The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship headed to the Rocky Mountains for Round 3 of the outdoor season, where the high-altitude challenge of Thunder Valley Motocross Park delivered another dramatic afternoon of racing.
Images courtesy of MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Honda HRC Progressive celebrated a perfect day in Colorado as Jett Lawrence swept both 450 motos for overall victory, while Jo Shimoda claimed his first win of the season in the 250 class.
450SMX Class
Jett Lawrence continued his unbeaten record at Thunder Valley with a commanding 1-1 performance to secure his second consecutive overall victory and move into the championship points lead.
The Honda rider was untouchable from the front, grabbing both holeshots and leading every lap across the afternoon’s two motos. However, the opening race was far from straightforward.
Moto one saw Lawrence come under intense pressure from brother Hunter Lawrence and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan. The trio traded momentum throughout the race before Deegan suffered two crashes that ended his challenge. Late drama followed when Hunter Lawrence fell on the final lap while battling for second, allowing MXGP championship leader Lucas Coenen to secure an impressive runner-up finish in his first-ever Pro Motocross moto.
Post-race penalties for track-cutting infractions reshuffled the results, with Hunter Lawrence dropping from third to fourth and Deegan falling from fourth to eleventh.
In moto two, Jett Lawrence once again emerged with the holeshot and quickly built a comfortable advantage. Hunter Lawrence crashed on the opening lap, while Coenen charged into second and settled into the role of chief pursuer. Although the Belgian rookie maintained strong pace throughout the race, he had no answer for Lawrence, who stretched his advantage to nearly ten seconds at the flag.
Behind them, Deegan recovered to third after another eventful race, while Hunter Lawrence salvaged fourth despite a second late-race fall.
The perfect 1-1 scoreline marked Lawrence’s 26th premier class victory in just 30 starts and extended his Thunder Valley winning streak to four consecutive years. Coenen’s 2-2 debut result was one of the standout stories of the weekend, while Hunter Lawrence’s consistency ensured he remained firmly in championship contention despite a difficult day.
Jett Lawrence – 1st Overall
“I felt a lot better in Moto 2, with a lot better lines and better flow. It was a really tricky track. It was a good 1-1 weekend and I’m happy with that. I’m getting more used to riding with my foot, but it wasn’t easy on a track like this. But it was still good enough for a 1-1.”
Lucas Coenen – 2nd Overall
“It was an amazing experience. I was able to get a good start [in Moto 2] and went from there. I’m so grateful for the team and everything they did to make this happen. The second moto was hectic with the lappers, but I’m racing against the best rider in the world. I can’t wait to come back [at Southwick], but we’ll go back [to MXGP] and try to win there.”
Hunter Lawrence – 3rd Overall
“It was a tough one today. I felt like my riding was really good, but I struggled with the connectivity of the track and my motorcycle. I struggled a lot more than I usually do in keeping the bike under me. All good, we’ll move on to the next one.”
450 Overall Results
250SMX Class
The unpredictability of the 250 division continued at Thunder Valley, with Jo Shimoda becoming the third different winner in the opening three rounds despite not winning a single moto.
Moto one belonged to Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen, who mounted a late charge to pass teammate and championship leader Seth Hammaker with just two laps remaining. Kitchen’s superior pace in the closing stages allowed him to pull clear and claim the race victory by over eight seconds.
Shimoda quietly worked his way forward throughout the moto and eventually passed Michael Mosiman late in the race to secure third place behind the Kawasaki duo.
The second moto delivered early chaos when Kitchen and Hammaker collided in the opening turn, bringing down multiple riders and leaving both championship contenders buried deep in the field.
That incident allowed Belgian MX2 points leader Sacha Coenen to control the race from the front. Making just his second Pro Motocross start, Coenen dominated proceedings and never faced a serious challenge, leading every lap to take a convincing moto victory.
Behind him, Shimoda once again put together a smart and measured ride. After moving past Nick Romano for third, the Honda rider closed on Ryder DiFrancesco in the closing laps and made the decisive pass for second just before the final lap.
Those 3-2 moto scores were enough to hand Shimoda the overall victory, while Kitchen’s remarkable recovery to eighth in moto two secured second overall. Romano completed a breakthrough day with his first career overall podium finish after consistent fourth and fifth-place moto results.
The championship picture tightened significantly after Hammaker’s difficult second moto. Hammaker and Kitchen now leave Colorado tied on points at the top of the standings, with Shimoda just six points behind.
Jo Shimoda – 1st Overall
“I just needed to start up front. I wasted too much energy in the first moto, so I didn’t have as much in the second moto. We still have a lot of things to work on but still got a win. Coming back from my [offseason] neck injury, this win means a lot. Let’s keep the ball rolling.”
Levi Kitchen – 2nd Overall
“I just can’t put a day together. It was a bummer [to start Moto 2]. I got up and saw a red plate in front of me and realized I just need to beat this guy [Hammaker]. I just put my head down and charged. I wasn’t really happy with how it was going, but I gave it my all. We’ve just got to keep going and keep fighting.”
Nick Romano – 3rd Overall
“This is so unreal. I don’t even know where to start. I want to thank my family, friends, and Mitch Payton for giving me this opportunity. I’ve been working for this my whole life and hope I can do it again next weekend.”
250 Overall Results
The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship will continue next Saturday, June 20, with Round 21 of the SMX World Championship regular season and the East Coast debut from Pennsylvania’s famed High Point Raceway.
