Perhaps the Best SX Season Ever!

The Salt Lake City Supercross finale was a shocker before the gate dropped; Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence were not championship favorites. Yet they produced the closest points battle in 20 years.

By Brett Smith 

Someone’s heart was going to get crushed. We had an entire week to prepare for it. Before the race, Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence sat together at a table, microphones in hand. A reporter asked if they had prepared for the loss one of them, inevitably, would have to face.

Roczen didn’t allow the interviewer to finish; he picked up the microphone and curtly barked, “Life goes on.” He quickly set down the mic, indicating the end of that conversation and gave a tight-lipped smile.

Lawrence laughed and maybe wishes he had thought of that response first. He echoed Roczen but with more words:

“Obviously, you still wake up the next day. One pays a lot more than the other but that’s racing, there’s only one winner… Life goes on. You go back to work.”

An Unlikely Matchup

Nobody saw this coming; a winner-take-all championship finale between Hunter Lawrence, who had yet to win a race (or complete all 17 rounds) and Ken Roczen, who had been trying to win this number one plate for 13 seasons.

The 2026 Supercross Championship was a matchup between two of the most likable and root-for-worthy athletes in motorsports. Yet also completely unexpected; Roczen had long missed his chance and Lawrence had yet to establish himself as the guy.

Or so we thought.

Both riders traveled (figuratively and literally) through hell to get to the starting line for the May 9 event in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Roczen’s entire career (and left arm) was nearly lost in Jan. 2017 when a severe compound fracture in his radius and ulna (and a dislocated elbow and fractured scaphoid) resulted in a dozen surgeries, the first of which was to simply save the limb. "We were fixing his arm so he could eat dinner, not so he could ride again,” Dr. Randy Viola told ESPN in 2018 of that first operation.

Roczen’s rebuild was a two-forward-one-backward journey; shattered metacarpals in his right hand just six races into his 2018 comeback, then several seasons of dealing with the Epstein Barr Virus that sometimes still leaves him feeling “lifeless”.

But he had positives: marriage, kids, a return to winning in 2020, American citizenship, and a switch back to a Suzuki team willing to build around his needs and lifestyle. At that point in his life he was reaching for something he feared had become impossible.

“I was just trying to grasp on to something to be halfway good again,” Roczen said of searching for new opportunities at the end of 2022. “I wasn’t anywhere near championship material.”

Until, improbably, he was.

Hunter Lawrence’s slog to become a Supercross championship contender started in Brisbane, Queensland but went through many adventures in Europe where finances got so thin the family rationed cans of tuna and jars of peanut butter.

They had sold everything in Australia and plan B didn’t exist. Injuries, however, came in quicker than win bonuses. Hunter was 17 and living in Germany with Heiko Klepka (Roczen’s father) when Kenny suffered the devastating arm injury. The Lawrence family moved to America at the end of 2018 and Hunter intently watched Roczen’s rebuild. Maybe it helped, because he had to do the same himself.

Setbacks and surgeries piled up: knees, collarbones, shoulders, labrum, scapula. Entire seasons missed, the future was reconsidered.

“It’s kind of like house money because you almost get to the point where you’ve accepted walking away from it.” Hunter said the day before the SLC SX, speaking to the fact that he had once come close to giving up on racing. “But to rebuild yourself is cool.”

Against The Odds

Lawrence wasn’t a title favorite entering 2026 but he was a likely option to become the 70th different winner in 450SX history. Roczen was so far down the title favorite list that oddsmakers had him at +1402 in pre-season betting (a $100 bet on Roczen for champion would yield a $1402 payout). For reference, Lawrence was +311 and Eli Tomac was +240.

To further build the case against Roczen (now 32): the record for most seasons before winning a title was seven (Tomac, 2020) and the average is 3.1; Also, no rider past the age of 30 had ever won a premier class championship. Roczen had only completed a full season six times.

Roczen and Lawrence rolled into Ski City separated by one point and the most evenly matched box scores ever–5 wins, 12 podiums and 14 top five finishes each. Lawrence’s clear advantage was a better starting position average, but Roczen had led more laps throughout the season.

That consistency set up the first winner-take-all finale since 2006 when eventual champion Ricky Carmichael came to Las Vegas tied in points with Chad Reed. And that once-in-a-generation situation came two decades after a tied-up 1985 showdown was settled in the Rose Bowl.

Curiously, none of the riders involved in these scenarios actually won the race, not Carmichael, not Reed nor names you might only distantly remember, such as Jeff Ward and Broc Glover. Not even Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence.

Life Goes On

In the end, both riders struggled. One admitted he was “an emotional wreck”, the other asked “a little too much of the front end coming into corners.” Lawrence and Roczen came through the first corner of the main event together. Roczen made a gutsy and aggressive passe in turn two. It felt like script writers were orchestrating the outcome with the purpose of maximizing emotions.

Roczen and Lawrence stayed hooked for 10 laps; no mistakes, no strikes for position. They matched each other, dared each other to make a mistake. Lawrence was the first to get bit. On lap 11, with his childhood rival Jorge Prado close behind, Lawrence went off the course, an error that gave Roczen just a skosh of breathing room. Twenty seconds later Lawrence hit the ground, an unforced error. He got up, ran into another rider, fell again, like a bad dream you’re desperately trying to escape.

It seemed like it was over, checkmate Roczen. But with more than half the race to go, and the accumulation of hardships and heartaches Roczen experienced for 10 years hovering invisibly overhead, the feelings of doubt and disbelief remained heavy.

Ken Roczen celebrates his SMX world Championships win

© Garth Milan

For Roczen, who stayed flawless for 22 laps before a swarm of non-championship competitors overtook him, “Every lap felt like a championship last lap,” the roar of the crowd was so loud. Roczen did the only thing he truly needed to do to realize a lifelong dream; he finished ahead of Lawrence.

Roczen could finally let it all out: the emotion, the tears, the pain, joy. After the race, his words reassured us he is human. “I was an emotional wreck today,” he said. “I’m exhausted physically and mentally from these last few weeks.”

Combined with Pro Motocross and the SuperMotocross World Championship in 2025, this was Hunter’s 3rd consecutive runner-up finish. He earned a title in grace and sportsmanship when he gave Roczen a congratulatory embrace and stuck around on the floor to absorb someone else’s joy. Or lean into a feeling he’s trying to escape.

Either way, life goes on.

Why this title is bigger than any other for Ken Roczen

Some championships are won with composure, others develop into a mental battle right up to the final. The first AMA Supercross title of [name omitted] falls squarely into this latter category. Ken RoczenA season with highs, setbacks, pressure – and a finale that remained open until the very end.

Because what happened in Salt Lake City wasn't just winning an AMA Supercross title. It was the culmination of a journey many had long since written off. Ten years after his last major US title win in 2016, Roczen is suddenly back on top. Not somewhere in the background as a fan favorite. Not as someone who's "made a strong comeback." But truly at the very top.

Champion.

And in a way that perfectly suits this entire career: not smooth, not dominant, not without drama.

The pressure was there long before the final.

What's particularly interesting is how openly Roczen now speaks about the mental aspect. You probably would never have heard him say something like that before. Now you do. After the race, he explained that he had imagined this moment for months. Over and over again. Sometimes so intensely that he became emotional at home, withdrew from his children, and mentally rehearsed the situation. That clearly shows just how significant this title had become for him.

From a sporting perspective, one could have argued: Roczen has already achieved everything. World Champion. Motocross Champion in the USA. Countless race wins. A successful career. But that was clearly no longer the point. It was about this one title. The title that had always eluded him in his career.

And the closer they got to Salt Lake City, the greater the mental pressure apparently became. Roczen spoke of barely sleeping. Of the days becoming extremely long. Of getting up at six in the morning and then having practically no time left but to think.

This is the side that's often overlooked from the outside. While everyone else is focused on points and standings, the driver sits there all day, alone with his own thoughts.

The final started anything but perfectly.

The day started off badly. A crash in the heat race. A worse starting position. No real confidence on the track. The whoops, in particular, caused him problems. And that's exactly where the race could have turned at any moment.

Nevertheless, the decisive moment came immediately after the start of the main event. Roczen knew he had to act instantly. No waiting. No "let's see what happens." That would have been especially dangerous against Hunter Lawrence. So he made the decisive move early.

Curve two.

Aggressive. Determined. Perhaps indeed the most important overtaking maneuver of his entire career. And from that point on, the real battle began. Not against Lawrence. But against himself.

Roczen later made it quite clear that he never had complete control of the race. He deliberately didn't ride at the limit. No blind pushing. No "all or nothing" approach. Instead, he tried to ride methodically fast while remaining calm.

That sounds simple, but under this pressure it's brutally difficult. Especially when you know there's a driver right behind you who could snatch the title away at any moment.

Things got critical four laps before the end.

Then came the moment when the race could have completely turned around. Roczen developed severe problems with a stitch in his right side, under his rib cage. It was so intense that he could barely breathe. By then, the track was brutally rutted; every bump sent shockwaves straight into his body.

And that's precisely where the calculations suddenly began. How big is the gap? Where is Hunter? How much risk can I still take? The interesting thing is that Roczen, at that moment, was clearly no longer thinking about winning the race. It was simply a matter of somehow bringing it home.

That's why he let drivers pass. That's why he slowed down. From the outside, it almost looked controlled. In reality, he was completely at his physical limit. And that somehow fits perfectly with this whole story. Even winning the title wasn't a clean sweep. Even there, things got complicated again.

The story with Suzuki makes the title even bigger

What makes this title even more special is the surrounding context. HEP Suzuki. To be honest, most people would never have associated this project with an AMA Supercross title a few years ago. Too small. Too little budget. Too little "factory" development. Plus, an RM-Z450 that had been the butt of jokes for years. Kickstarter. Old platform. Hardly any development.

And now this very motorcycle is suddenly at the top. That alone is a story in itself.

Roczen spoke very openly after the race about how difficult the first few years after Honda's demise really were. He got into motorcycling late, had hardly any preparation, and was basically just trying to become somewhat competitive again.

No need to think about titles. Just to be relevant again. That's how this project gradually came about. First podium finishes in 2023. After that, slowly more stability. More confidence. More speed. Interestingly, he stated that the greatest progress in the end wasn't physical at all, but mental.

Roczen used to experience these extreme highs and lows. Today, things seem much more controlled. Calmer. Almost more mature.

The fans made this evening truly special.

Then there was the atmosphere in Salt Lake City. Several journalists later described never having experienced such a consistent volume at a Supercross final. Not just cheers after crossing the finish line, but lap after lap, throughout the entire race.

"Kenny" shouts the whole time. And even Roczen later said that drivers usually hardly notice such noises – unless they get extremely loud.

This time, that was clearly the case. According to him, every round felt like a final championship round. And perhaps that best describes the evening. It wasn't a typical title win. Not a classic dominance story. It was more the feeling that an extremely long story was finally coming to an end.

Probably the most important title of his career

The comparison to his earlier successes was particularly interesting in the end. Roczen won his first world championship title in 2011 as a teenager. Back then, much of it was instinctive. Emotional. Uncontrolled. Today he sounds completely different. More reflective. Significantly more deliberate. Almost exhausted by everything he's achieved.

And that's precisely why he ultimately categorized this title so clearly: his first AMA Supercross title was the most important of his entire career.

Not because of the statistics. Not because of the number. But because of the journey. Ten years after his last major US title, Ken Roczen is back on top.

And perhaps that is ultimately the real punchline of this story: The most spectacular driver of his generation had to completely fall apart in order to finally win the title he had always lacked.

"You’re just a fast Vince Friese."

Hunter Lawrence – Class Act in Defeat

It was hard not to feel sorry for Hunter Lawrence after his heart-breaking defeat in Salt Lake City when the front end tucked while running second, just behind title rival Ken Roczen, in what was a dream 1-2 winner-takes-all battle with the title combatants.

Lawrence got up and kept going in seventh in case anything happened the German but Roczen kept it all under control to win his first 450 AMA Supercross title at the expense of the gritty Australian.

Lawrence had looked the favourite all day, going faster than Roczen in practice and winning his heat race against Roczen with Ken the one crashing while chasing Hunter for the lead. But it all changed in the main event with Hunter the one going down while chasing Roczen. A brutal way to end a superb season for the factory HRC Honda rider.

But Hunter dealt with the gut wrenching moment with class, underlying why he is such a great person as well as a great rider, and, in true Aussie style, was completely honest and unfiltered about the night saying to Jason Thomas on the NBC broadcast: “Just asking a little too much of the front end coming into the corners but, oh well, congrats to Kenny, well earned. He was the better man tonight in the main so congratulations to him and the team, it was fun battling with him and yeah, get ready for outdoors.“

Hunter then added on Instagram: “Not too many years ago I wished of leaving the races healthy, then I dreamed of how good it would be to be on the podium each weekend, that dream then shifted to wanting and believing I could be a winner… fast forward to now being disappointed in battling for the 450 Supercross championship.. so many great moments, ups and downs. I wasn’t scared to fail and I always gave it my all. I learnt so much and am grateful for the beginning of 2026🙏🏼Thankyou to all my team who has supported me, I love working with you guys and congrats to Kenny and his team.”

The Aussie will surely have more chances at this title, this was his first completed season in 450 Supercross and, at only 26, should be even better and learn from this experience heading into 2027. As Ken Roczen showed, keep believing, never give up and it can happen – even into your thirties!

Congratulations Ken Roczen - 2026 AMA Supercross Champion!

All Hail...Kickstart Kenny Champion!

The 450 class brought the championship fight to a dramatic close in Salt Lake City. Hunter Lawrence grabbed the holeshot, but Ken Roczen moved into the lead on the opening lap and immediately put himself in position to control the title fight. Lawrence stayed right on Roczen’s rear wheel through the early laps, while Jorge Prado and Chase Sexton began closing in behind them. As Prado got closer, Lawrence picked up the pace and started looking for a way around Roczen, knowing he could not afford to let another rider get between them. The race changed when Lawrence made a mistake and went off track, then went down later that same lap after over-jumping a rhythm section and tucking the front end. That dropped him back to seventh and gave Roczen the breathing room he needed. From there, Roczen managed the race with the championship in mind. Chase Sexton went on to take the win, with Justin Cooper second and Prado third, while Roczen brought it home fifth to secure the 2026 Supercross Championship.

The Choice of Champions...Who Will It Be?

Hunter and Kenny both choose the Works Connection Pro Launch Device. So far it appears to be working well for them. Who will grab the edge down the final stretch? Whom ever wins the real winner will be the fans.

Passing Prado?

"The Bullet" On Target

Three wins, one pattern – are we witnessing Herlings' best performance in years?

Three starts, three wins. Sounds like a clean week for Jeffrey Herlings. But a closer look reveals there's much more to it than just a few race wins – especially at a time when the MXGP circuit is currently at a standstill.

The real question is not, dass He wins. But Who.

Herlings is currently more complete than before

What's striking right now is that it has little to do with going full throttle at any cost. Sure, the speed is there, but it feels differently controlled.

France was the beginning – a solid victory in the elite series, without much drama. Then Sainte Austreberthe. A narrow course, thousands of spectators right along the fence, two Frenchmen in the spotlight – Maxime Renaux and Tom Vialle. Exactly the kind of race that can quickly turn around. But it doesn't. Herlings stays calm, sees it through, and takes the win.

This comes across less as "I need to show that I'm back" – and more as "I know exactly what I'm doing here".

Harfsen: The test no one talks about

Then Harfsen. Sand, home race, expectations. On paper, a must-do. In reality, often the most unpleasant races. You can't shine here – you can only lose.

And that's precisely why this victory is perhaps the most interesting of the three. Against a field of MXGP-level riders, including Romain Febvre, "The Bullet" doesn't put on a dazzling display. He rides a controlled race. He builds up his lead, makes no mistakes, and leaves nothing to chance.

The second run is a washout – literally. The result remains: victory. Not spectacular. But that's precisely the point.

Is this the best version in years?

To be honest: Herlings was never not Fast. Even after injuries, even during difficult periods – the basic speed was always there. What was consistently lacking was consistency. That feeling that he could simply "tune down" a weekend without things escalating anywhere.

That's exactly what we're seeing right now.

Three different races, three different conditions, not a single outlier. No crashes, no chaos, no overdoing it. Instead: rhythm, control, decision-making. That's new – at least in this consistency. And it's happening right now, during this five-week MXGP break, when many other riders are more likely hitting the reset button.

More than just results

Of course, it's important to put things in perspective: These aren't MXGP GPs. It's not a two-race format against the entire field. No World Championship points are awarded. But that's precisely why they're so interesting. Because they show... Who Herlings is currently working on this. Not in the spotlight of the World Championship, but in the details. Starts, duels, race rhythm – things you don't learn in training.

And most importantly: He deliberately seeks out these situations.

The subtle difference

Perhaps this isn't the most spectacular Herlings we've ever seen. But it could be the most complete. Less "all or nothing," more control. Fewer deviations, more consistency. And that's precisely the combination he's lacked in recent years.

Is that enough to speak of his best form in a long time? Perhaps we should wait for another MXGP weekend or two.

But one thing is clear: "The Bullet" hasn't looked this stable in a long time.

Down to The Wire

With one race left in the 2026 AMA Supercross series, Hunter Lawrence managed to take off in the 450 main event to keep his title chase alive, while Ken Roczen kept the Red Plate heading to Salt Lake City. With one point in Ken’s favor, it will be another must-win night for both riders (who both have won five races this season).

Eli Tomac was back from his injury and rode with bravado all night long to score a third and stand on the podium for the 111th time in his career. Cooper Webb officially eliminated himself from Championship contention because he struggled in the final stanzas of the Supercross series—not helped by his vendetta rides against Jorge Prado.With only 25 points left at the final round, Cooper is 35 points out of first place.