2026 Columbus SuperMotocross Photo Gallery

2026 Columbus SuperMotocross Recap

Rain left its mark while laughing like a pigeon dropping its excrement on a newly washed car for the first round of the 2026 SuperMotocross Playoff on Saturday in Columbus, OH at Historic Crew Stadium.

The inch of rain that fell prior to gatedrop gave way to a mudder and even though conditions improved throughout the day, riders still slipped and fell while crossing the checkers caked in mud.

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If you recall, now in its fourth year, the three-round SuperMotocross playoff system uses Olympic style scoring to determine overalls for the two-moto format held on Supercross / Motocross hybrid tracks, but who we kidding, this one in Columbus pretty much resembled a Supercross track.

At any rate, for example, a rider normally wins the overall in Motocross when finishing (1-3) over a rider with a (2-2) day. As we will see however, with Olympic scoring, this means the riders tie in points and the overall goes to the (2-2) rider for the better Moto 2. Get it? Got it? Good.

In the 450 class it was a runaway. Still not sure if we have authorization to mention the winner by name outside the results and point standings but the 450 class rookie expected to pummel everyone this season then didn’t win one race in Motocross, finally got his 450 class win. And not only did he get the Moto 1 win he blew by everybody in Moto 2 and won that too for his first career 450 overall.

The polarizing character who markets himself with a heavy mix of brawn and bravado previously dominated the 250 class and this year, arguably, managed well during his first year in the 450 class for Outdoors despite not winning one Moto. The two-time 250 SMX Champion, however, dominated both 450 class SuperMotocross races (shortened from 20 minutes to 15) executing the mud with style and finesse.

In second, Ken Roczen the 2026 450 class Supercross champ who hasn’t raced since the final Indoor round that secured his place in history. Roczen went (2-2) also managing the mud well despite a small slip in Moto 2 that did not prevent him from losing his hold on second.

“Nice and content that was my game plan coming in here. Treat it with the elderly mind if that makes sense,” said Roczen an elder statesman of sorts in dirt bike racing at 32 years old. “I had a blast out here. 2-2 (race finishes). I couldn’t have asked for anymore.”

Conversely, Hunter Lawrence who wrapped up the 2026 450 class Motocross title a few weeks ago and entered the SuperMotocross series with the points lead (if you recall, combined Supercross and Motocross points get reset and the rider with the most enter the playoff with 25 points, second-place in points for the season enter the playoffs with 22 points, then 20, 18, 17, 16 and so on) had a forgettable day. He crashed twice in the first race finishing 21st and took 8th in the second contest finishing 15th overall.

Jorge Prado took third overall on a (3-4) day and takes the SMX points lead by two over the round winning rookie. Cooper Webb finished fourth overall on a (9-3) day and snuggles up in third, four points back of Prado.

Elsewhere, Eli Tomac (15-13), who announced after the conclusion of the Motocross season he will retire at the end of SMX, finished 14th overall. Jason Anderson returned to the fold for the first time since Supercross Round 7 when medical and legal troubles ended his campaign. He did race Round 1 of the World Supercross Championship in August, defending his title in that series. On Saturday, he took fifth in Moto 1 but in Moto 2 Malcom Stewert collided with Anderson after landing a jump taking both down. In a nice gesture of sportsmanship, Stewart helped get Anderson on his feet and off the track. Anderson walked off the track holding his arm and did not finish.

In the 250 class

Cole Davies, fresh of his 250 class Motocross title, looked completely fresh but after about three minutes into the 12-minute race (shortened from 20 minutes) his bike stalled. He briefly got going along with a huge plume of steam then his dirt bike came to rest on top of a jump and called it a day. A brutal start for the SMX Championship favorite.

The mechanical to Davie’s bike put Daxton Bennick into the lead and he held on for the duration getting his first professional race win. Levi Kitchen finished second.

Davies said enough is enough in Moto 2, took the lead from Bennick who grabbed the Holeshot and checked out for the win. No problems this time and combined with his DNF in Moto 2, he finished 10th overall.

Bennick, meanwhile, looked good to follow up his first career win with a first career overall, he just needed to keep Kitchen at bay which he did util the last lap. Kitchen passed Bennick just before the Finish Line jump which marked the final lap and led the rest of the way to take second and the overall on the tiebreaker.

Kitchen said post-race he saw the white flag but wasn’t sure if passing Bennick secured the overall. It was his first SMX win which also puts him in first place for points.

Bennick entered the round with no points but jumps to fourth in the SMX standings.

“I’ve got to be happy with it. 2 solid motos,” Bennick said of missing out on the overall. “I had it until two (laps) to go and I thought that line on the split was better but Levi was riding good. You got to give it up to him. What a good start to this thing. I just have to give it up to the Lord Jesus Christ for keeping me safe. It was a good day.”

Davies entered the round in first having the most combined points for Supercross and Motocross drops to third, 10 points back. Ryder DiFrancesco, who finished third overall on a (3-4) day moves from third to second in the standings, seven points back from first. SMX Defending Champion Jo Shimoda (12-13) endured a rough day with multiple tip overs and finished 13th overall.

SuperMotocross heads to the west coast for Round 2 on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA. Points double so overall winners get 50 points instead of 25.