What Will Prado Bring Outdoors?

What we can expect from Jorge Prado outdoors

Competition Post: Kane Taylor

Four-time world champion an unknown in Pro Motocross 2026.

In what will be his second term of Pro Motocross and despite an underwhelming debut last year, four-time world champion Jorge Prado has the pedigree to challenge the very best outdoors. To date in 2026, his move to Red Bull KTM has proven successful in 450SX, which leaves genuine questions regarding his ceiling in 450MX.

Last year’s disaster at Kawasaki is all but a distant memory following the 25-year-old’s stellar Monster Energy Supercross campaign this season, inclusive of four heat race victories, two pole positions, and a standout podium finish at the season-opener in Anaheim.

It’s the stadium-based form we were somewhat expecting last year, before a shoulder injury at Anaheim 2 sidelined him altogether indoors. Still, anticipation was high for the multiple MXGP champion outdoors, where he was tipped to be a front-runner onboard the Kawasaki KX450SR – something that ultimately didn’t materialize.

 Importantly, he did contest the full Pro Motocross season, with a best result of P5 at Southwick and Ironman, gaining valuable familiarity with the tracks and the single-day American race format. Prado also went up against the likes of Jett and Hunter Lawrence, as well as Eli Tomac, offering a clear indication of the level required.

All of that brings us to 2026, where a significantly improved Supercross attempt, a familiar KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION platform, and added Pro Motocross experience combine to position him as a genuine wildcard in terms of winning potential.

A wildcard to the extent – again, given his pedigree – that Prado could surprise a lot of people come the Fox Raceway opener, with a winning performance not entirely out of the question.

Add in the current landscape – defending champion Jett is returning from injury, Hunter may feel the effects of a draining 450SX title fight, and Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) enters as a rookie. Suddenly, the door opens for Prado to be a far more competitive force than what we saw in 2025.

There are also question marks elsewhere. The 2024 450MX champion Chase Sexton is still adapting to the Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450SR himself, while Red Bull KTM teammate Tomac has shown a slight dip in form in recent weeks between an injury that had him sidelined.

The point is this – it’s all there in front of Prado. Whether that translates into a championship charge remains to be seen, but the potential is undeniable.

As mentioned, the credentials are obvious in two MX2 world titles (2018, 2019), followed by premier class crowns in 2023 and 2024, underline that he knows what it takes to win at the highest level. That’s something that only a handful of riders in 450MX can claim.

It almost feels like a reset in 2026, with last year a distant and unusual chapter for Prado. Still, he now enters with a full season of track knowledge, which shouldn’t be underestimated. Also, don’t forget that he is far more established outdoors than he is in Supercross, and under the lights, he has already shown flashes of matching the very best.

That spells some concern for the competition in Pro Motocross, and combined with his lightning ability off the start line, he does present at the very least a thorn in their side.

Where does all this leave him? Somewhere in the wildcard territory, but one with the tools to become much more. And if it clicks, he won’t just be part of the conversation – he might be the conversation once the championship wraps up at Ironman on August 30.

Ken Roczen: What’s next?

 

Thirteen years. Thirteen long years chasing this dream. Thirteen years marked by injuries, doubts, disappointments and the constant feeling that fate stubbornly refused to let Ken Roczen get his hands on that highly coveted title. And yet, in 2026, the German finally did it. At last.

At 32 years old, after an already remarkable career, Ken Roczen secured the AMA Supercross 450 title. An achievement that now raises a question: what more can he realistically aim for?

Because Roczen’s story is not that of a champion who followed a straightforward path. It looks more like a succession of challenges and rebirths: the youngest MX2 world champion, the move to the United States, the first AMA championships, the horrific 2017 injury, the rebuilding years, leaving Honda, and then the Suzuki gamble…

Season after season, Ken Roczen became a credible contender again after returning to Suzuki, and then a genuine title challenger. In 2026, all the stars finally aligned. Almost against all expectations and he has become the oldest Supercross champion ever.

Now that he has the title in hand, Ken Roczen could decide to walk away at the perfect moment, such is the sense of a fairytale ending. The German rider himself admits that he needs time to think and had already considered retiring if he ever won the championship. Today, the circle is complete. What is really left for him to achieve?

Appearing on the latest PulpMX show, Ken Roczen was naturally asked about the subject. The German rider had also been picked up by microphones telling Hunter Lawrence on the night of his title celebration in Salt Lake City: “You’re next… me, I’m done.”

“It’s true, I said that [to Hunter],” admitted Ken Roczen. “Honestly, I still don’t know. I need time to think. I would never make a decision like that after going through 17 crazy weekends in a row because right now, I’m pretty burned out. I need to take a step away from it and let a few weeks pass. Deep down, I still love riding, but racing takes a lot out of you.

“In recent years, fighting for a title seemed so unlikely, so far away, that I couldn’t really focus on it. I hadn’t been in a championship battle for a very long time. My goal was to win a race again, then be capable of winning another one and putting together good results over several weekends in a row. That’s exactly what I managed to do this year.

“I told my wife that if one day all the stars aligned and I won a title, then that would be it for me. At the time, I truly meant it, because winning seemed almost unreal back then. It was more of a dream than anything else… Even at the start of the season, when I was riding well, the title still felt very far away because there are so many obstacles to overcome.

“Now, I’m a champion. You also have to look at things differently. If I was 25 years old and said I wanted to retire after winning this title, I’d understand people telling me: ‘You’re crazy, you’re young, you’re riding amazingly, keep going!’ But now I’m 32. And I also told my wife that maybe it would be a good thing to walk away while I’m still in one piece and healthy. There are a lot of things to take into consideration. Right now, I just don’t know.”

Roczen has a decision to make. But the two options probably are to retire or comeback for another season and run the #1 plate in 2027!

Who Gets The $100K ?

Jett Lawrence details rehab for complicated foot and ankle injury

Roczen explains his key start and pass on Hunter Lawrence

 Ken Roczen has given a detailed breakdown on the three key decisions that led to him being crowned 2026 AMA Supercross champion; a new engine, his gate pick choice and the quick pass on Hunter that all added up to perfection on a night that required nothing less to be crowned champion.

Speaking on the Title 24 podcast with Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villopoto, two guys that know exactly how hard it is to win a title and what Ken was going through, Roczen gave an amazing insight into what was going through his head at the time with astounding clarity.

On the different engine chosen for the final round Ken revealed: “After Denver I was surprised what the altitude did to the motorcycles, I hadn’t been there the last two years, I was hurt. The last time I was there was 23 and it kind of fades a little bit (memory of the power reduction).

“We went to Salt Lake City with an engine package I had tried in the off-season with more power, more-so different power but it was too fast for me and I wasn’t able to ride it the same and I went back to what I knew, but it came in handy. I am a little bummed I didn’t think about that coming into Denver but it was also hard because we were doing amazing, I was comfortable and we did little tiny adjustments to help that we did in ’23 as well.
But when you are splittling hairs and Hunter is so good, I didn’t want to leave it up to a guessing game because it was all or nothing on the weekend and I wanted to go for it (and use the more powerful engine).

On the having the eighth gate pick and choosing to go beside the box on the outside, Roczen said: “There was a constant debate throughout the day, I was talking to my dad too and watching the heat race starts. Inside is normally the safer bet, we know that, but also, it all bunches up on the inside and tighter turns. I told my dad it doesn’t matter if you go there (inside) or outside the box because if you get a good jump you are good either way but if you get a bad jump you are screwed either way.

“Once Hunter lined up, I had eighth gate pick which wasn’t ideal, and looking at the ruts, I could have went inside Hunter and the rut wasn’t great, and on the right side of the box I had two ruts, and one was quite a bit better. I felt like that gave me my best option, because I had faith that if I had a decent rut I am pretty sure I can get a good jump. And then sometimes when you are in the middle and next to the box you have a little bit of room even you don’t get the best start, you can swim around the first turn a lot better. “

“You have Hunter, great starter, Jorge, great starter, Cooper, great starter so you have 5/6 guys all next to each other, all great starters, so for you to get a good start, you have to be really good. I was out there with a bit of room to my left, not having to start around five guys that are insane starters, I had trust this was giving me better odds.”

On the biggest pass of his career Roczen remembers exactly why he made the move in that moment: “Hunter came over on me just a little bit (in the first turn), which is to be expected, I would have done the same thing. But then the angle was just right to where I was on the left side of him and I could square it up and I’m like, ‘it is now or never.’ I knew it was risky to do it early on but it was now or never so I did it, and I do believe that move changed the entire narrative of which way that main could have gone, if I would have let him go first around that turn.”

Prado...Fast or Dirty?

Seems to be a lot of negative vibes around four-time world motocross champion, Jorge Prado of late with the Red Bull KTM factory rider getting fined last weekend for an aggressive action against three time AMA supercross champion, Cooper Webb, after finishing third on the podium.

Prado was fined after he “violated the code of conduct by using an obscene hand gesture during the competition.” The Spaniard gave a gesture to Webb as they crossed the finish line, then made a hand movement, that looked like he was pulling back to throw a punch at Webb.

The AMA then came out with the official news on the move by Prado: Race Direction reviewed an incident involving Rider #26 (Prado) and Rider #1 (Webb) in section 8 after the finish line. After review, it was determined that Rider #26 (Prado) violated the code of conduct by using an obscene hand gesture during the competition. Rider #26 (Prado) was assessed one rider license point and a fine.

On the incident, Prado didn't hold back on his opinion of the incident and he wasn't happy with Webb. Lets all not forget, Cooper Webb doesn't mind taking riders out on occasion, so maybe Prado has a point?

“I’m always the guy that’s taking out, I never take him out. So, he is going pretty aggressive with me, but like I said the other weekend, if he has a 20 minutes plus a lap to pass me and he decides always to go aggressive. If he was faster, he would have passed me before, like all of the other riders. I just focus on myself and hopefully next year I’m a bit better, so I don’t need to be fighting with him and being up front.”

Now, for starters, Prado is without question, one of the most talented riders in the sport, and his world titles say enough. His performances in his two MXGP titles showed that he was the fastest man in Europe for two years and his MX2 titles back up those 450 stats.

In AMA supercross, Eli Tomac, Hunter Lawrence, Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb have been outspoken in his dangerous moves and nobody in MXGP is too surprised by their comments.

When Prado left Europe a couple of years ago, he WAS the man to beat, and that says something when you consider, two legends in Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser couldn’t match his pace. His victories were often solid and very clean.

However, the Spaniard has come under fire from a bunch of riders in AMA supercross and Antonio Cairoli, Romain Febvre, Jeffrey Herlings and many others in MXGP have had difficulties with him. Is it time for Prado to actually look at these comments and try and correct his racing attitude, or, does he have the right to race how he feels?

See below the time Prado crossed jumped Herlings in Germany a few years ago, a crash that could have been a lot worse than it was and was 100% Prado's fault, despite the Spaniard giving a soft comment that he wasn't at fault.

Following the dramatic mid-air collision after the checkered flag in the first moto of the 2021 MXGP of Germany, Jeffrey Herlings was highly critical of Jorge Prado’s maneuver. The incident, occurring at the finish line, saw Prado drift into Herlings, resulting in a severe crash where Prado injured his armpit, requiring surgery and causing him to miss the second moto.

Jeffrey Herlings: Yeah, we all know he’s (Prado) not the most easy rider to pass and defends his line. There’s nothing wrong with that… but cross jumping, hmm, I don’t know if that’s the most safe thing to do. I was already over the jump and he came from left to right and then we both went down.

Known for cross jumping, block passing and at times dangerous moves, it is clear, Jorge is fighting for his place on the track and maybe we should respect his determination, but motocross or supercross is a dangerous sport, and riders safety is the most important aspect.

Hunter Lawrence had similar opinions of Prado and his knack of block passing riders: I mean, he pulled aside for Eli and then he tried to — not brake check me — but slow me down there. If he’s just coming back to get in the way then I’m gonna give him some body English, you know? Maybe Jett will come back and do the same.

AI came up with this analysis of his style of defending his place on the track

Prado is generally considered a highly skilled, intelligent rider who is tough to pass rather than "dirty," though his aggressive defensive lines and tendency to cross-jump under pressure have drawn criticism and labels of being dangerous from competitors. Critics note he often uses the full track and fails to check for other riders, which can cause dangerous situations.

Defensive Style: Experts like Ryan Villopoto and Ricky Carmichael have stated there is no "dirty" intent, but rather that Prado is intelligent and difficult to pass, refusing to yield positions easily."

Dangerous" vs. "Dirty": Some observers suggest his issues stem from inexperience in Supercross traffic, leading to accidental cross-jumping, rather than intentional "dirty" riding, though this distinction provides little comfort to those he nearly causes to crash.

Controversy: Incidents, such as a collision with Cooper Webb, have sparked debate, but they are often viewed as racing incidents by professionals.

Traffic Management: He has been criticized for not keeping his line and cutting off other riders, which has drawn complaints from fellow riders in the MXGP and Supercross circuits.

In summary, he is seen as an incredibly fast and aggressive competitor who is difficult to pass, which can lead to tense moments, but he is not widely deemed to be maliciously breaking rules.

What we all are looking forward to, is his performances outdoors this year, because the four time world champion, will without question be up front, and back on the KTM outdoors, he might end up putting egg on all the faces of those who question him.

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!