The 2026 SuperMotocross World Championship playoffs got underway in Columbus, Ohio, with the opening round bringing the best of Supercross and Pro Motocross together for the first of three crucial post-season events.

Historic Crew Stadium provided the backdrop for Playoff 1, and there were plenty of talking points across both classes. Levi Kitchen came out on top in a closely fought 250SMX battle, while Haiden Deegan made an immediate statement on his move to the 450, dominating both motos to take the overall victory.

250SMX Overall Results

1. Levi Kitchen – Kawasaki – 2-2
2. Daxton Bennick – Husqvarna – 1-3
3. Ryder DiFrancesco – Husqvarna – 3-4
4. Max Vohland – Yamaha – 4-6
5. Cameron McAdoo – Kawasaki – 6-7
6. Caden Dudney – Yamaha – 5-8
7. Chance Hymas – Honda – 9-5
8. Landen Gordon – Yamaha – 7-9
9. Drew Adams – Kawasaki – 10-11
10. Cole Davies – Yamaha – 22-1

Consistency was the key for Levi Kitchen in Columbus. The Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider didn’t win either moto, but a pair of second-place finishes were enough to secure the opening SMX overall of the year.

Daxton Bennick started his night perfectly by taking the opening moto victory before finishing third in Moto 2, putting him second overall. Ryder DiFrancesco completed the podium with a consistent 3-4 scorecard.

One of the biggest stories of the night came from Cole Davies. A difficult opening moto left the New Zealander down in 22nd, but he bounced back in impressive fashion to win Moto 2. The damage from the first race ultimately left him 10th overall.

450SMX Overall Results

1. Haiden Deegan – Yamaha – 1-1
2. Ken Roczen – Suzuki – 2-2
3. Jorge Prado – KTM – 3-4
4. Cooper Webb – Yamaha – 9-3
5. Joey Savatgy – Honda – 8-5
6. Dylan Ferrandis – Ducati – 4-9
7. Aaron Plessinger – KTM – 10-6
8. Shane McElrath – Beta – 13-7
9. Jordon Smith – Triumph – 12-11
10. Garrett Marchbanks – Kawasaki – 7-16

Haiden Deegan couldn’t have asked for much more from the opening SMX playoff.

Racing the 450, Deegan swept both motos aboard the Star Racing Yamaha to take a commanding overall victory. Ken Roczen was his closest challenger throughout the night, going 2-2 to secure second overall on the Suzuki.

Jorge Prado put together 3-4 finishes to take the final spot on the podium, while Cooper Webb recovered from ninth in the opening moto to finish third in Moto 2 and secure fourth overall.

Behind them, Joey Savatgy rounded out the top five with 8-5 finishes, while Dylan Ferrandis put Ducati sixth overall after showing plenty of speed with fourth in the opening moto.

Playoff 1 certainly delivered, but with the points increasing as the SMX postseason progresses, Columbus was only the beginning. Kitchen and Deegan left Ohio with the opening overall victories, while the championship contenders immediately turned their attention to Playoff 2 and another opportunity to put themselves in position ahead of the season finale.