2026 Pro Motocross: What to Watch Before Round 1 at Fox Raceway

The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship is nearly here, and Round 1 at Fox Raceway is already packed with storylines.

After a wild Supercross season, the focus now shifts outdoors — longer motos, rougher tracks, bigger gates, and a completely different style of racing. For FastMoto players, that means new strategy, new value picks, and more chances for riders to score big through consistency, race pace, and Hard Charger Points.

Here’s what to watch heading into Pala.

Jett Lawrence Returns

The biggest storyline is Jett Lawrence.

After missing most of Supercross through injury, Jett is back on the bike and preparing for Pro Motocross. The big question is whether he is already back to full race pace.

He is the defending outdoor champion and still one of the smoothest riders in the world, but Round 1 will show us how ready he really is after time away from racing.

From a fantasy point of view, Jett is hard to ignore — but practice, qualifying, and Moto 1 pace will be important to watch.

Hunter Lawrence Has Momentum

Hunter Lawrence comes into Pro Motocross with serious confidence after a strong 450 Supercross season.

He proved he belongs at the front of the premier class and now gets to shift into a format that rewards patience, fitness, and consistency. If Jett needs time to settle back in, Hunter could be one of the safest early-season fantasy picks.

Haiden Deegan Steps Up to 450

One of the biggest talking points of the season is Haiden Deegan moving into the 450 class.

Deegan has handled pressure his whole career, but 450 Pro Motocross is a serious step up. Bigger bike, longer motos, deeper field, and a stacked class of experienced riders.

He could come out swinging straight away, or he may need a few rounds to adjust. Either way, all eyes will be on him at Fox Raceway.

Chase Sexton and Kawasaki

Chase Sexton is confirmed for Pro Motocross with Kawasaki, which adds another major contender to the 450 class.

The question is how comfortable he is on the bike outdoors. Sexton has the speed and style to win motos, but his early season form will depend heavily on setup and confidence.

For FastMoto players, Sexton could be a high-risk, high-reward pick early in the championship.

Eli Tomac Is Still Dangerous

You can never count out Eli Tomac outdoors.

Even if he is not the obvious Round 1 favourite, Tomac has always been one of the best riders when tracks get rough and motos get long. If his pace is there at Pala, he immediately becomes a serious fantasy option.

250 Class: Kitchen, Anstie and Shimoda

The 250 class has plenty to watch as well.

Levi Kitchen comes in with clear title expectations and should be one of the main championship contenders. Max Anstie is another rider to watch after missing last year’s outdoor season through injury, but he has the experience and speed to be a threat straight away.

Jo Shimoda will also be a key name if he is healthy and ready to go. Outdoors suits his smooth style, and he has the ability to be one of the strongest 250 riders in the field.

Triumph’s Outdoor Program

Triumph will be worth watching closely this season with its expanded Pro Motocross presence.

Jordon Smith and Mikkel Haarup are set to race the Triumph 450, while Gage Linville, Austin Forkner and rookie Deacon Denno will represent the 250 program.

It will be interesting to see how the bikes perform outdoors, and whether any of the Triumph riders become sneaky fantasy value picks as the season develops.

Rookie Watch

Keep an eye on the rookies too.

Deacon Denno steps into Pro Motocross after strong amateur and SMX Next success, while Aden Keefer is expected to make his pro debut with Phoenix Racing Honda at Fox Raceway.

Rookies can be hard to predict, but they can also become great fantasy value if they qualify well, start strong, or show good late-moto pace.

Why Hard Charger Points Matter Outdoors

This season, Hard Charger Points could become one of the biggest FastMoto difference-makers.

Pro Motocross gives riders more room to move forward. With 40 riders on the gate, longer motos, and rougher tracks, a bad start does not always ruin a rider’s day.

That means fantasy players should watch for riders who:

• Struggle with starts but have strong race pace
• Get better late in motos
• Pass well in traffic
• Stay consistent across both motos
• Can charge from outside the top 10

A rider who starts 18th and finishes 6th is not just saving their race — they are stacking valuable fantasy points.

FastMoto Round 1 Watchlist

450 Class

• Jett Lawrence
• Hunter Lawrence
• Haiden Deegan
• Chase Sexton
• Eli Tomac
• Jorge Prado

250 Class

• Levi Kitchen
• Max Anstie
• Jo Shimoda
• Chance Hymas
• Deacon Denno
• Aden Keefer

Final Thoughts

Round 1 at Fox Raceway is going to answer a lot of questions.

Is Jett already back to full speed? Can Hunter carry his Supercross momentum outdoors? How will Deegan handle the 450 class? Is Sexton ready to win on Kawasaki? And who will emerge as the top 250 title threat?

For FastMoto players, the key is to look beyond the big names. Starts, fitness, consistency, and Hard Charger potential could be just as important as outright speed.

The gate is about to drop at Pala.

Fantasy motocross is about to get real.