After a 28-race regular season across Supercross and Pro Motocross, combined with two post-season playoffs, it all comes down to this – the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship Final. In this edition of Three Things, MotoOnline outlines what to expect as the title-race reaches its conclusion on Saturday night in Ridgedale.

Image: Octopi Media.

Jorge Prado leads a hungry 450SMX field

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado enters the Thunder Ridge Nature Arena round holding a 16-point advantage atop the 450SMX division, bolstered by a pivotal victory at Playoff 2 in Los Angeles. Importantly, Prado needs third or better to secure the title irrespective of what the competition does, given the triple-points format this weekend. Enter Haiden Deegan – ever the disruptor just when you think things are settled. Remember last year’s SMX antics with Jo Shimoda, or even last weekend’s drama with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Cooper Webb – the reality is, Deegs is prepared and ready to shake things up at any given moment. Add Hunter Lawrence to the mix, who is tied with Deegan in second, as well as Ken Roczen, who is a further two points behind, and it’s still far from over despite Prado’s control of the red plate.

Image: Octopi Media.

250SMX title showdown emerges

It’s a showdown in 250SMX, headed by Levi Kitchen and Ryder DiFrancesco, with three points separating the pair entering Missouri. Kitchen is well overdue for a professional title of any kind, having come so close on multiple occasions – most recently in the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship. And while that ended in heartbreak, a 250SMX title [and $500,000] would surely ease that wound, while DiFrancesco is also chasing his first championship as a professional. Don’t count out Julien Beaumer in third, although with a 16-point deficit, he’ll need a little help from both Kitchen and DiFrancesco to climb back into the title conversation. As the 250 class has proven all season, however, nothing is for certain, with the depth of the field adding an extra layer of variability to how the results shake out.

Image: Octopi Media.

Triple points add one final twist

A couple of final topics are worth mentioning entering this weekend, beginning with the triple-points scenario in both 250SMX and 450SMX. It transforms a traditional 25-point victory into 75, with second being worth 66, third 60, and so on. That extends the margins riders can make up between one another, and with a lot of money on the line, you can guarantee that no position will simply be given away. Then there is the circuit itself, with the world championship finale appearing to be a true hybrid and less Supercross-style in nature, with the sprawling Thunder Ridge Nature Arena layout set to throw up its own set of challenges. Therefore, plenty of unknowns are yet to play out across both championships and, as mentioned, nothing is for certain. Riders will have their own respective battles unfolding, but both the points structure and the racetrack will also have their say in how 2026 concludes.