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There seems to be nothing that will slow down Monster Energy/Yamaha Star Racing in 2026. Haiden Deegan has dominated the 250SX West Region, clinching a second title a few rounds early. Meanwhile, on the 250SX East Region, Cole Davies has blossomed in just his second season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross. The New Zealand teenager clinched his first career 250SX title on Saturday at a muddy Philadelphia Supercross, putting the finishing touches on a dominating season.
After the race, Davies talked about what the championship meant to him.
Congratulations. This was the goal all along. You’ve accomplished this in just a short period in your professional career. What’s it been like celebrating those first few moments, especially with some of your family here?
Davies: It means everything to me. I’ve kind of spent my whole life coming towards this moment. All the sacrifices my family has made to get me here have paid off, so I’m stoked. This means everything to me.
I know you’re a man of not many words, but this is one of those moments that defines your life and your career, and I saw your parents down there. I saw everybody celebrating, and in motocross and supercross, there is a journey like no other that nobody else really knows about. Is there any certain moment when you won that championship with your parents there that you were thinking about ‘Wow, we took this huge risk, and it finally paid off’?
I would say maybe four years ago now, five years ago now, we sat down in Ben Townley’s living room, and we set out a plan on what we’re going to do and how we’re going to get here, and we’ve followed that step by step, almost. What we’ve planned out has happened exactly. So, I’m just stoked. Everything’s worked out, all the sacrifices, all the hard work, it’s all paid off.
Was there any importance to wrapping up the championship with one race remaining, and now you’re going to go into the season finale kind of mano y mano with Haiden Deegan to show who is the strongest in the class.
I don’t really care. This is 250 East Champ. I don’t really care. It will be what it is when we get there. It might be a battle, might not. Anyway, I’m going to celebrate this, and this means everything to me, but it’s nice that I wrapped it up earlier. I’ll be able to do some testing on outdoors and focus on outdoors a lot more now, instead of actually going to the last round focusing. I can kind of prepare for outdoors now.
The magnitude of the one repercusses over and back home, and 19 years, it was before Ben Townley won the east, so it’s an awesome achievement. Just in reflection, only four years ago you won the junior motocross Nationals 2022, your double class. Won 250. Five, four years later, you’re here. It’s pretty phenomenal. Can you give us a bit of your thoughts on just that drive and determination? I suppose that this is what you wanted to get?
It’s all happened pretty quickly. As you said, four years ago, I was racing the New Zealand Nationals. It’s pretty crazy to say, but where I am now, it’s been a long journey. All the hard work and all the sacrifices have paid off for me to get here, so everything’s going well.
Do you have any plans to spend your championship bonus on anything?
Honestly, I don’t know. It’s a hard one. I don’t know if I want a sick truck or a house, or I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it that hard, but I’ve kind of thought about it a little bit.
At what point did you realize that the championship was yours? You crossed the finish line. Were you looking around trying to figure it out?
I think we lapped Romano, so it was like I saw a PC bike, and then I saw Dax behind it. I’m like, bro, no! And I stop, and I’m looking back like what’s going on? But I’m looking at the board and it’s still Dax in front of Seth, and then I saw Dex come along the line. I’m like, yes, let’s go. A hell of a night. And congrats to Seth, too. It’s been a good season. He’s put up a good fight, and yeah, it’s been fun.
We’re seeing obviously a lot of smiles coming out of you tonight on the podium. I feel like throughout the year you’ve been very focused, laser-focused. Does it feel like there’s almost like a release of pressure tension from just this season?
It’s been a stressful one, but I’m good now. It’s been a long, stressful season, but I’m stoked to get it done. I’m chilling now.
