The 2026 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs are kicking off with a shocker: Jett Lawrence, the dude who just bagged $3.7 million and three straight championships, is officially on the sidelines. He announced after Ironman that he’s getting surgery to fix a foot and ankle injury he re-injured during qualifying and Moto 1 at Ironman. This is massive, man, because with Jett out of the picture, we are guaranteed a brand new SMX champion for the first time in forever.
Jett’s Injury Changes EVERYTHING for the Championship Bonus
Seriously, Jett’s absence just blew this whole thing wide open. Remember last year? He and Hunter were tied in points, with Jett taking the title with three moto wins to Hunter’s one. That’s how tight it was. Now, with the dominant force out, it’s a golden ticket for guys like the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross champ Ken Roczen and Pro Motocross titlist Hunter Lawrence to shoot for that sweet million-dollar bonus that comes with winning the 450 division. These playoffs are already being called the tightest battle in terms of points, and we haven’t even seen Round 1 yet! The action kicks off on September 12th at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. This is actually a big deal, because it’s the first time the opening round isn’t at zMax Dragway in North Carolina. New venue, new champ, new drama.
The #1 Seed Curse and Eli Tomac’s Final Ride
So, Hunter Lawrence rolls into this as the No. 1 seed after showing up big in both Supercross and Motocross. But here’s the kicker, and Hunter might not want to hear this: **a top seed has never won the SMX Championship.** Chase Sexton was the No. 1 seed in both 2023 and 2024, and he ended up third and seventh, respectively. Last year, Justin Cooper was the top seed, and he finished fifth. Hunter himself has a weird playoff history, consistently finishing fourth in Round 1, winning Round 2, and then coming in second to his brother Jett in the final round. That’s a pattern that has to break if he wants that bonus.
Beyond Hunter’s curse, we’ve got Eli Tomac on his final run. After 17 seasons and eight championships, Tomac announced his retirement. This dude’s a legend, and he’d love nothing more than to cap his career with one more championship. He’s at his best in these shorter, sprint series like the three-round playoffs. We only have three more opportunities to watch him race, so you know he’s going to be giving it everything.
Who Else Can Crash the Podium?
Even with Jett out and Hunter facing the top seed curse, this thing is far from a two-man race. Ken Roczen, despite skipping the Motocross season, cannot be discounted. The guy is just that good. Jorge Prado has been quietly improving his Supercross skills, grabbing podiums in the first and last races, and he swept the motos at Ironman. He’s bringing serious momentum. And then there’s Haiden Deegan. With Jett gone, Deegan could totally snag his first 450 victory if Hunter stumbles. Out of the seven riders who’ve raced every SMX through last season, Jett and Sexton are out, leaving only five. McElrath and Wilson still have to fight their way in through the Wild Card race. This whole thing feels wide open.
This first playoff round in Columbus on September 12th is going to be electric. Everyone is fighting for that million-dollar bonus, and a new champion will be crowned. You don’t want to miss how this plays out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply