Deacon Denno on Daytona SMX Next Win: “I've made a bunch of gains in one year”

This win is not only Denno’s first SMX Next race win, but it is also the first SMX Next race win for the Triumph brand, adding another accolade to the recently introduced motocross bike and full SuperMotocross race program.

“The bike's really good,” Denno said. “We've been working our butts off. The whole team, the past three years or so, they've been doing it. I'm new to it. They worked really hard, and we're progressing real fast.”

Deacon Denno's 2026 SMX Next qualifying race results 

Denno (5-2-1) is one of only two riders to finish inside the top five at all three SMX Next qualifying events raced so far this supercross season, joining only Landen Gordon (3-3-2). His plan was to race the tamed down Ricky Carmichael Amatuer Daytona Supercross (RCSX) at the speedway earlier this week but decided to keep his focus to the SMX Next program.

“No, I'm skipping out on the amateur stuff, just focusing on the Future [SMX Next] stuff for now and see where it takes us after that,” he said.

“I think it's just the track is a lot different from what we've been practicing,” he explained. “We practice obviously a full size supercross track, so to come here... Last year, I think it was like a corner track. It wasn't a great track. So, to see that the next day, it's not something I'd look forward to doing right now, especially when I'm practicing full-time supercross. So, I just focus ahead to my next event. That's Birmingham, and that's the one that counts. So, I think that's what I'm looking forward to.”

The March 21 Birmingham SX SMX Next event will be the final qualifying race in the program before the April 25 Philadelphia SX SMX Next Championship finale, which Denno is now qualified for this go round.

"Mentally, I’m in a good spot right now,” he said. “I’m stoked where I’m at.”