Image: Octopi Media.

Reigning 250SX East and 250MX champion Cole Davies has his sights set on a premier class transfer for the 2028 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, in line to join Haiden Deegan at Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s 450 team after one more year on the 250.

At 19, Davies elevated himself from race-winner to champion this year, claiming the eastern division Monster Energy Supercross title with six victories, before adding another number one plate in Pro Motocross – winning at High Point, RedBud, Washougal and Unadilla.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing revelation also finished third in the 250SMX post-season, underscored by a convincing 1-1 scorecard in the SMX World Championship Final at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Missouri on Saturday night.

Davies’ 2026 success has ultimately shifted his attention toward the 450 class full-time, potentially as soon as 2028 – a move he would be forced to make in Supercross if he captures another 250SX championship next year.

“[The progress] is probably due to all the hard work that I have been putting in,” Davies explained. “You know, we’ve been putting in hard work at the farm, and I’m looking to make another step up during the off-season.

“The plan is to have a good off-season now, and then come into 2027 swinging. And I have to get ready for 2028 too – I’m going to be on the 450, so I’ve got to be ready for that.”

Davies – who has selected number five for his single-digit career number from next year – was announced on a multi-year deal with Star Racing in mid-2024, however, the exact terms were unspecified. He will continue with the organization in the 250 class for next year after falling short of the SMX crown.

“It stings a little bit,” he said of his post-season. “But it wasn’t like it was out of my control – it was my fault that I crashed [in Los Angeles], so we took that on the chin and just reset. That’s what I did, and we had a great weekend this weekend, so I can’t really be too mad about it.”