Lawrence and Brown Make History at Arlington Supercross Round 7
Round 7 of the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross season brought the championship to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for Military Appreciation Night inside AT&T Stadium. The electric atmosphere set the stage for a landmark evening, as two riders captured the first premier class wins of their careers in dramatic fashion.
Hunter Lawrence Breaks Through in 450SMX
Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence finally checked the last remaining box in his résumé, securing his first career 450SMX Class victory in his 26th premier class start.
The Main Event opened with Cooper Webb edging out Ken Roczen for the holeshot before Roczen quickly seized control. Lawrence slotted into third, while Red Bull KTM’s Eli Tomac began his charge from 11th.
to bring home a hard-fought second place finish.
Within just a few laps, Tomac surged into contention, moving into fourth and setting up a four-rider showdown. As the clock ticked down in the 20 minutes plus one lap Main Event, Lawrence mounted relentless pressure on Roczen. After a stalled attempt in traffic, the Australian regrouped and executed a decisive pass in the whoops.
Tomac capitalized on the intensity behind Lawrence, slicing past both Roczen and Webb to claim second. Webb briefly ran off track in the shuffle but recovered to reclaim third.
Out front, Lawrence stayed composed despite late pressure from Tomac and crossed the line 2.8 seconds clear to become the fifth different winner in seven rounds. The victory extended his championship lead to four points over Tomac, with Webb and Roczen close behind in the standings.
“It’s cool, but we’ve got a lot of racing left. It takes a whole village to move mountains.”
said Lawrence
Pierce Brown Opens Eastern 250SMX with Maiden Win
The Eastern Divisional 250SMX Championship kicked off with its own dramatic storyline, as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown captured his first career Supercross victory.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda grabbed the holeshot in his return from offseason neck and back injuries, quickly building a multi-second advantage. Brown and Daxton Bennick gave chase as title contender Cole Davies fought forward from a first-turn crash.
A pivotal moment unfolded when red medical lights were displayed on the track. Shimoda rolled key obstacles as required, but Brown was able to maintain full pace and closed the gap before taking over the lead. Shimoda responded with multiple attacks in the closing laps but couldn’t make the decisive move stick.
Brown secured the emotional win by 2.4 seconds over Shimoda, with Bennick completing the podium. The triumph came one year after Brown suffered a fractured vertebra in the same Eastern opener, making the redemption even more meaningful.
“I don’t even know where to start. There were so many nights where I didn’t think this would be possible.”
Brown admitted
Championship Picture Tightens
Lawrence’s breakthrough victory strengthens his hold on the 450SMX red plate, while Brown now leads the Eastern Division standings for the first time in his career.
Jo Shimoda, Pierce Brown, and Daxton Bennick
With momentum shifting and confidence surging for both first-time winners, the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross season continues to deliver unpredictable and unforgettable racing.