The seventh round of the 2026 Supercross season moved into Texas this past weekend for the opening round of the 250SX East Class division and the continued title battle in the 450SX class. There would be a new winner in the 250 class, but the fans were also treated to a new winner in the 450 class with Hunter Lawrence grabbing a win, making him the fifth winner this year in the class and his first-ever 450SX win. The night would not be free of controversy either, with caution and flagging issues that took place in both classes, with the AMA ultimately deciding that there would be no penalties awarded in either incident.
450SX Class
The 450SMX Class Main Event started with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine of Cooper Webb and the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki of Ken Roczen side-by-side exiting the first turn, as Webb was able to edge out Roczen for the holeshot only to give up the lead to the German as they fought for position on the opening lap. Lawrence slotted behind them into third, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac started outside the top 10 in 11th place. Roczen was able to keep Webb at bay and grabbed hold of the race lead. Soon the lead trio settled in while Tomac made an incredible charge up to fourth within the first couple laps to set the stage for a thrilling fight for victory. As Webb pursued Roczen he made a small bobble, which allowed Lawrence to pass for third. Shortly thereafter, Lawrence surged onto Roczen’s rear fender and applied pressure for the lead with about 13 minutes to go, which allowed the top four to move within two seconds of one another. Roczen withstood the attack and the top four once again settled in through the middle of the 20 Minute + 1 Lap race.
As the race approached its final six minutes the action picked up once more as Lawrence mounted another attack and got alongside Roczen in the whoops, only to be halted by a slower rider. Lawrence didn’t relent and made a pass stick moments later. Webb then got by Roczen for second, only to have Tomac surge by both Roczen and Webb to move from fourth to second. Webb was forced off the track in the process, which allowed Roczen to reclaim third. However, Webb made another pass to regain podium position.
Lawrence opened up a healthy lead with his pass on Roczen and was forced to deal with a brief push from Tomac with two minutes to go. Lawrence responded and carried on to a long-awaited victory by 2.8 seconds over Tomac, with Webb in third and Roczen fourth.
Lawrence’s win came in his 26th premier class start, inside the same venue of his first 250SMX Class victory during the 2021 season. He became the season’s fifth different winner in seven races and moved out to a four-point lead over Tomac. Webb is third, 16 points out of the lead, with Roczen fourth, 18 points back.
250SX Class
The anticipated opening race of the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class Championship was equally exciting and got underway with Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda out front for the holeshot in his first race since he underwent surgery in November to repair two fractured and displaced vertebrae in his neck and upper back. The reigning 250SMX World Champion from Japan was followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Daxton Bennick, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies, a title favorite, started deep inside the top 20 after he fell in the first turn and collected multiple contenders.
Shimoda sprinted out to a lead of more than three seconds and stabilized his advantage through the opening portion of the race until an unexpected sequence changed the complexion of the race. Red medical lights were displayed as Shimoda approached the finish line, which required him to not jump any obstacle until cleared. As he rolled through to begin the next lap, both Brown and Bennick completed the obstacles at normal race pace, with no apparent lights displayed, which allowed Brown to not only overcome the deficit but also make the pass for the lead. Shimoda resumed full pace in second and fought back but was unable to get by Brown as Bennick pursued from third. Shimoda’s pursuit of Brown and the lead continued throughout the remainder of the 15 Minute + 1 Lap race and while the Honda rider appeared to be faster at times, he was unable to attempt a pass. With less than one minute to go Shimoda made one final push and dove under Brown with an inside line but was unable to sustain the momentum, which allowed Brown to pull away to victory.
Brown took the checkered flag by 2.4 seconds over Shimoda, with Bennick right behind in third. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker, who was involved in the first-turn incident with Davies, finished fourth, while Davies impressed with a resilient come-from-behind fifth place result. For Brown, it not only signified his first Supercross victory in 33 starts, but it also came one year after he crashed out of the lead of the 2025 Eastern Divisional opener and suffered a fractured vertebra, which sidelined for the remainder of the year.
Brown’s win has put him atop the Eastern Divisional standings, with a three-point lead over Shimoda and a five-point advantage over Bennick. It will mark the first time Brown has ever carried the red plate.