Eyes on 2025 SuperMotocross

Malcolm Stewart and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing earned an impressive third-place result at Round 11 of the AMA Supercross Championship in Detroit tonight, marking his first 450SX podium finish of the 2026 season. Stewart recorded the third-fastest time in 450SX qualifying with a 51.894s lap, quickly finding comfort aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition and converting that pace into a P4 finish in 450SX Heat 2. Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in fifth position, the 33-year-old maintained a consistent pace throughout the race, successfully negotiating the technical, deteriorating race-track to secure his first podium of the year. Stewart retains eighth in the 450SX Championship standings with six rounds remaining. “It’s been tough after we had that unfortunate situation in Anaheim to start the season,” reflected Stewart. “After that, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I am going to get on the podium,’ and that’s just part of not believing in yourself. But I had to pull myself out of that and I want to give it up to Nathan Ramsey and the team – they’ve been in my ear all year long saying, ‘Hey, you can do this!’ So, a huge shoutout to the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team, and just everyone who is behind me... I’m stoked with this result! The track was really tough tonight and it could bite you if you weren't paying attention. I had a lot of trust in my motorcycle, which made a huge difference, and having now popped some champagne again, we want more." Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX East teammates Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran were both in action at Detroit, with Cochran making his first start of the 2026 SMX World Championship following a pre-season collarbone injury. Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, the pair each recorded P5 finishes in their respective Heat Races, securing direct transfer positions to the Main Event inside Ford Field. Bennick went on to claim sixth in the Main Event, rebounding from a slow start and mid-race incident, which sees him maintain fourth position in the 250SX Eastern Division standings entering next weekend’s 250SX East/West Showdown in St. Louis. “It was a rough day, all day, honestly,” Bennick reflected. “I didn't really ride like myself and didn't do anything great, so was never really able to turn it around. I was just off all day, but we'll go back to work this week. It was frustrating, although we've had really good rides so far this year because my speed is good and so is my training, so we'll get back to how I know I can ride and we should be fine." For Cochran, he started the Main Event outside the top 10, making early progress through the field before a crash ultimately forced him to retire at the halfway mark – he will undergo further evaluations this week. Still, he was excited to be back at the races with his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. “The Heat Race and qualifying were decent in Detroit, for not having had too much time on the bike,” commented Cochran. “Then, unfortunately, I slid out in the Main Event and landed on my injured collarbone. We weren't able to finish the race, but we'll get it checked out – hopefully everything is all good – and we'll be back." Next Race: April 4 – St. Louis, Missouri Results 450SX Class – Detroit 1. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 2. Chase Sexton (Kawasaki) 3. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) 5. Eli Tomac (KTM) 13. Jorge Prado (KTM) Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 11 of 17 rounds 1. Eli Tomac, 229 points 2. Hunter Lawrence, 225 3. Ken Roczen, 215 8. Malcolm Stewart, 127 9. Jorge Prado, 113 12. Aaron Plessinger, 99 21. RJ Hampshire, 38 Results 250SX East – Detroit 1. Cole Davies (Yamaha) 2. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki) 3. Jo Shimoda (Honda) 6. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) 20. Casey Cochran (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) Standings 250SX East Class 2026 after 5 of 10 rounds 1. Cole Davies, 114 2. Seth Hammaker, 105 3. Jo Shimoda, 100 4. Daxton Bennick, 87 32. Casey Cochran, 2

Malcolm Stewart and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing achieved a season-high fifth-place finish at Round 10 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Birmingham on Saturday night, as 250SX East contender Daxton Bennick claimed P6 in the ultra-competitive East/West Showdown. Stewart charged to sixth on the 450SX combined qualifying timesheets on the hard-packed Protective Stadium circuit, finding comfort early aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition at Round 10. The 33-year-old carried that momentum into his Heat Race, stalking the leaders throughout to secure a well-earned P3 result and a strong gate selection for the Main Event. Stewart went on to deliver a standout ride, quickly moving into the top-five before claiming a season-best P5 result. He now climbs to eighth in the 450SX championship standings. “The crowd is always awesome in Birmingham,” commented Stewart. “It was a big turnout, and last year here I finished second in the Triple Crown, so I always look forward to this race. Tonight, it was a pretty gnarly fifth place! I feel like the track broke down a lot with seven or eight minutes to go in the Main Event, but the Heat Race was really good – I’m just starting to get back into my flow and felt good all day. Setting the tone early is important, and I felt good from the beginning, which was nice, but with the whole team we are making some really good progress. A top-five result is awesome, so we’ll keep building momentum into Detroit.” Both Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX riders Bennick and Ryder DiFrancesco were in action in Birmingham for the first East/West Showdown of the season, with DiFrancesco qualifying fourth overall on combined times, while Bennick posted the seventh-fastest time. Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, Bennick secured P5 in his 250SX East Heat Race before converting a mid-pack start into a measured P6 finish in the Showdown, collecting valuable championship points. He currently sits fourth in the Eastern Divisional standings entering next weekend’s Detroit Supercross. “Birmingham was good,” said Bennick. “We entered with a new shock that we tried last week and I was really happy with it – it made the whoops a lot better for me. I was stoked on that and then I kind of got rolling in that second qualifier before struggling a bit in the Heat Race. I then put my head down in the Main Event after getting chopped a bit at the start, but we put in a strong charge, and I’m happy with my riding and fitness. Now, we’ll go into next weekend and try to put it on the box.” For DiFrancesco and his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, a P4 result in the 250SX West Heat Race set up his night well, before an issue in the Main Event required a visit to the mechanic's area, ultimately credited with a P19 finish. With three rounds remaining in the Western Division, Ryder D currently sits fourth in the championship standings and will return to action at the second East/West Showdown in St. Louis on April 4. “The day started well,” recalled DiFrancesco. “I qualified P2 in our class and felt really good all day. The Heat Race was so-so, we charged to fourth and then in the Main Event, I was making some good passes in the beginning, and then around lap two or three we ran into a rear brake problem. I ended up pulling into the pits and the team fixed it, before I went back out and salvaged what I could. You never give up with these Showdowns and we tried to get as many points as we could.” Rockstar Energy Husqvarna amateur prospect Landon Gibson was also on the line in Birmingham, claiming sixth position in the SMX Next Main Event. Next Race: March 28 – Detroit, Michigan Results 450SX Class – Birmingham 1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 3. Eli Tomac (KTM) 5. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) 7. Jorge Prado (KTM) 21. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 10 of 17 rounds 1. Hunter Lawrence, 221 points 2. Eli Tomac, 212 3. Ken Roczen, 190 8. Malcolm Stewart, 107 9. Jorge Prado, 104 10. Aaron Plessinger, 99 19. RJ Hampshire, 38 Results 250SX East/West Showdown – Birmingham 1. Cole Davies (Yamaha) 2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 3. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki) 6. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) 19. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) Standings 250SX East Class 2026 after 4 of 10 rounds 1. Cole Davies, 89 2. Seth Hammaker, 83 3. Jo Shimoda, 78 4. Daxton Bennick, 70 Standings 250SX West Class 2026 after 7 of 10 rounds 1. Haiden Deegan, 165 2. Max Anstie, 121 3. Levi Kitchen, 116 4. Ryder DiFrancesco, 108

Kay de Wolf made a gritty return from injury to claim seventh overall in MXGP on his full-time debut in the premier class, while Liam Everts battled through brutal conditions to secure a hard-fought 6-7 scorecard for seventh overall in MX2.