250SX West or 250SX East – which division will Cole Davies choose for 2027? The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider has raced both divisions gaining his first overall win on debut at Seattle followed by winning 250SX Showdown at Philadelphia the next weekend in 2025. Cole claimed ultimate victory winning 250SX East Championship this season taking overall wins at Indianapolis, Birmingham SX Showdown, Detroit, Nashville, Philadelphia, and Salt Lake City SX Showdown.
Knowing that Cole will have only one more season racing 250SX class, stepping up to 450SX Championship in 2028, the decision prompts objective analysis on which division offers the best opportunity to clinch another 250SX Championship Title. The recently released schedule for 2027 kicks off with 250SX West opening Rounds at Anaheim 1, San Diego, Anaheim 2, and San Antonio, Texas all raced back-to-back from January 9 to Jan 30th. Then one weekend off before 250SX Showdown at Glendale, a gap weekend to Arlington on February 27, two weeks off then Seattle on March 20th, then three weeks until 250SX Showdown at Pittsburgh before the Final 2 Rounds at Denver and 250SX Showdown at Salt Lake City.
250SX East starts later with the Opening Round at Tampa on February 6th, followed by Glendale shoot-out, Detroit, back to Florida at Daytona Beach on March 6th then Indianapolis the following weekend. A one week gap before 4 Rounds back-to-back: Foxborough, Baltimore, East Rutherford, and 250SX Showdown at Pittsburgh before a weekend off then the Final 250SX Showdown at Salt Lake City.
A couple of facts that could influence Cole’s decision to race 250SX East are: the closeness of Rounds to where Cole lives and trains, the dirt compounds of Rounds which suits Cole’s racing, and the momentum carried forward from winning 250SX East Championship in 2026. The fact that offers a different option for racing 250SX West is: the opening Rounds in January allows for three weeks gap in racing in April to test for Pro 250MX. With a tight turn-over time-frame of 2 weeks from the end SX West – East divisions to the start of the Outdoors, the additional track-time could well be a deciding factor on which division to race.
Delving into previous 250SX West and East Championship winners, stats reveal which rider’s preferred to race and win within specific divisions. All time legend, Jeremy McGrath won a total of 13 250SX Championships – all in the West division – and the GOAT – Ricky Carmichael – won 11 250SX Championships – all in the East division. Equally, Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac won 11 250SX Championships – all in the West division – while James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, and Ryan Dungey won 10, 8, and 7 250SX West Championships followed by 6, 3, and 3 250SX East Championships respectively. NZ’s Ben Townley claimed 3 overall wins in 250SX East Championship at St Louis, Daytona, and Irving before taking the overall Title in 2007.
Weighing up the pros and cons of the decision, one fact stands over and above them all – Cole has already proved what he is capable of winning 250SX East Championship and Pro 250MX Championship in his first full season of racing in 2026. Those results speak louder than any deliberation on which division would serve the 19 year old kiwi best, which in the end is on Cole.
Header photo: Cole Davies taking his first overall win in 250SX West Championship in 2025 and winning 250SX East Championship in 2026. Image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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