Waitoki’s Cole Davies is zeroing in on one of the most prestigious motocross championships in the USA, the 2026 SMX250 Pro Motocross Championship. He’s the form rider and currently sits one point adrift of the lead with just two rounds and four races to go. New Zealand hasn’t seen this type of talent since Ben Townley raced in the same events 19 years ago.

“This track was sketchy,” Davies said after going 2-1 at this past weekend’s Unadilla, New York, round. “I had to get in my flow and step it up. Everyone was riding good, so it was up to me to make it happen like I did. It’s a tight championship now, so we’ll race to the end and hopefully pull it off.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Davies is in full preparation mode and one of his mentors, 2004 MX2 World Motocross Champion Ben Townley, said he needed to play to his strengths.

“His strengths are his starts and his speed,” Townley offers from his base in Europe. “Take the holeshots and when he has clean air, we know he is very fast.”

New Zealand’s Cole Davies #37, has been the rider to beat in the 250SMX class at the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. He sits just one-point off championship leader, Levi Kitchen #47, of Washington, going into the final two rounds. Photo: SMX

Davies currently sits just a single point out of the points lead coming into the penultimate round at Budds Creek, having amassed back-to-back victories and four wins over the past six races. Davies has been the most successful rider in the division and returns to the site of his first ever moto win, which came last season.

Sitting ahead of Davies is Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen, who himself has an overall victory at Budds Creek on his resume. The veteran out of Washington appears to be in top form, along with Davies, setting the stage for a compelling race day as both look to tighten their grip on the silverware, each in pursuit of his first national championship and the most prestigious 250cc title in the sport.

New Zealand’s first-ever World Motocross Champion, Shayne King who won the 500cc title in 1996, said Davies was a young kid who had a dream then worked hard to get to where he is today.

“He's put himself in the right places at the right time,” King offers. “Ben Townley's had a big part to play with that, Josh Coppins, as well. But he's a young kid that had an amazing dream like we all did. And he's managing to capture that dream and starting to fulfill his ultimate goals.”

King said New Zealand was fertile ground for developing young motocross riders with such a variety of tracks to ride. As old school as you get, King knows better than anyone what it takes to be a world champion.

“We have the variety and the ability to be able to ride where we want, when we want, and how we want,” King adds. “New Zealand is the best place in the world to bring up motocross riders and I'm pretty sure BT and JC would be the same on this one.”

While King, Coppins and Townley all chased their dream in Europe’s World Motocross Championships Davies has taken a different path. A path that might see him eventually rise to a level even above that of these three legendary New Zealanders.

“Cole's stepping stone was not Europe, his stepping stone was the US, which is another challenge in itself with supercross,” King explains. “For me, it's just incredible to see the pathway that he's taken to get to where he is today. That comes down to his want to do it. You've got to take the challenge on head first and he took it on head first. He got put into the right programs with the right people. And the biggest thing is he's got the will to be successful and he's having fun with it. I'm super proud and impressed that he's putting New Zealand back on the map again.”

Many are drawing parallels to Townley’s 2007 season where he himself won the East Coast Supercross title, then battled for the title in the 250cc Pro Motocross Championship, winning six of the 12 rounds and never missing the podium, eventually finishing second after a season-long battle with Seattle rider Ryan Villopoto.

Coppins said he felt like this title race would go down to the wire, too. Having raced for MXGP victories and titles, Coppins knows what it takes to be a contender.

“The first moto this weekend is crucial,” Coppins admits. “We've got four motos to go and he's closed the gap, but I feel like momentum is really important at the moment. And I feel like Cole has been more comfortable in Moto 2. If he could have a first moto win this weekend, that will set him up for a 1-1 result. And then the momentum is with him going into the final round. Levi Kitchen’s been a little inconsistent in the starts. And Levi's strength has been coming through the pack, but Cole's strength is he hasn't needed to come through the pack. [Budds Creek] is a little bit like Taupo’s dirt, but it's a little bit more hilly,” Coppins adds. “Both tracks will suit him – he's super talented. Since round three or four, apart from Millville where he punctured his fuel tank, he's been the best guy, comfortably.”

The final two rounds of the series take place over the next two weekends with Budds Creek, Maryland, Washington DC, next up on August 23, followed by Ironman Raceway, Illinois on August 30. Davies will turn 19 two days before the final round.