On March 8, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Hunter Lawrence of Honda HRC Progressive secured a critical win at the second Triple Crown event of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. The 450SMX Class points leader edged championship contender Eli Tomac in a tiebreaker to claim his second victory this season, further solidifying his position atop the standings and extending his lead in the title race.
A large crowd gathered in the motorsports hub of Indianapolis to witness the ninth race of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, drawn by the excitement of the Triple Crown format that featured three intense 12 Minute + 1 Lap races. Lawrence delivered a commanding performance that helped him maintain momentum in the championship battle against top competitors like Tomac and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb.
Race 1 Sets the Stage with Ken Roczen’s Early Domination
The initial race of the night saw Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen take control from the start, pulling ahead to a clear 5.4-second victory. Meanwhile, behind Roczen, the fight for podium positions intensified—Lawrence pushed hard to finish second, followed closely by Eli Tomac, who overcame a challenging start outside the top 10. Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper, both from Monster Energy Yamaha, completed the top five with steady performances.
Momentum Shifts Dramatically in Race 2
The second race brought unexpected disruptions as Roczen’s attempt to navigate a rhythm section touched Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger, resulting in Plessinger’s exit and Roczen dropping to last place. Red Bull KTM’s Tomac surged to the front after passing early leader Cooper Webb but faced relentless pressure. Webb regained the lead late in the race and secured a 3.5-second victory over Tomac, while Lawrence, hampered by lapped traffic, fell from third to fourth.
Lawrence Dominates Final Race to Secure Overall Win
The decisive race saw Lawrence and Tomac leading early amid a deteriorating track that made every second count. Lawrence’s quick holeshot allowed him to build and sustain a lead over Tomac, widening his gap even as lapped riders complicated the race dynamics. Roczen recovered to claim third, while Webb fended off teammate Justin Cooper for fourth. Lawrence’s unchallenged, wire-to-wire ride earned him a 5.5-second victory margin and the night’s overall Triple Crown triumph based on superior Race 3 performance in a points tie against Tomac.
Lawrence Reflects on the Impact of His Victory
This win means a lot. This is my fifth day riding in-a-row this week testing with the team. Those guys will never give up, nor will I. This is the ultimate thank you for going through the ringer this week, riding five days in-a-row, and coming out and performing [tonight]. This is cool. It’s a Triple Crown, so it’s a tough one.
?Hunter Lawrence, Honda HRC Progressive rider
Tomac Acknowledges Narrow Loss but Remains a Title Contender
I made one mistake [in the final race] and Hunter [Lawrence] pulled out a second or two. I just wasn’t able to bring that back. I had a sketchy moment in the whoops and feel like I lost the race there. I started jumping but got a little squirrely and then started skimming again at the end and it was better. I don’t know, I’m glad to get out of here [with a good finish]. It’s just a tough night of racing here with the Triple Crown and this soil.
?Eli Tomac, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Webb Completes Podium with Mixed Feelings on Performance
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb secured third overall with consistent finishes, though he expressed some disappointment about not reaching his full potential amid stiff competition.
Overall, it was kind of a plateau night for me across the board. I’m bummed because I felt great yesterday and today, so I’m pretty bummed with those results, if I’m being honest. I felt like I could come in and compete tonight, but those two ahead of me were on another level. We’ve got work to do and will try to get better. We’ll keep our head down. There’s a lot of racing left and anything can happen.
?Cooper Webb, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
Competitive Dynamic Shapes the 450SMX Championship Standings
The overall results enabled Hunter Lawrence to widen his championship advantage to four points over Eli Tomac as the series heads into an off weekend, while Cooper Webb remains third, trailing by 25 points. With a demanding 17-race calendar ahead, the contest for the 450SMX title remains intense and unpredictable.
Cole Davies Makes a Statement in the 250SMX Eastern Division Triple Crown
At the same event, the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class held its first Triple Crown race of the season. New Zealander Cole Davies of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing dominated all three 10 Minute + 1 Lap contests to achieve a perfect 1-1-1 sweep, marking his first overall victory of the year and the third in his career. His commanding performance reinforced his status as the early points leader in a tightly contested division.
Race 1 Victory Demonstrates Davies’ Control
Davies took an early lead in the opening race, finishing two seconds ahead of Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker followed in third. Meanwhile, 250SMX points leader Pierce Brown encountered difficulties at the start, recovering from last place to finish tenth, signaling challenges ahead in this competitive field.
Davies and Shimoda Duel in Race 2
The second race saw a fierce competition between Davies and Shimoda as they battled to overcome early leader Jalek Swoll from Triumph Factory Racing. After exchanging positions multiple times, Davies gained the upper hand, passing Swoll and winning by 2.2 seconds. Shimoda secured second once again, while Brown rebounded to finish third. Hammaker encountered trouble with an early crash, which relegated him to ninth place.
Decisive Race 3 Carries Davies to Triple Crown Sweep
In the final contested race, Davies once again reached the front, overtaking Swoll for the lead and increasing his advantage. Shimoda fought off an extended challenge from ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson to claim third, before moving up to second by the race’s end. Hammaker mounted a late attack, overtaking Shimoda on the final lap to claim second place, with Davies securing the overall Triple Crown win by a narrow margin of just eight-tenths of a second. Brown finished fourth, followed by Swoll in fifth.
Implications for the Tightening 250SMX Title Chase
Davies’ flawless Triple Crown effort catapulted him to the top of the Eastern Division leaderboard, now just one point ahead of Hammaker. Jo Shimoda and Pierce Brown remain closely contending, tied for third and only two points behind the leader. The upcoming East/West Showdown is expected to significantly influence the trajectory of the championship, heightening anticipation in the division’s closely fought battle.
Davies Expresses Relief and Excitement After Breakthrough
I guess I was just too excited to go [to start the season] and was a bit too antsy [on the track], but we settled down a bit. I just let the race come to me [tonight] and made some passes in every race. I’m just stoked. It’s a bit of a relief now. I’ve been pissed off at all the rounds, getting beat, and I don’t do well with that. It’s good to come back and have a good Triple Crown.
?Cole Davies, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
Shimoda and Hammaker Display Consistency and Determination
Jo Shimoda, finishing second overall in the 250SMX Eastern Division, maintained a steady performance across all three races and acknowledged areas for growth:
I think I got decent starts today. Not the best ones, but I was able to sneak around the inside and get up in the front. I pulled it off as much as I could, but I just need to ride faster. I need to update myself and the bike and we should be good. There’s a lot more to go.
?Jo Shimoda, Honda HRC Progressive
Seth Hammaker, who overcame early setbacks to secure a podium finish, reflected on the challenges faced:
It was a pretty hectic night. I couldn’t get off the gate too well, which kind of cost me. I just didn’t put myself in great positions off the start. Thankfully we salvaged a podium. I was just riding in the middle of the pack tonight and need to figure the starts out. But, like I said, we salvaged a podium and are second in points, so all good.
?Seth Hammaker, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Looking Ahead: Mid-Season Break and Upcoming Birmingham Race
Following this intense competition in Indianapolis, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will enter their sole break before resuming on March 21 at the Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. The 10th race of the season will be broadcast live on Peacock with additional language options for international viewers, promising more thrilling action as the contest for championships climbs to new heights.
Fans can look forward to a special encore presentation on NBC the following day, with the remaining rounds of both the Supercross and Pro Motocross Championships continuing to unfold in front of millions worldwide.
Event Background and Championship Overview
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that merges the thrills of stadium racing with outdoor endurance contests. Founded in 2022, the series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship across a 28-round regular season that concludes with high-stakes playoffs.
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association since 1974, is recognized as the most competitive arena of its kind. Spanning 17 weeks, it draws nearly one million live spectators in major North American stadiums, alongside global broadcast audiences.
The Pro Motocross Championship complements the stadium series with rugged outdoor racing on challenging tracks, divided into 250cc and 450cc classes, under the management of MX Sports Pro Racing, an industry leader in off-road motorsport production.
Feld Motor Sports, Inc., a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, oversees the production and presentation of the marquee motorcycle racing series, including Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SMX World Championship.
Key Takeaways
Hunter Lawrence’s narrow but decisive Triple Crown win in Indianapolis has significant implications for the 450SMX Championship title chase, giving him a four-point advantage over Eli Tomac heading into the mid-season break. Meanwhile, Cole Davies has emerged as a formidable force in the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class with a head-to-head points lead over Seth Hammaker and closely matched rivals Jo Shimoda and Pierce Brown.
As the Monster Energy SMX World Championship progresses toward its playoff rounds, the intense competition among top motocross racers promises sustained excitement for fans and stakeholders in motocross racing, motorsport venues, and the broader action sports community.
