Hunter Lawrence struggles in Columbus, falls behind in SMX playoff standings

Hunter Lawrence faced difficulties during his performance at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, struggling with multiple crashes in the mud while competing in the opening round of the 2026 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs. After finishing next-to-last in Moto 1 and only managing an eighth-place finish in Moto 2, he dropped to sixth in the championship standings, 10 points behind Jorge Prado. Lawrence, who entered as the No. 1 seed, faced tough competition from podium finishers Haiden Deegan and Ken Roczen, along with veterans Cooper Webb and Dylan Ferrandis. While dealing with a wrist injury, Lawrence emphasized the need to improve for the next round, set to take place in Carson, California, where points will double. Forecasts indicate clearer weather ahead, potentially aiding performance.

• 2:07 PMYahoo Sports — Was Columbus a bad day or bad omen for Hunter Lawrence?