The MXA Mid-Week Report is your weekly stop for everything happening in motocross. From the latest racing news and results to industry updates, rider spotlights, videos, product releases and everything in between, we bring together the stories you may have missed and the ones worth keeping an eye on as the week rolls on.

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Axell Hodges

Axell is one of the best to do it when it comes to throwing a motorcycle sideways. Over the years, Hodges has developed one of the most recognizable whip styles in freestyle motocross, combining huge amplitude with a smooth, almost effortless look in the air. What started as a natural extension of his riding style has turned into a signature part of his career, with Axell constantly pushing his whips flatter, farther, and more controlled. His ability to bring the bike back from extreme angles while staying composed has helped set the standard for modern whip contests and made him one of the riders everyone watches when the jumps get big.

HAIDEN DEEGAN SURVIVES DISASTER

Haiden Deegan continued to show progress in the 450 class at Budds Creek, putting together 2-4 moto scores for third overall and another trip to the podium. But the racing was only part of his weekend. Deegan later shared that his flight home experienced a loss of cabin pressure while cruising around 45,000 feet, forcing the pilots to deal with a potentially life-threatening situation. At that altitude, a pressurization failure is extremely serious because the amount of usable oxygen drops rapidly. The FAA lists the time of useful consciousness at 45,000 feet at roughly nine to 15 seconds without proper supplemental oxygen, meaning there is very little time for the crew to get oxygen on and begin an emergency descent before hypoxia can severely impair judgment or cause unconsciousness. What started as another solid podium weekend for Deegan ended with a reminder that the most dangerous part of the trip had nothing to do with the racetrack.

HUNTER LAWRENCE AND JETT LAWRENCE BATTLE INTO THE FINAL ROUND

Hunter Lawrence and Jett Lawrence will take the 450 Pro Motocross Championship all the way down to the final round, separated by just a single point. Hunter reclaimed the red plate at Budds Creek with a dominant 1-1 performance, while Jett salvaged a 5-2 day to keep himself right in the fight. The championship lead has changed hands six times between the brothers this summer, and now everything comes down to the final two motos of the season. With essentially no margin for error, whoever performs best at the finale will walk away with the title, setting up a true winner-take-all battle between the Honda HRC teammates and brothers.

CHANCE HYMAS GRABS THE WIN AT BUDDS CREEK

Chance Hymas’ Budds Creek win meant more than just another trophy. Hymas went 2-1 for his first overall victory of the 2026 season, leading every lap of moto two while holding off a late charge from Levi Kitchen. It was also his third career Pro Motocross overall win. The result carries extra weight after the last few seasons have repeatedly been interrupted by injuries. Hymas had his 2023 season cut short, dealt with a knee injury in 2024, then saw another promising 2025 campaign end early after tearing his ACL. He also spent the beginning of 2026 working back from a shoulder injury and admitted his confidence had taken a hit through the opening rounds. Budds Creek was proof that the speed is still there. After years of rehab, setbacks, and having momentum taken away just as it started building, Hymas finally put everything together again and returned to the top step of the podium.

COLE DAVIES CAPITALIZES ON KITCHEN’S MISTAKES

Cole Davies has put himself in control of the 250 championship by doing exactly what a long outdoor series demands, staying consistent and taking advantage when opportunities come his way. Davies has rarely given away big chunks of points, and when Levi Kitchen has run into trouble, Cole has been there to capitalize. That was especially clear over the last two rounds, with Davies winning Unadilla and then going 1-3 for second overall at Budds Creek. Even when he did not have the speed to win the second moto at Budds Creek, he did not force the issue and throw away valuable points. That maturity has helped Davies turn what was once a championship deficit into a 14-point lead with only the final round remaining.

For Levi Kitchen, the problem has not been a lack of speed, but a lack of consistency across the entire season. Kitchen has shown several times that he can be the fastest rider in the class, but crashes, poor starts and costly mistakes have continued to take points away from otherwise strong weekends. Budds Creek was the latest example. Kitchen qualified fastest and grabbed the moto one holeshot, but a crash and a four-position penalty eventually left him 14th in the moto. He rebounded to second in moto two, but the damage had already been done. In a championship this close, those isolated bad motos add up quickly, and Kitchen now enters the finale 14 points behind Davies with very little room left to recover.

LANDEN GORDON FIRST PODIUM FINISH

Landen Gordon had a breakthrough ride at Budds Creek, earning the first Pro Motocross overall podium of his young career with 3-7 moto scores for third overall. The rookie started the day strong by qualifying near the front, then backed it up with a third-place finish in moto one before doing enough in moto two to secure the overall podium. Gordon said he has been putting together better days during the week and finally felt like he was able to bring that practice speed into a race setting. After going through most of the outdoor season without a top-ten overall, Budds Creek was a huge step forward and showed what the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider is capable of when he gets a good start and puts a full day together.

MXA PHOTO TRIVIA

Who is this rider? The answer can be found at the bottom of this article.

TM DESIGNWORKS TRIUMPH REAR GUIDE

Built for everything from Hard Enduro and Baja to motocross and everyday off-road riding, this chain guide is designed to take serious abuse without sacrificing performance. Its streamlined profile adds protection around the swingarm mounting tabs, while large chamfered edges help deflect rocks and trail debris before they can cause damage. A replaceable wear pad handles abrasive conditions such as mud, sand and oversized sprockets, with redesigned recessed mounting bolts and strengthened low-profile pins for improved clearance and durability. The proprietary RMS plastic formula absorbs impacts and returns to center, while friction-reducing additives and UV protection help extend service life and prevent fading. Compatible with both standard and sealed chains, it includes new mounting hardware, is used by championship-winning race teams around the world, and is proudly made in the USA. Looking to shop? Click here!

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: JEFF WARD’S 1987 KX250SR

Jeff Ward is a two-time 250 Supercross Champion and four-time outdoor National champ—among other highlights.

Jeff Ward’s second AMA 250cc Supercross championship was won on this KX250 SR in 1987 using the number 3. During the 1987 season, Jeff Ward and Hondas Rick Johnson were involved in a very heated battle for the championship. Jeff prevailed over the heavily favored Honda rider and won his 4th AMA Championship. Jeff’s race bike was based on a production KX model with  KYB works suspension, magnesium front hub, reinforced swingarm area and KMC-developed porting specs along with a Pro Circuit exhaust pipe. Jeff used the number three.

Jeff Ward’s 1987 factory KX250 engine mated with a Pro Circuit pipe.

A Keihin carburetor was used with the factory KX250 SR engine.

 The swingarm on Jeff Ward’s KX250 was reinforced from stock.

 The famous number 3.

Rear disc brake and uni-track suspension were big things back in 1987.

Ward racing this 1987 bike. 

BREAKING NEWS: LUCAS AND SACHA COENEN TO RACE FULL-TIME IN THE U.S. FOR 2027

Lucas and Sacha Coenen are officially headed to the United States full-time for the 2027 season. The Belgian twins will make the move from the FIM Motocross World Championship to the SuperMotocross series with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, bringing two of Europe’s brightest young talents into the American Supercross and Pro Motocross championships. Lucas will step into the 450 ranks, while Sacha will continue aboard the 250 as both brothers begin the next chapter of their careers in the U.S.

Sacha Coenen will make the move to the United States as one of the top young riders coming out of the MX2 World Championship. The Belgian has become a consistent threat for wins with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, claiming multiple Grand Prix victories and holding the MX2 red plate during the 2026 season. Most recently, Coenen dominated the Swedish Grand Prix for his fourth overall victory of the year, going 1-1 on the day. Sacha has also shown that starts are one of his biggest strengths, something that could translate well to the shorter and more aggressive style of racing found in American Supercross. For 2027, Sacha will remain aboard the KTM 250 SX-F and compete in the 250SX and 250MX divisions, although KTM has not yet announced whether he will race the East or West Coast Supercross series.

Lucas Coenen will arrive in America with an already impressive résumé in the premier class. After finishing runner-up in the 2025 MXGP World Championship during his rookie 450 season, Lucas entered 2026 as one of the favorites for the title and took control of the championship lead early in the season. He became the youngest premier-class Grand Prix winner in MXGP history and continued adding victories in 2026, including dominant performances where he controlled entire weekends from qualifying through both motos. A left hip issue has interrupted his championship run late this season, but his speed on the KTM 450 SX-F has already established him as one of the fastest riders in the world. Lucas will go directly into the 450SX and 450MX classes when he makes the full-time move to America in 2027.

The addition of both Coenen brothers brings two legitimate international contenders into an already deep American field. Sacha adds another proven race winner to the 250 class, while Lucas will immediately face the established stars of the 450 division in both Supercross and Pro Motocross. The brothers already received their first taste of AMA racing with a wildcard appearance at Thunder Valley in 2026, but racing the complete SuperMotocross schedule will be a completely different challenge. They will have to adapt to Supercross, new tracks and a different racing format, but their raw speed is not in question. With two more young riders capable of fighting near the front, the arrival of Lucas and Sacha Coenen should only make the 2027 season that much more competitive.

MXA FANTASY LEAGUE: THE WINNER OF THE BUDDS CREEK NATIONAL SCORED 259 POINTS

Jenafireperez came out on top at Budds Creek with 259 points, earning this week’s MXA Fantasy win and a $500 value prize package from Twisted Handlebars. Budds Creek proved to be another difficult round to predict as rain, changing track conditions, and championship pressure shook up both classes. In the 250 class, Chance Hymas put together 2-1 moto scores to take the overall victory, while Cole Davies went 1-3 for second and took control of the championship standings. Levi Kitchen’s difficult opening moto left him playing catch-up, and despite finishing second in moto two, he ended the day fifth overall. The 450 class belonged to Hunter Lawrence, who swept both motos and erased the ten-point deficit he carried into the weekend. Jorge Prado finished second overall, Haiden Deegan took third, and Jett Lawrence finished fourth with 5-2 moto scores. Hunter now leaves Budds Creek with the red plate and a one-point advantage over Jett heading into the final round of the championship.

WEEKLY TOP TEN

The 250 class was very interesting as Kitchen and Davies battled for the points lead.

POS NAME POINTS

1	Jenafireperez	259
2	cray38	248
3	natep	242
4	PEZBerq	242
5	honda732 Maui	242
6	Deerthug1	242
7	mario44mag	239
8	CWallder_73	239
9	csparrington	239
10	2-Strokin	239

250 RACE PREDICTIONS 

Ryder DiFrancesco had a scary crash in the second moto but has been riding well.

For Budds Creek, the 250 picks had several strong calls, but the order at the front changed quite a bit once the motos were complete. Levi Kitchen was selected to win, but a difficult opening moto and a four-position penalty left him fifth overall despite rebounding with a second-place finish in moto two. Cole Davies was picked second and landed exactly there with 1-3 moto scores, while Chance Hymas was selected third but went 2-1 to take the overall victory.

Julien Beaumer was another exact prediction, finishing fourth overall right where he was picked. Kayden Minear also matched his sixth-place selection with a solid 5-10 afternoon. Carson Mumford was the biggest miss of the group, as he was picked fifth but ended the day 11th overall after a strong fourth in moto one was followed by a 40th-place finish in moto two. Altogether, Davies, Beaumer and Minear earned exact-position bonuses, while five of the six selected riders still finished inside the top 11 overall.

RIDER PICK FINISH POINTS AWARDED

Levi Kitchen	1	5	18
Cole Davies	2	2	33
Chance Hymas	3	1	26
Julien Beaumer	4	4	29
Carson Mumford	5	11	0
Kayden Minear	6	6	27
TOTAL			133

450 RACE PREDICTIONS 

Hunter Lawrence continues to dominate and has regained momentum after his crash at Unadilla.

For Budds Creek, the 450 picks produced a strong score despite the Lawrence brothers finishing in the opposite order from the original selections. Jett Lawrence was picked to win but finished fourth overall, while Hunter Lawrence was selected second and swept both motos to take the overall victory. Haiden Deegan was the best prediction of the group, finishing exactly where he was picked in third and earning the 10-point exact-position bonus.

Jorge Prado was selected fourth but finished second overall with consistent 3-3 moto scores. Cooper Webb was another exact prediction, taking sixth overall after being picked sixth and earning the bonus. R.J. Hampshire was selected fifth but finished outside the top six in tenth overall, while Mikkel Haarup was the top-six rider who was not selected, finishing fifth. Altogether, Deegan and Webb earned exact-position bonuses, and five of the six selected riders finished inside the actual top six.

RIDER PICK FINISH POINTS AWARDED

Jett Lawrence	1	4	19
Hunter Lawrence	2	1	26
Haiden Deegan	3	3	31
Jorge Prado	4	2	23
R.J. Hampshire	5	10	0
Cooper Webb	6	6	27
TOTAL			126

MXA FANTASY LEAGUE: WIN A STARK VARG, GIANT BICYCLES MOUNTAIN BIKE & MORE

MXA Fantasy Apple app download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mxa-fantasy-league/id6473468112
MXA Fantasy Android app download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mxa.fantasyleague&pcampaignid=web_share

We are proud to have our own app, built in-house by MXA’s Justin Lee. We love the camaraderie that is created amongst family and friends who play it, and we believe in it so much that we decided to throw some extra motivation into the pot for 2026. This Grand Prize will be randomly selected after the Las Vegas SMX Finale from a list of names of the people who were consistent and diligent enough to enter their picks on time for every race, all season long.

The Giant Bicycles Trance X2 mountain bike will go to the player who has the most points at the end of the 31-round 2026 SuperMotocross season.

As usual, the MXA Fantasy League app is free to download and free to play. In addition to the Stark Varg, we will still be rewarding the top finishing players with weekly prizes, and with a brand new Giant Bicycles Trance X2 Mountain Bike, going to the player with the most points at the end of the 31-race season. Find your flow on the mountain with the Giant Trance X2 (the one we’re giving away is Metallic Black, as pictured). This bike has adjustable geometry, the option to change rear wheel size, and it comes with a new 140mm Maestro rear suspension setup. This versatile trail bike is ready to conquer single-track with confidence and control, and it is perfect for cross-training for motocross.

FIRST RIDE: ALL-NEW 2027 YAMAHA YZ250F

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

This is Jody Weisel at Rincon in central California. Both Jody and MXA editor Justin Lee have a passion for surfing. Surfing is about as raw with nature as it gets. There is no engine, no track and no way to control what is coming at you. You are reading the ocean, feeling the wind, watching the swell and trying to work with something far more powerful than you are. Dirt bikes have that same connection in a different way. A motorcycle can take you deep into mountains, deserts and forests where almost nothing else can go, with the exception of a horse. Both put you directly into the environment instead of separating you from it. You feel the terrain, the weather and every change beneath you, which is what makes riding and surfing feel less like traditional sports and more like interacting with nature itself.