Hunter Lawrence Extends Championship Lead as Cole Davies Dominates Washougal
Round 25 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship delivered another thrilling chapter of the Pro Motocross Championship as the series headed to the iconic Washougal MX Park in Washington for the FLY Racing Washougal National Presented by Peterson CAT.
With perfect summer conditions greeting riders and fans alike, the annual Military Appreciation Race featured spectacular racing across both classes. Hunter Lawrence strengthened his grip on the 450SMX championship with back-to-back overall victories, while Cole Davies bounced back in style with a flawless performance to reignite the 250SMX title battle.
Hunter Lawrence Makes It Five Overall Wins
The 450SMX class once again revolved around the fierce battle between the Lawrence brothers.
Jett Lawrence looked set for overall victory after claiming Moto 1 and leading much of Moto 2. However, two costly mistakes changed everything. Hunter capitalised to secure the Moto 2 victory, while Jett later received a one-position penalty for accelerating off the track, handing second place in the moto to rookie Haiden Deegan.
Hunter’s consistent 2-1 scorecard earned his fifth overall victory of the season and extended his championship lead to 12 points over Jett with only three rounds remaining.
Speaking after the race, Hunter Lawrence said:
“Today was much better than my previous experiences here at Washougal. What a day. That second moto was awesome battling with Jettson. Lawrence brothers 1-2, so a great way to send it off into the break.”
Jett Lawrence reflected on another frustrating afternoon:
“I got a little cross-rutted and that caused me to lose traction. My riding is good, just need to stop making silly mistakes.”
Haiden Deegan continued his impressive rookie campaign with another podium finish after charging from last to fourth in Moto 1 before finishing second in Moto 2.
450SMX Overall Results
- Hunter Lawrence (Honda) – 2-1
- Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 1-3
- Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) – 4-2
- Jorge Prado (KTM)
- Dylan Ferrandis (Ducati)
450SMX Championship Standings
- Hunter Lawrence – 367 points
- Jett Lawrence – 355 points
- Haiden Deegan – 298 points
- Jorge Prado – 269 points
- R.J. Hampshire – 252 points
Cole Davies Returns in Dominant Fashion
The 250SMX class belonged to Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies.
After enduring his worst outing of the season one week earlier, the New Zealander responded with complete dominance, qualifying fastest before leading every lap of both motos.
Davies’ perfect 1-1 performance secured his third career overall victory while dramatically reducing the championship deficit.
Davies said after the race:
“After last weekend I knew I had to step up my game. I had a good day today and made up a lot of points. I’m stoked. I feel like we took a big step in the right direction today.”
Ryder DiFrancesco enjoyed the finest performance of his professional career with back-to-back second-place finishes, while Chance Hymas claimed consecutive podiums after another consistent day.
Championship leader Levi Kitchen endured a difficult home race after first-turn crashes and could only manage fifth overall, allowing Davies to move within seven points heading into the final three rounds.
250SMX Overall Results
- Cole Davies (Yamaha) – 1-1
- Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) – 2-2
- Chance Hymas (Honda) – 3-3
- Carson Mumford (KTM)
- Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
250SMX Championship Standings
- Levi Kitchen – 293 points
- Cole Davies – 286 points
- Julien Beaumer – 268 points
- Ryder DiFrancesco – 238 points
- Chance Hymas – 230 points
Championship Battles Heat Up
With only three rounds remaining before the SMX Playoffs, both championship fights are poised for dramatic conclusions.
Hunter Lawrence heads into the final stretch carrying a valuable 12-point advantage over his younger brother, while the 250SMX championship has tightened significantly after Davies’ dominant performance leaves him just seven points behind Levi Kitchen.
Following a short summer break, the Pro Motocross Championship promises an exciting finish as every point becomes increasingly valuable in the race for the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship titles.
