Cole Davies is writing New Zealand motocross history right now, and though he wasn’t completely happy with his performance in the hallowed sands of Southwick, Massachusetts, it was enough to edge him in to the lead of the 250SMX Championship and extend his lead in the SMX World Championship Regular Season.
Belgian talent and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Sacha Coenen #109, the MXGP points leader of the MX2 division, put on a show with a dominant performance with a 1-1 sweep of the motos, setting the pace for our new series leader Cole Davies #37. Photo: SMX
The Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, traveled to the motocross hotbed of New England for Round 23 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, celebrating 50 years of racing from the iconic sand track at The Wick 338. The Crestview Construction Southwick National featured an array of international guests eager to test their mettle against the best in the world and it produced a captivating afternoon of racing across both classes during what is arguably the most grueling race of the summer campaign. In the 450SMX Class, reigning champion and Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence #1 made his return to the top step of the podium for his third win of the season after another showdown with his brother, Hunter. In the 250SMX Class, ascending Belgian talent and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Sacha Coenen #109, the MXGP points leader of the MX2 division, put on a show with a dominant, highlight reel performance in just his second ever Pro Motocross race with a 1-1 sweep of the motos.
Davies was pushed by Coenen, a crash in Moto 2 dropping the Kiwi outside the top 10 before he remounted to take seventh. Moto 2 went better for Davies and with Jo Shimoda succumbing to a injury in qualis, meant Davies’ second was enough to leap ahead of the field. The Kiwi was smart to not engage with the MXGP visitor Coenen who crashed toward the end of Moto 2 and still won, but with a suspected broken collarbone.
“It’s an unfortunate end to an incredible performance from Sacha [Coenen] today,” offered Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager. “He banged up his shoulder and will seek medical attention to determine the extent of the injury. We’re proud of his effort today and wish him the best as they return overseas.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Davies focused on the positives from his 7-2 performance.
“Up and down day but I’m looking at the positives,” Davies smiled. “My starts are unreal right now and I’m riding good. We’ve got the points lead so I’m stoked. Like I said, up and down day, but I’m happy where I’m at.”
Cole Davies #37 played a cool hand in the sand at Southwick, taking the lead in the 250SMX Championship. Photo: SMX
Qualifying
The international impact was on display in the timed morning sessions, as Coenen led the way in the first session with a time of 1:56.691. In the second session, Davies paced the field with a time of 1:57.258. That left the pair 1-2 on the combined classification, separated by just over a half second, with Australian and Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki rider Jake Cannon in third on 1:58.445.
The qualifying session also carried significant impact on the ongoing, tightly contested championship battle as Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda, carrying the red plate for the first time as points leader, suffered a fractured collarbone and mild concussion in a crash early in the final session. As a result, the Japanese rider was forced to sit out the action with an uncertain outlook on the immediate future.
Moto 1: 30 Minutes + 2 Laps
The first race of the afternoon began with Davies and Coenen side-by-side out the gate and through the first turn. While Davies was able to edge ahead for the holeshot, it was Coenen who ultimately secured hold of the lead. Behind them, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco slotted into third. With the lead and clear track in hand, Coenen stormed out to a double-digit lead just 10 minutes into the moto. Behind him, Davies, DiFrancesco, and Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas sat within a couple seconds of one another in a battle for the remaining spots on the podium.
While running second, Davies buried his front tire and went down just before the halfway point of the moto. While he got up quickly, he lost valuable time trying to restart his Yamaha and eventually resumed in 10th place. That moved DiFrancesco up to second and Hymas up to third, while Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen moved up to fourth, overcoming a crash of his own on the first lap.
Out front, Coenen was in a class of his own and completed the most dominant single moto of the season by a margin of 33.4 seconds over Kitchen, which is the fifth-largest winning gap since the 2012 season. It also signified back-to-back moto wins for Coenen, who won the final moto at Thunder Valley in his Pro Motocross debut. Davies ended up seventh after his crash.
International guests throw a Coenen among the pigeons at The Wick. Photo: SMX
Moto 2: 30 Minutes + 2 Laps
The deciding moto started with Davies out front for the holeshot ahead of Kitchen, DiFrancesco, and Coenen. The Belgian looked to go on the attack right away and made the pass for third and second on the same lap. He faced a 3.5 second deficit to Davies. Coenen quickly erased the deficit and initiated a battle for the lead as the top two moved out to a lead of more than 10 seconds over Kitchen in third.
As the fight for first unfolded, so did a battle for third between Kitchen and Hymas. Up front, Coenen nearly got alongside Davies as contact between the two almost sent the Belgian to the ground, which allowed Davies to reestablish a lead of more than four seconds. As the moto surpassed its halfway point Coenen closed back within a second of Davies to begin another battle for the lead. The KTM rider was able to carry the momentum around his Yamaha counterpart and take control of the moto. Behind them, Kitchen fended off the pressure from Hymas but was then forced to contend with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Kayden Minear, of Western Australia. After he gave pursuit for several laps, the Australian made the pass for third.
With less than four minutes to go Coenen suffered a hard crash after overjumping a section but was able to remount in first thanks to a lead of more than 14 seconds. When he resumed, he held a 2.8 second advantage over Davies but was forced to continue without his goggles and with an injury. Coenen’s lead grew once more over the closing laps, and he completed the 1-1 afternoon by a margin of 3.8 seconds over Davies for his third straight moto win. Minear finished third, while Kitchen held off Beaumer on the final lap for fourth.
There is no question that Waitoki rider Cole Davies #37 is on a mission in the US. Photo: SMX
Overall
Coenen became the season’s third different first-time winner and the 96th different rider to claim victory in the history of the 250SMX Class in Pro Motocross despite fighting through the pain of a shoulder injury to complete the winning effort.
Davies’ third-straight podium resulted in third (7-2), extending a hot streak that started on the heels of a season-worst finish at Thunder Valley. With Shimoda falling to an injury from a crash in qualification, Davies has taken control of the points lead for the first time and will become the fourth different rider to carry the red plate this season. He holds a two-point lead over Kitchen and a 33-point lead over Shimoda, who dropped from first to third.
Matamata’s Brodie Connolly, racing for Quad Lock Honda, finished 39th at The Wick, after finishing 25th at Red Bud the weekend previous.
The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship will continue next Saturday, July 18, for Round 24 of the SMX World Championship regular season, where the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” awaits at Minnesota’s Spring Creek Motocross Park.
Watch: The Wick 338 – 250SMX Highlights
250SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
1. Sacha Coenen, Overijse, Belgium, KTM (1-1 // 50)
2. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (2-4 // 40)
3. Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha (7-2 // 37)
4. Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha (6-3 // 36)
5. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (4-5 // 35)
6. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (5-7 // 32)
7. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (11-6 // 27)
8. Francisco Garcia, Cadiz, Andalucia, Spain, Kawasaki (9-8 // 27)
9. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM (10-11 // 23)
10. Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Yamaha (12-12 // 20)
250SMX Class Championship Standings (Race 6 of 11)
1. Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha – 227
2. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 225
3. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 194
4. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 194
5. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 167
6. Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha – 163
7. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 152
8. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 134
9. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM – 122
10. Nick Romano, Bayside, N.Y., Kawasaki – 116
SMX World Championship Regular Season Standings (Round 23 of 28)
1. Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha – 458
2. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 402
3. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 331
4. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 314
5. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 294
6. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 233
7. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha – 209
8. Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., Yamaha – 206
9. Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., Husqvarna – 203
10. Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Yamaha – 202
