Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH — September 3, 2026
The Pro Motocross season has crowned its champions, and now the focus shifts to the SMX Playoffs. The first round will line up in the starting gates at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, September 12. The day begins with the Progressive FanFest from 8 am – 2 pm, and the Gate Drop is scheduled for 3 pm. Tickets are available at the following link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/supermotocross-world-championship-finals-tickets/artist/2963990?venueId=41462
We will update the format and standings in a pre-race article next week. But right now, we wanted to share all the news that has surfaced since the final weekend at Ironman Raceway.
Eli Tomac to Retire After SMX World Championship Playoffs
Sixteen years and three months after a history-making win at the Hangtown Motocross Classic during his professional debut, Eli Tomac has made the decision to retire from professional off-road motorcycle racing. The most dominant racer in his heyday, the Colorado legend’s retirement marks the end of an era.
That Tomac was going to be a superstar was never in question. In addition to his pair of moto podiums at Hangtown on debut and securing the overall victory by winning Moto 2 that weekend, he finished second in his first full-time Supercross season the following year. One year later, he backed that up with his first 250cc Divisional Championship in 2012 Supercross and followed that up with the Pro Motocross 250cc title in 2013.
Tomac won his first of six 450cc championships in 2017, adding to his total in each of the next three seasons. Tomac came close to keeping the streak alive in 2021 after finishing second in Pro Motocross. The following year, he swept the 2022 titles, winning both the Supercross and Pro Motocross championships that season.
Tomac sits second on the all-time 450cc Supercross wins list with 57, behind Jeremy McGrath [72]. Tomac is also fourth all-time on the 450cc Pro Motocross wins list with 32, behind Ricky Carmichael [76], and Ryan Dungey [39].
Tomac excelled in consistently strong results. He leads the SMX League® with 240 career podium finishes, bettering Ricky Carmichael’s second-best of 215.
No track has been more closely identified with Tomac than the hallowed grounds of Daytona International Speedway, where he holds a record that will likely never be beat.
Arguably the best known Supercross event, Tomac has a record eight victories there, winning his first in 2016. He went on to capture six of the next seven Daytona Supercross races. Tomac also finished second to Dungey in 2015, Justin Brayton in 2018, and Jett Lawrence in 2024, for an incredible resume. Tomac added an eighth Daytona victory in 2026.
Eli Tomac’s SMX League Championships
2012: 250cc Divisional Supercross Championship
2013: 250cc Pro Motocross Championship
2017: 450cc Pro Motocross Championship
2018: 450cc Pro Motocross Championship
2019: 450cc Pro Motocross Championship
2020: 450cc Supercross Championship
2022: 450cc Supercross Championship
2022: 450cc Pro Motocross Championship
Jett Lawrence Pulls Out of 2026 SMX Playoffs
Jett Lawrence will sit out SMX Playoffs to focus on returning to full health.
“I have made the decision with my team to sit out the SMX series to get my ankle back to 100% for the longevity of my career. I suffered through the summer and did everything I could but my ankle hasn’t felt right since the start of the season and it’s even worse after Ironman. I want to do everything I can to get back to being me. The most important thing is that I get back to being pain-free as I work towards next year. I appreciate my team, family, and fans! See you soon”
AMA Announces U.S. Motocross Team for 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations
With the final race of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, as its backdrop, the American Motorcyclist Association [AMA] announced the three exceptional riders that will represent the U.S. Motocross Team at the 2026 Monster Energy Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme [FIM] Motocross of Nations, which will run October 2-4 from Ernée, France.
Representing the United States will be Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas, Levi Kitchen of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, and three-time Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Cooper Webb. The talented trio will seek to dethrone the Australians, who have won the last two editions of the MXoN.
AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier will return as the team manager for the USA for a second year. Pelletier led the U.S. Motocross Team to a second-place finish in 2025, when the Americans served as host nation last October at Ironman Raceway, the site today’s announcement.
“We have put together an outstanding team for this year’s FIM Motocross of Nations as we look to build on last year’s success,” Pelletier said. “Having the opportunity to serve as the manager for Team USA has been incredibly rewarding, and I can’t wait to stand beside Cooper, Levi and Chance as we take on the world. I know they are ecstatic to represent their country this October in France.”
After an injury held him out of making his debut at the 2024 FIM Motocross of Nations, Hymas is set to make his first appearance at this year’s event and will compete in the MXGP class. At only 21 years old, Hymas has captured a trio of 250SMX Class wins in Pro Motocross, most recently last weekend at Budds Creek, and also has an Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class victory to his credit in Supercross.
“I’m beyond excited to get the opportunity to race for Team USA in the MXGP class. It means everything to me and has been a dream of mine to carry the Stars and Stripes overseas and represent our country in front of the world,” Hymas said. “We have a strong team heading to France this year, and I’m confident between Cooper, Levi, and myself that we’ll represent America proudly.”
Kitchen will also make his MXoN debut in 2026, contesting the MX2 class. In the previous two seasons of Supercross, Kitchen has finished runner-up in the Western Divisional 250SMX Class and has a chance to capture the Pro Motocross 250SMX Class Championship at Ironman Raceway on Saturday afternoon.
“What an honor it is to be selected to represent our amazing country,” Kitchen said. “I’m so excited for this experience and to do it with a great group of people. Can’t wait to send it for Team USA!”
Webb will make his fourth appearance at the FIM Motocross of Nations, having previously competed at the prestigious event in 2015, 2016, and 2024, with podium finishes in all three attempts. A seasoned veteran, Webb will race on behalf of the United States in the Open class and serve as team captain.
“I’m so excited and grateful to be on Team USA for MXoN again. It’s an honor and always has been,” Webb said. “We are moving mountains on my end to make this even happen and I can’t thank everyone involved enough for what they are doing to even have me be able to race this event. The preparation, resources, time and money that goes into making this happen is crazy so thank you to everyone for doing their part.”
