It feels like the most hyped AMA Motocross season in years! With Deegan moving up, Jett Lawrence racing for the first time in 2026 after injury, Jorge Prado back on KTM and back on form, Eli Tomac making his AMA Motocross debut on KTM, Sexton looking for his form on the Kawasaki and a rabid bunch of 250 riders desperate to add their name to the long list of 250 National champions! It is a Motocross series with so many questions going into round one. We look at some of the biggest questions waiting to be answered at Pala this weekend.
How fit is Jett Lawrence?
This is the biggest question going into the event with even Jett Lawrence admitting he still doesn’t have full movement in his foot after the broken Talus meant 11 screws and four pins plus a second surgery just to be fit in time for the outdoors. Jett is still limping as we saw at SLC Supercross but, apparently, he is still flying at the test track, however testing and racing are two different things and with no racing in seven months, Jett will have to adapt to the intensity of racing as well as adapting to his injury all while having a motivated Haiden Deegan ready to take his crown and agitate him at every opportunity!
Can Deegan win on his AMA Motocross 450 debut?
We know he wants it badly, we know he REALLY wants to beat Jett Lawrence more than anything in the world and, as Deegan put it, he wants to take the throne. But can he deliver at round one and go 1-1? The answer is probably, yes! Deegan will be on his home track in California with the crowd behind him but Jett has never lost there and none of the elite 450 men will want to let Deegan get one over on them this soon. He will have his rivals against him more than ever but his desire to win and ability to ride the edge will give him a shot at sending a message to his new competition early!
Can Hunter Lawrence put the last round of Supercross behind him quickly?
Hunter Lawrence rode fantastic in Supercross but a crash in the last round cost him his shot at the title and, as we have seen many time in recent years, even riders who win the title can struggle coming into round one of AMA Motocross. As calm and composed as Hunter is, emotionally, that was difficult to take after such an intense season. He also didn’t get the prep he normally would have such was his focus on Supercross but Hunter should be a title contender again even if he may have to blow the cobwebs off in motocross at Pala, because he is undoubtedly in the best form of his career.
Who will be top KTM rider? Tomac or Prado?
Jorge Prado is coming in motivated to win this season and show America his MXGP speed and why he is a four-time world champ. If he brings his A game and the speed that he had in 2024 he will be a contender for the win and podiums at every round – the motivation is high! But so is Eli Tomac’s motivation! The American legend showed his speed in Supercross but an untimely lull and a couple of crashes ended his Supercross title hopes. However, when he is comfortable on the KTM, speed has not been an issue and in motocross, KTM usually have the set-up dialled. There could be a very big inter-team rivalry at KTM this summer!
Can Sexton find comfort on the Kawasaki?
Even when Chase Sexton has had good results in Supercross on the Kawasaki, he didn’t seem to have the eureka moment that all the issues were solved on the Kawasaki. Not being able to push beyond the bikes limitation seemed to be an issue for Jorge Prado last year and it may be the same for Chase Sexton this year if Supercross is anything to go by. But, Sexton is a superb rider and knows the tracks unlike Prado last year, so can any of that experience help him challenge for race wins? Or could things get worse than Supercross? Pala may be the first indicator of Sexton’s future at Kawasaki, he is too good not to be a race-winning contender.
Will Ducati or Triumph win the new manufacturer rivalry on the 450?
Dylan Ferrandis and Justin Barcia will be giving the iconic Ducati brand their full season MX debut in 2026 with some guest rides from legend Tony Cairoli. But Triumph have their own European speedster, with Mikkel Haarup coming off a strong 250 season last year to move up to the stacked 450 class along with Jordon Smith. Haarup could be the wildcard in the class to put the Triumph name up wth the more established manufacturers.
Who will become the man in the 250 class?
With Deegan moving up, there is a void to be filled at the top of the 250 class but who will step up and take control? Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas are coming back from injury but both have serious pace as does Levi Kitchen – but has he got the starts? Cole Davies is so far a Supercross expert but he has a moto win outdoors and is finally coming in healthy, he is the most talented rider in the class, so if he figures it out, watch out! But his young teammate Caden Dudney has a lot of buzz and may just set the cat amongst the pigeons this summer. Don’t forget about the old guard, Max Anstie and Austin Forkner have elite speed when it all clicks, can they find the sweet spot again this summer? It’s time for someone to step up in 2026.
