Jett Lawrence injury – Hunter’s time to shine?
Monday, December 22, 2025 at 4:38PM 
It wasn’t meant to start like this.
For the third season in a row, Jett Lawrence is having to deal with an injury after never breaking a bone until he was 16 racing at Anaheim against Dylan Ferrandis for the win.
For the second season in a row, Jett’s 450 Supercross title hopes are over and Feld, the Supercross series promoters, are dealing with losing it’s biggest star before the season has even started. It’s a shame for the fans but brutal for Jett, despite still winning championships coming back from injury, this has to be tough for the mercurial Aussie, not just physically with the rehab, but the mental frustration of having to come back from injury yet again while watching his rivals building momentum and confidence.
And that goal of getting to McGrath’s 72 wins is looking further and further away.
Lawrence was the favourite heading into the 2026 AMA Supercross season. The question was could anyone beat him, but now, just like last year when he tore his ACL, the question is who will step up to be the man.
Cooper Webb became the man last year and now the defending champ will get the chance to prove he can do it again. Webb has an amazing ability to do what he has to do when he has to do it. He might just do it again.
Eli Tomac didn’t get a chance to step up last year after his injury but with the buzz of a new team and the hope of another title even more tangible now, Tomac has another shot at it, he still feels robbed of a title thanks to that achilles injury. This is his chance to avenge that painful memory.
Like Tomac, Hunter Lawrence also got hurt just after Jett last season but now it is his time to shine. Hunter didn’t get the chance to really show his potential last year indoors, but he is in the form of his life, he has all the riding skills you need to get the job done and a whole team focused on him. Team Lawrence still have a shot at this title and Hunter has the chance to get the credit he deserves for his own outstanding talent on a bike without being in Jett’s shadow.
All eyes will be on Chase Sexton. He has the speed and the skill but still came up short last year. Kawasaki will also be under the spotlight after the drama of 2025. Kawasaki and Sexton have a huge opportunity to shut a lot of people up and as things stand, Sexton might be many people’s favourite now that he is back on his favoured aluminium frame. They might just be the team/rider combination with the most motivation, can they execute?
Then there is Ken Roczen, he couldn’t, could he? Last year, Roczen was right in the mix until he crashed with a wayward backmarker in Phoenix, costing him a ton of points that meant he had his back against the wall early. But Roczen showed he still had what it took to be a contender and if he starts strong, and backmarkers don’t jump across him again, Roczen, who has more Suzuki factory backing in 2026, shouldn’t be counted out. If he pulls it off, it will be the feel good story of the year!
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Antonio Cairoli accompanies the Olympic torch relay
Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 1:45PM
Ahead of the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, it's not just winter sports legends who are playing a role. Two names from the motocross world were also featured before the competitions: Antonio Cairolli and Alexander Lupino They participated as torchbearers in the Olympic torch relay, sending a strong message for off-road sports in Italy.
The Winter Games themselves take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026 in Cortina and Milan.
Lupino opened the torch relay in Rome
The torch relay began in Rome – and none other than Alessandro Lupino had the honor of opening it. The eight-time Italian Motocross Champion and runner-up in the 2025 MX2 series was one of the first participants to carry the Olympic torch out of the Italian Olympic Committee building.
The torch relay itself is a monument in itself: 10.000 torchbearers, 12.000-kilometer route, a route across Italy. Lupino was at the beginning of this symbolic journey, which accompanied the Olympic flame step by step towards the north.
Cairoli brings the flame to Palermo and lights the Olympic flame.
Nine days later, the flame reached Palermo, where Antonio Cairoli, nine-time Motocross World Champion, took over the torch. Cairoli ended the tenth day's stage by lighting the Olympic cauldron in front of the Teatro Politeama – accompanied by the applause of a large crowd.
For Sicily, which has always shaped Cairoli and which has shaped him, it was a special moment. For Italy, it marked the ceremonial return of the Olympic flame, which had last been in the country for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin.
A strong signal for off-road sports
The participation of Cairoli and Lupino demonstrates the enduring appeal of motocross in Italy. Two athletes from a sport that rarely receives Olympic attention were chosen to accompany one of the most symbolic moments leading up to the Winter Games – a sign of the growing recognition of off-road racing and Ducati's commitment to this segment.
More than a mere protocol
The participation of the two Ducati riders is far more than a gesture. It connects the tradition of the Olympic Games with the dynamism of modern motocross. The fact that two such distinguished riders were able to be part of this moment underscores both its national significance and the role Ducati plays in Italian motorsport today – fittingly, given that the Games in February 2026 will once again put Italy at the center of the international sporting world.
Injury update: Jett Lawrence
Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 11:32AM
Honda HRC Progressive confirmed today that Jett Lawrence fractured his right ankle/foot in a Friday training crash at the Dog Pound facility in Florida. The Australian underwent surgery today in Florida to repair a fractured talus and navicular. The recovery period is expected to be at least three months.
While this unfortunate news means that Lawrence’s bid to retake the AMA Supercross title is over before it started, he is expected to return in plenty of time to defend his AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross crowns. At just 22 years of age, Lawrence has already amassed 10 professional AMA championships.
“Words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now,” Lawrence said. “The team and I put in so much work during the offseason to improve. I keep reminding myself that we have overcome challenges before, and this is no different. I’ll put the same focus into my recovery that I put into being the best athlete I can be each day. My goal is to get this ankle fully healed up and return as competitive as ever and make the 2026 season as successful as we can.”
Lawrence joins teammate Jo Shimoda on the sidelines, as the Japanese rider is currently recovering from a neck injury he incurred last month. For the January 10 AMA Supercross opener in Anaheim, California, Honda HRC Progressive will be represented by Hunter Lawrence on the factory CRF450RWE and Chance Hymas on the CRF250RWE. Hunter has finished a solid second overall in AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross for the past two years, and he is focused on being competetive in stadium racing. Hymas is healthy after having taken the time for a full recovery from ACL surgery last summer, and he is motivated to make 2026 his best season yet.
“This has been a brutal pre-season for us, with first Jo and now Jett getting injured before we even head to Anaheim,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “It’s a shame because the atmosphere within the team leading into Supercross has been really strong, and the riders have been very happy with their bikes. We all know Jett would’ve been one of the favorites for the Supercross championship, but as professionals, we also recognize that this is part of racing. The most important thing for Jett is to take the time needed for a complete recovery. In the meantime, the team is 100-percent committed to putting its full support behind Hunter and Chance. Both riders showed last year that they have the speed to contend for wins and even titles, and I think they’re ready to take another step in 2026.”
Jett Breaks Bones!
Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 4:19PM Jett Lawrence injured – misses start of SX Championship
Jett Lawrence was injured during a training session ahead of the AMA Supercross Championship. Lawrence suffered fractures to his right ankle and foot. He has already undergone surgery but will definitely miss the start of the American Supercross Championship, which begins on January 10 in Anaheim.
Jett …“Just got out of surgery. Fractures to my Talus and Navicular Bone in my right ankle/foot. My freaking goal was to complete all 31 races, and give myself the best chance at each title. Didn’t even get a shot at that… I just gotta rebuild and get back to doing what I love the most. See everyone soon!”