Round eight of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship brought the series to the legendary Daytona Supercross at Daytona International Speedway, where tight championship margins and big storylines set the stage for another pivotal night of racing.
In the 450SX class, Hunter Lawrence arrived holding a slender four-point advantage over Eli Tomac, heading into one of Tomac’s most successful venues. Before the gate even dropped, the championship picture shifted dramatically. Monster Energy Kawasaki confirmed that Chase Sexton would miss Daytona with hip and lower back injuries sustained during preparation, a major blow to a rider sitting fifth in points. Jorge Prado remained sidelined with a shoulder injury, while reginign World Supercross Champion Jason Anderson was also absent due to ongoing medical issues, thinning an already stacked premier-class field.
450SX
Qualifying hinted at what was to come. Lawrence topped both 450 sessions, steadily lowering the benchmark to a 1:14.4 in Q2 and putting six tenths on the field. Tomac separated himself in second, while Joey Savatgy, Ken Roczen, Justin Cooper and Dylan Ferrandis shuffled closely behind. Defending champion Cooper Webb endured a tougher second session, qualifying tenth overall. The pace was intense from the outset, and the evolving Daytona surface only amplified the challenge.
In Heat One, Tomac delivered an early statement, grabbing the holeshot and controlling the race ahead of Webb and Roczen. Aaron Plessinger rebounded from a crash to finish fourth. Heat Two saw Lawrence and Malcolm Stewart trade blows on the opening lap before Lawrence regained control, with Savatgy and Justin Cooper charging forward to secure strong transfer positions.
The 450SX Main evolved into a strategic, high-speed chess match between the championship front runners, with Eli Tomac, Hunter Lawrence, and Ken Roczen trading momentum throughout the 20-minute-plus-one-lap showdown.
Lawrence grabbed the holeshot, but Roczen immediately asserted control and led the opening six laps, fending off the red-plate holder as the two went bar-to-bar in the early rhythm sections. Although Roczen held track position, Lawrence was the fastest rider on the circuit for much of the race, repeatedly posting the quickest lap times as he searched for a way around. That stalemate proved costly once Tomac entered the picture.
After carving his way forward, Tomac made a decisive move on Lawrence for second and, in the very next sequence, railed the outside to surge past Roczen — going from third to first in a single lap. The pass ignited the Daytona crowd and put Tomac firmly in control as he chased a record-extending eighth victory at the iconic speedway.
Lawrence briefly dropped to third in the shuffle but refused to let the race slip away. With six laps remaining, he finally made the move stick on Roczen to reclaim second and immediately mounted a late-race charge. In a remarkable push, Lawrence set the fastest time in six of the final seven laps, steadily chipping away at the gap. Despite the surge, Tomac managed the cushion to the checkered flag, leaving Lawrence to settle for a hard-fought second — enough to retain the red plate by a single point heading into the next round.
Roczen, after leading early and battling relentlessly with both title rivals, secured third at the finish. Though he couldn’t match the late pace of Lawrence or the decisive burst from Tomac, the podium result keeps him firmly in the championship hunt, now tied for third in the standings with Cooper Webb.
Webb crossed the line in fourth after losing touch with the lead trio in the latter stages, while Joey Savatgy continued his consistent 2026 campaign by rounding out the top five.
Daytona once again belonged to Tomac, but with just one point separating the top two in the standings, the 450SX championship fight has never been tighter.
“Somehow I have won eight Daytona Supercrosses!” the 33-year-old said, “I just go out there and roost the berms like I’m at my home track – I love this dirt and the way it develops. Of course, I had to work for it there tonight, I went through all my main competition and just had a great time on my motorcycle. I love spraying these sand turns, I’m so thankful to get it done with Red Bull KTM, and to make up some championship points this weekend.”
After grabbing the holeshot and battling at the front all night at Daytona, Hunter Lawrence admitted it took him too long to fully dial in his race pace on the demanding circuit.
“It was a tough [Main Event] on a really tough track,” Lawrence reflected. “I was figuring out where to compensate with the bike and it just took me too long to do that. In the end I was kind of making it work, but it was too late and Eli [Tomac] got his eighth win here. I really wanted to stop that tonight, but I couldn’t make up the difference.”
After leading the opening laps and ultimately finishing third, Ken Roczen said, “I gave it my best out there and led for a bunch. I had a really good start too and in the Main Event that really counts. I was searching a little bit in the beginning, it was a tricky track and a lot faster than what we’ve seen the past few years here. Once I got passed, I knew those guys were maybe a little bit faster, so I tried to hang on and follow some lines. I was right there until the end and just got messed up by some lappers and those guys got away a little bit. I just wasn’t the best tonight, but I’m happy with a podium.”
250SX East
In the 250SX East division, the day began with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki asserting itself. Seth Hammaker topped the opening qualifying session before teammate Drew Adams lit up Q2 with a 1:17.2, though Hammaker’s session included a heavy crash that left many wondering how he would respond at night. Red-plate holder Pierce Brown, Jo Shimoda, Cole Davies and Daxton Bennick all remained firmly in the mix.
Heat racing delivered drama. Brown controlled Heat One after an early pass, while a last-lap tangle between Caden Dudney and Davies reshuffled the order behind him. In Heat Two, Adams carried his qualifying speed into the race, only for late-race chaos to unfold when Hammaker made an aggressive last-turn attempt for the win and went down, allowing Shimoda through while salvaging third.
The 250SX East Main Event belonged to Seth Hammaker, who delivered a commanding, wire-to-wire performance for his first win of the 2026 season. The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider grabbed the holeshot and controlled the 15-plus-one-lap race from the outset, absorbing early pressure from Jo Shimoda before steadily stretching the gap. Shimoda shadowed him through the opening stages, but as the laps ticked down Hammaker continued to edge away. A late crash for Shimoda in the sand section with just minutes remaining effectively sealed the outcome, leaving Hammaker unchallenged to the checkered flag. The victory marked his best result of the young season and an impressive rebound from a heavy qualifying crash earlier in the day. With the win, Hammaker moves to within two points of the championship lead heading into Indianapolis.
Behind him, Cole Davies produced one of the standout rides of the night. Starting ninth, the Kiwi charged forward with a string of blistering lap times, becoming the fastest rider on track for much of the race. He sliced into podium contention and capitalised when Shimoda went down, inheriting second place and securing his best finish of 2026. The result significantly boosts Davies in the standings and confirms him as a legitimate contender in the East division.
Red-plate holder Pierce Brown completed the podium in third after starting fifth and navigating a tense mid-race battle involving Davies and Drew Adams. Brown stayed composed as the race unfolded around him and moved into podium position following Shimoda’s misfortune. While he couldn’t match Hammaker’s pace up front, the third-place finish was enough to retain the championship lead — now by just two points over Hammaker.
Shimoda, who had run second for the majority of the race and looked poised for another strong finish, remounted after his late crash to salvage fourth, limiting the damage in the points chase. Daxton Bennick quietly put together a consistent ride to round out the top five.
Hammaker reflected on the emotional breakthrough victory saying, “Today was unreal,. The day didn’t start how we wanted. I was fastest in the first qualifying session, but then I had a big crash, and that really tests you mentally — how you respond and come back from something like that. I’m proud of the effort tonight, and the team crushed it.
Getting a win at Daytona is super cool. It’s an unreal feeling. Doing a burnout in front of that crowd is something I’ll never forget. Huge shoutout to Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki — the bikes looked awesome this weekend — and to my whole team, my family, my mom and dad, my sisters, everyone who supports me, and Mitch for sticking behind me. It feels really good to get this win and keep the momentum rolling. We’re only two points out of the lead heading into Indy,” he concluded.
Cole Davies reflected on his 250SX Daytona effort, saying, “They didn’t prep the gates all day, so I didn’t get good traction out the gate and was buried off the start. It was a good comeback. I did what I could. I wanted that win, but still a good ride.”
Pierce Brown summed up his race, saying, “It was a battle. Not the best start. I took a gamble with my gate, and we chose the wrong one. It happens. We battled and were there late when other riders made mistakes to salvage a third. I can’t be too mad about it. We’re in good shape [in points] and will keep doing our thing.”
Daytona reshuffled the momentum in 250SX East, with Hammaker’s breakthrough tightening the standings and setting up a high-stakes showdown at the upcoming Indianapolis.
The championship heads next to Indianapolis, Indiana on March 7, where riders will face a fast, technical triple-crown track.
| 450 Main Event Results – R8 Daytona | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | # | Rider | Interval | Hometown | Team |
| 1 | 3 | Eli Tomac | 17 Laps | Cortez, CO | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing |
| 2 | 96 | Hunter Lawrence | 1.330 | Landsborough, Australia | Honda HRC Progressive |
| 3 | 94 | Ken Roczen | 12.251 | Clermont FL | Progressive Insurance / Cycle Gear / Ecstar Suzuki |
| 4 | 1 | Cooper Webb | 19.515 | Newport, NC | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha |
| 5 | 17 | Joey Savatgy | 31.440 | Clermont, FL | Quadlock Honda Racing |
| 6 | 7 | Aaron Plessinger | 36.011 | Hamilton, OH | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing |
| 7 | 36 | Garrett Marchbanks | 52.894 | Coalville, UT | Monster Energy Kawasaki |
| 8 | 12 | Shane McElrath | 58.766 | Canton, NC | Quadlock Honda Racing |
| 9 | 46 | Justin Hill | 1:01.907 | Riverton, OR | Team Tedder Racing |
| 10 | 27 | Malcolm Stewart | 1:11.913 | Haines City, FL | Rockstar Energy Husqvarna |
| 11 | 45 | Colt Nichols | 1:13.042 | Muskogee, OK | Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance |
| 12 | 32 | Justin Cooper | 1:18.938 | Cold Spring Harbor, NY | Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing |
| 13 | 28 | Christian Craig | 1:24.065 | Temecula, CA | Quadlock Honda Racing |
| 14 | 719 | Vince Friese | 1 Lap | Cape Girardeau, MO | ISRT Kawasaki |
| 15 | 62 | Grant Harlan | 1 Lap | Murrieta, CA | Champion Tool Storage KMR KTM |
| 16 | 66 | Cole Thompson | 1 Lap | Brigden, Canada | Heartbeat Hot Sauce NanoXtreme Yamaha |
| 17 | 20 | Jordon Smith | 1 Lap | Belmont, NC | Triumph Racing Factory Team |
| 18 | 63 | Freddie Noren | 1 Lap | Lidköping, Sweden | Gizmo Racing Yamaha |
| 19 | 711 | Tristan Lane | 1 Lap | DeLand, FL | The McGinley Clinic Privateer Support Program |
| 20 | 41 | Mitchell Harrison | 3 Laps | Brighton, MI | Partzilla Rokit Racing |
| 21 | 411 | Scott Meshey | 7 Laps | Saint Augustine, FL | McGinley Clinic Privateer Support Program |
| 22 | 14 | Dylan Ferrandis | 15 Laps | Avignon, France | Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati |
| 450 Championship Standings After Round 8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | # | Rider | Points | Gap |
| 1 | 96 | Hunter Lawrence | 171 Points | – |
| 2 | 3 | Eli Tomac | 170 Points | -1 Point |
| 3 | 94 | Ken Roczen | 151 Points | -20 Points |
| 4 | 1 | Cooper Webb | 151 Points | -20 Points |
| 5 | 4 | Chase Sexton | 122 Points | -49 Points |
| 6 | 32 | Justin Cooper | 122 Points | -49 Points |
| 7 | 17 | Joey Savatgy | 112 Points | -59 Points |
| 8 | 7 | Aaron Plessinger | 95 Points | -76 Points |
| 9 | 14 | Dylan Ferrandis | 87 Points | -84 Points |
| 10 | 21 | Jason Anderson | 84 Points | -87 Points |
| 11 | 27 | Malcolm Stewart | 75 Points | -96 Points |
| 12 | 46 | Justin Hill | 74 Points | -97 Points |
| 13 | 26 | Jorge Prado | 73 Points | -98 Points |
| 14 | 28 | Christian Craig | 67 Points | -104 Points |
| 15 | 45 | Colt Nichols | 62 Points | -109 Points |
| 16 | 12 | Shane McElrath | 55 Points | -116 Points |
| 17 | 36 | Garrett Marchbanks | 39 Points | -132 Points |
| 18 | 24 | R.J. Hampshire | 38 Points | -133 Points |
| 19 | 719 | Vince Friese | 32 Points | -139 Points |
| 20 | 41 | Mitchell Harrison | 24 Points | -147 Points |
| 21 | 62 | Grant Harlan | 16 Points | -155 Points |
| 22 | 78 | Kevin Moranz | 15 Points | -156 Points |
| 23 | 33 | Austin Forkner | 12 Points | -159 Points |
| 24 | 711 | Tristan Lane | 10 Points | -161 Points |
| 25 | 20 | Jordon Smith | 8 Points | -163 Points |
| 26 | 63 | Freddie Noren | 8 Points | -163 Points |
| 27 | 66 | Cole Thompson | 6 Points | -165 Points |
| 28 | 52 | Mitchell Oldenburg | 6 Points | -165 Points |
| 29 | 44 | Ty Masterpool | 4 Points | -167 Points |
| 30 | 519 | Josh Cartwright | 4 Points | -167 Points |
| 31 | 411 | Scott Meshey | 1 Points | -170 Points |
| 32 | 51 | Justin Barcia | 1 Points | -170 Points |
| 250 East Main Event Results – R2 Daytona | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | # | Rider | Interval | Hometown | Team |
| 1 | 10 | Seth Hammaker | 13 Laps | Bainbridge, PA | Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki |
| 2 | 37 | Cole Davies | 4.240 | Waitoki, New Zealand | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha |
| 3 | 163 | Pierce Brown | 14.566 | Sandy, UT | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha |
| 4 | 30 | Jo Shimoda | 20.944 | Suzuka, Japan | Honda HRC Progressive |
| 5 | 58 | Daxton Bennick | 23.120 | Morganton, NC | Rockstar Energy Husqvarna |
| 6 | 22 | Coty Schock | 27.732 | Dover, DE | ClubMX Yamaha |
| 7 | 25 | Nate Thrasher | 30.071 | Livingston, TN | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha |
| 8 | 49 | Cullin Park | 35.412 | Clermont, FL | Phoenix Racing Honda |
| 9 | 89 | Devin Simonson | 49.932 | Laurinburg, NC | ClubMX Yamaha |
| 10 | 56 | Jalek Swoll | 34.584 | Senoia, GA | Triumph Factory Racing |
| 11 | 82 | Caden Dudney | 54.391 | Athens, TX | Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing |
| 12 | 91 | Izaiah Clark | 56.512 | Fort Dodge, IA | Storm Lake Honda Buddy Brooks Racing |
| 13 | 53 | Henry Miller | 1:00.375 | Rochester, MN | MX6 Racing |
| 14 | 39 | Valentin Guillod | 1:02.117 | Motier, Switzerland | Gizmo Racing Yamaha |
| 15 | 65 | Marshal Weltin | 1:09.750 | Ubly, MI | MX6 Racing |
| 16 | 492 | Landon Hartz | 1:13.006 | Wilsonville, AL | Ebr Performance |
| 17 | 77 | Derek Kelley | 1:15.029 | Boise, ID | Mx6 Racing |
| 18 | 87 | Jeremy Hand | 1:31.816 | Mantua, OH | Valley Motorsports |
| 19 | 90 | John Short IV | 1 Lap | Pilot Point, TX | Short Racing |
| 20 | 73 | Gavin Towers | 1 Lap | Pittsburgh, PA | Phoenix Racing Honda |
| 21 | 751 | Evan Ferry | 1 Lap | Dade City, FL | Phoenix Honda Racing |
| 22 | 35 | Drew Adams | 5 Laps | Chattanooga, TN | Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki |
| 250 East Championship Standings After Round 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | # | Rider | Points | Gap |
| 1 | 163 | Pierce Brown | 45 Points | – |
| 2 | 10 | Seth Hammaker | 43 Points | -2 Points |
| 3 | 30 | Jo Shimoda | 40 Points | -5 Points |
| 4 | 37 | Cole Davies | 39 Points | -6 Points |
| 5 | 58 | Daxton Bennick | 37 Points | -8 Points |
| 6 | 22 | Coty Schock | 31 Points | -14 Points |
| 7 | 49 | Cullin Park | 27 Points | -18 Points |
| 8 | 89 | Devin Simonson | 27 Points | -18 Points |
| 9 | 25 | Nate Thrasher | 26 Points | -19 Points |
| 10 | 82 | Caden Dudney | 20 Points | -25 Points |
| 11 | 35 | Drew Adams | 16 Points | -29 Points |
| 12 | 53 | Henry Miller | 16 Points | -29 Points |
| 13 | 77 | Derek Kelley | 15 Points | -30 Points |
| 14 | 56 | Jalek Swoll | 13 Points | -32 Points |
| 15 | 148 | Kyle Peters | 12 Points | -33 Points |
| 16 | 87 | Jeremy Hand | 12 Points | -33 Points |
| 17 | 91 | Izaih Clark | 10 Points | -35 Points |
| 18 | 39 | Valentin Guillod | 8 Points | -37 Points |
| 19 | 65 | Marshal Weltin | 7 Points | -38 Points |
| 20 | 90 | John Short IV | 7 Points | -38 Points |
| 21 | 492 | Landon Hartz | 6 Points | -39 Points |
| 22 | 101 | Luke Clout | 6 Points | -39 Points |
| 23 | 95 | Luke Neese | 5 Points | -40 Points |
| 24 | 483 | Bryton Carroll | 3 Points | -42 Points |
| 25 | 80 | Bryce Shelly | 2 Points | -43 Points |
| 26 | 73 | Gavin Towers | 2 Points | -43 Points |
| 27 | 751 | Evan Ferry | 1 Point | -44 Points |
