After 10 of 11 rounds in the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series, it comes down to a one-point difference between the protagonist brothers. Defending 450MX Champion Jett Lawrence trails his brother Hunter by a point coming into the Ironman National at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. While a single point isn’t much of an advantage, it is significant. So, let’s get to our 2026 Ironman motocross fantasy picks and tips for RMFantasyMX players.
Hunter Lawrence doesn’t need to win both motos to clinch the title. If Hunter wins both motos, he wins easily. However, if the Lawrences split a win and a P2, Hunter retains his one-point lead. Hunter could go 2-2 if Jett goes 1-3 or 3-1, as that would result in a tie on points. That’s unlikely, as a Lawrence has won every moto this year. Hunter owns the tiebreaker with 12 moto wins so far, compared to Jett’s 8 wins. That’s not going to change. Put simply, Hunter has a point to give, while Jett needs to gain two points on Hunter.
Hunter Lawrence.
Don’t confuse winning the title with winning the overall. You’re playing RMFantasyMX, so it’s about the overall at Ironman. Jett could win the overall, yet lose the title. If Hunter goes 1-2 and Jett 2-1, Jett wins the Ironman National and Hunter takes home the 450MX crown. This is a very real possibility. Remember, Hunter is beating Jett in moto wins 12-8, so the edge is in Hunter’s favor. Also, Hunter has won six of the last eight motos.
Jett Lawrence.
Moto 1 is critical. If Hunter wins the first moto, the pressure is off, and he only needs to finish in P2 to win the championship. However, if Jett wins Moto 1 and Hunter’s in P2, Jett has a two-point lead going into the second moto. Heavy pressure will be on Hunter to win, because Jett has won every moto Hunter hasn’t won. Expect Hunter to go all out to avoid that Moto 2 pressure cooker. My expectation is that whoever wins Moto 1 is a huge favorite to win the championship.
Haiden Deegan leads Hunter Lawrence.
While Jett won’t roll over for Hunter, it’s hard to imagine that Jett will have the same sort of competitive commitment he would have against any other rider. Additionally, Hunter is especially motivated after losing the Supercross title ignominiously at the final round. Hunter won’t want a repeat performance. If it weren’t for Hunter’s catastrophic error in Moto 2 at the Unadilla National, Hunter would be strolling his way to the 450MX title. Given Hunter’s riding and the motivations at work, I think Hunter will go all out to win Moto 1 and settle for P2 in Moto 2. That gives Jett the overall win at Ironman with Hunter in P2, and the roles switched in the standings.
Jorge Prado.
It will be Haiden Deegan vs. Jorge Prado for the last podium position. The two are split even when it comes to overalls. Deegan has beaten Prado five times, and vice versa. However, Prado has beaten Deegan the last two rounds, so the edge goes to Prado. It will get interesting if either of them is fast enough to challenge either Lawrence.
Garrett Marchbanks.
Picking P5 is a crapshoot. RJ Hampshire and Garrett Marchbanks have been leading contenders, though Hampshire was P10 last week and Marchbanks P11. Mikkel Haarup took P5 at Budds Creek last week, his first 450MX top five. Haarup entered Budds Creek on a 9-40-11-13 run, so it was completely unexpected. Cooper Webb became part of the conversation with a P6 finish, tying his best result of the 2026 Pro Motocross campaign. There’s no easy answer, so I’m going to go with Marchbanks. He has five top fives this year, compared to three for Hampshire. Dylan Ferrandis has a pair of top-five overalls, and no one else not previously mentioned has more than one.
Malcolm Stewart.
The Wild Card is P12, and another difficult call. Haarup has finished in P12 or within one of P12 four times, the most of any rider. Cornelius Tøndel and Cooper Webb have done it three times each. Jordon Smith, Mitchell Harrison, Valentin Guillod, Tony Cairoli, and Eli Tomac have each done it twice. Smith (17-19), Tøndel (18-16-20), Harrison (18-17), and Guillod (21-24-30) have all been struggling in the last few rounds. Tomac (14-11-9), Webb (9-12-6), and Haarup (11-13-5) should all do better. Cairoli is back in Europe. I’m going to throw a Hail Mary and go with Malcolm Stewart, who enters on a 20-13 roll. Rest assured that they’re all longshots, and it could be someone else altogether, like Benny Bloss (10-15-15).
2026 Ironman Motocross Fantasy Picks
Jett Lawrence
Hunter Lawrence
Jorge Prado
Haiden Deegan
Garrett Marchbanks
Wild Card P12: Malcolm Stewart
2026 AMA Pro Motocross 450 Championship Series Standings (after 10 of 11 rounds)
The modern superbike class is an arms race fought on several fronts. There’s still the battle for horsepower supremacy, that fuels endless spec-sheet skirmishes on internet forums. But what has caused more than a few designers to burn the midnight oil is the bold new frontier of MotoGP-inspired aerodynamics, and the challenge of integrating those into the already exceedingly complex superbike. Nic de Sena rode the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at a recent Laguna Seca track day with Volant Vivere and he tells us all about what he discovered and what it takes to go fast.
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Now here’s a rally you absolutely cannot miss—yes, we’re rapidly approaching the 34th Annual Biketoberfest Rally in Daytona Beach, sunny Florida.Biketoberfest this year runs October 15th through the 18th. Biketoberfest is all about the beautiful Florida weather, live music, the industry’s top vendors, bike shows, and motorcycle racing at Daytona International Speedway. And don’t forget, there are miles of spectacular rides along the famous A1A, the historic Main Street and the Ormond Beach Scenic Loop. There really is something for everyone here, and almost every event and attraction is free to attend. So, if you want a fun few days out in the Florida sunshine, Biketoberfest really is the place to be. Make sure you download the Biketoberfest mobile App from Apple or Google Play or visit www.biketoberfest.orgfor more details.
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Austin and Ellie got married in 2022 and recently returned from a four-year trip around the world riding their Ural sidecar. The epic trip is documented on their Instagram page @sidebysidecar. In this second segment, Teejay Adams chats with them about the challenges and effort it took to make it all happen, and some of the adventures they had along the way.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
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