One of the most unpredictable seasons in the 55-year history of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is set to move one step closer to its dramatic conclusion this Saturday, August 22, in the shadow of the nation’s capital of Washington D.C. The trademark hillsides of Southern Maryland’s Budds Creek Motocross Park will host the penultimate race of the summer campaign, with Round 27 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship poised to add even more complexity in the journey to crown a 450SMX Class and 250SMX Class champion. For the fourth consecutive season, Yamaha Motor Corp. USA will provide title support of the Yamaha Racing Budds Creek National Presented by Carter CAT, establishing a partnership that has become synonymous with this late summer tradition.
“You know when it’s time to head to Budds Creek that our championship battles are down to the wire. That dynamic creates a truly unique atmosphere around this event each summer, where a little more tension and a build-up of excitement fill the air,” said Davey Coombs, President, MX Sports Pro Racing. “There’s such a rich history at Budds Creek, which has been a fixture of so many memorable moments during the history of this championship and American motocross as a whole. It’s a special place that plays a vital role in crowning our champions each summer and it’s become an ideal platform for our longstanding partners at Yamaha Motor USA to showcase their support of Pro Motocross and the SMX World Championship. It’s also an added plus that a Yamaha athlete has consistently been in the mix to win a title.”
While Budds Creek is best known for the iconic descent known as Henry Hill, the track boasts numerous sharp elevation changes, traction-rich soil, and a bevy of off-camber corners that all combine to continuously challenge riders, which lends itself to great racing. It’s a layout racers enjoy and often reach higher levels of performance. Because of that, the track provides ample opportunity for parity. It’s one of the reasons why Budds Creek has seen a larger variety of winners over the past decade than any other venue. In the 450SMX Class, eight different riders have sat atop the podium over the last 10 seasons, while nine different riders have claimed the 250SMX Class victory. In a season that’s been filled with unexpected outcomes, Budds Creek’s own history suggests the championships are in store for another twist ahead of the finale.
Yamaha enjoys one of the most celebrated legacies in the history of the Pro Motocross Championship, which began with the Japanese manufacturer’s first accolade during the inaugural season in 1972, when it captured the first-ever 250cc title with Gary Jones, the namesake of the trophy awarded to the 250SMX Class Champion. That began a memorable run for the brand over the next decade, winning a combined nine championships across 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc competition, which spawned several of the sport’s first superstars, notably AMA Hall of Famers Broc Glover and Bob Hannah. Since then, Yamaha has been home to an impressive contingent of the sport’s most successful racers, headlined by a long list of champions through the modern era like Rick Johnson (1984), Grant Langston (2007), Dylan Ferrandis (2021), and Eli Tomac (2022) in the premier class, along with Jeff Emig (1992), Jeremy Martin (2014-2015), Cooper Webb (2016), Aaron Plessinger (2018), and most recently Haiden Deegan (2024-2025) in the smaller displacement. Since 2015, no manufacturer has captured more Pro Motocross championships than Yamaha, with eight total titles. A ninth is within reach in the 250SMX Class with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies.
Davies currently sits just a single point out of the points lead coming into Budds Creek, having amassed back-to-back victories and four wins over the past six races. The sophomore New Zealander has been the most successful rider in the division this summer and returns to the site of his first ever moto win, which came last season. Sitting ahead of Davies is Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen, who himself has an overall victory at Budds Creek on his resume. The veteran out of Washington appears to be in top form, along with Davies, setting the stage for a compelling afternoon on Saturday as both look to get the upper hand amidst a dwindling number of motos, each in pursuit of his first national championship and the most prestigious 250cc title in the sport.
In the 450SMX Class, the Lawrence brothers’ championship saga is in the midst of yet another unexpected turn, as Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence has regained possession of the red plate from his older sibling and teammate, Hunter Lawrence. In a summer filled with uncharacteristic and somewhat odd bouts of adversity for both riders, the latest incident significantly afflicted Hunter and gave Jett his largest advantage of the season at 10 points. It signifies the fifth exchange of the points lead between the siblings and has put the pressure squarely on Hunter to try and win out over the last four motos. On the heels of the first DNF of his premier class career and his first 450SMX Class finish outside the top five, redemption will no doubt be a priority for Hunter as he continues his pursuit of a maiden championship. For Jett, his most recent win added to what has been a historic premier class career up to this point, as he has taken sole ownership of fifth on the all-time wins list and moved one step closer to a possible third title.
While the championship is on track to be decided between the Lawrences, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado has emerged as a potential foil to their dominance. The multi-time FIM MXGP Champion enjoyed his best performance on U.S. soil, pushing both Lawrences en route to a runner-up finish. Now the Spaniard has belief in his potential to capture a breakthrough win before the season concludes. Not to be outdone, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan has quietly amassed an impressive four-race podium streak. The rookie remains well ahead of Prado for third in the championship and is set to return to the track where he won the 250SMX Class title one year ago.
The Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony (WMX) will complement the action across the 450SMX and 250SMX classes at Budds Creek, as its title fight also comes down to the wire. Currently, Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha’s Lachlan Turner holds a 12-point lead over Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon with just two rounds and four motos remaining. While their rivalry is destined to continue, the list of racers they must overcome in pursuit of victory continues to grow. WMX action will get underway on Friday, August 21, with live coverage of Moto 1 through SMX Friday Live Presented by Honda on the SuperMotocross YouTube channel, beginning at 10:30 a.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. ET. Saturday’s second moto will feature another milestone moment for the championship, which will receive live network coverage on NBC.
The Yamaha Racing Budds Creek National will get underway this Saturday, August 22, with on-track action starting at 5 a.m. PT / 8 a.m. ET, followed by opening ceremonies at 9:15 a.m. PT / 12:15 p.m. ET before the gate drops on motos at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. A network showcase on NBC will feature live coverage of the second motos of the WMX, 450SMX Class, and 250SMX Class starting at 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET. Comprehensive live streaming coverage from Budds Creek will air on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET before coverage of the motos gets underway at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
