The 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship post-season has arrived, with riders lining up for Playoff 1 inside Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, this weekend. Following a 28-round regular season, a range of narratives have emerged across both 450SMX and 250SMX, with MotoOnline’s Top 10 outlining what to watch for when the gates drop.

Image: Octopi Media.

1. A new 450SMX champion will be crowned:
With the announcement that reigning three-time 450SMX champion Jett Lawrence will miss the SMX post-season due to ankle surgery, the door is now wide-open for a new winner to be crowned. Lawrence has claimed every 450SMX title since the inception of SuperMotocross in 2023 and has been a force in the hybrid format, although both his brother Hunter and Ken Roczen have proven serious challengers at different stages during that time. Will either finally walk away with the championship, or will a new challenger emerge in 2026?

2. Showdown resumes between Hunter Lawrence and Roczen:
Adding to the 450SMX landscape is that Monster Energy Supercross champion Ken Roczen will meet recently crowned Pro Motocross champion Hunter Lawrence, with the pair having also dueled for the 450SX crown all the way to the thrilling, winner-take-all Salt Lake City finale. On that occasion, it was a triumphant Roczen and a heartbroken Lawrence, with the German then sitting out the entire outdoor season. Now, the battle resumes this weekend in Columbus, with the number 96 no doubt looking for some redemption after Supercross.

3. Shimoda targets 250SMX title defense in 2026:
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda was embroiled in one of the strangest championship battles at last year’s Monster Energy SMX World Championship season finale in Las Vegas, where he and Haiden Deegan exchanged blows before Deegs bowed out with a broken collarbone. Shimoda subsequently earned the title, and despite sustaining a fractured collarbone and concussion at Southwick in July, the Japanese talent will return to the line at Historic Crew Stadium. He’ll no doubt be hoping for a smoother championship campaign this time around, devoid of the antics.

Image: Octopi Media.

4. Deegan targets maiden premier class win:
Speaking of Deegs, he is still targeting a maiden race victory in the premier division after being unable to overcome the Lawrence brothers – as well as Jorge Prado at Ironman – throughout the summer. He’ll have one less rider to deal with in Jett Lawrence, while also having proven ultra-competitive in the SMX discipline, having earned the 2023 and 2024 titles in the 250 division. Drama seems to follow Deegan – and he indeed welcomes/incites it too – so we’ll see what comes from racing in the tighter SMX-style confines, with some type of fireworks usually to be expected.

5. Tomac’s last dance:
This is really one of those moments where you’re aware it’s coming, although you also can’t picture – or perhaps don’t want to picture – the day when it finally arrives. The legendary Eli Tomac will call time on his decorated career at the end of the SMX post-season, bringing an end to well over a decade of entertainment. From winning his very first national and earning the ‘Beast Mode’ nickname, to the championships, wins, and achievements within the record books, Tomac has accomplished it all while remaining a true professional and a great role model for the emerging generation. With a Hall of Fame career already in the books, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider will ride off into the sunset once the checkered flag waves in Missouri.

6. Three of a kind for Davies in 250SMX:
What’s better than two championships in one year? Three, of course! Cole Davies collected both the 250SX East and 250MX championships in 2026, conquering both disciplines and emerging as the new front-runner of the class. At this point, the New Zealand sensation seems to be on a fast-track to the premier ranks, with talk already shifting to how he would fare against the Lawrences, as well as rival Deegan. A 250SMX title would make sense given his skill set, although there are also a range of challengers eager to halt his progress.

Image: Octopi Media

7. The redemption arc for Kitchen and Beaumer:
Two of those names include Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer. The pair enter with differing narratives, however, with Kitchen having fallen short of a 250 championship once again, while Beaumer was a revelation throughout Pro Motocross, claiming the overall win at Ironman and second in the 250MX standings. Kitchen will again suit up with a career-first title in his sights, while Beaumer will be looking for redemption in SMX specifically, given it was this time last year that he sustained a back injury that kept him sidelined for the following nine months.

8. ClubMX Racing debut for Anstie:
In addition, Max Anstie will debut his ClubMX Racing colors at Columbus, and we know how competitive he can be [Anaheim 1, anyone?] when his confidence is flowing. The English veteran may thrive under the more relaxed environment compared to Star Racing, which is known for its cut-throat intensity – something that works for some and not for others. We’ll see, but he’s certainly not to be underestimated.

9. Anderson returns to competition:
The same can be said for former Monster Energy Supercross 450SX champion Jason Anderson, as he returns to American racing for the first time since February. The 33-year-old did have a hit-out that didn’t go so well at the World Supercross Championship (WSX) opener in Canada, although you’d have to expect he’ll only get stronger with more gate drops and time on the bike. That’s something he’ll get plenty of at Columbus, as he’ll first need to qualify through the last chance qualifier (LCQ), given he sits outside the top 20 – currently 27th – in combined SMX points.

10. Curtains close on Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing:
It’s also sad to see the doors closing on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team, with the 2026 post-season marking the end of their tenure in SMX. More than 10 years on from their debut in 2015, the program has accomplished a lot – including the aforementioned 450SX crown with Anderson in 2018 – and has become a mainstay on the grid after housing a range of top-tier talent. Husqvarna’s involvement will look a little different in 2027 and beyond, as they’re expected to provide support for Cooper Webb, who is tipped to depart Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing and join Team Tedder. Other teams have also been linked to a Husqvarna shift, with the brand explaining that factory-level engines and suspension components will be made available to select teams and riders through a leasing model.