The highly-anticipated opening round of the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship took off at Fox Raceway on Saturday, where a host of questions were finally answered across both the 450MX and 250MX categories. Revisit the weekend with our Captured feature, which takes a look at the defining moments in illustrated form.

The spotlight may have been fixed on the anticipated showdown between Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan, but it was Hunter Lawrence who stole the show at Fox Raceway. The 450SX runner-up topped qualifying, launched to a pair of strong starts, and delivered a commanding 1-1 performance to open the season. If Saturday was any indication, Hunter is very much a genuine contender in this year’s 450MX title fight.

As for double 250MX champion Haiden Deegan, a 5-4 scorecard marked a solid premier-class debut in California, although by his own standards, it’s fair to say he’ll be chasing more. The 20-year-old now finds himself competing against some of the sport’s biggest names and most accomplished champions, making it intriguing to see where he ultimately fits as the 450MX season unfolds.

The 250MX category delivered on its promise at Fox Raceway. With the Lawrence brothers and Deegan no longer in the class, the title fight is wide open. Caden Dudney went 6-4 for second overall, while Cole Davies finished third with a 3-8 scorecard. If round one is anything to go by, we’re in for an entertaining summer.

The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team was strong at round one, with Seth Hammaker, Levi Kitchen, and Nick Romano all featuring near the front. As a result, there was plenty of Team Green presence at the sharp end of the 250MX field throughout the day.

On that note, Seth Hammaker claimed a maiden 250MX overall victory with a 2-1 result.

You never quite know who will appear at the opening rounds of Pro Motocross, with plenty of cameo entries traditionally surfacing. One of those was six-time National Grand Prix champion Dante Oliveira, who impressed with 16th overall in a stacked 450MX field.

We also saw the return of double 450MX champion Jett Lawrence, who lined up for the first time in five months after his December injury. The 22-year-old pieced together a consistent 4-3 scorecard for third overall, which has to be viewed as a positive given the circumstances. From the outside, it appears to be an injury that Lawrence may still need to manage as the season progresses.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Kayden Minear in his element…

For Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, it was a major disappointment to lose Eli Tomac just moments into the opening 450MX moto. Initial evaluations have cleared the four-time champion of any major injury, although more is expected to be known in the coming days regarding his status for Hangtown.

On the flip side, both Jorge Prado and Julien Beaumer delivered strong results for Red Bull KTM, with the pair immediately establishing themselves as contenders in this year’s 11-round Pro Motocross campaign.

And just like that, the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship is officially underway!