Monster Energy Supercross 2026 produced an exceptional season across both the 450SX and 250SX categories, with a host of standout performers shaping one of the most captivating years on record. In this edition of Rated, MotoOnline takes a closer look at the form displayed by a selection of riders throughout the series.

Image: Octopi Media.

Rider: Ken Roczen
Rating: A
Rundown: Five 450SX victories, seven additional podium finishes, and ultimately the premier class title make a clear case for Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen receiving an A. The 32-year-old was exceptional throughout the season, finally able to convert his trademark early-season speed into a sustained 17-round title campaign. It was a remarkable achievement on multiple fronts – now in his 13th season of 450SX competition, Roczen’s journey back from the devastating arm injury sustained in 2017, combined with his switch to Suzuki in 2023, made it feel as though this opportunity might already have passed. Instead, Roczen adds a 450SX crown alongside Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac, cementing his place among the defining riders of this era.

Rider: Hunter Lawrence
Rating: A
Rundown: If this year’s title were anyone’s to lose, per se, it would have had to have been Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence. He withstood the onslaught of Tomac throughout the opening half of the season, before fending off Roczen in the latter stages, only for it to slip from his grasp at Salt Lake City. That being said, Hunter was a significantly improved version of himself in Supercross this year, going from having no premier class main event wins to his name to becoming a five-time winner and legitimate 450SX title contender all within a single season. That’s an impressive trajectory, and when considering that both Tomac and Roczen required multiple attempts to become champions themselves, it would appear the 26-year-old Lawrence is well on his way and deserving of an A following his 2026 campaign.

Image: Octopi Media.

Rider: Eli Tomac
Rating: B+
Rundown: So much of the 450SX series is defined by the ability to manage all 17 rounds. You need to stay healthy, peak at the right time, and maximize points when momentum – or luck – isn’t in your favor. In his debut season with the Red Bull KTM program, Tomac was outstanding early, taking victories at Anaheim 1, San Diego, Seattle, and Daytona, and looking every bit like a rider on track for a third 450SX crown in 2026. The momentum shifted in the back half of the championship, however, with a qualifying crash in Cleveland – followed by missing both that round and Philadelphia – effectively ending his title hopes. Still, his early-season form was among his strongest yet, once again leaving the sport to wonder whether the 33-year-old will line up for another campaign in 2027.

Rider: Haiden Deegan
Rating: A
Rundown: Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan was leagues above his western divisional rivals this year and successfully defended his 250SX crown. That’s no disrespect to the competition, but winning seven from 10 – alongside the controversy surrounding the Birmingham penalty – underlined just how dominant the 20-year-old was in 2026, with teammate Cole Davies the only rider to really challenge the polarizing Californian. With his 250 career now complete, Deegan leaves the category having produced numbers that place him among the very best the division has seen. The question now turns to the premier class, where answers will begin to emerge on May 30 at Fox Raceway.

Image: Octopi Media.

Rider: Cole Davies
Rating: A-
Rundown: New Zealand teenager Cole Davies was another rider who was exceptional in Monster Energy Supercross this year, and in many ways lived up to the lofty pre-season expectations placed upon him. It almost doesn’t seem fair given this was just his second professional Supercross season, but that’s how good he is, with plenty of untapped potential still ahead as he continues to develop across all areas. His whoop speed was unmatched this year, regardless of size, spacing, or difficulty, with his blitzing through that section proving a major weapon in his arsenal. Six wins and the 250SX East title ultimately defined his season, with the number one plate secured one round early against the seasoned Seth Hammaker.

Rider: Seth Hammaker
Rating: B+
Rundown: Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker will no doubt be disappointed to finish second in the 250SX East class for the second year in a row, although it’s a tough task when lined up against a rider of Davies’ calibre. Hammaker recognized around the midway point of the series that if he didn’t increase his intensity, the number 37 would likely disappear into the distance, and while he lifted his pace, it also brought additional crashes and mistakes. With Deegan now out of the class, a window does open for Hammaker and the rest of the 250SX field to chase title success, although facing Davies next season – regardless of coast – is set to be a tough challenge. It’s a B+ for Hammaker, who claimed one win at Daytona and five podium finishes across the 2026 season.

Rider: Levi Kitchen
Rating: B
Rundown: Levi Kitchen’s season followed a similar arc to teammate Seth Hammaker, with both Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders falling short of their respective Star Racing rivals on each coast. Hammaker finished 51 points behind Davies, while Kitchen was 56 points adrift of Deegan, with Dangerboy also denying him a race win in 2026 despite a hard-fought battle in Seattle, ultimately removing the plus from his B rating. Having taken the 2024 250SX West title fight down to the final round in Salt Lake City, another distant runner-up finish is likely to leave him disappointed. However, with Deegan now moving out of the category, another opportunity for the number one plate opens up next season.