Can Cole Davies come back from 25 points down to take the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship with 4 Rounds remaining? The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider went into Round 7 at Spring Creek holding the Red Plate only to be dealt with extreme challenges which forced an early retirement in Moto 1 followed by finishing P13 in Moto 2 to drop to P3 overall – 25 points adrift from the new leader – Levi Kitchen.
Cole Davies mechanical issue in Moto 1 at Spring Creek same for Ryan Villopoto in 2007 Film: Feld and Speed TV
Playing out the scenario further, what are the chances that Davies can claw back enough points to fight for the Title given MX/SX rider’s have proved in the past that nothing is off the table knowing the unpredictable nature of racing. One only has to look back a couple of months to Ken Roczen’s unbelievable come back from a 31 points deficit to win 2026 AMA 450SX Championship at Salt Lake City in May.
For K-Roc, mental dexterity was the key as he states heading into the final 4 Rounds: ‘”I’ve got 4 races to go, and I’m 10 points down and people think it’s a lot. I don’t think it’s a lot, and this is just as quickly as it can happen, and that’s why I’m staying in my own lane, and that’s why I don’t detour on my mentality. I’m going to do the same thing here on out. It’s about winning, and if that is not reachable, I decide how to do the most damage control. You guys might try to change my mentality, but I’m not”‘.
Cole Davies taking the overall at Pro MX250 Round 5 at Red Budd going 1 – 2 Film: Feld
Delving into RacerX archives and all time come backs are a plenty – notably Ricky Carmichael facing a 35 points deficit in 2002 after a DNF at Anaheim 1, followed by pulling off a string of wins to take the Title in Las Vegas in May. In 2009, James Stewart crashed out at Anaheim 1, with a deficit of 23 points he battled back claiming 11 wins from 17 Rounds to take the 250SX Championship over Chad Reed. And, in 2023 Chase Sexton was 25 points down to Eli Tomac when Cooper Webb – second in points went down followed by Tomac who tore his achilles – pushed Sexton to win the final 3 Rounds and take the 450SX Title.
Flip the change of fortune over, and the reverse can happen with rider’s who are leading MX/SX World Championships are suddenly not. Take Europe’s current Red Plate holder – Lucas Coenen. Heading into Round 12 of 19, the Red Bull KTM Factory Team rider held a commanding 68 points lead over Jeffrey Herlings only to suffer 2x DNF’s at Foxhills at the weekend – due to a crash and injury in the Qualifying Race – which has reduced his lead to 11 points.
Cole Davies from growing up riding and racing in NZ to winning on the World Stage Film: MXLink
As for New Zealand’s MX1 Vice-Champion 2x – Josh Coppins – 2007 was a season so close to victory yet was just not meant to be. With a 107 points lead after Round 10, Coppins succumbed to a mechanical issue followed by a crash – hurting his shoulder forcing retirement at Round 11, the Grand Prix of Czech Republic. Stating at the time ‘”to sum up the day all I can say is that’s racing. I have had luck this season but today we had two problems that were nobody’s fault but just racing incidents. The points lead is still there but now I just want to make sure my shoulder is ok for Namur”‘. Sitting out the next 2 Rounds, Josh tried to race the penultimate Round at Donington Park, though the shoulder was too sore, making the final overall P3 podium – bittersweet – in Coppin’s long-standing career.
Heading into Round 8 at Washougal this weekend, before 3 weeks break – Cole Davies will continue to push forward, edging out doubts that 25 points can be overcome, and surprising all those watching and anticipating what the overall results will be.
Header Photo: Cole Davies racing AMA Pro 250MX Championship. Image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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