Bouncing back from a horror race event at Spring Creek Minnesota, where Cole Davies lost the red plate after crashing, puncturing his fuel tank only to be forced to DNF, the Waitoki native goes 1-1 at Washougal reigniting his stake in the 250SMX Championship.
Cole Davies #37 is back to his winning form at Washougal. Photo: SMX
The Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its final visit to the West Coast for Round 25 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, where the tricky forest setting of the Pacific Northwest’s Washougal MX Park challenged the world’s best racers. The most ideal weather conditions of the season greeted the field, which led to another impactful afternoon of racing that saw Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence #96 add to his 450SMX Class points lead following his fifth win of the season.
In the 250SMX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies #37 made a resounding return to the top of the podium with a dominant 1-1 effort, moving back within striking distance in the title fight a week removed from his worst outing of the season.
“After last weekend I knew I had to step up my game,” admitted Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies. “I had a good day today and made up a lot of points. I’m stoked. I feel like we took a big step in the right direction today. Had a fun day. It was good.”
Bouncing back from his worst result at Spring Creek, Cole Davies goes 1-1 at Washougal reigniting his stake in the 250SMX Championship. Photo: SMX
Qualifying
Fresh off his first career win one week ago, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer #13 put himself atop the charts in the first session of the morning with a time of 2:15.562 and it looked as if it may stand until the tail end of the final session when Davies laid down a time of 2:12.269 to move atop the overall classification by a few tenths. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco #34 rounded out the top three with his 2:12.571 lap time.
Moto 1: 30 Minutes + 2 Laps
The first moto of the day began with Davies out front with the holeshot over the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing duo of DiFrancesco and Daxton Bennick #58. Beaumer and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen #47, the hometown favorite and points leader, were two of many riders involved in a crash just after the holseshot line, which forced both to start deep in the 40-rider field.
The clear track allowed Davies to sprint out to a lead of more than three seconds just a couple laps in, as DiFrancesco settled into second and Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas #29 moved up to third. Further back, Beaumer and Kitchen worked their way through the field together, as both were able to break into the top 20 within the first 10 minutes of the moto. They continued their charge and moved within striking distance of the top 10 just past the halfway point of the moto.
As the moto entered its final 10 minutes Davies moved out more than 10 seconds clear of the field. Kitchen, meanwhile, continued his determined climb with a pass on Beaumer and a forward push that carried him into the top 10, with an eye on additional passes.
Davies cruised to his fifth moto win of the season with a wire-to-wire effort, crossing the finish line 17.1 seconds ahead of DiFrancesco, who secured the best moto result of his career. Hymas rounded out the top three, with Bennick in fourth and AEO Powersports KTM’s Carson Mumford #71 in fifth. Kitchen clawed his way up to sixth, improving 22 positions.
Cole Davies is a man on a mission and writing a new chapter of motocross history in the process. Photo: SMX
Moto 2: 30 Minutes + 2 Laps
The second and deciding moto started with DiFrancesco out front with the holeshot ahead of ClubMX Yamaha’s Hunter Yoder #60 and Hymas, with Davies chasing from fourth. Kitchen started outside the top 10. The battle up front intensified on the opening lap as both Hymas and Davies got around Yoder and looked to pressure DiFrancesco for the lead.
Davies pushed the pace and was able to get around Hymas. He then closed in on DiFrancesco’s rear fender. The Yamaha rider bided his time and pulled the trigger on the pass to take the lead with more than 26 minutes left on the race clock. Kitchen, meanwhile, remained mired in 12th place.
As the moto reached the halfway mark, Davies managed a lead of nearly five seconds over DiFrancesco, while Hymas settled into third. Further back, Kitchen fought his way into the top 10 and looked to move as far forward as possible.
DiFrancesco looked to chip away at Davies’ lead inside the final five minutes and after briefly closing in, Davies responded to establish his biggest lead of the moto, and end the threat.
The New Zealander never put a wheel wrong and capped off perhaps his most dominant outing of the season by a margin of 7.3 seconds over DiFrancesco. Hymas followed in third. Kitchen finished a few positions back in sixth.
Cole Davies is on a mission. Photo: SMX
Overall
Davies’ second 1-1 effort of the summer netted him the third win of his career. It also brought him back into the thick of the title fight with the season’s stretch run looming. Championship points leader Kitchen weathered through a tough afternoon at his home track with a 6-6 effort that placed him fifth overall.
Davies’ dominant day helped him outscore Kitchen by 18 points and moved him within seven points of the Kawasaki rider in the championship standings with three races remaining. Beaumer, who finished sixth (8-5), is third, 25 points out of the lead.
Watch: Washougal – 250SMX Highlights
250SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
1. Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha (1-1 // 50)
2. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna (2-2 // 44)
3. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (3-3 // 40)
4. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM (5-4 // 35)
5. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (6-6 // 32)
6. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (8-5 // 31)
7. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (7-8 // 29)
8. Dilan Schwartz, Alpine, Calif., Yamaha (10-9 // 25)
9. Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha (9-10 // 25)
10. Casey Cochran, Portsmouth, Va., Husqvarna (13-7 // 24)
250SMX Class Championship Standings (Race 8 of 11)
1. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 293
2. Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha – 286
3. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 268
4. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 238
5. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 230
6. Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha – 224
7. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 194
8. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM – 188
9. Casey Cochran, Portsmouth, Va., Husqvarna – 146
10. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 134
SMX World Championship Regular Season Standings (Round 25 of 28)
1. Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha – 517
2. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 470
3. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 402
4. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 314
5. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 294
6. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 268
7. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 268
8. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha – 261
9. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM – 258
10. Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., Husqvarna – 254
