Cole Davies Clinches 2026 250SX East Championship in Mud‑Soaked Philadelphia Showdown
Cole Davies celebrates his first career Supercross title after clinching the 2026 250SX East Championship in the mud at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
Rain pouring down and, quite literally, knee deep in mud, a childhood dream was realized on Saturday at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field – home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles – when Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Cole Davies was handed the 250 Eastern Regional (ESX) No. 1 place – signifying the season overall championship for the 18-year-old New Zealander.
“This championship means everything to me and my family,” said Davies, who won Saturday’s main event despite having to endure a red flag stoppage and staggered restart. “We’ve sacrificed everything to come over here. I cannot thank them enough. All the hard work, the ups and downs, it’s all worth it now. This track was treacherous, but we got it done. A dream come true.”
All totaled, Davies won five of the nine ESX rounds (plus a 2nd and a 3rd) in scoring 206 points (to runner up Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki racer Seth Hammaker’s 180), which allowed Davies to clinch the title a race early.
Added Hammaker, who took advantage of that restart following an early race crash to place 3rd (from 21st): “I’m definitely bummed. I had big title hopes for this season, but I was racing a tough competitor. Congratulations to Cole [Davies] and his team. He’s been riding unreal this year.”
Star Racing/Yamaha’s Nate Thrasher rounded out the top five (5th) for Monster Energy in the Philly 250 ESX main event.
On the 450s Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s defending SX champion, Cooper Webb, continued to run well as he slogged quickly through the mud to his third-consecutive 2nd place main event finish.
Said Webb, who’s solidly in 3rd place podium position in the overalls season 450 points tally: “It got crazy at the end. I just went full send.”
Also coming in with an excellent performance despite his sub-factory level backing was Monster Energy’s Justin Hill (Tedder/KTM). The fan-favorite matched his season best 5th place finish (Nashville) with another 5th place run at Philadelphia. And rounding out the 450 top ten positions were Monster Energy/Kawasaki teammates Chase Sexton and Garrett Marchbanks in 7th and 9th positions, respectively.
And in the final SMX Next race of the season, Monster Energy got podium finishes from Team Green/Kawasaki’s Kade Johnson (2nd) and KTM-mounted Jeremy Fappani (3rd).
| Philadelphia 450 class results | 250 East Regional class |
|---|---|
| 2nd – Webb (Monster/Star/Yamaha) | 1st – Davies (Monster/Star/Yamaha) |
| 5th – Hill (Monster/KTM) | 3rd – Hammaker (Monster/PC/Kawasaki) |
| 7th – Sexton (Monster/Kawasaki) | 5th – Thrasher (Monster/Star/Yamaha) |
Overall Standings (15 of 17 rounds)
| 450 class | 250 ESX class |
|---|---|
| 3rd – Webb, 286 points | 1st – Davies, 206 points (ESX champ) |
| 5th – Cooper, 242 points | 2nd – Hammaker, 180 points (ESX runner-up) |
| 6th – Sexton, 195 points | 5th – Thrasher, 133 points |
Notes & Quotes
- “It has been so fun to watch (him/Davies). Just his composure on the motorcycle. His style. Certainly incredible and well deserved from this young man.” NBC Sports announcer Ricky Carmichael, himself a former 250 champ.
- “I’ve spent my whole life coming towards this moment – I’m stoked, this means everything to me.” - Davies
- “I got close at the end, but lappers dictated some of it at the end and helped Kenny [Roczen] or hurt me, or vice versa. I felt like tonight was an opportunity I needed to make the most of and just didn’t quite pull it off. Overall, a great ride.” - Webb
- After Hammaker’s spectacular opening lap get off, where he wrecked – while leading – the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki racer blazed all the way back from 21st position to the podium (3rd).
- Hammaker could have actually pushed the ESX championship to the final round with a 2nd place finish (to Davies’ 1st), but an innocent tip over in the deep mud on the race’s final lap (by Hammaker) would help clinch the title for Davies.
- “You could feel that extra energy – and that brings the best out of me. Hopefully, they keep coming back here (Philly) each and every year so I can put it on for the hometown.” – Hammaker, who hails from nearby Bainbridge, Pa.
- In 250 qualifying Hammaker and Davies went 1-2, with Hammaker’s 48.679 topping on. On the 450s Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Justin Cooper put up a blazing 47.260 lap for the win, but would struggle (along with everyone else) in the main (13th).
- “The results were solid, I guess. I would have liked to put a few more wins in there, but you know when ‘Dazzy,’ (Darren) the Lawrence brothers dad comes up to you and says, ‘You’re riding a lot better than when you first got here.’” – SMX Next runner up Kade Johnson (Monster Energy/Team Green/Kawasaki).
Up next: Monster Energy AMA Supercross’ penultimate round (16) will go off at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High Stadium this Saturday, May 2nd.
