Race week has arrived for the run up to the second half of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, where 11 races and a combined 44 motos await for the 55th season of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. As always, the summer campaign will begin in Southern California, the proverbial home of the sport, where the sprawling expanse of Fox Raceway at Pala will provide the first test of what will be a grueling, but highly anticipated pursuit of both the Edison Dye Cup [450SMX Class] and Gary Jones Cup [250SMX Class]. Saturday’s season opener will commence in partnership with the Pala Band of Mission Indians, the owners of the track, with returning title support from neighboring Pala Casino for the second running of the Pala Casino Spa Golf Resort Fox Raceway National Presented by Fox Racing.
“American motocross is incredibly fortunate to continue to receive the unwavering support of the Pala Band of Mission Indians for our showcase event in Southern California. This region is vital to the past, present, and future of Pro Motocross and Fox Raceway has become a home for this prestigious championship,” said Tim Cotter, Director, MX Sports Pro Racing. “Our partnership with the tribe and the extended support we have received from Pala Casino the past two years has helped elevate the opening round into a must-see, must-attend event for race fans around the world. This year’s race will garner even more attention as an abundance of storylines have created arguably the most anticipated season in history.”
Headlining the summer storylines is an incredibly decorated 450SMX Class field, spearheaded by a budding rivalry pitting Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence, the reigning series champion, against Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan, who will make his premier class debut following a decorated 250SMX Class career in which he won multiple titles in each discipline. Adding to the pair’s first-ever race against one another is their respective affinity for Fox Raceway, where Jett currently holds an eight-race unbeaten streak that dates back to the 2020 season and his time in the 250SMX Class, while Deegan boasts back-to-back victories at his home track where he’s logged thousands of laps, perhaps more than anyone else. Adding to the intrigue of the 450SMX Class is the ascension of Jett’s older brother and teammate, Hunter Lawrence, in addition to the proven talent of former champions like Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, a four-time titleholder, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton, the 2024 champion, and Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis, who hoisted the trophy in 2021. In fact, each of the past five premier class champions will line up on the gate on Saturday afternoon. They’ll be flanked by a deeply talented field of challengers that includes multi-time FIM World Champion Jorge Prado with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, all of whom will look to potentially join the coveted list of names etched on the Edison Dye Cup.
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