Following a breakout past season of sorts, Seth Hammaker proved that he’s the real deal in Monster Energy Supercross. With three-career main event wins, a healthy body following corrective shoulder surgery, and a full season of momentum on his side, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider now sets his sights on 250SX East in 2026. Hear from Hammaker in these Five Questions following the 2026 SMX Media Days.

Image: Octopi Media.

So to start, if you go back to this time last year, coming into the 2025 season… If someone had told you, ‘Hey, this is everything you’re going to do – you might not win these championships, but you’re going to accomplish all of this.’ How would you have reacted? Is it still surreal to see the progress over the past year?

I think it definitely happened quicker than what I maybe expected it to. I always knew I was capable of doing what I did, but there were no goals set to place in a certain spot coming into last year – it was more just to get through the season healthy. I was able to do that and accomplish way more than we were all expecting. Even halfway through Supercross, when I was sharing the red plate and had the red plate near the end, all of that was just a bonus on top. It was really cool because even though I didn’t come out with the championship, I still learned so much just being in that position. And now this year, our goals are more towards being a championship contender and fighting for that. Continuing to build on what I accomplished last year is only going to make it better for me – more experience heading into 2026. Compared to last year, confidence-wise, completing a whole season, putting solid results together… everything is moving in the right direction. Mentally, I feel like I’m in such a good spot. I’m really happy with last year, and I think 2026 will be even better.

You made a drastic change – you moved your life to Florida. How much relief was there last year, knowing that it all worked out?

Huge relief in the end. Looking back, it was around this time last year when I made those moves. It was a big gamble. There was a lot of talk – I brought it up to Mitch [Payton] and the team, and I kind of had to fight for it a little bit, to be honest. I think everybody is on board with it now. It proved itself and it worked, and I just wanted to give myself that opportunity to try something new and a little different. I’m happy I did, and happy my team and everyone around me let me do it and gave me that chance. Being at the Dog Pound – it was awesome for them to let me come down there, and I’m grateful for that. All those guys down there helped me out a ton. It was definitely a big weight lifted off my shoulders once the results started to prove themselves a little bit, and really the whole season as a whole.

Is there added confidence knowing how well you did last year – even being as beat up as you were? You got fixed up at the end of the season, but did that add anything to it?

Yeah, I look back and even with how bad my shoulder was… I don’t like to make excuses, but it was definitely hindering me in some aspects of my riding. So going into this year with a healthy shoulder and a healthy body, learning myself as we go, I think that only brings more confidence. I’m excited to see what I’m capable of when I’m fully healthy Monday I see the doctor – that’s hopefully when I get released. That’s the earliest I could get released. So, I’m not back on the bike yet, but recovery has been going really good. One of the smoothest shoulder recoveries I’ve had. I’ve had four shoulder surgeries now – two on each shoulder – but I feel good. It’s strong, it feels the most secure and stable it’s been, which was the goal. Last year, it kept popping out and there was no strength in it. When that ligament, the labrum, is completely torn, you can’t fix that without surgery. It ended up being a 360-degree tear, so 12 anchors went in to get that thing down as good as we can do it. The recovery process at first was just mobility and getting range of motion back. Now we’re into strength work – we have been for a while. I feel good, and so far we’re on track. I’m looking forward to easing into riding, doing turn-track stuff next week hopefully if I get released. Supercross maybe early January is the goal, which would give me six weeks to get ready for Dallas.

Image: Octopi Media.

Where are you looking to improve the most for 2026? When you reflect on the past season, are there particular areas you think you could have been better?

Yeah, a couple of my focuses this year are to continue improving in the whoops. I got a lot better with bike positioning last year and avoiding the big get-offs and crashes I’ve had in the past, but I can still be better – especially in the whoops, both mentally and consistency-wise over a full season. I just want to stay more level throughout the year and not get caught up in what the other guys are doing. Just focus on me. The goal would be to be on the podium at each race and be consistent, especially at those East/West Showdowns. We did what we needed to do in terms of evaluating – rewatching races and going through the season as a whole – and that’s what we came up with. As far as working on it, I just put my head down. The riding stuff has to wait because I needed my shoulder fixed, but mentally and in all the other areas, I can work on myself as much as possible.

Last year was definitely a standout season for you. What is your biggest accomplishment or your favourite moment from the year?

I think it was great for me to finish the season – just to be at all the races, healthy. That was a great accomplishment. But probably the way Supercross ended and the way I handled it… just learning from everything. It was cool to be in that position, even though it didn’t work out the way I wanted in the end. That final Saturday – I remember how cool it was to be in that position, going down to the wire. I was proud of that.