Marchbanks looking to build on Thunder Valley breakthrough

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Garrett Marchbanks is coming off a career-best fourth overall finish at round three of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, Colorado.

Powering to 3-6 moto scores on his Kawasaki KX450SR, it was the first time the Coalville, Utah local broke into the top five overall.

“I was super-pumped with the result,” said Marchbanks of the Thunder Valley result. “It felt really good. There are a lot of fast guys right now and a lot of champions, and for me to be up in the mix with those guys feels pretty good right now. I’m happy that the pace is there. I’m happy to know that we’re not far off. It’s awesome to know that the speed is there and the fitness is there.

“I thought it was a really big step in the right direction. We made some really good changes after Pala, and we made some more good changes after Hangtown. I feel like the bike is in a really good position, and now it is up to me to keep trucking along and put myself in good positions on the starts and battle with those frontrunners.”

On pace and displaying excellent consistency, three rounds into the ’26 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Marchbanks finds himself seventh in the 450MX point standings.

“I think it’s really good," he said. "I mean fourth on the weekend and seventh in points is solid. I wish Pala would have gone a little better in the first moto. For me, it’s just keep putting good races together and being consistent and running in that three through sixth place spot and just put myself in a good position for the end of the year in the outdoor series. I think things are going really good right now.

“I also think my consistency is really good right now. We’re three rounds in. The last five motos have been really good. We had one hiccup at Pala in the first moto. It has been super-solid for me. On the bad days, try to be top 10, and on the good days, try to be around three through six, I think it’s good. I think if you can just be in the top five every weekend, you’re going to be in the mix for a top three in the points.”

Marchbanks elaborated on running at the sharp end of the frantic 450MX field on any given Saturday.

“It seems like it’s more stacked in the front area and a little thinned out in the back area,” he said.. “A lot of the guys that were hurt in supercross came back for outdoors. It’s really stacked right now. I would say the top seven are really fast guys. They’re on a really fast pace. It’s pretty wild.

"For me to be up there in the mix is pretty awesome. In the races, the speed has been real good. I’ve been able to run around that third- to sixth-place speed. I think for me it is just to try and stay with third and fourth place out there a little more. The pace is pretty high. It seems like one to two to three guys are really quick, and then it drops one second to where there is fourth, fifth and sixth. That’s kind of our group.

"It’s not a huge drop. There are little packs of guys that are pretty quick. It’s been really cool so far just seeing where guys are at. For me, it’s just to try and be up there. I want to try and battle with those guys to put myself right there for a podium finish. These 450 guys are really quick and for me, I want to try and get some podium finishes before the season ends.”

Next stops: High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Pennsylvania for round number four of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, followed by round five of the title fight set for RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan.

“High Point is really awesome,” said Marchbanks. “I’ve had some really good results there the past couple years. I had my first podium ever on the 450 there. I got a second place back in 2023. I really like that race. High Point is one of my favorites on the circuit. I’m looking forward to that one and trying to run up in that top five pack and hopefully get a moto podium or overall this time around.

"I’m also look forward to RedBud. RedBud is awesome. The track always super-deep. I’ve had a little bit of ups and downs there through the years, but I really enjoy the East Coast tracks and look forward to them.”