Seth Hammaker Tops 250MX Qualifying at Hangtown, Keeps 13-Point Championship Lead
NXTbets Pro | Published On: June 7, 2026
Seth Hammaker 250MX qualifying
Seth Hammaker topped 250MX qualifying at Hangtown with a lap of 1:52.621 and entered the weekend 13 points clear in the series standings. The Round 2 stop of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at the Coker Pump Hangtown Motocross Classic set the stage for a deep 250 field, and Hammaker put down the quickest time on a track that had been groomed to hold moisture. Ryder DiFrancesco was second-fastest at 1:52.871 and Jo Shimoda took third at 1:52.950. Cole Davies and Levi Kitchen slotted in just behind the top three in qualifying, with several riders staking early claims as contenders for the season. Early-season names to watch include Levi Kitchen, Julien Beaumer, Jo Shimoda, Chance Hymas and Ryder DiFrancesco, while rising talents Caden Dudney and Cole Davies remain in the conversation. Qualifying left the 250 class tight on pace and wide open for race day, with Hammaker carrying the points advantage into the motos.
Jett Lawrence 450MX qualifying
Jett Lawrence grabbed the 450MX pole with a lap of 1:49.886, the quickest effort in a loaded 450 field. Haiden Deegan put up the second-fastest time at 1:50.389 and Jorge Prado was third at 1:50.543. Hunter Lawrence fell during the second qualifying session but still posted the fourth-fastest time at 1:50.797, and Justin Cooper rounded out the top five at 1:51.014. Hunter Lawrence holds a six-point lead over Jorge Prado after a dominant win in last week’s season opener, and the championship picture carries early momentum for the younger Lawrence brother. Jett Lawrence remains hampered by a pre-supercross leg and ankle injury, and the 450 class will also be missing established names as Eli Tomac is sidelined after a crash and Malcolm Stewart is out with a twisted knee. The qualifying order sets up an intriguing main event with several riders healthy and ready to press for motos while others try to recover race rhythm.
Hangtown Track Preparation, WMX action and media
Track crews at Hangtown prepared a surface that used rice hulls to retain moisture and redesigned several features for the weekend, adding an uphill roller, a big middle triple and a larger Fly 150 to reshape the racing lines. Morning temperatures were in the 60s with a forecast high near 84, giving teams a combination of tacky early conditions and warming afternoon races. In WMX action defending champion Lala Turner holeshot moto one, crashed, then charged back through the field to pass Charli Cannon on the final lap; moto two was scheduled for today. Fans seeking a preview could watch two press-day videos posted by TransWorld Motocross on its YouTube channel, which include a first look at the Hangtown layout and short rider interviews that sketch expectations ahead of the races. The Hangtown stop married fresh track features, shifting weather and a strong supporting card to produce a full weekend build-up to the motos.
