Cole Davies wins 2026 AMA 250SX East Championship – break-down of stats on how the NZ’der clinched the Title. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider not only dominated the 250SX East division taking 5 wins from 9 Rounds but also broke precedent as the youngest and second only kiwi rider to win America’s most prestigous indoor Series.
Breaking down the stats from the opening Round of 250SX East in Arlington to the penultimate Round in Philadelphia – coupled with Cole’s comments – it is possible to decipher how Davies consolidated his points standings winning with one Round to spare. #1 Q P2 and Heat win at Arlington followed by P5 in the Main meant more work as Cole states: “‘I need to calm down more and get my starts dialed”‘. #2 Q P6, P3 in Heat 1, and P3 in the Main at Daytona Beach secured Davies his first podium of the season yet as he states “‘I am not happy with how I rode”‘. #3 The Triple Crown at Indianapolis proved a game changer with Davies nailing 1-1-1, setting the fastest lap times in all 3 races, and taking hold of the Red Plate
#4 The East/West Showdown at Birmingham mixed results up with Davies taking P1 in Heat 1, finishing P1 in the Main – extending his points lead – along with setting the fastest lap times in the East division. #5 Davies produced a stellar performance at Detroit taking P2 in Q, P1 in Heat 1, winning the Main by 12.196 seconds, and setting the fastest sector times in S1, S2, S3, and S9. #6 The East/West Showdown at St Louis was a test of Davies intense focus on maintaining his points lead – Q P4, P1 in Heat 1 East, P2 in the Main to retain the Red Plate.
#7 Nashville’s track layout and dirt pushed Cole to deliver an optimal performance going P2 in Q, P1 in Heat 1, P1 in the Main – winning by 17.242 seconds. #8 The Triple Crown at Cleveland along with the rain turned racing into management of slippery track conditions with #37 rounding out the 3 races in P5, P4, and P1 extending his points lead. #8 The penultimate Round in Philadelphia was going to be the deal-breaker of the Series. Davies needed to finish 4 points ahead of second placed rider – Seth Hammaker – which he did in dogged, number 8 wire mentality, to get the victory done.
Take-outs. Having covered 250SX East at Arlington and Philadelphia the main standout points are: Davies has an incredible skill to stay soooo focused on race day – blocking out all distractions – even when Media, fans, rider’s, track incidents and track deterioration threaten to rattle rider’s nerves to stay dialed in. The 18 year old thinks strategically on what is needed to win the Championship – not going all out to beat Deegan in the East/West Showdown at St Louis was smart. Davies whoop speed in the Rounds with drier track conditions certainly made up time – however – this ability could not be used in Round 15 at Philly due to the wet, muddy conditions, and the last couple of whoops had been bowled anyway. Cole Davies won on sheer strength of mind on what mattered most to him – taking victory with a Round to spare. A remarkable rider indeed.
Header Photo: Cole Davies winning 2026 AMA 250SX East Championship. Image: Feld.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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