The opening segment of the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship is complete, with the series now heading into a weekend off before RedBud marks the beginning of the middle phase of the season. The points remain close in both the 450MX and 250MX categories, with Rated assessing the top three performers in each class so far.

Image: Octopi Media.

Rider: Jett Lawrence
Rating: A
Rundown: Plenty of question marks surrounded Jett’s form heading into this year’s outdoor campaign, with the Australian returning from a five-month absence due to injury. He completed Fox Raceway with 4-3 moto scores for third overall, indicating he was still building back toward the level we have become accustomed to seeing. By Hangtown and Thunder Valley, however, his race-winning form had returned, delivering 1-1 scorecards at both rounds. High Point presented an interesting dynamic, with Hunter setting the benchmark in Pennsylvania and edging clear of Jett in moto two. The result reduced the championship deficit to just two points, setting up an intriguing middle phase of the season.

Rider: Hunter Lawrence
Rating: A
Rundown: Hunter has been every bit as impressive as Jett through the opening rounds, a statement reinforced by his convincing 1-1 performance at High Point. The brothers are now tied with two round victories apiece, with the number 96 rider also delivering a straightforward 1-1 result at the season opener. There is no doubt Hunter is motivated, particularly after how Supercross ended, and with additional preparation behind him compared to Jett’s extended absence, he has clearly continued to close the gap. As tenacious as any rider in the field, Hunter is not going to surrender this championship without a fight. Both Lawrence brothers earn an A rating through the opening phase of the season.

Image: Octopi Media.

Rider: Haiden Deegan
Rating: A-
Rundown: The Deegs! To be fair, Deegan has been really impressive in his Pro Motocross 450MX debut. Had the focus not been so heavily centred on his battle with Jett from the outset, the wider industry would likely be giving even more recognition to his performances. He has shown strong pace in qualifying and has emerged as the only rider capable of consistently challenging the Lawrence brothers, particularly highlighted by his opening moto performance at Thunder Valley. The fact that he has already moved ahead of the majority of the established 450MX field is solid, but perhaps the most underrated aspect of his run has been his consistency. Deegan brings plenty of attention and expectation – something he embraces – but when stripped back to pure performance, the 20-year-old has delivered at a high level. He earns an A- rating, especially considering this is his rookie season in the premier class.

Rider: Levi Kitchen
Rating: A-
Rundown: Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen has been strong, although starts have remained a challenge throughout the opening rounds. It’s perhaps something that needs to be viewed with context, given his larger stature on the 250, and that his race strategy will often involve working through the field rather than leading from the opening lap. The speed is clearly there, although starting deeper in the pack always brings added risk in a category as unpredictable as 250MX. As expected, the class has delivered chaos this season, with inconsistent moto results and no rider able to fully establish control of the championship battle. Through it all, Kitchen has been the benchmark, earning an A rating as the current red plate holder.

Image: Octopi Media.

Rider: Jo Shimoda
Rating: B+
Rundown: Jo Shimoda receives a similar assessment to Levi. Should he be performing at a higher level, given his experience in the 250MX class? Perhaps, although context is important, with the Japanese rider returning from a pair of significant injuries – including a serious back and neck injury late last year, followed by a fractured fibula during Supercross. Considering that, his current position is solid, sitting just one point away from the 250MX championship lead. The second portion of the season will likely come down to consistency in this class, with experienced contenders like Shimoda and Kitchen expected to rely on their race craft as the title fight begins to take shape.

Rider: Julien Beaumer
Rating: A-
Rundown: It’s been a remarkable resurgence for Red Bull KTM’s Julien Beaumer outdoors, with the 20-year-old sitting just two points from the championship lead after four rounds. ‘Juju’ was another rider to suffer a serious injury at last year’s Charlotte SMX Playoff round, forcing him to miss the following nine months of competition. The work put in during that recovery period is evident, because results like these – including P2 overall finishes at both Hangtown and High Point – don’t happen by accident. The question now is whether Beaumer can become a genuine 250MX title contender in 2026. After four rounds, there is enough evidence to suggest that’s a realistic possibility, with an A- rating reflecting an impressive return to racing.