450 Main Event
AMA SX 2026
Round 17

Hunter Lawrence Ends Hard-Fought ’26 AMA Supercross Championship Second in the Series Standings

us Rice-Eccles Stadium
Hunter Lawrence Ends Hard-Fought ’26 AMA Supercross Championship Second in the Series Standings

・With a seventh-place finish at the finale, the Australian finishes three points short

・Honda congratulates Roczen and Suzuki following an exciting season-long battle


The 2026 AMA Supercross season came down to a thrilling showdown in Salt Lake City, where Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence entered the final round just one point behind championship leader Ken Roczen in one of the closest title fights ever. The best efforts of the Australian and his Honda HRC Progressive team weren’t quite enough this time and, although he was battling for the win early, a seventh-place result meant they had to settle for a runner-up showing in the final tally.

The highly anticipated main event delivered immediate excitement, as Lawrence grabbed the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE, with Roczen quickly moving into the lead. A tense, mano-a-mano battle unfolded during the first part of the race, with Lawrence maintaining touch and occasionally applying pressure while also holding off Jorge Prado in third. Unfortunately, a pair of miscues—the first sending him briefly off the track, the second resulting in a fall—meant Lawrence found himself in seventh place with just over half the race remaining. That’s where he would eventually finish, and with Roczen posting a fifth-place result, Lawrence concluded the series second in the final standings, just three points shy of the title.

Throughout the 2026 series, Lawrence demonstrated impressive speed, consistency and progress. Everyone at Honda HRC Progressive and American Honda is proud of Hunter for the effort, professionalism and growth he displayed while battling for the championship until the final checkered flag.

Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig, Shane McElrath, and Dean Wilson concluded the season in eighth, 12th, 13th and 21st, respectively, a solid effort by the satellite team.

NOTE

・On Friday, Hunter Lawrence participated in a formal press conference organized by Feld ahead of the 2026 Supercross finale. He later took part in riding sessions, in which invited riders were able to ride the full track.

・A pair of local dealerships—Honda World and Young Honda Powerhouse—enhanced the fan experience in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area through an interactive pop-up booth. Staff engaged directly with fans and customers at the display, which featured a CRF450RX, two CRF125F models, and a CRF110F.

・Jett Lawrence attended the event in support of his brother, and they both participated in an autograph session during FanFest.

・Race Day Live aired a feature on Hunter Lawrence’s life and career progression.

・Motocross Hall of Famer Johnny O’Mara was interviewed about his career and transition into training Hunter and Jett Lawrence.

・In 250SX combined qualifying—featuring both East and West Divisions—participating Red Riders included Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers in 21st, SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell in 25th, Storm Lake’s Luke Neese in 26th, Next Level’s Hunter Schlosser in 38th, Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres in 44th, and TiLube Honda’s Ryder Floyd in 50th.

・Rodbell and Towers qualified by finishing third and fourth in the LCQ, and they finished 16th and 17th in the 250 East-West Showdown.

・Lawrence had the third-fastest time in 450SX qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig, Shane McElrath and Dean Wilson qualified in 12th, 13th and 14th, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) was 26th, John Short IV (Short Racing) was 28th, privateer Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified 33rd, and Western Honda Racing’s Ty Freehill was 41st.

・Lawrence won the first heat race from holeshot to checkered flag, while Wilson (sixth), Craig (seventh), and McElrath (eighth) also advanced directly to the main event.

・Honda HRC Progressive now heads into a two-week break before opening the AMA Pro Motocross season in Pala, California, on May 30. The team is expected to field a full roster: Hunter and Jett Lawrence in the 450 class, and Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas in the 250 division.


Hunter Lawrence
Hunter Lawrence 96
Honda HRC Progressive
 I was just asking a little too much of the front end coming into the corners, but congrats to Kenny—well earned, he was the better man tonight in the main. Congrats to him and the team, it was fun battling with him. We’ll get ready for outdoors. 

Lars Lindstrom
Lars Lindstrom -
Honda HRC Progressive
 Looking back on the season, it has been a pretty incredible rollercoaster for us. There have been so many positives that make it easier to swallow the bitter pill of not winning the championship after being so close. I think we worked really well as a team the whole year, with definitely some difficult times, and I’m proud of everyone involved. Absolutely the MVP is of course, Hunter, who took himself to a new level in the elite class, and showed that he will be a threat for championships every year that he lines up. The professionalism, mental strength, speed, and how much of a genuine, good person he is make us all want to work harder and do anything and everything possible to help him achieve his goals. 
I also want to say congratulations to the Progressive Suzuki team and to Ken Roczen on their championship. With how well we know Kenny, and being there through his injuries and struggles, it was hard not to be emotional and happy for him; if we were going to lose the championship, I’m glad it was to him. I think this really completes his career, and he performed when he needed to make it happen. 


250SX West Standings

Pos.

Rider

Num.

Team

Constr.

Pts

1

Haiden DEEGAN

1W

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing

Yamaha

233

2

Levi KITCHEN

47

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki

Kawasaki

177

3

Max ANSTIE

61

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing

Yamaha

168

4

Ryder Difrancesco

34

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Husqvarna

164

5

Maximus VOHLAND

19

ClubMX Yamaha

Yamaha

146

6

Hunter Yoder

60

ClubMX Yamaha

Yamaha

121

17

Chance HYMAS

29

Honda HRC Progressive

Honda

38

18

Justin RODBELL

83

SLR Honda

Honda

35

21

Matti JORGENSEN

245

SLR Honda

Honda

26

22

Hunter SCHLOSSER

173

Next Level(Honda)

Honda

22

33

Ty FREEHILL

316

MPS, Steelhorse, Cizi Clean, Pioneer electric, Western Honda Racing

Honda

2

35

Colby COPP

645

Next Level Redline Oil Hammer Nutrition

Honda

0


250SX East Standings

Pos.

Rider

Num.

Team

Constr.

Pts

1

Cole DAVIES

37

Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha

Yamaha

231

2

Seth HAMMAKER

10

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki

Kawasaki

180

3

Daxton BENNICK

58

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna

Husqvarna

160

4

Coty SCHOCK

22

ClubMX Yamaha

Yamaha

140

5

Nate THRASHER

25

Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha

Yamaha

137

6

Devin SIMONSON

89

ClubMX Yamaha

Yamaha

124

8

Jo SHIMODA

30

Honda HRC Progressive

Honda

100

14

Luke NEESE

95

Storm Lake Honda Buddy Brooks Racing

Honda

47

15

Gavin TOWERS

73

Phoenix Racing Honda

Honda

46

18

Cullin PARK

49

Phoenix Honda Racing

Honda

40

20

Izaih CLARK

91

Storm Lake Honda Buddy Brooks Racing

Honda

32

21

Jeremy HAND

87

Valley Motorsports

Honda

30

26

John SHORT

90

Short Racing

Honda

13

27

Evan FERRY

751

Phoenix Racing Honda

Honda

9

33

Ryder FLOYD

296

Ti Lube Honda

Honda

6


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