Hunter Lawrence is finally a 450 Pro Motocross Champion after surviving a dramatic season finale at Ironman Raceway, while Cole Davies wrapped up the 250 crown on his 19th birthday.
Images courtesy of MX SPORTS PRO RACING, INC.
The final round of the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship delivered plenty of drama, with Hunter and younger brother Jett Lawrence arriving at Ironman separated by just a single point in the 450 standings.
It proved to be anything but a straightforward afternoon for the Honda HRC Progressive pair. Hunter battled back from a disastrous opening moto to secure his maiden premier-class title by just two points over Jett, becoming the 29th different 450 champion in Pro Motocross history.
While the championship battle grabbed the headlines, Jorge Prado produced his best performance since moving to the United States. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider swept both motos to claim his first American victory.
In the 250 class, Cole Davies’ championship battle with Levi Kitchen came to an abrupt conclusion in Moto 1. Kitchen’s race unravelled following a crash and eventual DNF, while Davies finished third to secure the championship before the final moto had even started.
The New Zealander became the first Kiwi to claim the 250 Pro Motocross crown in 55 years, while Julien Beaumer ended the season on a high with the overall victory.
450 – Hunter survives Ironman drama
Hunter Lawrence entered the finale with the narrowest possible advantage over Jett, but his title hopes were immediately thrown into jeopardy.
Hunter grabbed the opening-moto holeshot before Haiden Deegan surged ahead and crashed directly in front of him. With nowhere to go, Lawrence collided with Deegan and the pair became tangled together, leaving Hunter to restart at the back of the field.
Jett hadn’t fared much better from the start and was buried outside the top 20, briefly passing his stricken brother before both began working their way through the pack.
At the front, Prado took control after moving past RJ Hampshire and Cooper Webb and quickly established himself as the rider to beat.
Hunter produced an impressive recovery from 39th to eighth, eventually passing Jett during his charge through the field. Jett could only manage 11th.
Prado, meanwhile, was untouchable and claimed his first U.S. moto victory by 11.5 seconds over Hampshire. Webb snatched third from Mikkel Haarup at the final turn, with Aaron Plessinger completing the top five.
That left just four points between the Lawrence brothers heading into the final moto of the championship.
Prado again hit the front in Moto 2, with Hunter second and Jett third before Deegan moved past the younger Lawrence.
Hunter then had a moment while running second, allowing Deegan through, before later going down as Jett moved ahead of him.
The brothers eventually found themselves battling directly for third, but Hunter knew fourth was enough to secure the championship. He resisted the temptation to force his way past and managed the position to the flag.
Up front, Prado completed a perfect afternoon with another commanding victory, finishing 6.6 seconds ahead of Deegan. Jett crossed the line third and Hunter fourth.
Prado’s 1-1 gave him his maiden U.S. overall victory in his 22nd start, while Hampshire went 2-6 for second overall and Webb’s 3-8 secured third in what was his final full-time Pro Motocross start.
Hunter’s 8-4 scores gave him fourth overall and, crucially, the championship by two points over Jett, who finished sixth overall with 11-3 finishes.
The result also made Hunter and Jett the first siblings to both become premier-class Pro Motocross champions.
450 Overall Winner – Jorge Prado | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (1-1)
“It was a perfect day. Fastest in Qualifying and P1 in both motos. We made so much progress the past few weeks and we’re in such a good place with the bike. I’m so happy with all the hard work from the team. This is why I came here to the United States, to win.”
Second – RJ Hampshire | Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (2-6)
“This is awesome [to be on the podium]. Just a solid day. I didn’t do anything special. I got decent starts and made it happen. Huge thanks to the team at Rockstar Energy Husqvarna, what a way to go out.”
Third – Cooper Webb | Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (3-8)
“This is a dream ending to a racing career at my last ever National. I got called up to Team USA earlier this week and ended a Cinderella weekend on the podium. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. This feels like a win. What a dream come true to be up here one last time.”
2026 450 Champion – Hunter Lawrence | Honda HRC Progressive (8-4)
“I can’t even [put it into words]. I just knew I had to finish behind Jett [in Moto 2]. Most of my work was done in the first moto. It was a tough day for the Lawrences, as you can see, a pretty uncharacteristic day. Thank you to the team, my brother, my family, everyone that supports us. We’re living the American dream and couldn’t do this anywhere else.”
450 Ironman Overall Results
Davies delivers New Zealand history in 250s
Cole Davies started the Ironman finale locked in a season-long championship battle with Levi Kitchen, but the title was decided much earlier than expected.
Davies set the pace in qualifying before Julien Beaumer grabbed the opening-moto holeshot ahead of Chance Hymas and the championship leader.
Kitchen started outside the top 10 and then crashed before the end of the opening lap. His afternoon went from bad to worse when he later encountered trouble on one of Ironman’s steep hills. Although he eventually got going again, Kitchen retired from the moto and was classified 40th.
At the front, Hymas initially took the lead from Beaumer before crashing and dropping to fourth. Beaumer inherited the lead ahead of Davies, but Hymas mounted an impressive recovery.
After passing Davies for second, Hymas erased a deficit of more than seven seconds to Beaumer before reclaiming the lead late in the moto.
Hymas eventually won by 26.2 seconds from Beaumer, with Davies third. Combined with Kitchen’s DNF, that was enough to crown Davies the 2026 champion.
Kitchen sat out Moto 2 and was set to undergo further evaluation following his opening-race incident.
With the championship already settled, Davies charged into the lead early in the final moto, but Beaumer worked his way forward from ninth and eventually took control.
Hymas, meanwhile, recovered from an early fall outside the top 20 and charged all the way to second.
Beaumer took the chequered flag 7.2 seconds ahead of Hymas, with Ryder DiFrancesco third. With the title safely secured, Davies backed off during the second half of the race and finished 13th.
Beaumer’s 2-1 scores earned him his second career overall victory, with Hymas second on the 1-2 tiebreak and DiFrancesco completing the podium.
Davies finished seventh overall with 3-13 results, but the day belonged to the newly crowned champion. He ended the season 38 points clear of Beaumer and became the first New Zealander to win an AMA National Championship.
He also became the third-youngest rider to win 250 titles in Supercross and Pro Motocross in the same season and will enter the SMX postseason as the top seed.
250 Overall Winner – Julien Beaumer | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2-1)
“It’s been a bit of a rough stretch the last few rounds, but that [second moto] was me. I felt amazing and the bike was perfect. I couldn’t be happier. Buckle up, it’s SMX [Playoffs] time. I’m fired up, let’s go.”
Second – Chance Hymas | Honda HRC Progressive (1-2)
“Earlier in the season I’d be super stoked to be in this position [in second], but today I’m bummed. I rode my butt off in the second moto. If it wasn’t for that mistake. I’ve got to ride that roller coaster [of emotion] and in the grand scheme of things, I’m doing alright.”
Third – Ryder DiFrancesco | Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (7-3)
“I’ve got a real shot at the Playoffs. I need to lock in these next few weeks and try to fight for it. Given all the experience I have now I think I can keep the momentum going and carry it into that. I’m looking forward to it.”
2026 250 Champion – Cole Davies | Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (3-13)
“I expected nothing less than holding this [#1] plate at the end of the year. Man, what a journey it’s been. I worked my whole life to be where I am now. It was an up and down season, but it was all worth it, and to do it on my birthday is unreal.”
250 Ironman Overall Results
SMX Playoffs up next
With the 2026 Pro Motocross season complete, attention now turns to the Monster Energy SMX World Championship postseason, where a combined $1.5 million championship bonus will be on the line across the 450SMX and 250SMX classes.
The opening Playoff takes place at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus on September 11-12, followed by Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles on September 18-19.
The SMX World Championship Final will then bring the season to a close at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri, on September 25-26.
