The last weekend of the three-race playoff spring of the Supermotocross World Championship, fueled by Monster Energy, wrapped up this past Saturday night in Las Vegas. It was the second trip in a row for the final playoff round, and the hype and potential winners were similar to last year, also. We had both Lawrence brothers and Eli Tomac in contention for the 450 Championship, while a three-way battle between Shimoda, Deegan, and Hammaker would keep the 250 class exciting. This last round, awarding triple points adds to the entertainment value as it provides the opportunity for someone typically more of a long shot to have a great race and sneak up and grab the title.
250 SMX Class
The final round of the 250cc SuperMotocross Championship in Las Vegas delivered drama, intensity, and championship-defining moments as Jo Shimoda claimed the overall victory and locked down the SMX title in a wild night of racing.
Moto 1 – Shimoda Shines Early
Jo Shimoda grabbed the holeshot and never looked back, controlling the race from the front with smooth, mistake-free laps. Despite a stacked field behind him, Shimoda never faced serious pressure and rode a flawless moto en route to the win.
Seth Hammaker had a strong showing early, holding his ground inside the top three, while Haiden Deegan had a much more chaotic race. Around the 11-minute mark, Deegan collided with Ryder DiFrancesco in mid-air — landing on him — but managed to stay on two wheels and only lost one position, dropping to fourth.
With 2:15 remaining, Deegan turned up the intensity. He made a late-race pass on Hammaker in the tight rhythm section just after the finish line jump to take second place. Shimoda, however, remained composed under pressure, crossing the line 2.7 seconds ahead of Deegan, showing impressive mental strength to secure the opening moto win.
Moto 2 – High Stakes and High Drama
Tensions were high on the gate for Moto 2, with Deegan lining up directly next to Shimoda. The two bumped bars off the start, which disrupted both their drives and opened the door for Seth Hammaker to snag the holeshot. Shimoda slotted into 8th while Deegan settled into 4th.
As the race unfolded, Shimoda began picking off riders methodically, working his way toward the front. Deegan, meanwhile, was laser-focused on Shimoda, appearing to go after him aggressively 6–7 times throughout the moto — making contact or attempting to impede his progress in an escalating rivalry.
By the 17-minute mark, Deegan was in third and chasing Levi Kitchen — the same rider who took him out the previous weekend. Deegan got around Kitchen but then became distracted, checking back at him multiple times and even brake-checking before finally locking back into race mode.
Shortly after, Kitchen went down, gifting third to Shimoda, who was now charging and closing on Hammaker as the halfway point ticked by.
With four minutes to go, Deegan made one final desperate lunge at Shimoda in a tight section, resulting in a crash that took both riders down. Deegan came out worse, breaking his collarbone in the fall and pulling out of the race, ending his championship hopes.
Shimoda, quick to remount, re-entered just behind the new race leader — Seth Hammaker. Vialle also moved by for second place, but Shimoda made a gritty final charge. In the last corner of the moto, he edged out Tom Vialle in a photo finish to take second place — securing the overall win on the night and, more importantly, the 250cc SuperMotocross Championship.
Final Thoughts:
Jo Shimoda’s calm under pressure, strategic passes, and ability to avoid major mistakes gave him the edge when it mattered most. Deegan’s speed was undeniable, but the aggressive tactics ultimately cost him both the race and the championship. Hammaker’s consistency rewarded him with a moto win, and Seth capped off the season on a high note, while Shimoda walks away from Vegas as the 250cc SMX Champion.
450 SMX Class
In a dramatic showdown under the lights in Las Vegas, Jett Lawrence charged to victory in the 450cc SuperMotocross final, capping off one of the most exciting races of the season. The race saw multiple lead changes, strategic battles, and a late-race push that left fans on the edge of their seats.
Early Action and Mid-Race Battles
The night kicked off with Hunter Lawrence taking the early lead from Quik, looking to seal his first 450SMX title. But at the 17-minute mark, Eli Tomac surged to the front with a clean pass in the back section, while Jett Lawrence sat in fourth behind Cooper Webb. Chase Sexton ran steadily in fifth.
As the race hit its midpoint, the top five remained unchanged. Jett, however, began turning up the pressure on Cooper, eventually taking over third. By the 8-minute mark, Jett was all over his brother Hunter for second, nearly replicating the move he used on Webb.
Late-Race Charge
With just under five minutes left, the Lawrence brothers—working through intense sibling rivalry—closed the gap to Tomac, slicing off nearly a second in a single lap. Jett passed Hunter on the second attempt, narrowing Tomac’s lead to a single second.
Then, with under three minutes to go, Jett made his move—blazing past Tomac for the lead. From there, he never looked back, taking the win in what was arguably the most thrilling SuperMotocross race of the year. Tomac held on for second, and Hunter rounded out the podium.
Championship Standings and Payouts
Despite feeling under the weather, Hunter Lawrence did enough across both motos to secure second overall in both the Vegas event and the final championship standings, netting a $500,000 runner-up bonus. Eli Tomac, consistent with (2-3) moto finishes, claimed third place overall and a $250,000 bonus to close out his season.
Elsewhere, in a historic moment in the 250SMX class, Jo Shimoda became the first Japanese rider to win an SMX title. His gutsy performance and second-moto push delivered the event win and the 250SMX World Championship, earning him a $500,000 bonus and a place in the history books.
