Hammaker on the road to recovery after High Point crash

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team rider Seth Hammaker opened up the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship by racing to 2-1 moto scores at Fox Raceway (Pala) in Southern California to snag the very first AMA Pro Motocross overall victory of his career.

Round number two of the series, the Hangtown Motocross Classic, saw the Pennsylvanian charge to 1-9 moto scores for the third spot on the podium. Round three at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Colorado brought 2-12 finishes for seventh overall.

In possession of the red plate headed into High Point, Hammaker placed fifth in the opening moto before he looped out his Kawasaki KX250F in moto number two and ended up with a torn labrum, his summer of racing brought to an immediate and abrupt end.

After undergoing shoulder surgery, Hammaker has been out of action and looking at a lengthy recovery period.

“I’m recovering from my latest shoulder injury, unfortunately, from the High Point crash in moto two there," he says.

"I dislocated my shoulder and when it came out, it tore up my labrum. I had to get that repaired. I’m about three and a half weeks out of surgery now, but everything has been going good. I’m out here working with Dr. G (Dr. Rey Gubernick) and doing therapy and I feel like I’m making really good progress. Other than that, just trying to stay busy and keep it going.

“It does feel like something is missing in your life when you don’t have that dirt bike. I put everything into it. All of us athletes, we put so much into the sport that when you don’t get to race, you have to try and find something else to focus on and not let your mind go crazy. I also feel like just the adrenaline rush, that feeling, it’s so hard to get with doing anything else. Especially while you’re hurt. I do other stuff. I really enjoy the golf. I put some time into that, but obviously I can’t do that with the recovery of the shoulder. There are just things that you have to find to take over a little bit, because it’s easy to watch the races on the weekend and kind of stir yourself crazy.”

With his recovery progressing on schedule, Hammaker is beginning to look at getting back on the motorcycle.

“I’m feeling really good from three and a half weeks out, and I feel like this the quickest I’ve recovered from a shoulder surgery and injury," he says. "I’ve had a lot of them and I definitely know what to do with going through the process of recovery and stuff.

“My plan would be to start riding in mid-September if I keep progressing like I’m doing. It could be early September, but at this point, I don’t think I’m going to make it back for SMX, unfortunately. There is not going to be enough time for me to prepare and get race ready for those, which is a bummer. I want to back on the bike and have plenty of time to work my way back into things and have a great off-season and come into next supercross season at my best.

"I’m on the down low. I’m going to be out in California for a couple more weeks to get through the first part of the recovery, and then I’ll get back to Florida and kind of hang out. I’m going to go to Loretta Lynn’s next week for a couple of days with the Fox guys and see everybody. I’m excited for that. I haven’t been back to Loretta Lynn’s in many years. The last year I raced there was 2019, so it will be fun to go check it out and see all the young up and comers out there shredding.”

Along the way, Hammaker has been in step with Mitch Payton and the Corona, California-based Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki organization.

“Yeah, I’ve been in close contact,” says Hammaker. “I stay with Mitch while I’m out here in California. Yeah, Mitch and his family, I have a great relationship with them and they do so much for me. I’m just kind of hanging out. It’s cool to hang out with those guys away from the racing aspect of things. It’s part of our lives.

"I want to use every opportunity every day to work to be better towards 2027. I want to make sure that I do everything and don’t leave anything on the table. I want to put my best foot forward each and every day, and work on the bike, and work on myself, and just come into 2027 with no doubts that I can go out there and win championships and races.

"And I just re-signed with Mitch and Kawasaki, so I’m really happy with that. I love to keep the relationship going. It’s been an amazing couple of years that we’ve had. Especially the last two seasons as my results have really picked up. I can show what I’m really capable of and I’m grateful to have another couple of years with Kawasaki and to continue that relationship. The loyalty has been amazing. That means a lot to me. There is nothing more than to go out there and win races and championships for myself, and obviously the team, as well. It’ll be a fun couple of more years.

"I think we have the same bike again next year with a few minor changes, so this is going to be our third year on this model. That only means that the bike is going to get better with Mitch and the guys over there continuing to work at it.

“It makes me feel really good. I want to pick up where I left off. To already have wins in supercross and coming up second the last two years in the 250SX East championship, it’s time to lock it in now and really start getting these things done at the end of the season. That’s the next step that I need to take, and I’m fully capable of it.

"I have all the things I need to do it. I just need to go out there and some fun with it and go get it done. There is nothing like thinking about doing it, but it’s the coolest feeling when it does happen and that’s the feeling that you chase. That’s the motivation that I use during the race. You keep fighting through the injuries and all that. You remember why you’re doing it. The goals you set for yourself. There’s nothing better than that, and it’s all part of the journey.”