Carson Wood Sweeps Motos at RedBud to Capture First SMX Next – Motocross Scouting Moto Combine Win

AMA Hall of Famer Kevin Windham Earns Coaches Cup

BUCHANAN, MI – July 6, 2026 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – The first SMX Next – Motocross event of the summer brought the sport’s best amateur prospects to RedBud MX for a Scouting Moto Combine gathering that served as an exciting complement to the 5.11 RedBud National. The excitement of America’s 250th Anniversary added to the event’s atmosphere, which saw Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Carson Wood [#260] prevail for his first SMX Next victory following a sweep of the motos. Wood’s win also meant AMA Hall of Famer Kevin Windham earned the Coaches Cup.

Before the gates dropped on the motos, the 25 invited prospects participated in classroom-style education sessions that provided key insights into various aspects of the sport away from the racetrack, including training & fitness, nutrition, and media engagement. The group was split into groups amongst four Rider Coaches, where Windham was joined by fellow AMA Hall of Famer Broc Glover and former international stars Michael Byrne and Gareth Swanepoel. Collectively, the coaches provided guidance, mentorship, and invaluable insights towards each athlete’s on-track performance.

Qualifying

• Wood set the tone for motos by topping the charts in both SMX Next timed sessions, with his second session time of 2:23.248 putting him 1.7 seconds ahead of Australian Quad Lock Honda rider Kayd Kingsford [#20] and his time of 2:25.022.

Moto 1 [25 Minutes + 2 Laps]

• The field took to the track amidst the hottest period of the day on Friday and out of the gate it was Wood who led the way with the holeshot ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Landon Gibson [#23]. Behind them, Kingsford and Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Kade Johnson [#177] jockeyed for third.
• The top two were able to put some distance over the rest of the field, with Wood able to take advantage of the clear track to establish a firm hold of the lead. A brief stall of his Yamaha erased Wood’s advantage, but he was able to resume just ahead of Gibson.
• The lead duo were separated by no more than a handful of bike lengths the rest of the way, with lapped riders ultimately factoring into the battle for the win. While Gibson kept Wood within reach, he was unable to mount enough of an attack to make a pass attempt.
• Behind the leaders, Kingsford and Johnson continued their fight for third throughout the first half of the moto until Kingsford encountered misfortune, which handed the position to Johnson as Kingsford remounted in fourth. The Australian would lose additional positions as the moto wore on.
• Wood took the Moto 1 win by a slim 1.5 seconds over Gibson, with Johnson nearly 50 seconds behind in third. KTM Orange Brigade’s Luke Fauser [#46] was fourth, with MX6 Racing Yamaha’s Owen Covell [#24] in fifth and Kingsford sixth.

Moto 2 [15 Minutes + 2 Laps]

• After a severe thunderstorm halted Friday’s activities race officials were able to schedule a shortened second moto on Saturday, which served as a precursor to the National and led into opening ceremonies.
• The second moto got underway in front of a massive crowd, with Gibson charging to the holeshot and early lead over Wood. Behind them, several riders duked it out for third, with ClubMX Yamaha’s Jesson Turner able to grab hold of the position.
• Gibson’s grasp of the lead was short lived, and Wood was aggressive on the opening lap and muscled his way by his Husqvarna counterpart. With the shortened moto, Wood was then able to sustain a sprint pace that prevented Gibson from mounting a serious challenge.
• As the leaders once again pulled away from the rest of the field, the fight for third was thrilling as Turner was forced to do battle with both Johnson and Kingsford. When a minor miscue just past halfway resulted in Turner’s slowest lap of the moto it allowed both Johnson and Kingsford to get by. From there, the Kawasaki and Honda rider renewed their battle from Friday, this time with the Australian coming out ahead.
• Much like it was in Moto 1, Gibson kept Wood honest throughout the moto, but the Yamaha rider carried on to complete the moto sweep by an even slimmer margin of just over a second at the checkered flag. Kingsford completed an impressive podium run in third after starting sixth, with Johnson right behind in fourth.

Overall

• Wood’s 1-1 effort served as a breakthrough performance for the Florida native, no doubt aided by the experience he’s gained in two Pro Motocross starts this summer leading into the Combine.
• Gibson’s 2-2 effort gave him a fourth runner-up finish in SMX Next competition, which includes his third second-place result in the past four Scouting Moto Combines.
• Johnson captured his first SMX Next – Motocross podium result in third following 3-4 finishes.

Carson Wood [#260] took full advantage of his Moto 1 holeshot on Friday to keep Landon Gibson [#23]  at bay and take his first of two wins over the weekend.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Moto 2 unfolded in front of a massive RedBud crowd on Saturday, where Gibson [#23] had the initial advantage with the holeshot but was ultimately passed by Wood [#260].
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

SMX Next – Motocross Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

1. Carson Wood, Zephyrhills, Fla., Yamaha (1-1 // 50)
2. Landon Gibson, Peachtree City, Ga., Husqvarna (2-2 // 44)
3. Kade Johnson, Hideaway, Texas, Kawasaki (3-4 // 38)
4. Kayd Kingsford, Goulburn, NSW, Australia, Honda (6-3 // 36)
5. Owen Covell, Plymouth, Mass., Yamaha (5-6 // 33)
6. Jesson Turner, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha (8-5 // 31)
7. Luke Fauser, Midland, Pa., KTM (4-9 // 31)
8. Cade Bradley, Kingman, Ariz., Honda (11-13 // 20)
9. Gavin Betts, Clifton Park, N.Y., Kawasaki (15-10 // 19)
10. Riley Busse, New Berlin, Wisc., Yamaha (9-16 // 19)

1st Place – Carson Wood | #260 Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (1-1)
“It is so hot out here. The track is super challenging and you have to be patient, but when you have someone behind you that can be difficult. I was about third off the start [in Moto 2] and was following [Gibson] for a little bit, but was able to make the pass super quick. That made the moto a lot easier on myself. I’m pumped, it was a perfect weekend.”

SMX Next – Motocross Highlights // RedBud Scouting Moto Combine

The second of two SMX Next – Motocross events this summer will take place at the final race of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship regular season as the Scouting Moto Combine will head to Indiana’s Ironman Raceway as part of the U.S. Army Ironman National Finals. The Combine will take place on the eve of the National, on Friday, August 28th.

Media Contacts:
Brandon Short / MX Sports Pro Racing
[email protected]
(304) 284-0101

Sean Brennen / Feld Motor Sports
[email protected]
(703) 448-3664

About the Monster Energy SMX World Championship:

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 28-round regular season that culminates with the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs.
Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About Pro Motocross Championship:

The Pro Motocross Championship features the world’s fastest outdoor motocross racers, competing aboard homologated bikes from one of seven competing manufacturers on a collection of the roughest, toughest tracks on the planet. Racing takes place each Saturday afternoon, with competition divided into two classes: one for 250cc machines, and one for 450cc machines. MX Sports Pro Racing, the industry leader in off-road powersports event production, manages the Pro Motocross Championship.
For more information, visit ProMotocross.com.

About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide.
For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

About MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.:

MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., manages and produces the world’s premier motocross racing series – the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. MX Sports Pro Racing is an industry leader in off-road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators.
Visit MXSportsProRacing.com for more information.

About Feld Motor Sports, Inc.:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

Source: SMX League

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