New Zealand motocross rising star Cole Davies enjoyed a breakthrough weekend at High Point Raceway in Pennsylvania, delivering a flawless performance to claim his first overall victory of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross season.
The teenager was untouchable throughout the event, setting the pace in both qualifying sessions before converting that speed into victory in each of the two 250MX motos. The perfect 1-1 scorecard earned Davies the maximum 50 championship points and propelled him to fourth in the series standings.
Davies’ success came after a challenging stretch of races following his opening-round podium. While he remained competitive, results at Hangtown and Thunder Valley had seen him slip behind the championship leaders. High Point marked an emphatic return to form.
In the opening moto, Davies capitalised after early race leader Julien Beaumer crashed while holding a comfortable advantage. Once in front, the Kiwi controlled proceedings and never relinquished the lead, taking the chequered flag ahead of Beaumer and Jo Shimoda.
The race also proved significant in the championship battle. Several title contenders encountered difficulties, including points leader Seth Hammaker, while Shimoda produced a strong recovery drive after a poor start to finish on the podium.
Davies was equally impressive in Moto Two. He quickly established himself at the front and built a healthy margin over the chasing pack. Behind him, Beaumer again secured second place, while Australian rookie Kayden Minear delivered one of the standout rides of the afternoon. Minear held off repeated attacks from Shimoda to secure third position after spending much of the race battling near the front.
Shimoda’s persistence was rewarded with third overall for the round, helping him gain valuable ground in the championship standings. Meanwhile, championship rivals Levi Kitchen and Hammaker endured difficult outings, with Kitchen unable to challenge for victory and Hammaker’s hopes damaged by an early crash.
For Davies, the dominant weekend confirmed his status as a genuine contender in the 250MX class. With momentum now firmly on his side, the Kiwi heads to the next round at RedBud having significantly reduced the gap to the championship frontrunners and established himself as one of the riders to watch for the remainder of the season.
