Eyes on 2025 SuperMotocross

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing recruit Daxton Bennick delivered an impressive podium finish on debut with the team at tonight's 250SX East season-opener in Arlington, landing a convincing third-place result in what was Round 7 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship. Bennick made his first official appearance with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna at AT&T Stadium in Texas, piloting his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition – which featured special graphics for Military Appreciation Round – to fifth position at the conclusion of qualifying. After taking P5 in the second 250SX Heat Race, a strong launch to the Main Event had the 20-year-old feature in a race-long duel toward the front of the field, and at times, applying pressure for the lead of the race. In an exceptional display of speed and consistency at the Eastern Division opener, Bennick recorded a P3 finish to open his 2026 campaign. "Arlington was good!" said Bennick. "I struggled a little bit in the first practice just getting comfortable with being at the races again, and then in the second one I felt a lot better – I found a flow that really worked for me and I was gelling well with the bike. Its power was awesome and allowed me to get that three in, which only a handful of us were able to do in that big rhythm lane. My starts today were great too – and felt very repeatable – which I am stoked about. In the Main Event, I put my head down, got into a good position off the start, and went to work. I wish I could've been a little better in some areas to maybe win, but it is the first round and I kept that in mind, but I think we have some good results coming and I'm happy with how my night went." 450SX challenger Malcolm Stewart posted the fastest time in the opening 450SX qualifying session in Arlington, before being classified P10 overall on combined times equipped with his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition as the afternoon sessions concluded. After a challenging start in the Heat Race, the 33-year-old worked his way forward with a composed ride, advancing into third position by race's end and building momentum ahead of the Main Event. Stewart managed to circulate in seventh for a large share of the Main Event, before a late-race fall relegated him back to 11th at Round 7 of the SMX World Championship season, with positives to take after a solid outing in Texas. "The Texas fans are always a good crowd," reflected Stewart. "All day I felt really good, through both qualifying and the Heat Race. The Main Event was going really well too, but I made one little mistake over the on-off, which cost me quite a few positions. We ended up 11th, but other than that, we're trending in the right direction, and things are getting back on track to where we need them to be. The crash was a little bit of a bummer, but I am more proud of my riding than the results. At the end of the day, we can continue to keep fighting heading into my home race in Daytona next weekend – hopefully the Florida fans bring the vibe!" Next Race: February 28 – Daytona, Florida Results 450SX Class – Arlington 1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 2. Eli Tomac (KTM) 3. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 8. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) 11. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) 12. Justin Hill (KTM) 17. Kevin Moranz (KTM) Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 7 of 17 rounds 1. Hunter Lawrence, 149 points 2. Eli Tomac, 145 3. Cooper Webb, 133 10. Aaron Plessinger, 79 11. Jorge Prado, 73 12. Malcolm Stewart, 63 13. Justin Hill, 61 17. RJ Hampshire, 38 Results 250SX Class – Arlington 1. Pierce Brown (Yamaha) 2. Jo Shimoda (Honda) 3. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) Standings 250SX East Class 2026 after 1 of 10 rounds 1. Pierce Brown, 25 points 2. Jo Shimoda, 22 3. Daxton Bennick, 20

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Casey Cochran has been injured in the lead-up to this weekend's 250SX East season-opener, unfortunately sidelined with a fractured collarbone. The 19-year-old Virginia native fell from his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition while training at the Baker's Factory on Tuesday, delaying the start to his 2026 AMA Supercross Championship campaign. Details on his potential return date will be communicated once available. "We had a great off-season and I was super-excited to line up to race this weekend in Arlington," Cochran said. "Unfortunately a practice crash will hinder the start of the season, but we’ll be back out on track soon." Nathan Ramsey, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager, added: "Casey ended up crashing at Baker’s Factory on Tuesday and fracturing his collarbone. It’s definitely a hard pill to swallow as he had a great off-season where he completed the process of getting ready to compete to a tee – he put in the work and was very excited and ready to go race. This will be a small bump in the road for Casey, and he will be back out there showing what he is capable of as soon as possible." While Cochran – who has been preparing for his first full SMX World Championship season in 2026 – has been ruled out of Round 1 of the Eastern Division, new Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing recruit Daxton Bennick will make his debut with the team at AT&T Stadium in Texas this Saturday night.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Ryder DiFrancesco and Malcolm Stewart delivered consistent performances at Round 6 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Seattle, Washington, where Ryder D finished fourth in the 250SX West division and Stewart recorded a season-best sixth-place result in 450SX. DiFrancesco qualified eighth in the 250SX category, continuing to build comfort with the technical Lumen Field track conditions onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition over the course of the two sessions. The 20-year-old charged to a convincing second-place finish in his Heat Race, before a composed ride in the Main Event saw DiFrancesco claim a P4 result, which now has him tied for third position in the Western Division standings after six rounds. Ryder D will return to action on March 21 at Protective Stadium for the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the year, while the Eastern division commences next weekend in Arlington, Texas, with team riders Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran making their first appearances of the 2026 season. “I didn’t have the best day in Seattle,” recalled DiFrancesco. “Out of the six rounds, this is probably the one I struggled with the most, so a fourth is a decent result entering the four-week break now. We’ll get that fire lit again, take a little time off, and regroup. Today was a bit of a struggle, although I am pretty stoked to come away with P4 and be tied for third in points.” Stewart posted the sixth-fastest time overall in 450SX qualifying aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, finding a strong rhythm early on during the afternoon and looking to maintain that form into the night show. A crash in his Heat Race marked the lone major setback of what was an otherwise solid night for the 33-year-old Stewart, advancing directly to the 450SX Main Event with a seventh-place result. Launching inside the top-10 on lap one, Stewart delivered a measured performance in demanding conditions, steadily working his way forward as the race wore on. Combining consistency with speed, Mookie crossed the line in P6 when the checkered flag flew. “Seattle is always an interesting race,” said Stewart. “I always feel like I leave here with a positive mindset and decent results, and tonight we got sixth. Obviously, we wanted that top-five position, but considering how the beginning of the year has started, a sixth is a really good result for us! I felt really good all day. Practice was strong and it kind of starts from there, right? You know, just getting into that positive mindset, so yeah, Seattle was a good night, especially with the way the track was. It was pretty brutal out there – everybody was crashing and making big mistakes – but we kept it on two wheels and I was being smart with it. Now we head back indoors to Arlington and continue to build!" Premier class teammate RJ Hampshire did not line up for Round 6 of the 2026 SMX World Championship in Seattle after fracturing his foot in a training crash earlier in the week, an injury that will also see him sit out upcoming rounds while he focuses on his recovery. Next Race: February 21 – Arlington, Texas Results 450SX Class – Seattle 1. Eli Tomac (KTM) 2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha) 6. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) 7. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 6 of 17 rounds 1. Hunter Lawrence, 124 points 2. Eli Tomac, 123 3. Ken Roczen, 113 10. Jorge Prado, 73 11. Aaron Plessinger, 65 12. Malcolm Stewart, 52 13. Justin Hill, 51 16. RJ Hampshire, 38 Results 250SX Class – Seattle 1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) 3. Max Anstie (Yamaha) 4. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) Standings 250SX Class 2026 after 6 of 10 rounds 1. Haiden Deegan, 118 points 2. Max Anstie, 108 3. Michael Mosiman, 107 4. Ryder DiFrancesco, 107