Round 16 of Monster Energy Supercross 2026 rolled into Denver, where a slick, hard-packed surface challenged riders throughout the daytime program. Hear more from the leading riders of each category in this Reaction feature.

450SX

Image: Octopi Media.

P1 | Hunter Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive):
The bike was working good, giving me what I needed. It was a really tough track, not much traction out there – I had to kind of pick and choose where I made my arcs in the corners and bank off stuff whenever I was turning. My starts weren’t amazing all day today – we were kind of fiddling, massaging some things, and we got them sorted for the main. I love having to work for it a little bit during the day. I feel like that’s when I have my best days, and I love working with the team; I feel like we work so great together, and it brings the best out in me. Everyone knows what I needed to do – win the last two rounds – and we checked the first box. Now we need to go to Salt Lake City and try to do the same thing. I’d rather be in the position I’m in now than seven points down if Kenny had won. This is my title to lose, and I feel like under pressure, I’ve been the best guy this year. So, we’ll go to Salt Lake City and enjoy it.

P2 | Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki):
Overall, we had a really good day. Being back at the altitude – the last time I was here it was in 2023 – it is always a surprise, the equipment and how much slower it is. Obviously, we’re all dealing with it, but it takes a lot getting used to it. From Q2 we had P1 and went first [gate pick into] the night show. I had just an alright heat race – it was a third place, but I was really trying to figure out the track. I feel like we rode the best in the main event when it really counted. I wasn’t fast enough to get with Hunter [Lawrence], but I got into second place and just kind of maintained. Yeah, just wasn’t good enough for first, but good enough for second, so now we’re one point ahead and it’s really fun to see how this unfolds. Overall, I would say we had a really good day with a second place and we’re going into the last round happy and stoked to be in this position and we’re going to give this a shot.

P3 | Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing):
I’m glad to land on this podium for the Colorado fans! I was so bummed when I stalled it in the sand. I just happened to stomp on my rear brake there and then, honestly, like double-stalled. Anyway, I was able to claw back there, had some fun on this track, and that was just a good bounce back. I’m happy to get back for these last two rounds, and love being on the West Coast, too – of course, home state in Colorado – and we’ll try to get another podium next week.

P4 | Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing):
Every time we come to Denver, the track is tough. There was a lot going on in that race – you could’ve thrown a blanket over all of us! There was a lot of carnage, but at the end of the day, I guess Christmas came in May for me for a fourth! We’ve just got to continue moving forward. I struggled a little bit tonight and went to the LCQ, which I haven’t been to in a minute, but we just tried to ride our race [in the main event] and get it done.

P5 | Chase Sexton (Monster Energy Kawasaki):
I had a good start to the day with fastest qualifier in the first session. I didn’t expect to go to the top in the final lap, but it felt good to back up there. The track having two sets of whoops played into my favor a bit. I felt good in the heat race, but played it safe to finish in second place. I had a bad start in the main event. I had to work my way through the field and struggled to feel comfortable. The last few laps, I was able to capitalize on a few guys that went down, putting me fifth on the night.

P6 | Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing):
I would say Denver was a pretty positive weekend for me – especially after a couple of tough weekends, it was nice to get back towards the front with a Heat Race win. I adapted to the track well for the night program, and small achievements like that Heat Race are a big confidence booster for me. And then in the main event, I got a good start and tried to race with the guys up front – their pace was a little stronger than mine, but I tried my best to hold on. I made a small mistake before the triple, which cost me, so I’d say 95 percent of the race was good, just that last five wasn’t perfect. P6 for the night was decent and now we have one round to go.

P7 | Garrett Marchbanks (Monster Energy Kawasaki):
I had a good day here in Denver. Qualifying went well, and the bike felt good. I didn’t have to make any changes throughout the day. I qualified ninth overall and felt good going into the heat race. It took me a little bit of time in the heat race to get comfortable. I had to adapt to how much the track had changed since qualifying. I got another solid start in the main event and just focused on putting in some good laps. Once Chase [Sexton] got around me, I just latched on and knew if I could stay with him, we’d make some passes, and that’s what we did. We got helped out a bit with some guys tipping over at the end, but that’s part of it. Another seventh-place finish, which I’m pretty pumped on.

P8 | Justin Barcia (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati):
I didn’t have the greatest of starts, but I fought hard in the first corner and rode some good laps in the beginning. It was cool to ride at that pace with the guys. The bike was working really good. After practice we made a huge change and the boys nailed it, the bike was working really good. The heat race showed it. In the main, I was great until about halfway and kind of hit a wall. I regrouped a little and there were a few guys in front of me and I tried to fight, but I got arm pump. Top 10 is good and I’m happy with it, I just know there is so much more in the tank.

250SX

Image: Octopi Media.

P1 | Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing):
Today was solid. I qualified first, P1 in the heat, and then the main event was solid. Another perfect day, which is pretty nice. I got a good start, which makes the race a lot easier, especially here, where it’s going to be really hard to pass. It’s really one-lined and hard-packed. So, I’m glad I was able to get a good start and bring her on home.

P2 | Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki):
I’m actually really happy with this result. I took quite a bit of time off the bike to recover and rode for the first time on Monday this week. I felt good, so Mitch [Payton] and I had a conversation and decided to race Denver. This was a pretty last-minute decision, so to come in and have a good weekend like this feels great. In the main event, I got into second and just focused on putting in solid laps. The track was really difficult and could catch you pretty quick, so it was all about staying consistent. Overall, after a full race day, my back finally feels good again, and I’m relieved, especially with outdoors just a few weeks away. I really appreciate everyone sticking behind me through it. I’m looking forward to finishing strong next weekend in Salt Lake and moving on to outdoors.

P3 | Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing):
It was a good night in Denver. The main goal these last couple of weeks is to get to P2 – obviously the championship is wrapped up, so second would be ideal. Tonight, once I got into third, there wasn’t much more that I could do, so I just brought it home from there. It was a good night and now we’ll go to Salt Lake, try to stack some points, and go for second in the championship.

P4 | Max Anstie (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing):
It was a decent night. I ended up fourth in the main and got the win in my heat. I’m looking forward to the final round in Salt Lake next weekend.

P5 | Kayden Minear (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing):
I made my pro debut in Denver this weekend, and wow, what a roller coaster of emotions. Having to go through the LCQ because of an unfortunate incident in the heat race, and then the main event went really well. I felt like I proved what I was capable of doing.

P6 | Lux Turner (BarX Yamaha):
I’m so pumped to finally get a decent result were I belong. It was a super fun weekend, qualifying was good, and brought that speed into the main event. I’m going to get back to work this week and keep building. I want to give a massive shout out to Bradley Taft for this last month of grinding we put in – I’m happy to show it off, but we ain’t done!

P7 | Hunter Yoder (ClubMX Yamaha Racing Team):
P7 in Denver, I rode really good in the main but had to pass everyone and their mother. Might help if I started in front. I feel like I let that heat race off the hook easily, I really need to work on being better in that situation. The bike was solid at altitude, thank you team.

P8 | Robbie Wageman (Heartbeat Hot Sauce NanoXtreme Yamaha):
P8 in Denver! All day was great from first practice through the main event. Happy with my riding and looking forward to more of this next weekend!