The wait for the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship is over, and if the season opener at Fox Raceway is any indication, fans are in for an exciting summer.

A packed crowd in Southern California watched two riders take center stage on Saturday. In the premier 450SMX Class, Hunter Lawrence delivered the most dominant outdoor performance of his career with a perfect 1-1 sweep. In the 250SMX Class, Seth Hammaker broke through for the first overall victory of his professional motocross career.

Both riders left Pala with momentum, confidence, and the championship points lead.

Hunter Lawrence Makes a Statement

Hunter Lawrence entered the outdoor season carrying plenty of confidence after finishing runner-up in Supercross, but even his biggest supporters may not have expected the performance he delivered at Fox Raceway.

The Honda HRC Progressive rider was fast from the moment he unloaded. He topped both qualifying sessions, controlled both motos, and never looked seriously threatened on his way to a perfect 50-point day.

In Moto 1, Lawrence quickly moved past Triumph rider Mikkel Haarup after the holeshot and established himself at the front. From there, he steadily built a lead over Jorge Prado while several big names battled through traffic behind him.

Defending Pro Motocross champion Jett Lawrence started 16th, while rookie Haiden Deegan started 19th in his highly anticipated 450 debut. Both riders charged through the field, but neither could match Hunter’s pace at the front.

Lawrence won the opening moto by nearly nine seconds over Prado.

Moto 2 followed a similar script.

Hunter grabbed the holeshot, briefly lost the lead to Prado, then quickly took it back and never looked behind. He built another comfortable advantage and secured the first 1-1 sweep of his career.

After years of showing flashes of brilliance outdoors, Lawrence finally put together a complete day.

“I feel awesome,” Lawrence said. “It was a great day. P1, a perfect day. On top in every session. I’m just fired up. I can’t really ask for anything more.”

The victory gives Lawrence an early six-point lead over Prado in the championship standings.

Prado Shows He Belongs

While Lawrence stole the headlines, Jorge Prado may have been the second-biggest story of the day.

The former world champion showed impressive speed throughout the event and finished second in both motos. It marked his first career Pro Motocross podium and confirmed that he can contend with the best riders in America.

Prado consistently stayed within striking distance of Lawrence and looked comfortable on the rough Fox Raceway surface.

“It feels good to be fighting with the boys and make it back on the podium,” Prado said. “This is where I know I belong.”

If Saturday was any indication, Prado could become one of Lawrence’s biggest challengers this summer.

Jett Lawrence Faces Adversity

For the first time in his professional career, Fox Raceway did not belong to Jett Lawrence.

The defending champion entered the weekend as the favorite despite returning from injury, but poor starts forced him to spend both motos charging through the field.

Even so, Lawrence showed why he remains one of the sport’s elite riders. He gained a combined 20 positions across the two motos and finished third overall.

The result was not what he wanted, but considering the circumstances, it was still a strong start to his title defense.

“Motocross is a lot harder than I remember,” Lawrence joked afterward. “I just didn’t get the starts today and need to work on that.”

Deegan Impresses in 450 Debut

Much of the attention entering the season focused on Haiden Deegan’s move to the premier class.

The rookie did not disappoint.

Despite poor starts in both motos, Deegan fought his way to fifth and fourth-place finishes to secure fifth overall. He showed the speed and determination that made him a two-time 250 champion and proved he belongs among the sport’s top riders.

There will be tougher challenges ahead, but the debut was a success.

Hammaker Finally Breaks Through

The 250SMX Class featured even more drama.

Seth Hammaker has spent years showing potential while battling injuries and inconsistency. On Saturday, everything finally came together.

The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider grabbed the Moto 1 holeshot and spent much of the race battling teammate Levi Kitchen. Although Kitchen eventually took the win, Hammaker’s second-place finish set him up perfectly for the overall.

Moto 2 became the defining moment of his career.

After settling into second behind Julien Beaumer, Hammaker patiently closed the gap and made the winning pass just before the halfway point. Once in front, he never looked back.

The moto victory secured his first overall Pro Motocross win in his 33rd career start.

“Those last few laps didn’t feel real,” Hammaker said. “What an unreal way to start the year.”

Considering he is still recovering from a torn trapezius suffered during the Supercross season, the result makes the accomplishment even more impressive.

New Faces Join the Podium

One of the biggest surprises of the day came from 16-year-old Caden Dudney.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie stayed consistent throughout both motos and earned his first professional podium with a runner-up overall finish.

Cole Davies continued his impressive rookie season as well, following up his Supercross championship with a third-place overall result.

Meanwhile, Kitchen salvaged fourth overall despite a disastrous second moto. After an opening lap crash dropped him outside the top 30, he charged through the field to finish 13th and limit the damage to his championship hopes.

A Strong Start to a Promising Summer

The opening round delivered everything fans hoped to see.

Hunter Lawrence established himself as the early favorite in the 450SMX Class. Prado proved he is a legitimate contender. Jett Lawrence showed resilience in defeat, and Deegan’s 450 debut provided plenty of optimism.

In the 250SMX Class, Hammaker finally earned the breakthrough victory many believed was possible, while a new generation of riders announced their arrival on the national stage.

If Fox Raceway was any indication, the road to the SMX playoffs will be filled with championship battles, breakout performances, and plenty of drama.

Next stop: Hangtown.