Cole Davies continues the legacy racing 2026 AMA MX Championship 19 years after Ben Townley finished second in AMA MX 250 Championship followed by Cody Cooper finishing 5th overall in AMA MX 450 Championship in 2008. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider heads into the 11 Round Championship’s Opening Round at Pala on May 30th after winning 2026 AMA 250SX East Championship in Philadelphia on April 25.
Cole Davies winning 2026 AMA 250SX East Championship at Philadelphia on April 25. Film: MXLink.
In only his second season racing AMA SX/MX Championships, the 18 year old kiwi has clocked up plenty of credibility on and off the track producing results worthy of his NZ predecessors. Most certainly, taking overall victory in AMA 250SX East Championship matched his mentor and former coach – Ben Townley’s historic win in 2007 – and now looks set to follow-up race performances in the Outdoor Series – the same race schedule as BT 19 years previous.
Having only raced the final 2 Rounds in 2025 AMA MX 250 Championship due to recovery of injury, Davies showed fans and followers alike what he is capable of racing natural terrain outdoor tracks. Finishing 23 – 23 at Round 10 in Unadilla and 1 – 17 at Round 11 at Budds Creek, #37 can confidently take on the challenges of racing a competitive field of rider’s knowing grass-roots riding back home formed the basis of his MX skills while Amateur to Pro has refined his race-craft in America.
Ben Townley racing AMA MX Lites Round 3 at Southwick – epic battle against his team-rider Ryan Villopoto Credit: Pro Motocross Championship
Given the long hiatus between NZ rider’s claiming victory in America’s premier SX/MX Championships, Cole’s lazer-like focus on taking pointy end results has an uncanny resemblance to BT’s steely-like determination to battle and win against his team-rider – Ryan Villopoto – in 2007. Noted by fans as the best MX 250 season ever, the rivalry between the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider’s remains unprecedented with BT winning 6 Rounds and RV taking 5 overalls.
Ben’s remarkable ability to push harder in the 2nd motos, taking wins at Hangtown, High Point, Southwick, Thunder Valley, Washougal, and Glen Helen over 30 minutes plus 2 laps under the summer heat has to be admired. And, Ryan’s tenacity to hang with BT, shrug off disappointment of a DNF at Unadilla – due to bike failure – winning the 2nd moto, and take double moto wins at Budds Creek, RedBud, and Freestone remains equally inspiring.
In 2008 NZ’s Cody Cooper raced against the sport’s all-time-greats – James Stewart – in AMA MX 450 Championship. In what would be a flawless season with Stewart winning all 12 Rounds – that’s 24 races – Coops put up solid performances finishing P2 in R2 at Southwick and P3 in R2 at Spring Creek. Completing the season in 5th overall, the then Suzuki City/OTSFF/Rockstar rider remains the last kiwi to race a full season in America’s MX Outdoors. All of which turns eyes on Cole Davies – what can the dude produce starting at the Opening Round in Pala on May 30.
Header photo: Cole Davies racing AMA 250SX East Championship 2026. Image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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