Tomac crashes, Deegan and Jett Lawrence battle in ‘most anticipated opener’ for Motocross

Hunter Lawrence won the first race of the 2026 Motocross 450SX season. (Courtesy of Honda Racing, file photo)

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Hunter Lawrence won the first race of the 2026 Motocross 450SX season. (Courtesy of Honda Racing, file photo)

Hunter Lawrence laid claim to the first 450SX Motocross victory, Eli Tomac crashed and Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan battled in what commentators called the “most anticipated opener” in Motocross’s history on Saturday in Pala, California.

Fans watched in anticipation of the rivalry expected to take place between Jett Lawrence, who was forced to sit out the Supercross season due to injury, and Deegan, who just moved to the 450SX division from 250SX, where he was crowned the overall points champion for Supercross earlier this month.

As the gate dropped in Moto 1, Danish rider Mikkel Haarup took the hole shot, with Hunter Lawrence and Jorge Prado in second and third. Tomac started in eighth, while Jett Lawrence and Deegan raced outside of the top 10.

Hunter Lawrence and Prado quickly moved past Haarup, while Chase Sexton made his move on the now-third place racer. While moving up in the pack, Garrett Marchbanks crashed into Tomac, sending him flying to the ground. Tomac was unable to finish the race.

According to Team KTM following the race, Tomac suffered no broken bones in the crash.

“Scans on-site cleared Eli of any broken bones and he will undergo further evaluation during the week,” KTM said.

Meanwhile, Sexton passed Haarup for third as Justin Cooper moved into position behind Sexton. Jett Lawrence passed several riders to take 10th position, while his brother remained in first place.

As Jett Lawrence moved to ninth, Deegan slotted into 10th, putting pressure on Lawrence. Christian Craig soon found himself between eighth place Lawrence and Deegan, but Deegan quickly passed to ride right on Lawrence’s heels again.

The two riders rode side-by-side, with Deegan successfully passing. His short lead over Jett Lawrence lasted for only a moment, however, as Lawrence passed when Deegan moved too far to the outside.

Sexton wrecked with only minutes remaining in the race, losing his third place position.

Hunter Lawrence won the first race of the 2026 series, followed by Prado in second, Cooper in third, Jett Lawrence in fourth and Deegan in fifth.

In Moto 2, Hunter Lawrence and Prado found themselves in the first and second place again, with Jett Lawrence finishing in third and Deegan in fourth.

The next race of the Motocross season will be held on Saturday at Hangtown in Rancho Cordova, California.