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Morning Report

Good morning race fans. Our ninth round of 450SX brings us our second Triple Crown race of ’26 SX—the first for the 250SX East Division Championship.

While the outside weather today will be a high of 66° Fahrenheit with high chances of morning rain carrying into the early afternoon, it will not be a factor for the track as we have our fourth indoor venue of the season as we are set to go here in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Last week, Lucas Oil Stadium tested the best college football athletes to see the best prospects via the National Football League (NFL) Combine. The key thing to watch is always the 40-yard dash to see who has that burst of speed out of their stance and the blazing top-end speed. Today, the home of the Indianapolis Colts hosts the SuperMotocross League. The keys to the action inside Lucas Oil Stadium today will be similar to the NFL Combine: see who gets a good start and see who has the blazing top end speed—although this is a little different! The Triple Crown format requires good, consistent starts out of the gates and as we know supercross requires athletes to excel in the whoops. But unlike stick and ball sports talk show host Rich Eisen, who can lace up a set of spikes and run his best 40-yard dash for charity, I will be strictly walking—there will be no whoops blitzing for me!

Speaking of whoops, here is a look at them today.

Today’s race will be the 19th SX event held at Lucas Oil Stadium, and just the second Triple Crown event in this venue—following just the 2024 Indianapolis SX. Neither of the respective winners that night are in action here today: the 250SX overall winner Cameron McAdoo is racing 250SX West this year and 450SX winner Jett Lawrence has yet to race in 2026 due to a fractured ankle ahead of the season opener.

However, both of last year’s winners here are on the line today: Seth Hammaker (250SX East/West Showdown winner) and Cooper Webb (450SX winner). Hammaker, coming off his win at the Daytona SX, sits second in the 250SX East points to Pierce Brown who left round two with a P3 and the points lead following his opening-round win. Jo Shimoda and Cole Davies, who sit P3 and P4, respectively, in the standings entering today, will surely be two riders to watch here today as well. This feels like the perfect opportunity for Nate Thrasher (currently ninth in the standings) to strike, following finishes of 11th and seventh to start the season. Thrasher’s well-covered up and down results seem to result in a win when least expected. Case in point his only win in 2025 250SX East, when he won the Birmingham SX Triple Crown after finishes of 8-14 the previous two weekends. Those riders are where we will likely see the win come from, although riders like Daxton Bennick, Coty Schock, Jalek Swoll, and more can more than likely be in the battle for race wins/podiums and even the overall podium. Unfortunately, Drew Adams is out after the broken thumb he suffered in his crash in the Daytona SX main event last week.

Today’s race will be the 19th SX event held at Lucas Oil Stadium, and just the second Triple Crown event in this venue—following just the 2024 Indianapolis SX. Neither of the respective winners that night are in action here today: the 250SX overall winner Cameron McAdoo is racing 250SX West this year and 450SX winner Jett Lawrence has yet to race in 2026 due to a fractured ankle ahead of the season opener.

However, both of last year’s winners here are on the line today: Seth Hammaker (250SX East/West Showdown winner) and Cooper Webb (450SX winner). Hammaker, coming off his win at the Daytona SX, sits second in the 250SX East points to Pierce Brown who left round two with a P3 and the points lead following his opening-round win. Jo Shimoda and Cole Davies, who sit P3 and P4, respectively, in the standings entering today, will surely be two riders to watch here today as well. This feels like the perfect opportunity for Nate Thrasher (currently ninth in the standings) to strike, following finishes of 11th and seventh to start the season. Thrasher’s well-covered up and down results seem to result in a win when least expected. Case in point his only win in 2025 250SX East, when he won the Birmingham SX Triple Crown after finishes of 8-14 the previous two weekends. Those riders are where we will likely see the win come from, although riders like Daxton Bennick, Coty Schock, Jalek Swoll, and more can more than likely be in the battle for race wins/podiums and even the overall podium. Unfortunately, Drew Adams is out after the broken thumb he suffered in his crash in the Daytona SX main event last week.

As far as 450SX Championship, this thing is far from over, but at the top, Hunter Lawrence and Eli Tomac have broken out to almost a full race worth gate over the duo of Ken Roczen  and Cooper Webb. Chase Sexton is OUT again for the second straight race following a practice crash ahead of last week’s Daytona SX. Dylan Ferrandis is also OUT after a thumb injury suffered in Daytona. Jorge Prado is IN for today, making his return to racing after missing the Seattle SX night show—due to a qualifying crash that afternoon—and the following two rounds. Read our full injury report if you missed it.

Jason Anderson is also out for the immediate future with an indefinite leave of absence from racing.

Track walk starts at 11 a.m. local time (Eastern time) and pro bikes will be on track at 12:30 p.m. local time with the first 250SX sessions, then the 450SX groups.

Check out today's full schedule (times local to Indianapolis, Indiana, in Eastern time zone).

Race day live starts at 1 p.m. Eastern and the night show broadcast starts at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Leum Oehlhof's Pro Debut

I talked to #832, rookie Leum Oehlhof, who is making his pro debut today during track walk. He said he was supposed to race the entire 250SX East Division Championship, but a broken left wrist delayed his debut until today. He was not able to get back on the bike as early as he thought and he and the team did not want to rush racing Arlington without being ready. Therefore, he is making his debut today. The Triple Crown format will be tough to transfer directly into the night show/main races, but he is excited to make his pro debut!

Ty Masterpool Out for Remainder of SX

On Friday, we learned Ty Masterpool is officially out for the remainder of supercross, after his shoulder injury ahead of the Arlington SX actually needed surgery. Now, he is recovering and will miss the rest of SX.

First Qualifying Sessions

250SX

Oehlhof topped the first 250SX group C qualifying session as Luke Clout topped the first 250SX group B qualifying session. At the very end of 250SX group B, Bryce Shelley had a big get off in the rhythm section on the close sideline here to the press box. He went to get up but looked to be favoring his left leg so he waited for Alpinestars medical crew. The checkered flag was also out, too, so the medics were able to tend to Shelley and help him onto the back of the medical cart.

As far as the track goes, we will have a fast track today as these guys are already in the 46-47-48 mark. Again, the whoops will be a key to the racing tonight.

Pierce Brown and Jo Shimoda led the first 250SX group A field around the track. But Seth Hammaker was fastest early, with a 46.367. He then he went sub-46 to nail a 45.487. Hammaker topped the field with a best of 45.148 as Cole Davies was second fastest with a 45.780, the only other rider under the 46-second mark. Caden Dudney put in a fast 46.355 to sit third, as Coty Schock and championship leader Brown rounded out a Yamaha-heavy top five. Daxton Bennick was sixth fastest.

450SX

Hunter Lawrence, Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb, and Ken Roczen, the top four in the championship, led the field as 450SX A gets underway. Justin Cooper was fastest early, with a 45.996 but then Eli Tomac's 45.434 became the top time. Jorge Prado was also strong in his first time on track since his crash and injury at the Seattle SX. Tomac topped the 450SX group A qualifying session with a 45.434. Tomac, Cooper, Prado, Roczen, and Webb rounded out the top five.

Josh Cartwright went down on the starting straight here in 450SX group B session and was tended to by the Alpinestars medical crew. He was in a spot where they could assist him without red flagging the sessions, so rest of field continued to go on. Once the checkered flag came out, Cartwright was helped onto the back of the medical cart. Cole Thompson tops the 450SX group B first qualifying session.

Second Qualifying Sessions

250SX

Leum Oehlhof again topped 250SX group C session as Gavin Towers topped the 250SX group B session.

Seth Hammaker, Cole Davies, Caden Dudney, and Jalek Swoll were out front following the practice starts out of the gates in the second qualifying session. Davies had a big swap back and forth of his rear end going through the whoops on the opening lap, but he stayed up. A few seconds later, Hammaker made a mistake in the rhythm section before the finish line jump, but he stayed up. Close call for both riders out front! Pierce Brown had a crash a handful of whoops into the section, but he got up and got going again no problem. Davie’s 46.417 was the fastest early in the session as he, Hammaker, Dudney, Brown, Coty Schock, and Daxton Bennick were a few of the guys nailing the triple onto the tabletop out of turn two. That looks to be a nice line for those that nailed it. And while it might not be a factor in terms of fast lap, it is sick to see riders putting their left foot out while in the air and landing with it out still going directly into the turn. Not a speed thing but a style thing and it sure is cool! Hammaker’s 45.380 then jumped to P1 in the session, which would hold until the checkered flag as he takes the fastest overall 250SX qualifying spot on the day (although it was his 45.148 from the first session). In the session, Hammaker, Davies, Shimoda, Bennick, and Coty Schock rounded out the top five. Cullin Park was sixth then championship leader Brown was seventh fastest.

In terms of overall 250SX qualifying, Hammaker, Davies, Shimoda, Bennick, and Schock are the top five. Brown finishes ninth.

Oehlhof landed 17th overall in qualifying in his pro debut to make the starting gate for tonight's main program/night show Triple Crown races. CJ Benard takes the final (18th) direct qualifying spot.