The 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship came to a historic close at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri, with two first-time champions crowned under the pressure of triple points and a final-night title fight that lasted until the last checkered flag.
In the premier class, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado became the first Spanish-born champion in SMX history, completing a remarkable postseason run in only his second season racing in America. In the 250SMX Class, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen broke through for his first professional championship after several near-misses in previous title fights.
The night also featured the first-ever WMX Invitational Powered by Synchrony, giving the season finale an additional milestone as Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha’s Lachlan Turner claimed the historic win.
The 450SMX title fight opened with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan taking the holeshot in the first of two 20-minute-plus-one-lap motos. Deegan controlled the race from the front, holding off Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen and Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence while Prado began the moto from 10th and worked his way forward.
Deegan finished the opening moto with a wire-to-wire win, beating Roczen by 3.1 seconds. Lawrence finished third, Cooper Webb followed in fourth, and Prado limited the damage with a fifth-place result that kept him alive heading into the final moto.
With the championship still hanging in the balance, Prado delivered when it mattered most. He grabbed the holeshot in the final 450SMX moto ahead of Deegan and Lawrence, then used the clean air to build a lead as Deegan applied pressure late in the race.
Deegan closed the gap in the final minutes and pushed Prado to the end, but Prado held on by 1.7 seconds to win the moto and clinch the championship. Deegan’s 1-2 score gave him the overall victory in Ridgedale and his second win of the postseason, but Prado’s 5-1 result was enough to secure the title by seven points.
Hunter Lawrence finished third overall with a steady 3-3 night and also claimed third in the final championship standings, capping a breakthrough season in the 450SMX class.
Prado’s championship was a major moment not only for KTM, but for international motocross within the SMX format. After missing the Playoffs and Final one year ago, Prado returned to win his first title on U.S. soil and become the first Spanish-born titleholder in SMX history.
The 250SMX Class produced its own dramatic finish. Levi Kitchen opened the first moto with the holeshot ahead of Nate Thrasher, while fellow title contenders Julien Beaumer and Ryder DiFrancesco started deeper in the field. Kitchen used the clear track to establish control early, but Cole Davies closed late and made the decisive move for the lead with just over one minute left on the race clock.
Davies pulled away to win the opening moto by 2.1 seconds over Kitchen, with DiFrancesco third, Beaumer fourth, and Pierce Brown fifth. The result set up a championship-deciding final moto as rain began to fall at Thunder Ridge.
Davies again led the way in Moto 2, taking the holeshot and stretching his advantage to complete a 1-1 sweep. Kitchen settled into second, controlled what he needed to control, and avoided the kind of mistake that could have opened the door for DiFrancesco or Beaumer.
Davies won the final moto by 6.4 seconds, but Kitchen’s 2-2 night delivered the larger prize. After coming close in multiple championship battles, including this summer’s Pro Motocross Championship, Kitchen finally secured his first professional title and delivered the first championship for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki since the 2019 Pro Motocross campaign.
Kitchen finished the season 24 points ahead of DiFrancesco. Davies’ dominant 1-1 performance moved him into the final championship podium position, 25 points behind Kitchen, while Landen Gordon earned his first postseason overall podium with a 6-3 night in Ridgedale.
The night also included a landmark moment for women’s motocross with the first WMX Invitational. The 10-minute plus one-lap main event brought together 13 of the world’s top women’s racers, including champions from four global series.
SLR Honda’s Mayla Herrick led the field to the holeshot ahead of Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon and Triumph Racing’s Hannah Hodges. Cannon had an early scare while chasing the lead, allowing Hodges to move into second and then take over the top spot. Reigning three-time WMX Champion Lachlan Turner settled into position and waited for her opportunity.
Turner moved into the lead just past the halfway point, with Cannon following into second and Hodges staying close in third. Cannon pressured Turner on the final lap, but Turner held her off by 1.9 seconds to win the inaugural WMX Invitational. Cannon finished second, with Hodges completing the podium.
The Ridgedale finale closed the 2026 SMX season with a fitting mix of history, pressure, and first-time champions. Prado delivered a defining 450SMX title run, Kitchen finally broke through in 250SMX, Davies ended his postseason with a dominant sweep, and Turner added her name to the first chapter of the WMX Invitational.
450SMX Overall Results:
- Haiden Deegan — 1-2
- Jorge Prado — 5-1
- Hunter Lawrence — 3-3
450SMX Championship Podium:
- Jorge Prado
- Haiden Deegan
- Hunter Lawrence
250SMX Overall Results:
- Cole Davies — 1-1
- Levi Kitchen — 2-2
- Landen Gordon — 6-3
250SMX Championship Podium:
- Levi Kitchen
- Ryder DiFrancesco
- Cole Davies
WMX Invitational Podium:
- Lachlan Turner
- Charli Cannon
- Hannah Hodges
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