They’re Back

Birmingham marks the return of two riders who are joining the series for the first time in 2026 as fill-in riders. Nick Romano will be filling in at Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki for the injured Drew Adams. And Justin Bogle who has not raced Monster Energy Supercross since 2022 will be on a Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance in the 450 class.

First Qualifying Sessions

SMX Next

First bikes on the track today was SMX Next for their free practice. SMX Next are the only riders to get a free practice to help them learn the track. Of course, transponders are still running though, and it was Landon Gordon who topped the board with Vincent Wey in second.

250 Overflow

Being an East/West Showdown those who are not in the top 22 in either Region ride overflow. In the end it was CJ Benard, Evan Ferry and Nick Romano with the three fastest times.

250 East

Cole Davies was the first rider on the track and on his first lap went through the whoops faster than anyone has hit them yet all day. As soon as the clock got turned on Seth Hammaker set the fastest time with a 51.913, though this will surely change. With six minutes to go Coty Schock went down hard in the whoops but got up quickly. While everyone kept chasing that 51 second lap time, Seth was able to drop his time by even more, at this point having three laps faster than everyone else. In the end the only one able to top Seth’s original fast time was Seth himself, as he was almost a full second faster than Pierce Brown in second, Jalek Swoll was able to put in his fast lap at the end to come in third.

250 West

When it was time for the West to hit the track, Haiden Deegan was the first rider on track. After the first two minutes of free time, Deegan dropped the first fast time of a 53.4 but then Ryder DiFrancesco topped him, then Levi Kitchen made his way to the top. The track was drying up being an open stadium on a warm sunny day and riders were having a hard time matching Hammaker’s time in the East.

450 Group A

When the 450 riders took to the track the top four in points took no time to get into a rhythm. Eli Tomac struck first with two fast laps in a row, quickly dropping into the 51’s. Cooper Webb showed he has been working hard on the off weekend by going to the top, only to get bested by Ken Roczen a couple of laps later. Unfortunately, with three minutes on the clock Jorge Prado went down hard in the rhythm after the finish and was attended to by the medics. As soon as riders went back out Eli Tomac made his way to the top of the board with a 50.962 a time that would stick.

450 Group B

When the green flag waved to start the first 450 B qualifying session it was Grant Harlan who dropped the first fast time, about a half of a second faster than Justin Bogle in his return to racing. Soon all the riders were getting shuffled around as others like Cole Thompson, John Short and Tristan Lane all put in good times. By now the track was rutted in some areas but sun baked in others. In the end Cole Thompson was able to better Harlan’s time.

Second Qualifying Sessions

SMX Next

This is actually the first qualifying session for the Next riders as their first time on the track was free practice. It was obvious they knew it was go time as the intensity level was way higher than their first time out. When the green flag flew it was Kayden Minear to strike first with his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Landen Gordon in second. Soon Gordon moved his way into the lead with a 52.980 and Kade Johnson moved into second. Gordon’s time would stick but behind him it was Jesson Turner and Kayden Minear in third at the end.

250 Overflow

Second 250 Overflow qualifying session and Noah Viney went down hard off the practice start, he was able to walk off to get attended to by the medical crew. Out front it was Evan Ferry to strike early but then Nick Romano was able to find his groove and move to the front. Ryder Floyd would almost match his time but not quite. It looked like Romano’s time would stick until the last lap when Evan Ferry was able to put in another fast lap.

250 West

The 250 West riders went first this time and Haiden Deegan was first through the first turn after the practice start. First on track and first in time for Deegan setting the first fast lap of the session with a 54.0. However, it was Ryder DiFrancesco to be the first to drop into the 52’s dropping Deegan back to second. Meanwhile the track continues to dry up and jumping the whoops seems to be the fast line, for now at least. Max Vohland was able to sneak past Deegan for second in this session. Levi Kitchen was only fourth fastest in this session but his time from the first session held for fastest overall.

250 East

250 East practice start and it was Nate Thrasher with the holeshot. He did get his one and only win in 2025 here, so maybe he is feeling confident at this venue. On the clock though it was his teammate Cole Davies to put down the first hot lap, but then Seth Hammaker who was fastest in the first session was able to overtake him. Not for long though as the Husqvarna boys must be feeling good today, and Daxton Bennick found his way to the top of the board. With about three minutes left on the clock Hammaker made his way back into the lead. But it was his time from first qualifying that was fastest overall.

450 Group A

In the second 450 A group qualifying session Cooper Webb got off to a great start on the practice start as well as on the track. The top four in points again started fighting over the top position right away, but it was Eli Tomac early. Webb and Roczen also looked fast early on, but it was Hunter Lawrence, who came on hot late in the practice to top the board. Justin Cooper was fifth in that session only 0.6 of a second behind Hunter, making the top five very close in speed. In the end Tomac's time from the first session gave him fastest qualifier. 

SMX Next

In the final Next session, Landon Gordon once again set the fastest lap, and he did it on the second to last lap. This session was after all of the other qualifying sessions at the end of the day program and was the roughest they saw the track. Vincent Wey was second fastest and Kayden Minear was third. Jesson Turner and Minear's times from the first session were able to hold for second and third overall.

250 West Heat

In the 250 West heat it was the Club MX riders up front with Max Vohland with the holeshot. Deegan did not have a great start but it did not take him long to make it to the front where he pulled out a comfortable lead. Meanwhile Levi Kitchen had a terrible start and had to make his way into qualifying position. It was a good battle from the second of Max Anstie back to Levi in fifth.

250 East Heat

Off of the start it was Seth Hammaker with the holeshot but then he slid in a turn and allowed Cole Davies to go around. Nate Thrasher was alone in third but behind him it was a wild race with Jo Shimoda who got a bad start and had to work his way up. Pierce Brown had troubles early and was trying to make his way around Evan Ferry when Ferry took them both down taking them out of qualifying position.

450 Heat 1

It was Cooper Webb with the start and he would be able to lead start to finish and fight off a hard charging Hunter Lawrence. Malcolm Stewart held tough the entire time to stay with the two leaders. Christian Craig rode good in fourth and withstood pressure from Garrett Marchbanks. Further back Justin Hill had his troubles crashing early but was able to make it into qualifying position. It was close at the finish but Webb was able to hold him off for the win.

450 Heat 2

The second 450 Heat was a wild one, with Justin Cooper pulling the holeshot, Tomac was right behind him but got shuffled back. Ken Roczen did what Roczen does, put in fast laps early to make his way to the lead. Things went wrong when Tomac went to get around Justin Cooper and the two came together and Justin’s leg got hung up in Tomac’s swing arm. It took the two awhile to get disconnected and they were both out of qualifying position when they finally did. JCoop was able to work his way up but Tomac had to pull into the mechanics area, and was unable to make it back into the top 9.