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Morning Report

Good morning race fans. Our ninth round of 450SX brings us our second Triple Crown race of ’26 SX—the first for the 250SX East Division Championship.

While the outside weather today will be a high of 66° Fahrenheit with high chances of morning rain carrying into the early afternoon, it will not be a factor for the track as we have our fourth indoor venue of the season as we are set to go here in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Last week, Lucas Oil Stadium tested the best college football athletes to see the best prospects via the National Football League (NFL) Combine. The key thing to watch is always the 40-yard dash to see who has that burst of speed out of their stance and the blazing top-end speed. Today, the home of the Indianapolis Colts hosts the SuperMotocross League. The keys to the action inside Lucas Oil Stadium today will be similar to the NFL Combine: see who gets a good start and see who has the blazing top end speed—although this is a little different! The Triple Crown format requires good, consistent starts out of the gates and as we know supercross requires athletes to excel in the whoops. But unlike stick and ball sports talk show host Rich Eisen, who can lace up a set of spikes and run his best 40-yard dash for charity, I will be strictly walking—there will be no whoops blitzing for me!

Speaking of whoops, here is a look at them today.

Today’s race will be the 19th SX event held at Lucas Oil Stadium, and just the second Triple Crown event in this venue—following just the 2024 Indianapolis SX. Neither of the respective winners that night are in action here today: the 250SX overall winner Cameron McAdoo is racing 250SX West this year and 450SX winner Jett Lawrence has yet to race in 2026 due to a fractured ankle ahead of the season opener.

However, both of last year’s winners here are on the line today: Seth Hammaker (250SX East/West Showdown winner) and Cooper Webb (450SX winner). Hammaker, coming off his win at the Daytona SX, sits second in the 250SX East points to Pierce Brown who left round two with a P3 and the points lead following his opening-round win. Jo Shimoda and Cole Davies, who sit P3 and P4, respectively, in the standings entering today, will surely be two riders to watch here today as well. This feels like the perfect opportunity for Nate Thrasher (currently ninth in the standings) to strike, following finishes of 11th and seventh to start the season. Thrasher’s well-covered up and down results seem to result in a win when least expected. Case in point his only win in 2025 250SX East, when he won the Birmingham SX Triple Crown after finishes of 8-14 the previous two weekends. Those riders are where we will likely see the win come from, although riders like Daxton Bennick, Coty Schock, Jalek Swoll, and more can more than likely be in the battle for race wins/podiums and even the overall podium. Unfortunately, Drew Adams is out after the broken thumb he suffered in his crash in the Daytona SX main event last week.

Today’s race will be the 19th SX event held at Lucas Oil Stadium, and just the second Triple Crown event in this venue—following just the 2024 Indianapolis SX. Neither of the respective winners that night are in action here today: the 250SX overall winner Cameron McAdoo is racing 250SX West this year and 450SX winner Jett Lawrence has yet to race in 2026 due to a fractured ankle ahead of the season opener.

However, both of last year’s winners here are on the line today: Seth Hammaker (250SX East/West Showdown winner) and Cooper Webb (450SX winner). Hammaker, coming off his win at the Daytona SX, sits second in the 250SX East points to Pierce Brown who left round two with a P3 and the points lead following his opening-round win. Jo Shimoda and Cole Davies, who sit P3 and P4, respectively, in the standings entering today, will surely be two riders to watch here today as well. This feels like the perfect opportunity for Nate Thrasher (currently ninth in the standings) to strike, following finishes of 11th and seventh to start the season. Thrasher’s well-covered up and down results seem to result in a win when least expected. Case in point his only win in 2025 250SX East, when he won the Birmingham SX Triple Crown after finishes of 8-14 the previous two weekends. Those riders are where we will likely see the win come from, although riders like Daxton Bennick, Coty Schock, Jalek Swoll, and more can more than likely be in the battle for race wins/podiums and even the overall podium. Unfortunately, Drew Adams is out after the broken thumb he suffered in his crash in the Daytona SX main event last week.

As far as 450SX Championship, this thing is far from over, but at the top, Hunter Lawrence and Eli Tomac have broken out to almost a full race worth gate over the duo of Ken Roczen  and Cooper Webb. Chase Sexton is OUT again for the second straight race following a practice crash ahead of last week’s Daytona SX. Dylan Ferrandis is also OUT after a thumb injury suffered in Daytona. Jorge Prado is IN for today, making his return to racing after missing the Seattle SX night show—due to a qualifying crash that afternoon—and the following two rounds. Read our full injury report if you missed it.

Jason Anderson is also out for the immediate future with an indefinite leave of absence from racing.

Track walk starts at 11 a.m. local time (Eastern time) and pro bikes will be on track at 12:30 p.m. local time with the first 250SX sessions, then the 450SX groups.

Check out today's full schedule (times local to Indianapolis, Indiana, in Eastern time zone).

Race day live starts at 1 p.m. Eastern and the night show broadcast starts at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Leum Oehlhof's Pro Debut

I talked to #832, rookie Leum Oehlhof, who is making his pro debut today during track walk. He said he was supposed to race the entire 250SX East Division Championship, but a broken left wrist delayed his debut until today. He was not able to get back on the bike as early as he thought and he and the team did not want to rush racing Arlington without being ready. Therefore, he is making his debut today. The Triple Crown format will be tough to transfer directly into the night show/main races, but he is excited to make his pro debut!

Ty Masterpool Out for Remainder of SX

On Friday, we learned Ty Masterpool is officially out for the remainder of supercross, after his shoulder injury ahead of the Arlington SX actually needed surgery. Now, he is recovering and will miss the rest of SX.

First Qualifying Sessions

250SX

Oehlhof topped the first 250SX group C qualifying session as Luke Clout topped the first 250SX group B qualifying session. At the very end of 250SX group B, Bryce Shelley had a big get off in the rhythm section on the close sideline here to the press box. He went to get up but looked to be favoring his left leg so he waited for Alpinestars medical crew. The checkered flag was also out, too, so the medics were able to tend to Shelley and help him onto the back of the medical cart.

As far as the track goes, we will have a fast track today as these guys are already in the 46-47-48 mark. Again, the whoops will be a key to the racing tonight.

Pierce Brown and Jo Shimoda led the first 250SX group A field around the track. But Seth Hammaker was fastest early, with a 46.367. He then he went sub-46 to nail a 45.487. Hammaker topped the field with a best of 45.148 as Cole Davies was second fastest with a 45.780, the only other rider under the 46-second mark. Caden Dudney put in a fast 46.355 to sit third, as Coty Schock and championship leader Brown rounded out a Yamaha-heavy top five. Daxton Bennick was sixth fastest.

450SX

Hunter Lawrence, Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb, and Ken Roczen, the top four in the championship, led the field as 450SX A gets underway. Justin Cooper was fastest early, with a 45.996 but then Eli Tomac's 45.434 became the top time. Jorge Prado was also strong in his first time on track since his crash and injury at the Seattle SX. Tomac topped the 450SX group A qualifying session with a 45.434. Tomac, Cooper, Prado, Roczen, and Webb rounded out the top five.

Josh Cartwright went down on the starting straight here in 450SX group B session and was tended to by the Alpinestars medical crew. He was in a spot where they could assist him without red flagging the sessions, so rest of field continued to go on. Once the checkered flag came out, Cartwright was helped onto the back of the medical cart. Cole Thompson tops the 450SX group B first qualifying session.

Second Qualifying Sessions

250SX

Leum Oehlhof again topped 250SX group C session as Gavin Towers topped the 250SX group B session.

Seth Hammaker, Cole Davies, Caden Dudney, and Jalek Swoll were out front following the practice starts out of the gates in the second qualifying session. Davies had a big swap back and forth of his rear end going through the whoops on the opening lap, but he stayed up. A few seconds later, Hammaker made a mistake in the rhythm section before the finish line jump, but he stayed up. Close call for both riders out front! Pierce Brown had a crash a handful of whoops into the section, but he got up and got going again no problem. Davie’s 46.417 was the fastest early in the session as he, Hammaker, Dudney, Brown, Coty Schock, and Daxton Bennick were a few of the guys nailing the triple onto the tabletop out of turn two. That looks to be a nice line for those that nailed it. And while it might not be a factor in terms of fast lap, it is sick to see riders putting their left foot out while in the air and landing with it out still going directly into the turn. Not a speed thing but a style thing and it sure is cool! Hammaker’s 45.380 then jumped to P1 in the session, which would hold until the checkered flag as he takes the fastest overall 250SX qualifying spot on the day (although it was his 45.148 from the first session). In the session, Hammaker, Davies, Shimoda, Bennick, and Coty Schock rounded out the top five. Cullin Park was sixth then championship leader Brown was seventh fastest.

In terms of overall 250SX qualifying, Hammaker, Davies, Shimoda, Bennick, and Schock are the top five. Brown finishes ninth.

Oehlhof landed 17th overall in qualifying in his pro debut to make the starting gate for tonight's main program/night show Triple Crown races. CJ Benard takes the final (18th) direct qualifying spot.

450SX

The gates dropped for the second 450SX group A qualifying session and the practice start saw riders testing the first turn. Justin Cooper, Jorge Prado, Cooper Webb, and Jordon Smith were out front as Hunter Lawrence went out last. By this point, the riders all knew the best lines, but the track was pretty chewed up, making hitting their lines very difficult. Cooper’s 45.456 led Lawrence’s 45.579. Jorge Prado had a few good laps but was sitting third behind the front duo. Cooper’s time held as the top time this session, but Eli Tomac's 45.434 from the first qualifying session is the overall fastest.

Cole Thompson topped the 450SX group B session.

Last Chance Qualifiers

250SX LCQ

The 250SX LCQ started and it was Noah Viney out front as Landon Hartz and Jeremy Hand collided in the first turn and went down. Viney led Luke Neese, Kyle Peters, Henry Miller, and Valentin Guillod. Viney made a few mistakes and dropped back and then collided with Luca Marsalisi, knocking them both out of the chance to qualify for the night show. Neese took over the lead and then won the race as Peters, Guillod (who was once back out of a transfer position), and Marshal Weltin, who held off John Short at the finish line jump, also qualified.

450SX LCQ

Vince Friese got the holeshot and checked out for the race win in the 450SX LCQ. Kevin Moranz, Tristan Lane, and Fredrik Noren moved forward to qualify as well, as Scott Meshey came up short in fifth.

Next up, is the main program/night show. Opening ceremonies starts at 6:30 p.m. local time. Then, we will go right into Triple Crown racing!

Night Show/Main Program

250SX Race 1

The first race of the night began, and it was Daxton Bennick with the holeshot and early race lead. Bennick led Jo Shimoda and Cole Davies, but Davies quickly moved into second. Then, Davies used his blazing speed in the whoops to blow past Bennick to take over the race lead! Championship leader Pierce Brown ran into trouble and was down early, remounting in dead last. He had to charge forward if he wanted a shot to salvage a strong overall finish tonight. Davies opened up a three-second lead as Bennick started to come under fire from both Shimoda and Hammaker. Eventually, both riders got by the #58 machine to move into second and third, respectively. Brown charged forward and he tried to make one final pass on Jalek Swoll in the turn before the finish to get into the single digits, but the Triumph rider nailed the defensive line to take ninth, leaving Brown to finish tenth. Still, a strong comeback ride by the #163.

450SX Race 1

The first 450SX races got underway and it was Jorge Prado and Justin Cooper out front, with Prado grabbing the holeshot. Cooper Webb made a few quick moves and was able to get into the lead! He led the first few laps but quickly, Ken Roczen made his way up to the rear of the #2. Then, Eli Tomac and Hunter Lawrence engage in a back-and-forth battle that saw them charging past several riders while still battling one another. At one point, Tomac was on one side of Cooper and Lawrence was on the other side as they both blew past the #32! Out front, Roczen had a nice lead over Webb. Then, Webb bobbled, and Tomac and Lawrence both capitalized to get by! By the time the Tomac/Lawrence battle got up to second and third, Roczen’s gap was over eight seconds. Tomac made his way around Webb and into second but then Lawrence navigated some lapped riders and was able to take P2 from his older competitor! Tomac was not able to get close enough to the #96 for a pass so he came through third after Roczen took the race win and Lawrence finished second. The Yamaha duo of Webb and Cooper rounded out the top five. Prado came through sixth after a good start but going backwards on the tricky track. Joey Savatgy was right behind Prado in a solid ride. Garrett Marchbanks had an early crash in the whoops, but he got up quickly. He came through 20th.

KTM Jr. Main Event

250SX Race 2

The second races began and it was Jalek Swoll with the holeshot over race one winner Cole Davies. Swoll led the first few laps as Jo Shimoda and Davies started battling back and forth. Swoll was riding well, despite getting passed by both Davies and Brown. Then, Swoll had a costly tip over that dropped him out of a podium position, as Pierce Brown and Daxton Bennick both got by. Seth Hammaker went down in the whoops early and was 21st, having to charge forward just like Brown in race one. Both Gavin Towers and Evan Ferry had separate crashes in the middle of the race. Ferry got up and going again but Towers was put into a soft neck brace and eventually helped to his feet and off the course. Bummer for Towers, who was 11th in the first race. Late in the race, the ClubMX duo of Coty Schock and Devin Simonson both got by Swoll to finish fifth and sixth. Hammaker came through ninth. Davies starts the night with 1-1 finishes over Shimoda’s 2-2 finishes, putting those two well ahead of the rest of the field for the time being.

450SX Race 2

The second 450SX race began and it was Hunter Lawrence with the holeshot, but Justin Cooper snuck into the lead by the end of the first rhythm section. Out of nowhere, Tomac got into third. On the opening lap, race one winner Ken Roczen and Aaron Plessinger collided and went down hard! I think Roczen came up short and it messed up the timing and spacing and Plessinger had nowhere to go and no time to react, resulting in a brutal collision. Roczen got up and going eventually but AP took longer to get back to his bike, as he got up and was favoring his hands and arms. Plessinger got on his bike and rode straight to pick up his mechanic before riding off through the tunnel. Roczen charged back and finished tenth in a huge comeback ride. Out front, Tomac and Cooper were going back and forth as Lawrence made his way up to third. Cooper had the lead, Tomac caught up and bumped him out of the way on the starting straight. Then, Tomac made a mistake, so Cooper saw and opening in the turn before the whoops and he block passed Tomac back to retake the lead! Tomac almost clipped the back of Vince Friese following Friese jumping far left in a triple before the finish line. Tomac slowed up and rolled the next jump just in time to avoid a crash. Cooper would go on to take the race win. Late in the race, Lawrence was navigating lapped traffic when Cole Thompson got slowed up by a rider and Lawrence landed into the right-180-degree turn and ran directly into the back of Thompson! Thomspon whiskey throttled and was set straight into the berm as Lawrence luckily stayed up. Thompson went into the net and fell to the ground, landing on his right shoulder. He got up grabbing his right arm, taking off his goggles with his left hand as he walked off through the tunnel. Lawrence stayed up but was slowed up enough for Cooper Webb to get by to take over third. Cooper took the checkered flag with a huge fist pump as Tomac and Webb rounded out the podium. Lawrence was fourth and Savatgy was fifth. Roczen finished tenth.

250SX Race 3

The third and final 250SX race got underway and it was Jalek Swoll with the holeshot again! But as they went over the big double, Devin Simonson came out of nowhere and scrubbed past Swoll to take over the race lead at his home race! Swoll fought back after the whoops to retake the lead though. Behind them, it was Cole Davies, Jo Shimoda, Pierce Brown, Caden Dudney, and Seth Hammaker. Davies was rolling out front as Shimoda got up to Swoll’s rear fender as Hammaker got onto Shimoda’s rear fender! They both made the pass and went forward. Davies gap opened slightly but on the last lap, Shimoda and Hammaker closed up significantly onto the rear of Davies! Shimoda and Hammaker almost collided in a racing incident, but they avoided a collision. Shimoda rode wild in the whoops and dropped a position as he slowed up as he went off the track onto the starting straight, giving second to Hammaker. Davies took the race win to go 1-1-1 and claim his first win of the season and his first career Triple Crown overall win! Shimoda and Hammaker round out the overall podium.

450SX Race 3

The third and final 450SX race of the night—the grand finale—would determine the 450SX overall winner on the night as it was up in the air between Eli Tomac (3-2) and Hunter Lawrence (2-4). Whoever won between the two would take the overall dub.

The gates dropped and it was Hunter Lawrence with the holeshot with Eli Tomac right behind him in second place. From there, it was on! Tomac kept Lawrence honest but the #96 was smooth with the pressure. His consistency was on full display with his championship rival right on him all race. Tomac was never able to get close enough for a pass attempt, so Lawrence took the race and overall win. Tomac came through second, then Ken Roczen, who rebounded well from his first lap crash with Aaron Plessinger (who DNF’ed race two and did not start the third race), to come home third in the final race. Teammates Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper rounded out the top five in the race after battling one another.

Bummer for Joey Savatgy, who was riding really well once again (7-5 in the first two races). He had a crash exiting the whoops and looked to have an injury to his left leg. He did not finish the race.

In terms of the overall win, Lawrence’s 2-4-1 tied for Tomac’s 3-2-2 but won because of the tie breaker that Lawrence won the final race. Webb’s 4-3-4 was tied with his teammate Cooper’s 5-1-5, but Webb’s better final race took the final spot on the podium. Lawrence’s win means he keeps the championship lead leaving Indiana.