Hunter Lawrence wins 2026 Pro Motocross
Hunter Lawrence clinched his first 450SMX Pro Motocross Championship by two points over brother Jett at the Ironman finale.
Hunter Lawrence of Honda HRC Progressive won the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship at the Ironman Raceway finale on August 29, 2026. He secured his first premier class title by a margin of two points over his brother and rival, Jett Lawrence, after a dramatic day of racing. The event, the U.S. Army Ironman National Finals, concluded the 28-round Monster Energy SMX World Championship regular season before a record crowd.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Jorge Prado dominated the day's 450SMX competition, earning his first career victory on U.S. soil. In the 250SMX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cole Davies claimed the championship on his 19th birthday, becoming the first New Zealander to win the Gary Jones Cup in 55 years.
450SMX Class Drama
The championship battle between the Lawrence brothers headed into the final round separated by a single point. The first moto delivered immediate chaos. Hunter Lawrence took the holeshot but collided with Haiden Deegan after Deegan crashed in front of him. Both riders rejoined at the back of the field. Jett Lawrence also started poorly, outside the top 20.
While the contenders scrambled, Jorge Prado seized control. He took the lead and was never challenged, winning the moto by 11.5 seconds over RJ Hampshire. Hunter Lawrence mounted a remarkable charge from 39th place to finish eighth. Jett Lawrence could only manage 11th.
Entering the second and final moto, Hunter's lead was four points. Prado again took the holeshot with the Lawrences in tow. Hunter ran second but a mistake dropped him to third, behind Deegan and ahead of Jett. The brothers then engaged in a tense fight for third place, with Jett ultimately holding the position. Hunter, knowing he only needed to finish behind his brother to win the title, settled for fourth. Prado won the moto by 6.6 seconds over Deegan.
The day's overall 450SMX podium was decided by the combined moto finishes.
| Rider | Number | Team | Moto 1 | Moto 2 | Overall Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jorge Prado | #26 | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| RJ Hampshire | #24 | Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing | 2 | 6 | 2nd |
| Cooper Webb | #2 | Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing | III | 8 | 3rd |
Hunter Lawrence finished fourth overall (8-4), securing the championship. Jett Lawrence finished sixth overall (11 -3). This marked the first time all season neither brother stood on the podium. Hunter Lawrence is now the 29th different champion in series history.
250SMX Championship Decided
The 250SMX title fight between Cole Davies and Levi Kitchen was decided in the first moto. Kitchen suffered heartbreak, allowing Davies to clinch the championship before the final race even started. Davies, celebrating his 19th birthday, took the title.
Julien Beaumer of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing won the day's 250SMX overall with a second career victory. Davies had set the fastest qualifying time earlier in the day with a lap of 2:10.092.
Rider Reactions
New champion Hunter Lawrence struggled to describe his feelings. "I just knew I had to finish behind Jett [in Moto 2]," he said. "Most of my work was done in the first moto."
Overall winner Jorge Prado was elated. "It was a perfect day. Fastest in Qualifying and P1 in both motos," said the Spaniard. "This is why I came here to the United States, to win."
Third-place finisher Cooper Webb called it a dream ending to his Pro Motocross career. "I got called up to Team USA earlier this week and ended a Cinderella weekend on the podium," Webb stated. "This feels like a win."
With the regular season complete, the SMX World Championship postseason begins next. Hunter Lawrence will enter as the top seed. For full details on the upcoming playoff fixtures and the latest standings, visit our dedicated pages.
