Release from 15.02.2026
A season-best for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in 450SX Main Event
DiFrancesco qualified eighth in the 250SX category, continuing to build comfort with the technical Lumen Field track conditions onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition over the course of the two sessions.
The 20-year-old charged to a convincing second-place finish in his Heat Race, before a composed ride in the Main Event saw DiFrancesco claim a P4 result, which now has him tied for third position in the Western Division standings after six rounds.
Ryder D will return to action on March 21 at Protective Stadium for the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the year, while the Eastern division commences next weekend in Arlington, Texas, with team riders Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran making their first appearances of the 2026 season.
“I didn’t have the best day in Seattle,” recalled DiFrancesco. “Out of the six rounds, this is probably the one I struggled with the most, so a fourth is a decent result entering the four-week break now. We’ll get that fire lit again, take a little time off, and regroup. Today was a bit of a struggle, although I am pretty stoked to come away with P4 and be tied for third in points.”
Stewart posted the sixth-fastest time overall in 450SX qualifying aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, finding a strong rhythm early on during the afternoon and looking to maintain that form into the night show.
A crash in his Heat Race marked the lone major setback of what was an otherwise solid night for the 33-year-old Stewart, advancing directly to the 450SX Main Event with a seventh-place result.
Launching inside the top-10 on lap one, Stewart delivered a measured performance in demanding conditions, steadily working his way forward as the race wore on. Combining consistency with speed, Mookie crossed the line in P6 when the checkered flag flew.
“Seattle is always an interesting race,” said Stewart. “I always feel like I leave here with a positive mindset and decent results, and tonight we got sixth. Obviously, we wanted that top-five position, but considering how the beginning of the year has started, a sixth is a really good result for us! I felt really good all day. Practice was strong and it kind of starts from there, right? You know, just getting into that positive mindset, so yeah, Seattle was a good night, especially with the way the track was. It was pretty brutal out there – everybody was crashing and making big mistakes – but we kept it on two wheels and I was being smart with it. Now we head back indoors to Arlington and continue to build!"
Premier class teammate RJ Hampshire did not line up for Round 6 of the 2026 SMX World Championship in Seattle after fracturing his foot in a training crash earlier in the week, an injury that will also see him sit out upcoming rounds while he focuses on his recovery.
Next Race: February 21 – Arlington, Texas
Results 450SX Class – Seattle
1. Eli Tomac (KTM)
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
6. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
7. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 6 of 17 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 124 points
2. Eli Tomac, 123
3. Ken Roczen, 113
10. Jorge Prado, 73
11. Aaron Plessinger, 65
12. Malcolm Stewart, 52
13. Justin Hill, 51
16. RJ Hampshire, 38
Results 250SX Class – Seattle
1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
3. Max Anstie (Yamaha)
4. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
Standings 250SX Class 2026 after 6 of 10 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 118 points
2. Max Anstie, 108
3. Michael Mosiman, 107
4. Ryder DiFrancesco, 107