Hunter Lawrence and Seth Hammaker Dominate Opening Round of 2026 Pro Motocross Championship
The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship roared into action at the Fox Raceway National in Pala, California, as the second half of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship season officially began. In front of one of the largest crowds ever seen at the Southern California venue, Hunter Lawrence and Seth Hammaker delivered standout performances to secure victories in the premier 450SMX and 250SMX classes.
Hunter Lawrence Delivers Perfect Day in 450SMX
Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence entered the outdoor season with momentum after finishing runner-up in Supercross, and he carried that form into Fox Raceway with a flawless performance.
Lawrence topped both qualifying sessions before backing it up with a commanding ride in Moto 1. After quickly passing early leader Mikkel Haarup, the Australian controlled the race and crossed the finish line 8.7 seconds ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado. Justin Cooper completed the podium in third, while defending Pro Motocross champion Jett Lawrence recovered from a poor start to finish fourth.
Moto 2 provided another showcase of Lawrence’s speed and consistency. Despite briefly losing the lead to Prado on the opening lap, he responded immediately and surged back into control. From there, Lawrence built a comfortable gap and never looked threatened, taking the chequered flag six seconds ahead of Prado.
The perfect 1-1 scorecard marked Lawrence’s second career premier-class victory and his first-ever overall sweep in Pro Motocross competition.
“I feel awesome. It was a great day. P1, a perfect day. On top in every session. I’m just fired up,”.
said Lawrence after the race
Prado secured a breakthrough runner-up finish with a pair of second-place moto results, earning his first Pro Motocross podium. Jett Lawrence fought through the field in both motos to claim third overall despite challenging starts and physical discomfort.
450SMX Overall Top Five
- Hunter Lawrence (Honda) – 1-1
- Jorge Prado (KTM) – 2-2
- Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 4-3
- Justin Cooper (Yamaha) – 3-6
- Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) – 5-4
Following the opening round, Hunter Lawrence leads the championship standings with 50 points, six ahead of Prado and 12 clear of Jett Lawrence.
Seth Hammaker Breaks Through in 250SMX
The 250SMX division produced one of the biggest stories of the day as Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker captured his first career Pro Motocross overall victory.
Hammaker started strongly by grabbing the holeshot in Moto 1 and battling teammate Levi Kitchen for the lead. Although Kitchen eventually took the win, Hammaker secured an important second-place finish.
Moto 2 proved to be the defining moment of his career. After chasing down early leader Julien Beaumer, Hammaker took control of the race and steadily pulled away. The victory not only earned him his first moto win but also sealed the overall triumph with a 2-1 scoreline.
The result was particularly impressive considering Hammaker is still recovering from a torn trapezius injury sustained during the Supercross finale.
“That’s probably the easiest it’s ever gonna feel to get a win. Those last few laps didn’t feel real. What an unreal way to start the year.”
Hammaker said
Teenage sensation Caden Dudney enjoyed a breakthrough day by securing his first career podium in second overall, while reigning Eastern Division Supercross Champion Cole Davies finished third overall.
250SMX Overall Top Five
- Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki) – 2-1
- Caden Dudney (Yamaha) – 6-4
- Cole Davies (Yamaha) – 3-8
- Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 1-13
- Julien Beaumer (KTM) – 11-2
Kitchen’s hopes of overall victory were ruined by an opening-lap incident in Moto 2, forcing him to charge from outside the top 30 to salvage 13th place. Despite the setback, he remains tied for second in the championship standings alongside Davies and Dudney.
Championship Picture Taking Shape
Fox Raceway delivered an exciting start to the 55th edition of the Pro Motocross Championship. Hunter Lawrence established himself as the early favourite in the 450SMX category with a dominant performance, while Hammaker’s breakthrough victory signals the arrival of a new contender in the highly competitive 250SMX class.
With both championships now underway, the opening round has set the stage for what promises to be an intense summer of motocross action across the United States.