Pro Motocross 2026 kicked off with a statement, and Hunter Lawrence delivered it in all caps.

450 CLASS — HUNTER SETS THE TONE

Hunter Lawrence rolled into Pala looking sharp, but nobody expected the level of control he showed. He didn’t just win — he owned the day. Fastest in qualifying, both holeshots, and two wire‑to‑wire moto wins. Pure authority.

Behind him, Jorge Prado made his U.S. outdoor debut look easy. He was the only rider all day who could even sniff the lead, grabbing a few laps up front in Moto 2 before Hunter shut the door.

Jett Lawrence returned from his Supercross injury with a steady 4‑3 for third overall. Not peak Jett yet, but the speed is clearly there.

450 Overall (Top 10)

1. Hunter Lawrence – 1-1
2. Jorge Prado – 2-2
3. Jett Lawrence – 4-3
4. Justin Cooper – 3-6
5. Haiden Deegan – 5-4
6. Chase Sexton – 7-5
7. RJ Hampshire – 6-7
8. Aaron Plessinger – 8-9
9. Dylan Ferrandis – 9-10
10. Christian Craig – 11-11

BIG MOMENTS & STORYLINES

Hunter’s Day of Domination

Every time he hit the track, he looked like he was on rails. Smooth, fast, and completely in control. If this is the pace he’s starting the season with, the rest of the field has a long summer ahead.

Prado’s First Impression

The reigning MXGP champ showed he’s not here for a vacation. He adapted instantly to the U.S. style and looked comfortable battling up front. A pair of seconds is a huge debut.

Jett’s Return

After missing all of Supercross, Jett looked solid and patient. Not the fireworks fans expected, but a podium at Round 1 is a strong foundation.

Tomac Scare

Eli Tomac went down hard in Moto 1 after contact in the opening lap. He was stretchered off but early word is a neck strain. Everyone’s hoping for a quick recovery.

250 CLASS — KAWASAKI COMES OUT SWINGIN

The green bikes came out firing. Levi Kitchen, Seth Hammaker, and Nick Romano controlled the early action and set the tone for the class. Full results weren’t the headline — the story was Kawasaki’s early-season firepower.