AMA SMX World Championship Round 7 Arlington key take-outs. Team Honda HRC Progressive rider – Hunter Lawrence displayed fine race-craftmanship to win SX450 Main by 2.817 seconds taking his first victory of the Championship ahead of Red Bull KTM – Eli Tomac – with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing – Cooper Webb – rounding out the top 3. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing – Pierce Brown – claimed victory in SX250 East Opening Round with Honda HRC Progressive – Jo Shimoda finishing second and Rockstar Husqvarna – Daxton Bennick taking third.
Key take-outs: #1 straight up, Hunter’s dominant display of racing skills, mental focus, and technical ability against a line-up of AMA SX and MX Champions was exhilarating to watch. From lining up first on the gate, to marking a clean pathway around the first turn, to executing a slick pass on Webb, to making the pass on Roczen stick – #96 delivered the best performance of the night.
#2 the blitzing speed of Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing – Cole Davies – through the whoops was mind boggling fast. Clocked at 5.8 seconds with no 250 or 450 rider going under 6.3 – Davies knocked the odds of winning a race out of the stadium. Aside from the mistake squeezing 2 into 1 around the first turn, this dude has raw talent that makes every kiwi in New Zealand damn proud.
Cole Davies racing for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing AMA SX250 East. Image: MXLink.
#3 gotta say Team Honda HRC Progressive rider and defending SMX250 Champion – Jo Shimoda – defied all odds of taking a near win to settle for second after recovering from a serious back injury in late November 2025. Even with results in qualifying and Heat races less than desirable, Shimoda produced stellar hunt-like racing to claim a valuable 22 points heading into Round 8 at Daytona next weekend.
#4 AMA SMX Round 7 Military Appreciation Race honored veterans who have served their country past and present. Such humble recognition for those who fought were appreciated by the fans from the calling of names who were present to the national anthem and fireworks lighting up the stadium. The nod to the people who have sacrificed so much reminded all that sport really unites many on what matters most.
Team Honda HRC Progressive – Jo Shimoda racing AMA SX250 East. Image: MXLink.
#5 the depth of racing in both SX450 and SX250 East takes any predictions of who will win the next Round to another level. Add the flavour of rider’s personalities, career pathways, and down right adrenalin pumping through each and we have the perfect recipe for watching what comes next right up to the final playoffs.
Header photo: AMA SX450 Heat 2. Image: MXLink.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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