The 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship post-season got underway in Columbus last weekend, with torrential rain turning Historic Crew Stadium into a mud-bath. In this edition of Q&A, MotoOnline looks at the primary takeaways that we learned (kind of) from Playoff 1.

Image: Octopi Media.

Q: Was Haiden Deegan’s 450SMX victory all he needed to rise to the next level?

A: It’s entirely possible that this is all the 20-year-old needs to flip that switch and battle consistently for premier class race wins. And although Columbus was a mudder, he was clearly the class of the 450SMX field against some top-tier talent, and we know the dormant confidence the Californian has, needing only a catalyst for it to fully emerge. This could be it, although he’ll need a strong result in LA to solidify the position and dispel any condition-specific commentary.

Q: What happened to Hunter Lawrence and Jo Shimoda, and can we expect differently at Los Angeles this weekend?

A: Columbus just wasn’t good for either rider, period. You have to consider Lawrence’s position – he was in nothing short of a dogfight in both 450SX and 450MX throughout 2026 – which has to have an impact on his motivation when firing up an all-new championship. For Shimoda, we hadn’t seen him since Southwick, with questions raised over how ready he actually was for the 250SMX title defense. Los Angeles will be pivotal for the Honda HRC Progressive duo if they’re going to get this thing back on track.

Image: Octopi Media.

Q: Who emerged in 250SMX as the title contenders?

A: It’s hard to say this series is anything other than the Cole Davies show once again, with the Kiwi proving he is the alpha male of the 250SMX field – even if he didn’t stand on top of the podium overall in Ohio. A bike malfunction in the latter stages of race one was the only thing to halt his progress, while Levi Kitchen took the win. While that was a welcome result after his Pro Motocross heartbreak, Kitchen does, however, have a tendency to win the races that don’t matter quite as much, while struggling to convert when the pressure is on. Add a double podium for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick and Ryder DiFrancesco as another Columbus highlight, but beyond that, most of the field was largely indistinguishable beneath the mud.

Q: The 450SMX red plate now belongs to Jorge Prado, so can he take it all the way and emerge as champion?

A: It sure seems like it’s a possibility, which is a considerable turnaround after he and Monster Energy Kawasaki decided to sit out last year’s post-season altogether before their split. The Spaniard has been impressive in both Supercross and Pro Motocross in 2026, with his skill set and race intensity improving throughout the regular season, culminating in a dominant 1-1 day at Ironman. Perhaps the most impressive thing was that he stayed within his capabilities in Columbus, recognizing that Deegan and Ken Roczen were on another level. You like to see that – title-winning smarts once it’s all said and done.

Image: Octopi Media.

Q: It was a sneaky good round for veterans Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb. Will they get stronger over the final two rounds?

A: Don’t sleep on this pairing. For Roczen to show up and slot right in up front with second overall just speaks to his level of talent, while Webb is right where he wants to be – four points from the lead – in a series and format that suits his Supercross prowess. They’re right in the thick of this, with the 450SMX title really a coin flip between Prado, Deegan, Roczen, Webb and Lawrence. Did we mention it’s double and triple points over the final two rounds?

Q: We’re already in the fourth year of SMX, but what can we take from its current direction?

A: Who knows, honestly. Look, the mud was out of everyone’s control – that’s for certain. Although we need more separation between these rounds and the regular season, and as of right now, even without the weather, Columbus was below the standard – hype-wise – that we see at Anaheim 1 or even Fox Raceway in May. More unique elements and more of a signature identity are needed, something that could take us closer to the epic world championship finale that we witnessed inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2023. Not to say that can easily be replicated, but at least it was genuinely something special and different, which this three-round post-season needs to be. Taking it overseas – for at least the SMX Final – may just be the final ingredient to get this thing to take off for good.