Hunter Lawrence survived one of the most dramatic finales in recent Pro Motocross history Saturday at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, overcoming a chaotic day of racing to capture his first 450 class championship in the final round of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship regular season. Lawrence entered the finals with just a one-point advantage over his younger brother, Jett Lawrence, setting up a winner-take-all battle for the premier-class title. When the final checkered flag flew, Hunter had held onto the championship by just two points, finishing the season with 474 points to Jett’s 472.
The championship took a dramatic turn in the opening 450 moto. Hunter started at the front but was involved in a crash with Haiden Deegan after Deegan went down directly in front of him. The incident sent both riders to the back of the field. Hunter refused to give up, charging from 39th place to finish eighth. Jett, meanwhile, struggled after a poor start and finished 11th. Jorge Prado took advantage of the chaos to score his first-ever Pro Motocross moto victory in the United States. Prado was untouchable in the second moto, leading from the opening laps and eventually taking the checkered flag 6.6 seconds ahead of Deegan. Jett finished third, while Hunter crossed the line fourth with more than enough to secure the championship.
In the 250 class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies clinched the championship in dramatic fashion during the opening moto. Davies finished third while title rival Levi Kitchen suffered a 40th-place finish after a crash, allowing Davies to secure the championship before the final moto. Davies ultimately finished seventh overall with a 3-13 score but ended the season with 407 points, 38 ahead of runner-up Julien Beaumer. The championship was particularly significant for Davies, who celebrated his 19th birthday Saturday. The New Zealand native became the first New Zealand-born rider to win a Pro Motocross championship and the first Kiwi to capture the Gary Jones Cup in 55 years.
