then passed for the lead quickly entering the woods,”commented Steede.”Man, it was treacherous, though, being the first rider to have to hit everything, and not really having a guide to follow. But it was good – I had a solid gap for a couple laps, and then made a couple of mistakes, which was easy to do. I was fired up throughout the race, dug deep, and managed to get the win, which I’m stoked about!”

Former GNCC Champion Craig DeLong endured a difficult day in the brutal conditions aboard his Husqvarna FX 350, with the experienced racer eventually crossing the line in 12th after a challenging start and struggling to find his flow.

As a result of his ride on Sunday, DeLong sits fifth in the XC1 Open Pro Class standings after 10 rounds, still within striking distance of the top-three as both he and the team aim to rebound next time out.
“I had a tough day at Round 10,” said DeLong. “I got off to a bad start, and was just timid and wasn’t riding like myself – not flowing, and it was just a struggle in those conditions. We’ll get to work and come back strong at Mason-Dixon in a couple of weeks.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results1. Grant Davis, KTM2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki3. Jordan Ashburn, Honda4. Ben Kelley, KTM12. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

WXC Class Results1. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing2. Brandy Richards, KTM3. Ellie Winland, Yamaha

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco continues SMX podium form

450SMX contender RJ Hampshire races to sixth-place result in Los Angeles

Entering Dignity Health Sports Park off the back of a podium in Columbus last weekend, DiFrancesco and his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition continued that momentum in LA by setting the second-quickest lap in qualifying with a 51.574s.

The 21-year-old Californian then scored a solid P2 result in Moto 1, before a top-three start in race two was undone when DiFrancesco was caught up in another rider’s incident. He surged back through the pack during the remainder of the race to claim fifth, taking P2 overall and closing to within three points of the red plate entering next weekend’s triple-points finale in Missouri.

“Los Angeles was one of my best weekends as a professional, I’d say,” commented DiFrancesco.“Today was really solid. Moto 1 was a lot of fun, and being able to separate yourself from the rest of the field like that is cool. I made up some good points in the championship too. And Moto 2, again, was one of the best rides of my career, to salvage those points, click off a lot of riders, and give myself a real shot in Missouri.”

After finishing second overall at Playoff 1, 250SMX teammate Daxton Bennick delivered an impressive comeback ride in Moto 1, powering his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition from 16th off the start to ninth at the finish. He followed that with 12th in Moto 2 for 11th overall, and he sits fifth in the 250SMX standings with one round remaining.

“I struggled a bit on my starts here at Playoff 2,”explained Bennick.“Things weren’t as consistent as I needed them to be, which had me coming through the pack in both motos – the first one to ninth, and then 12th in Moto 2. I’m not stoked on it, but we are fifth in points, and that gives us a good chance at the final round as it’s triple points.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SMX contender RJ Hampshire qualified eighth on the combined 450SMX timesheets, before achieving a measured 9-6 scorecard for sixth overall and rising to eighth in the standings following the double-points round.

“Playoff 2 in LA was decent overall,”said Hampshire.”I felt pretty good on the bike all day – I had good speed – and in Moto 1 I got off to a solid start, but made a mistake and lost the front. We picked it up, and after that I felt the best I have on a 450 inside a stadium, and I salvaged what I could. Moto 2 [was] nothing too special, we just got a decent start and put our laps in to finish sixth overall. I’m feeling good for this last round, so we’ll look to end it on a good note.”

450SMX teammate Malcolm Stewart qualified in 10th position, also delivering a consistent haul of results across the two-moto format to finish eighth overall and make up ground in the championship standings, where he now sits 12th.

“LA was completely opposite, conditions-wise, to last weekend,”began Stewart.”We kept it on two wheels across the day and ended up eighth overall, which was decent. The fans were great, and I’m really looking forward to the season-finale in Missouri next weekend – it’ll be bittersweet, but we’ll have fun for the last one together.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna amateur talent Landon Gibson contested the SMX Next World All-Stars category in Los Angeles, claiming fifth place aboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition. His combined results across the two rounds saw him finish third overall in the series.

Next Race: September 26 – Ridgedale, Missouri

Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 21. Jorge Prado (KTM)2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)6. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)8. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)9. Eli Tomac (KTM)11. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

Standings 450SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 21. Jorge Prado, 92 points2. Haiden Deegan, 763. Hunter Lawrence, 768. RJ Hampshire, 519. Eli Tomac, 4811. Aaron Plessinger, 4412. Malcolm Stewart, 44

Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 21. Julien Beaumer (KTM)2. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)3. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)11. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 21. Levi Kitchen, 87 points2. Ryder DiFrancesco, 843. Julien Beaumer, 715. Daxton Bennick, 56

GRANT DAVIS AND FMF KTM FACTORY RACING CLAIM VICTORY AT THE JOHN PENTON GNCC

KTM Offroad Update

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 10

Riders returned to GNCC action following the summer break, with Grant Davis and his KTM 450 XC-F targeting a strong outing in Ohio as he chased his second XC1 Open Pro Class and Overall win of the season with FMF KTM Factory Racing.

Davis balanced both speed and smarts in the rain-soaked conditions, overcoming the mud with a fast start and measured ride to deliver victory with a total time of 2:23:26. The result moves him up to seventh in the XC1 standings during his rookie season in the premier class.

Grant Davis:“I felt amazing today! On Lap 1, I already knew that I’d be up there by the end of the moto, and when I started to open a gap, I calmed down and just rode my own race. I slowed it down a little bit for consistency, but I am pumped. I’m back – I’ve been putting in hard work over the break, and it showed here today.”

Reigning GNCC Champion Ben Kelley was also motivated for The John Penton GNCC, with the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider achieving a fourth-place finish in the XC1 Open Pro Class after being caught in the mid-field off the start.

Equipped with the KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION, Kelley mounted a convincing comeback during the final stages of the three-hour race, with his P4 result earning a solid haul of points toward his title defense as he sits fourth in the standings.

Ben Kelley:“Today was a really tough day. I got pinched off the start and was about mid-pack, then I played it too safe and found myself in a hole. I was able to make a charge the last three laps and salvage a top-five result. Onto the next one!”

In the XC2 250 Pro division, KTM 250 XC-F-mounted Jason Tino got off to a tough start, playing catch-up for the race’s remainder to take fifth position. The result puts him third in the XC2 standings, 23 points outside of the lead.

Jason Tino:“I got off to a really bad start – I spun, and it put me dead-last. From that point on, I was playing catch-up all day and managed to salvage a fifth, and some good points. Eyes focused on the next one!”

WXC title contender Brandy Richards continued her front-running form at The John Penton GNCC, racing her KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION to a second-place podium finish this weekend.

The result marked Brandy’s eighth podium of the season and keeps her second in the WXC championship standings, just four points from the series lead with three rounds remaining in 2026.

Brandy Richards:“We finished up P2 here at Round 10, which started with a decent start, although the vision was tough out there. We charged forward, and I really did my best just not to get stuck and lose a bunch of time. Second was solid given the conditions, and puts us in a nice position in the championship.”

The Mason-Dixon GNCC will host Round 11 of the 2026 series on October 2-4.

XC1 Open Pro Class Results

Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
Jordan Ashburn, Honda
Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Craig DeLong, Husqvarna

XC2 250 Pro Class Results

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

WXC Class Results

Korie Steede, Husqvarna
Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Ellie Winland, Yamaha

NATIONAL HARE & HOUND SERIES – ROUND 6

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s defending National Hare & Hound Champion Dante Oliveira finished second in the Pro Class at Round 6 of the season in Panaca, Nevada, at the Muley Run National.

Racing his KTM 450 XC-F, Oliveira maintained second position throughout the two-lap format, crossing the finish line with a total time of 2:07:35, which marked a consistent outing for the number one as he eyes a successful title defense.

After recording victory at each of the five previous rounds, Oliveira holds a 20-point advantage heading into the season finale at The 100’s National in Ridgecrest, California, on October 31-November 1.

Dante Oliveira:”I felt amazing on the bike – we put a lot of work in with the team this week in developing settings and getting more and more comfortable, and that paid off massively. The team at WP did an amazing job in getting me in the right direction, and we got off to the holeshot here with Zane [Roberts] right on my rear wheel. I went a little far wide on one of the turns, which allowed him through, and then we fought for the whole two hours. There are so many positives to take away with my riding, I just can’t give those guys an inch, as they’ll take a mile, but we’ll get stronger and come out firing at the next one.”

Pro Class Results

Zane Roberts, Beta
Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
Ryder Thomaselli, Husqvarna

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AT LOS ANGELES SMX PLAYOFF 2

Playoff 2 – SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX)

Entering Playoff 2 as the 450SMX points leader, red-plate holder Prado powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to P2 on the combined qualifying timesheets, before launching to the holeshot in Moto 1.

In contention for the duration of the race, the four-time world champion ultimately claimed a hard-fought second position. Again starting inside the top-three in Moto 2, Prado held P2 for over half of the race before an untimely crash relegated him to fourth.

Upon remounting and putting on an inspired charge forward, the Spaniard climbed back into P2, with his 2-2 scores earning him the overall victory as well as maintaining the red-plate – now 16 points clear of his closest competitor entering next weekend’s SMX Final at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Missouri.

Jorge Prado:“Well, we just keep improving! My jump out of the gate [in Moto 2] was good, I was right there with Hunter [Lawrence] and made an aggressive pass for the lead in the third corner. I then cased the quad and thought I was going over the bars, but the bike saved me – then cased it again three laps later! But man, I knew this race was going to be hard. We were all ripping. I rode it home safely after putting in a charge following my crash, but this is incredible. We’re in contention for the title – let’s get it at the last round.”

Equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Beaumer posted the fastest 250SMX qualifying time around the high-speed track layout, recording a 51.096 lap-time that put him almost half a second clear of the field to take confidence into the double-moto race format.

After scoring the holeshot in Moto 1, the 20-year-old delivered a convincing wire-to-wire performance for victory to continue his momentum, before another holeshot in Moto 2 and a third-place finish secured the overall.

As a result of this weekend’s double-points round, Beaumer has climbed to third in the 250SMX standings, sitting just 16 points from the lead with triple points on offer at next weekend’s title-deciding finale.

Julien Beaumer:“I saw Levi [Kitchen] and Jo [Shimoda] and knew they didn’t have the greatest of first motos, so I didn’t want to risk too much [in Moto 2], obviously. The track was pretty tricky, and the sun made things harder as well, but I’m happy to come out with the overall. I said I needed to win these last two rounds, so it’s a good start!”

Also starting well in 450SMX Moto 1 was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, battling for a podium spot on board his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION during the early stages. He would eventually claim sixth, while a 12th-place finish in Moto 2 earned him ninth overall. Sights now shift to next weekend’s round, which will mark the conclusion of his decorated professional career.

Eli Tomac:”I got a decent start in Moto 1 and I was somewhat in the mix before I lost two positions, but the riding was a lot better than the weekend before. In Moto 2, I was in a worse position off the start, and just didn’t get a flow going. I was kind of happy with Moto 1 because it was an improvement, although I want to get a stronger result at my final race next weekend in Missouri.”

‘The Cowboy’ Aaron Plessinger was also in action in Los Angeles, with the 30-year-old racing to a consistent P8 result in Moto 1. A 13th-place finish in Moto 2 saw Plessinger and his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION secure 11th overall for the second Playoff of the year.

Aaron Plessinger:I got a pretty good start in Moto 1 from the outside, and then started making passes to wind up in eighth place. Moto 2, I just didn’t get off to the greatest start, having hugged the inside, and was pretty much last. I did what I could to make it back to 13th, but just didn’t have it going in the second one. We made it out of LA in one piece, and now we’ll look for a rebound in Missouri.”

Next Race: September 26 – Ridgedale, Missouri

Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 2

Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 450SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 2

Jorge Prado, 92 points
Haiden Deegan, 76
Hunter Lawrence, 76
RJ Hampshire, 51
Eli Tomac, 48
Aaron Plessinger, 44
Malcolm Stewart, 44

Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 2

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

Standings 250SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 2

Levi Kitchen, 87 points
Ryder DiFrancesco, 84
Julien Beaumer, 71
Daxton Bennick, 56

Ferrandis Announces Retirement from Professional Racing

Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing today announces that Dylan Ferrandis will retire from professional racing, bringing an accomplished career to a close following the 2026 season.

For the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team, Ferrandis’ retirement carries special significance. The 2026 season was not only the first chapter of Ducati’s U.S. Supercross and Pro Motocross effort, but it was also the final season of Ferrandis’ distinguished professional racing career. The team is honored to have shared that final chapter with him.

A former 250 Supercross Champion and 450 Motocross Champion, Ferrandis has built a career defined by raw speed, technical precision, relentless work ethic and championship pedigree. His accomplishments and professionalism have earned him a respected place in the sport, and his experience proved invaluable in the 2026 season as Ducati’s first full U.S. premier-class racing campaign.

“This weekend’s race will be my last race as a professional racer, and I will retire from the sport,” said Dylan Ferrandis. “I have been riding dirt bikes since three years old all around the world and this life has been exctly what I wanted. It’s been a great year with the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team and we will try to finish the season on a high note and enjoy these last few moments of racing.”

Ferrandis carried an especially significant responsibility during the opening months of the program. With teammate Justin Barcia sidelined for nearly the entire Supercross season, Ferrandis became the team’s sole rider in the United States for much of the season. He shouldered the responsibility of putting countless hours on the Ducati, testing settings, gathering data and helping the team understand how to further improve the motorcycle for the unique demands of American racing.

The work was relentless.

Lap after lap, test after test, Ferrandis helped establish a foundation that will continue to benefit the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing program well beyond his final season. Along the way, he delivered a series of important milestones for the first year team.

“I have had the privilege of working with Dylan since 2024. Throughout that time, he has been one of the hardest-working riders I have ever been around,” said Josh Wisenor, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team Manager. “His work ethic is next level and truly unmatched.

Dylan has an incredible intuition on the motorcycle that has, and continues to, amaze me. The way he is able to pick up on the smallest changes and adjustments, while constantly pushing for improvement within himself and with the bike, is something special. He never settles. It is bittersweet because Dylan has been such an asset to the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati

team in the short time he has been with us, and I wish we could have had more time together. But it makes me happy knowing that he will be walking away from racing on his own accord – healthy, happy, and knowing that he had an extremely successful and respected career.”

Ferrandis secured the team’s first top-10 result, followed by its first top-five finish, before delivering the program’s best overall result of the season at Hangtown, where he went 4-6 for fourth overall. The fourth-place overall finish was also his best result of the 2026 season, while his fourth-place Moto 1 finish at Hangtown marked his best individual moto result of the year.

Ferrandis closed the Supercross championship 11th in points and finished the Pro Motocross championship seventh in points. He also earned a spot in the SMX Playoffs seeded fourth in combined points. Across the season, Ferrandis recorded 20 top-10 overall finishes as we head into the final round of the 2026 SuperMotocross series.

More than the results, however, Ferrandis’ contribution to the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team will be measured by the groundwork he helped lay.

Ferrandis’ one season with Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing provided momentum that will carry forward as the team continues to develop its program. His experience, feedback and commitment helped accelerate the learning curve of a new project, while his results gave the team tangible benchmarks to build upon.

Dylan Ferrandis was there when the Ducati program took its first laps, earned its first top-10, celebrated its first top-five and reached its first fourth-place overall finish. He helped turn a new motorcycle and a new racing program into a competitive force on American soil.

Thank you, Dylan, for letting us be part of the final chapter.

Top Women’s Racers Set for Postseason Showcase with WMX Invitational Powered by Synchrony from Thunder Ridge

Following the most successful and most watched season in the history of the Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony, the fastest females in the sport will make their postseason debut this weekend during the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship Final from Thunder Ridge Nature Arena. The inaugural WMX Invitational Powered by Synchrony will pit 13 of the top WMX racers against one another in a showcase race on the hybrid racetrack built at arguably the most unique venue the sport has ever visited.

“A memorable season filled with milestones will now culminate with the WMX’s postseason debut. This is an incredible opportunity for our athletes and for the sport as a whole to watch the best in women’s motocross compete on SMX’s biggest stage,” said Christina Denney, WMX Director. “We’ve invited 13 of the best racers in the world to Ridgedale, led by a WMX Champion, MXGP Champion, Australian MXW Champion, and Canadian WMX Champion. The hybrid track will provide the most unique challenge WMX racers have ever faced, which should result in a thrilling battle for victory that will captivate those in attendance and watching from home.”

A lineup featuring 13 of the top women’s motocross racers in the world will converge at the SMX World Championship Final for the WMX Invitational.

Headlining the lineup of athletes for the WMX Invitational is reigning back-to-back-to-back WMX Champion Lachlan “Lala” Turner. The Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha rider has enjoyed a banner year that saw her capture a third straight WMX crown, the Australian ProMX MXW Championship, and make her FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship debut. Now, she has an opportunity to bookend the season with a win in the first WMX race held during the SMX World Championship.

Three-time and reigning WMX Champion Lachlan “Lala” Turner will headline the field of Invitational athletes and will carry the #99 on her Yamaha.

Turner will be flanked by her WMX rival in Australian Charli Cannon, who boasts a multitude of Australian titles of her own and has finished runner-up in the WMX for back-to-back seasons. The Quad Lock Honda rider enjoyed a breakout season this summer with her first victories on U.S. soil and has an opportunity to put a memorable finishing touch on her best campaign yet.

Multi-time Australian Champion Charli Cannon will look to cap off a breakthrough season with a victory at the Invitational.

Additional champions include Lotte Van Drunen of the Netherlands, a two-time FIM WMX Champion in MXGP who contested a pair of WMX rounds this summer and American Jamie Astudillo, who captured her first Canadian WMX National Championship just last month. Van Drunen will join the Gizmo Racing Yamaha effort for the Invitational, while Astudillo will compete with the Canadian-based Priority MX GASGAS squad.

Two-time MXGP Champion Lotte van Drunen will bring international star power to the Invitational field after a successful WMX debut earlier this summer.

Newly crowned Canadian Champion Jamie Astudillo rounds out a decorated group of champion racers from around the world.

Not to be outdone, SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen, who finished third in the WMX Championship for the second straight season, will undoubtedly factor into the fight at the Invitational, while Dusty Rocks Yamaha’s Jordan Jarvis is the most experienced rider in the field and one of the most decorated. Additionally, SLR Honda’s Mayla Herrick, is the most promising young talent in the sport, just over a month removed from earning the Women’s AMA National Championship at the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship from Loretta Lynn’s Ranch.

After a second straight third-place finish in the WMX Championship, Mikayla Nielsen will be one of several top contenders at the Invitational.

With several WMX titles to her credit and an unmatched number of starts, Jordan Jarvis is the most experienced rider in the field with her own impressive résumé.

After a history making win in the first moto of her pro career, Mayla Herrick showed she’s the most promising young talent in WMX after an impressive rookie campaign.

All told, the WMX Invitational field will feature athletes from four different countries – USA, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands. The Invitational will consist of a single 10 Minute + 1 Lap Main Event on Saturday, taking place in between the first and second motos of the 250SMX and 450SMX classes.

WMX Invitational Powered by Synchrony Lineup:

#7  Charli Cannon / Maroochy River, QLD, Australia / Honda
#10  Taylah McCutcheon  / Cornubia, QLD, Australia / Kawasaki
#23  Mayla Herrick / Thornton, Colorado / Honda
#51  Mikayla Nielsen / Riverside, California / Honda
#76  Lilly-Ann Pettus / Hanceville, Alabama / Triumph
#99  Lachlan Turner / Gardnerville, Nevada / Yamaha
#167  Piper Bell / Sault Saint Marie, Michigan / KTM
#172  Hannah Hodges / Pierson, Florida / Triumph
#301  Jordan Jarvis / Clayton, North Carolina / Yamaha
#401  Lotte van Drunen / Gorinchem, Netherlands / Yamaha
#469  Jamie Astudillo / Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania / GASGAS
#713  Tayla Jones / Yass, NSW, Australia / Honda
#912  Kaylie Kayer / Savona, BC, Canada / Yamaha

The WMX Invitational Powered by Synchrony will be part of comprehensive live broadcast coverage of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Final exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by a Pre-Race Show at 6:30 p.m. ET and Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET.

Trystan Hart Signs Long-Term Extension with FMF KTM Factory Racing

FMF KTM Factory Racing is pleased to announce a long-term contract extension with defending AMA National Hard Enduro Champion Trystan Hart, continuing their successful partnership toward a milestone 10th season together.

The recently-crowned six-time U.S. Hard Enduro Championship winner has been part of the KTM family for all six of his consecutive titles, with Hart continuing to establish himself among the world’s elite in extreme offroad competition.

In 2026, Hart powered his KTM 300 XC to six victories from eight rounds to secure the title, while also claiming second position at the iconic Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Tennessee Knockout (TKO) international events.

The 29-year-old Canadian will now shift his sights to the 2026 AMA EnduroCross Championship, which begins on October 3 in Las Vegas. Equipped with the KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION, he also captured the Pro Class title in the discipline during 2023 and 2024.

After commencing their partnership in late 2020, this newfound agreement will see Hart and FMF KTM Factory Racing reach a 10-year milestone together, continuing their unrelenting pursuit of success into the future.

Trystan Hart: “I’m extremely grateful to re-sign with FMF KTM Factory Racing – the team has been my home now for almost a decade. There’s no place I’d rather be, and I am looking forward to the next chapter together!”

Tim Weigand, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We are excited to continue with Trystan for the foreseeable future. It is hard to believe we are approaching 10 years together. Watching his growth over the years has been incredible, and we have shared a lot of wins and great moments together along the way. We are proud of what we have accomplished, the relationship we have built, and we look forward to continuing our partnership!”

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