Lucas Coenen Sets Fast 450 Pace in Southwick Qualifying
NXTbets Pro | Published On: July 12, 2026
Lucas Coenen tops 450s
Lucas Coenen set the pace in 450 qualifying at the Crestview Construction Southwick National on Saturday, and he did it in clear fashion. Coenen finished a full second ahead of Jorge Prado on the only predominantly sandy track on the AMA Pro Motocross schedule, a surface that put a premium on bike control and rhythm. Southwick served as Round 6 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and the first motos at the stop marked the midpoint of the 22-race summer schedule. That gave the session added weight, with the field moving into the second half of the championship after a demanding first stretch.
Lawrence brothers lead title picture
Hunter Lawrence arrived at Southwick with the red plate after winning at RedBud, and he held a two-point points lead over his younger brother Jett Lawrence entering the event. That made the 450 class situation tight at the front before the gate dropped, with both brothers still shaping the title chase through the middle of the summer run. Southwick’s sand added another test to an already competitive championship battle, and the qualifying order only added more interest to a weekend that sat at the center of the 22-race schedule. The brothers went into the round with the points race still close and every session carrying extra value.
Shimoda absence shifts 250 field
The 250 class lost its points leader before the motos even began. Jo Shimoda was ruled out after fracturing his collarbone and suffering a mild concussion in second qualifying, a setback that changed the look of the class for the rest of the weekend. Sacha Coenen led the 250 field as the Coenen brothers returned to competition, giving that side of the program a different tone from the opening 450 session. With Shimoda sidelined, the class moved forward without its championship leader, and Southwick’s sand provided another difficult layer for riders trying to make progress at a key point in the season.
