The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship continued its thrilling summer run with Round 20 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at Colorado’s Thunder Valley Motocross Park. Racing at high altitude brought unique challenges for riders, but Honda HRC Progressive emerged as the big winner of the weekend thanks to dominant performances from Jett Lawrence and Jo Shimoda.
Lawrence extended his winning streak in the 450SMX Class to two consecutive rounds, while Shimoda became the third different winner in three races in the highly competitive 250SMX division. The results also marked Honda’s first class sweep of the season.
Jett Lawrence Delivers Another Perfect Weekend
Fresh off his victory at Hangtown, Jett Lawrence continued his return to peak form with another flawless outing in Colorado.
The reigning Pro Motocross and SMX World Champion started both motos with holeshots and never looked back, controlling the action from the front despite pressure from multiple challengers throughout the afternoon.
In Moto 1, Lawrence faced a determined challenge from his brother and championship rival Hunter Lawrence, as well as Yamaha rookie Haiden Deegan. The trio engaged in one of the most exciting battles of the season before mistakes and penalties shuffled the order behind the leader.
A major storyline came from the debut of MXGP championship leader Lucas Coenen, who impressed immediately by finishing second behind Lawrence in his first-ever Pro Motocross moto.
Moto 2 saw another wire-to-wire performance from Jett. While Coenen again mounted a strong challenge and Hunter Lawrence fought back from an early fall, nobody could match the pace of the Australian star.
Lawrence crossed the line nearly 10 seconds ahead of Coenen to complete a perfect 1-1 sweep and secure his 26th premier-class victory in just 30 starts.
“It was a really tricky track. It was a good 1-1 weekend and I’m happy with that,”.
said Lawrence
The victory also propelled him into the 450SMX championship lead, creating an eight-point advantage over Hunter Lawrence heading into the next round.
450SMX Overall Results
- Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 1-1
- Lucas Coenen (KTM) – 2-2
- Hunter Lawrence (Honda) – 4-4
- Garrett Marchbanks (Kawasaki) – 3-6
- Jorge Prado (KTM) – 7-5
Lucas Coenen Impresses in American Debut
One of the weekend’s biggest talking points was the appearance of MXGP championship leader Lucas Coenen.
The Belgian adapted quickly to Thunder Valley’s demanding conditions and immediately proved he belonged among the best riders in America. His consistent 2-2 finishes earned an impressive runner-up result overall and provided fans with a glimpse of motocross’ global talent.
Coenen will return to Europe to continue his MXGP title campaign before making another Pro Motocross appearance later in the season at Southwick.
Jo Shimoda Triumphs in Another Chaotic 250SMX Battle
The 250SMX Class once again delivered unpredictable racing, and consistency ultimately proved more valuable than outright moto victories.
Jo Shimoda entered the weekend searching for his first win of the season and achieved it through smart, calculated riding. The Honda rider finished third in Moto 1 and second in Moto 2, which proved enough to secure the overall victory.
His triumph was particularly meaningful after battling back from an offseason neck injury.
“Coming back from my neck injury, this win means a lot. Let’s keep the ball rolling,”.
Kitchen and Hammaker Continue Championship Fight
Moto 1 belonged to Levi Kitchen, who produced a late charge to pass teammate Seth Hammaker and claim his second moto victory of the season.
However, the championship battle took a dramatic turn at the start of Moto 2 when contact between Kitchen and Hammaker sent both riders to the ground in the first corner. The crash forced both title contenders into recovery rides.
Kitchen fought back brilliantly from deep in the field to finish eighth, which was enough to secure second overall. Hammaker could only manage 12th in the moto and finished seventh overall, ending his streak of podium finishes.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki rider Nick Romano enjoyed a breakthrough performance. Consistent 4-5 moto finishes earned him the first overall podium of his professional career.
250SMX Overall Results
- Jo Shimoda (Honda) – 3-2
- Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 1-8
- Nick Romano (Kawasaki) – 4-5
- Sacha Coenen (KTM) – 14-1
- Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) – 9-3
Championship Picture Tightens
Thunder Valley significantly reshaped both championship battles.
In the 450SMX Class, Jett Lawrence now leads Hunter Lawrence by eight points after consecutive victories. Haiden Deegan remains third but trails the lead by 32 points.
The 250SMX standings are even tighter. Kitchen and Hammaker leave Colorado tied on 117 points, sharing possession of the red plate. Shimoda’s victory moved him within six points of the lead, setting up a three-way battle heading into the next round.
With momentum shifting and championship races heating up, all eyes now turn to Pennsylvania’s High Point Raceway for Round 21 of the SMX World Championship, where the fight for motocross supremacy continues.
