Prado Wins 2026 SMX Playoffs And $1 Million Prize

Spaniard holds off Deegan in tight closing moto to assert the championship

Jorge Prado has received the 2026 Supermotocross World Championship after beating Haiden Deegan by simply 1.7s within the second moto of the Playoff Remaining at Thunder Ridge Nature Enviornment. The win, with triple factors awarded for the ultimate, gave Prado the nod within the closing standings by a mere 7 factors over Deegan. Prado turns into the primary Spanish-born rider to win the SMX Playoffs and the $1 million winner's purse.

The Pink Bull KTM rider did it the onerous manner, after a fifth-place end within the first moto, whereas Deegan transformed the holeshot right into a wire-to-wire win by 3.1 seconds over Ken Roczen, with Hunter Lawrence third. Prado, who led the factors standings heading into the Championship Remaining, began tenth however clawed his method to fifth. Deegan was tied for second behind Prado, and with triple factors up for grabs, the win put him in a very good place heading into the ultimate moto.

Prado answered with the holeshot within the second moto forward of Deegan. The Monster Vitality Star Racing Yamaha rider discovered the quickest laps of the moto within the second half, and reeled Prado in, drawing to inside a motorbike size or two with roughly three and a half minutes remaining. Each riders needed to take care of lapped riders, however Prado saved it clear sufficient to win by 1.731 seconds.

Deegan's 1-2 gave him the general win and 75 factors, bringing his championship complete to 151 factors. Prado's 5-1 outcomes put him forward of Lawrence's two third-place finishes, and giving him 66 factors, sufficient to provide him 158 on the season and seven factors forward of Deegan for the SMX Championship.

"One 12 months in the past I wasn't even racing within the SMX post-season, however the Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing group did an superior job getting ready me all winter lengthy, each single week, and I additionally ready myself the most effective I might to bounce again," Prado mentioned. "That's what champions do, proper?"

Prado will look to defend his SMX title subsequent season, after signing a multi-year contract extension with Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing. A two-time MXGP World Champion and two-time MX2 champion, Prado's subsequent job can be to seize his first AMA title, both in Supercross or Professional Motocross.