Honda rider Hunter Lawrence achieved his first career AMA Supercross win in the 450SX category during the Arlington round of the 2026 season. Entering this seventh round as the championship leader by a narrow one-point margin over Eli Tomac, Lawrence’s performance further strengthened his position in the title fight.
The race began with Lawrence positioned in second place, while Tomac found himself down in ninth after the initial turn. Despite this, Tomac executed a series of quick overtakes early in the race, setting up a later challenge for the lead against Lawrence. Meanwhile, Ken Roczen, riding for Suzuki and fresh from a recent collision with Lawrence at Seattle Supercross, maintained a strong presence at the front, defending his lead for over half the race.
Competition Heats Up Between Front-Runners
Lawrence was able to finally surpass Roczen in a left-hand turn before the 3-3-4 rhythm section with approximately five minutes remaining, allowing him to create a gap at the front. However, Cooper Webb was closely trailing Lawrence and soon overtook Roczen in the same corner where Lawrence made his pass. Not far behind, Eli Tomac also passed Roczen, setting the stage for a tense battle among the top four riders.
Tomac seized an unexpected opportunity to advance past Webb by moving his KTM down the inside line just before the whoops section. This maneuver forced Webb off the track onto the concrete, dropping him behind Roczen momentarily. Although Webb eventually recovered to claim third place, this incident reshaped the dynamics at the top of the race.
Lawrence Holds Off Tomac’s Challenge to Win
After reclaiming track position, Tomac pursued Lawrence in the closing stages of the race. Despite pressure from Tomac’s pace, Lawrence managed to maintain his lead and crossed the finish line for his first victory in the premier 450SX class. This win extended Lawrence’s championship advantage to four points ahead of Tomac, while Webb positioned himself 16 points behind the leader.
Ken Roczen concluded the race in fourth place, 18 points off the top spot, and 2023 champion Chase Sexton finished fifth, now trailing by 27 points in the standings. Lawrence’s breakthrough performance highlights his emergence as a strong contender in the ongoing championship series.
250SX East Division Kicks Off with Pierce Brown’s Victory
The 250SX East Coast division began at Arlington with Pierce Brown claiming his first 250SX win and the second of his professional career. Brown, riding for Star Racing Yamaha, started the race well and held second position behind Jo Shimoda during the early laps. Shimoda’s error in the double jump section near the finish erased his three-second lead, allowing Brown to take over first place.
Brown and Shimoda remained close throughout the final stages, but Shimoda was unable to recover the lead and settled for second place, a commendable result given his limited preparation following a preseason injury. Daxton Bennick secured third place, achieving his third career podium and his first for the Rockster Husqvarna team.
Early Chaos and Strong Comebacks in 250SX Race
The 250SX race featured some early incidents, including a crash by pre-race favorite Cole Davies at the first turn, which also involved several other riders, notably teammate Nate Thrasher. Seth Hammaker was held up behind the incident but recovered to finish fourth. Davies initiated a significant comeback from near last position to finish fifth, showcasing impressive speed in the whoops section.
The rest of the top ten included Drew Adams, Coty Schock, Devin Simonson, Cullin Park, and Kyle Peters, rounding out a competitive opening night for the East Coast 250SX division.
