Davies looking to put a stamp on 250SX East Division Championship

Last Saturday at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team rider Cole Davies motored to 5-4-1 race finishes to finish third overall in the rain-lashed Cleveland Supercross.

In doing so, the 18-year-old moved to within four points of clinching the 2026 250SX East Division Championship over title rival and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki pilot Seth Hammaker – a job he can finish this weekend at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

A winner of four 250SX East Division main events and only off the podium on one occasion, it’s been an exceptional breakout season for the teenager from Waitoki, New Zealand.

Going back to his first gate drop at Angel Stadium in January of last year, Davies has only competed in 21 AMA Pro Racing events thus far. He also competed in eight 250SX Futures races from 2023 through 2024.

“No, I haven’t been over here for long,” said Davies. “It’s probably been about three years now since my first race in Anaheim for the Futures. It’s taken a lot of constant hard work to get where I am, but everything has been working out.

“I’ve been doing well with being consistent, and it’s been working out for me. I’m happy with the season so far and I’m excited for this weekend in Philadelphia. I’m just going to go into it as any race, and not force anything. If it has to come down to Salt Lake City, it will. Obviously it would be nice to wrap it up in Philadelphia, but I’m not going to force anything. I’m just going to take it like every other weekend I’ve been into and just take it for what it is.”

Was Davies confident that his 2026 250SX East racing season would go as well as it has? 

“I would say so,” he said. “It’s kind of what I expected from myself, and it’s been good. I would say that the first couple races didn’t really go to plan because I feel like I was too eager and forcing things. Now, I’ve kind of calmed down and just everything come to me and it’s worked out a lot better. Yeah, I’m just calming everything down. Going race by race and not forcing anything has been a better approach for me.

“For the most part, I’m happy with most of the races. There have been a couple of races that I’m not too stoked about, but it is what it is. I’m stoked with my season so far and I’m excited to keep it going.”

Whoop speed has underlined Davies’ 2026 racing campaign – his speed and precision has recently drawn praise from the likes of Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villopoto.

“Everyone is kind of impressed, and to be honest, I don’t know… I look at it as a part where I can make up time, so I try to come into them and make up time because I know I can when I come into them,” he said.

“I enjoy them. I find them fun. There is no better feeling than having a perfect run through the whoops. It feels great. I would just say it’s a lot of commitment and confidence and years of perfecting my technique. I feel like that’s all there really is to it. And you need a good bike, as well. I’m stoked to hear people talk about it. To hear all that is pretty cool.

New Zealander Ben Townley, the 2004 FIM MX2 World Championship winner and 2007 AMA 250SX East Supercross Championship winner, has worked with Davies during his U.S. program.

“Ben worked with me in New Zealand and kind of got me to where I was before I started working with Wil Hahn,” explained Davies of his countryman.

"I definitely would not be here without him. He kind of taught me the basics of supercross and got me here. I talk to Ben on a weekly basis. We just kind of break down the races and what I can do better. Also, Wil Hahn came in as team manager here at Star. Wil and Gareth Swanepoel are here now, so they both kind of help out now. It’s been going well, and I’m stoked it is producing how it is.”

Has Davies contemplated racing the 450 in the future?

“Yeah, I would say that my riding style would suite a 450,” said Davies. ”I feel like I ride pretty low revs and I can kind of put the bike where I want it. I don’t fight it too much, so I feel like I would work pretty well on a 450. We’ll work for that when we get to it. I’m just thinking about the present right now and being focused on this championship.”