The iconic Southwick sand track delivered another gruelling chapter in the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship on Saturday, with Jett Lawrence reclaiming the 450SMX Championship points lead and Belgian sensation Sacha Coenen dominating the 250SMX Class in just his second Pro Motocross appearance.
Round 23 of the championship, celebrating 50 years of racing at The Wick 338, featured an increased international presence with MXGP stars testing themselves against America’s best on one of the most demanding tracks of the summer.
In the premier class, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence secured his third win of the season with 2-1 moto scores, edging his brother Hunter Lawrence (1-4) for the overall victory. The result moved Jett back to the top of the standings for the second time this season, holding just a single-point advantage over Hunter heading into Spring Creek.
The first moto saw Hunter take the chequered flag after Jett crashed late whilst holding the lead. MXGP points leader Lucas Coenen, who qualified fastest, crashed out of fourth place in a frightening incident that brought out a red flag on the final lap.
Moto two unfolded as another Lawrence brothers battle, with Hunter leading until hitting neutral entering a turn inside the final five minutes. The mistake sent him over the bars, allowing Jett to inherit the lead and cruise to his 50th career moto victory—a milestone that ties him with AMA Hall of Famer Bob Hannah on the all-time wins list.
Haiden Deegan earned his third podium of his rookie 450SMX campaign with 3-2 finishes, holding off MXGP’s Jorge Prado on the final lap of moto two. Garrett Marchbanks rounded out the top five.
The 250SMX Class belonged entirely to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Sacha Coenen, the MXGP MX2 points leader who put on a masterclass performance. The Belgian swept both motos with a combined winning margin of over 37 seconds, including a dominant 33.4-second victory in the opening moto—the fifth-largest winning gap since 2012.
Coenen’s second moto wasn’t without drama. After building a commanding lead over Cole Davies, he suffered a heavy crash with under four minutes remaining but remounted to secure the 1-1 sweep despite riding without goggles. He became the season’s third first-time winner and 96th different victor in 250SMX Class history, though he was unavailable for the podium after sustaining a shoulder injury.
The drama extended beyond the racing as championship leader Jo Shimoda suffered a fractured collarbone and mild concussion during qualifying, forcing him to miss the motos. His absence reshuffled the points standings, with Davies inheriting the red plate for the first time after his 7-2 performance gave him third overall.
Levi Kitchen earned second overall (2-4), whilst Australian rookie Kayden Minear impressed with fourth (6-3). Davies now holds a two-point lead over Kitchen and 33 points over the injured Shimoda with five rounds remaining in the Pro Motocross Championship.
The series continues next Saturday, 18 July, at Spring Creek Motocross Park in Minnesota for Round 24 of the SMX World Championship regular season.
Photo: MX Sports Pro Racing Media
