Cole Davies clinches 250SX East title in chaotic Philadelphia showdown
By Team TMX on 26th Apr 26
A rain-soaked Lincoln Financial Field delivered one of the most unpredictable and demanding races of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, as Round 15 tested riders to their limits.
With deteriorating conditions transforming the track into a muddy, technical battlefield, patience and track position proved decisive - especially in the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class, where a championship was on the line.
Amid the chaos, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies produced a composed and resilient performance to capture his fifth win of the season and clinch the Eastern Division title one round early.
The Main Event, shortened to 12 minutes plus one lap due to conditions, began with hometown favourite Seth Hammaker securing the holeshot. Davies slotted into second but quickly inherited the lead after Hammaker crashed just moments into the race, dropping to last place.
MX6 Racing’s Derek Kelley briefly took control before Davies surged forward. Despite suffering a fall himself, the young New Zealander remounted quickly and stayed in contention. A red flag with just over seven minutes remaining reset the race and added further tension.
On the staggered restart, Davies reasserted himself at the front, with Daxton Bennick moving into second. Behind them, battles intensified as Hammaker mounted an impressive comeback through the field, eventually reaching podium contention.
However, Davies remained unshaken. Delivering a near-perfect ride in extremely difficult conditions, he steadily built a gap and ultimately crossed the finish line 12.9 seconds ahead of Bennick.
Hammaker closed in late and needed to pass Bennick to keep his title hopes alive, but a crash on the final lap forced him to settle for third - ending the championship fight.
The result secured Davies his first professional title and marked a historic milestone, as he became only the second rider from New Zealand to win a Supercross championship.
“It means everything to me and my family,” said Davies. “We’ve sacrificed so much to come here and chase this dream. This track was incredibly tough, but we got it done.”
Davies’ triumph also capped off a dominant campaign for Yamaha, with the manufacturer equalling the all-time record of 14 wins in a single 250SX season.
