Hangtown MX Advantage...Ask the Lawrence Boys!

This may be the most important product for success Saturday at Hangtown.

WHAT IS IT? Works Connection has been a market leader in holeshot devices since they came out with the Pro Launch in 2002. This is the second-gen Pro Launch, and it’s a must-have for serious motocross racers. This is the same device used by Star Racing Yamaha, HRC Honda, MotoConcepts Honda and the MXA wrecking crew. 

CONTACT? www.worksconnection.com or info@worksconnection.com.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with Works Connection’s Pro Launch device.

(1) History. The original starting device was invented back in 1979 by Husqvarna rider Arlo Englund. It was a simple trigger device, but Arlo only used it for one season. It wasn’t until 22 years later that Arlo’s idea was rediscovered at the Yamaha Grand Prix team that Chad Reed raced for in 2001. When Chad moved to America in 2002, he told Yamaha USA about the idea and Chad showed up at Anaheim 1 with the starting device (that Yamaha tried unsuccessfully to hide from prying eyes). From that time on, the holeshot device became the thing to have.

(2) System. Works Connection started out like everyone else with a spring-loaded device but soon replaced the old-fashioned spring and plunger with a magnetic locking system. This new design was more consistent and less likely to malfunction and catch mid-race because of the strong magnet. 

(3) Activation. Because of its lever-style mechanism and chamfered engagement point, the Pro Launch glides over the receiver on the way down and catches on the way up. Some riders can set the device by themselves, but most MXA test riders have a friend engage it for them. To set it, the rider has to hold the front brake on while he or his mechanic compress the fork by pushing down on the handlebars with a rocking motion. There is a learning curve to mastering it. 

(4) Installation. Works Connection provides an aluminum template with pre-drilled holes, plus three different paper templates in the shape of each brand’s fork guard to align the aluminum template at 90mm, 100mm and 110mm. Once you choose the location of the device, you tape the metal template to the fork guard and use the supplied drill bit to make the mounting hole. It’s easy.

(5) Consistency. Historically, starting devices have been difficult to set, disengaged unexpectedly, refused to disengage, or broke the fork guard off the bike. The new Pro Launch is a different story; it works consistently every time. Works Connection holeshot devices are bike and brand specific to ensure each model has a perfect fit. 

(6) Setting. MXA test riders typically run their Pro Launch devices at 100mm, which is in the middle of Works Connection’s recommended settings; however, tackier dirt behind the starting gate might require setting the device lower because of the increased traction on launch. In Supercross and MXGP races, where they use a metal starting grate, we’ve seen riders set the device as low as 160mm. 

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? No complaints. 

MXA RATING: Works Connection’s magnetic Pro Launch raised the bar far beyond the old-school button-style devices, and it continues set the bar for holeshot devices in motocross today.

Hangtown 2026 Pro Motocross 450

Hangtown 2026 Pro Motocross 250

Jett's Back!

Race One: Jett Lawrence got the holeshot and ran into the distance. Haiden Deegan was sitting second but had Hunter Lawrence for company, it took the Aussie about twenty minutes to make a move but one he did he pulled away. 

Jorge Prado then got the gap down to Deegan but with a couple of laps to go had a mechanical issue causing a DNF – a huge blow for his title hopes. 

Dylan Ferrandis had a great ride on the Ducati finishing in fourth ahead of RJ Hampshire. 

Mikkel Haarup was running in the top five after another good start before coming home in a solid seventh. 

Race Two: The Lawrence Brothers were right at the front of the pack, Jett was under pressure from Hunter but at around the mid-way point, he then pulled away and dominated the moto – very impressive. 

Deegan didn’t get the best of starts but worked his way through to third for his first podium. Chase Sexton ended up fourth on the Kawasaki ahead of his team mate, Marchbanks. 

Prado was outside the top thirty at the start after having a terrible gate pick after his first moto DNF. But he didn’t ride his best either as he got back to thirteenth behind Haarup and Guillod!

What makes Hangtown National so special

After the season opener in Pala, the AMA Pro Motocross Championship remains in California. For the second round of the season, however, the caravan moves approximately 800 kilometers further north to Rancho Cordova, where the Hangtown Motocross Classic, one of the most prestigious races in American motocross, is on the schedule.

While Pala is considered a modern season opener, Hangtown represents the roots of the sport. The event has existed since 1969, making it older than the Pro Motocross Championship itself. To this day, the race remains one of the most prestigious stops on the calendar.

A track that punishes mistakes

Winning Hangtown requires far more than just pure speed. The Prairie City SVRA track is one of the most classic natural circuits in the entire championship. Long climbs, challenging descents, off-camber corners, and deep ruts create a completely different race experience each year compared to the previous week in Pala.

Then there's the surface. The dry, hard Californian soil regularly develops into one of the most challenging surfaces of the season as the day progresses. Visibility problems, deep braking bumps, and changing lines are practically standard fare in Hangtown.

It is not uncommon for the wheat to be separated from the chaff early on.

Hunter Lawrence arrives with a tailwind.

In the 450cc class, the focus after the season opener is primarily on Hunter Lawrence.

The Honda rider surprised many observers with a dominant performance in Pala, securing his first 50 championship points of the year with two race wins. While Jett Lawrence, Jorge Prado, Eli Tomac, and rookie Haiden Deegan were frequently mentioned before the season started, it was Hunter who made the first statement of the new season.

The Australian is now traveling to Hangtown with the Red Plate.

But the competition should be warned. Jorge Prado showed in his strongest performance yet on American soil that he is becoming increasingly comfortable in the US series. The Spaniard even led a race at one point and appeared significantly closer to the front than during the Supercross season.

Jett Lawrence should also be significantly stronger a week after his comeback. The reigning champion is still struggling with the effects of his serious foot and ankle injury from the winter, but in Pala he already showed the fighting qualities that have made him so successful in recent years.

The first real fitness test

The weather forecast adds extra spice to the weekend. Temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius could turn the Hangtown National into the first real heat battle of the season. Especially in the early stages of a championship, it often becomes clear which riders have best prepared.

For many teams, Hangtown is therefore traditionally considered one of the first real benchmarks of the year.

Surprise man Hammaker leads the MX2 class

Pala also produced an unexpected winner in the 250cc category. Seth Hammaker secured his first overall victory in the Pro Motocross Championship for Kawasaki and travels to Rancho Cordova with a 13-point lead. The key to his success was less about sheer speed and more about consistency across both races.

However, a whole host of drivers are waiting behind them for their chance.

Levi Kitchen already demonstrated his potential with a race win, while Yamaha riders Caden Dudney and Cole Davies secured podium finishes with strong performances. The competition at the top is fierce, meaning the standings could change completely after just the second race of the season.

Tradition meets title fight

The Hangtown National is a special race every year. Not only because of its history, but also because of the challenges the track presents to both rider and equipment.

Based on initial impressions from Pala, there are strong indications that the second round could provide some crucial answers. Can Hunter Lawrence maintain his dominance? Will Jorge Prado take the next step? How close is Jett Lawrence to returning to his best form despite his injury?

And in the 250cc class, it will become clear whether Seth Hammaker can defend his surprising lead in the standings or whether his pursuers are already striking back.

The season is still young. However, Hangtown has often proven that early trends for the further course of a championship can be identified here.

Malcom Sits Out Hangtown

Knee injury puts Stewart out of Hangtown National

Section: Competition Post: Alex Gobert

Not expected to return to Pro Motocross until RedBud weekend.

A knee injury from the Pro Motocross season-opener will put Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart out of this weekend’s Hangtown National and likely the next month of the 2026 season.

Stewart, who is currently ranked eighth overall in the SMX World Championship, finished 12th in moto one at last weekend’s season-opening round.

After dabbing his leg in the early stages of moto two, Stewart opted to exit the race as a precaution, and it was discovered this week upon further evaluation that his knee was unfortunately impacted in the incident. An intensive rehabilitation program is scheduled over the coming weeks.

“Unfortunately, Malcolm dabbed his knee in the second moto at Pala this last weekend,” commented Nathan Ramsey, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team manager. “Luckily, there is no major damage, so he will rehab for a couple of weeks and be back as soon as possible.”

Pending his recovery, Stewart and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team have tentatively targeted RedBud as a potential return date on the weekend of July 4, marking Round 5 of the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship.

Haiden Deegan!

If there is anyone in this current era that is as old school as you get, its American sensation, Haiden Deegan. The now 20 year old talks as much crap as anyone the sport has seen, and that included 1970s legend, Bob Hannah, who tried to break bones and didn't mind calling out his rivals.

Love it or hate it, we all want him to either lose, or crash and burn and he has given us both. A fifth overall at the opening round in Pala sure brought him back down to earth and his self belief might have been bruised somewhat, but do not be surprise if he comes out at round two in Hangtown and wins.

“Nobody in the sport knows how to get people talking like I do. No-one in this sport knows how to get people talking like I do. No matter if you guys like me or not, isn't anyone ever talked about someone like this before, everyone has an opinion no matter if you like me or not, it’s emotion. This shit is gonna do numbers, shares. We are doing this as troll stuff, this isn’t to heart, we are doing this as trolls because I know the media is going to take it to another level, but then again.

In five hours, this video alone had 50,000 views, and it isn't surprising to see a Deegan video have a million views, which for the sport of motocross, is unheard of (despite what some media might like to tell you about their own videos). Yes, this little brat sure gets people interested and like Jeffrey Herlings or James Stewart over the last 20 years, he is as polarizing as any rider the sport has seen.

Tom Vialle to sit out the MXGP of Latvia

Unfortunately, Tom Vialle won’t be amongst those riders as the Frenchman is sitting out the MXGP of Latvia. The #16 tried his best in Germany to fight through the pain, but after missing those races, he has now taken the hard decision to miss Kegums as well. It had been an excellent start to the season for Vialle, so he definitely didn’t want to have to make this call, but his health is paramount and now the goal is to make sure he’s back and fully fit for Montevarchi on June 20-21.

It is sad news to say that I won’t be lining up in Latvia this weekend. I was in too much pain in Germany to be able to race, and I don’t think things have got sufficiently better for me to be riding at Kegums. It is a big shame because I really feel like I had done well in the opening rounds of the season and had adapted well to the bike and to riding in the MXGP class. The plan now is to try and make sure I am as close to 100% for Montevarchi as possible, and challenge up front like I had at every GP previously.

KTM: Eli Tomac "Taking Time Out to Recover," Return Yet to Be Determined

Following his crash and neck strain from the opening round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Eli Tomac will miss the "upcoming rounds."

KTM announced Tomac is "taking time to recover" following the racing incident where he and Garrett Marchbanks collided on the opening lap. Tomac's return to racing has yet to be determined. 

The following press release is from KTM:

Eli Tomac TAKING TIME OUT TO RECOVER FOLLOWING FOX RACEWAY INJURIES

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Eli Tomac will sit out the upcoming rounds of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship while recovering from injuries sustained at last weekend's Fox Raceway National.

Following further medical evaluation this week, the four-time 450MX Champion has been diagnosed with a hyperextended anterior longitudinal ligament and partial tear of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle in his neck.

While Tomac's injuries are not anticipated to require surgery, he has been advised to take time out in order to heal properly, with the intention of resuming competition onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION once he is fully fit and in a position to return.

A timeline for Tomac's return to racing during the current SMX World Championship season – including Pro Motocross – has yet to be determined. Further information on his status will be released once it becomes available.

Eli Tomac:

"I'm really bummed to get injured early on at the opening round. Since the end of last year when I first threw my leg over the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, I said I couldn’t wait to ride this thing outdoors because the engine package is unreal and I felt it would be a lot of fun racing motocross on it. It’s just a shame that a racing incident early on in Moto 1 has really put a dampener on my outdoors season right now, but I will follow my doctor's orders and rest up with every intention of getting back out there sometime this season."

RJ Hampshire Building Value?

The added significance for RJ Hampshire outdoors

Competition Post: Kane Taylor

450MX rider fighting for his future throughout Pro Motocross 2026.

For RJ Hampshire, there is added significance attached to these early stages of Pro Motocross 2026 after missing much of the 450SX season, and with his longtime home at Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing set to cease operations at season’s end.

It was less than a year ago that Hampshire completed an impressive rookie 450MX campaign, finishing fifth in the championship and earning a career-best second overall at the Ironman National courtesy of a 3-4 scorecard. That form also extended into the SMX post-season, where he achieved 5-6-6 finishes in 450SMX.

Since then, however, two major developments have impacted his standing in the premier class. The first was a fractured foot sustained before Seattle that sidelined him for the majority of Monster Energy Supercross, while the second was the surprise announcement that Rockstar Energy Husqvarna would close its doors following 2026.

As a result, the 30-year-old entered this summer at something of a crossroads, with his Pro Motocross results likely to play a major role in shaping the next chapter of a career that spans 12 seasons. He has offers on the table, but instead, Hampshire is electing to back himself in a bid to see what more surfaces.

“Man, [I] just pray about it, really,” Hampshire commented when asked about his future. “Like, that’s all I do, and if I land a factory ride, great – if I don’t, we’ll figure it out. So, yeah, I trust that whatever happens is what’s meant to be, so we’ll see.

Image: Octopi Media.

“I mean, I had a couple of offers that I haven’t signed yet. Not because I don’t want to, but just because I think I’ve got more to offer than what they were giving me. So, yeah, man, I don’t know – we’ll see. I’ve got a lot, as I said, I’ve got a lot left in me.

“I don’t want to do something that I’m not going to be competitive on. I want to be on competitive equipment because I haven’t given myself a full chance yet. So, yeah, I don’t know. I’m excited for a new chapter, but also bummed to be leaving here.

“I really wanted to finish my career here in this group that I get to work with week in and week out – they’re like family to me now. It sucks, but I think there’s growth coming from this in the long run, so we’ll see what the next chapter looks like.”

Hampshire has so far been linked to an assortment of teams – think Monster Energy Kawasaki, ClubMX Yamaha, Quad Lock Honda, Twisted Tea Suzuki, and even the Liqui Moly Beta Factory Racing team if we’re going to name a bunch – although nothing concrete has emerged to suggest a clear destination for 2027.

The Floridian flew under the radar entering Fox Raceway, as did much of the 450MX field amid attention surrounding the clash of titans between Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan. That didn’t concern Hampshire, however, as he pieced together a solid opening round with 6-7 moto finishes for seventh overall, while featuring inside the top four during the second moto.

“I wasn’t talked about at all [entering round one] and I didn’t really expect to be,” he added. “I mean, the last time you saw me, I was dying from a sickness in Arizona… But I’ve got a lot to offer, still. Still a lot to give, and I know that wasn’t close to my best, what I had today. I definitely can climb the ladder a little bit more and just continue to improve.

“We’ve got more in there, so we’ll take it back home this week. And I’m motivated, man – I’m enjoying myself and I have a good thing going right now. So we’ll take it into Hangtown, and I look forward to being better.”

As for the specifics, Hampshire explained that Pala highlighted a number of areas for improvement, both with his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition and his own riding. Those are aspects that he and the team will continue refining ahead of this weekend’s Hangtown National. He finished seventh there last year, a result that marked the beginning of a steady upward trajectory as the outdoors unfolded.

“My bike changed quite a bit throughout the moto [at Fox Raceway], so being able to adapt a little bit better [is needed],” he said. “I mean, like, you don’t have these race conditions during the week, so I didn’t really have that problem at home.

“We made a slight change for the second moto, and I felt like it was better at the end. But also, I needed to ride a little bit better. Like, I was riding the bike too hard, I’d say, and just didn’t have great lines, so I was making it work a lot harder than it should have had to. So I definitely think my riding can improve to hold where we’re at on the bike.”

It’s a consequential period for Hampshire as he weighs up the next chapter of his career. While offers have already arrived for the former 250SX West champion, it appears that none have quite met his expectations so far. In many ways, he’s betting on himself this summer.

Those opportunities could diminish if he waits too long, but a standout 450MX campaign could just as easily elevate his value, attract further interest, and strengthen his position at the negotiating table. Especially early on in the series, which is why the month of June could be Hampshire’s most important portion of the year.