CRAWFORDSVILLE, Indiana: Chance Hymas overcame a Lap 1 crash before chasing Julien Beaumer down to win the first moto of the Ironman National.
Beaumer had taken the lead from Chance Hymas on Lap 2 when the then-leader crashed. Hymas remounted in fourth before pouring the speed on to take the lead as time was running off the clock.
The biggest story of the moto was the battle for the championship, however. Cole Davies entered the race knowing that all he needed was a solid performance in both motos. He challenged Beaumer and Hymas for the holeshot before settling into the top three.
Meanwhile, everything that could go wrong did for Levi Kitchen. He had a bad start that saw him outside the top 10 on Lap 1. As they ran, Davies had the championship wrapped up, but a crash later on that lap sealed his fate.
Kitchen crashed again on Lap 4, which may have been occasioned by a mechanical issue. Regardless, his bike was too banged up to continue and he retired in 40th a couple of laps later.
Beaumer earned the holeshot but gave up the top spot in the first few turns to Hymas. Beaumer kept Hymas in sight and was in position to take advantage over the newly-named Motocross of Nations MXGP rider on Lap 1.
Beaumer crashed on the laps lap, but he had a large enough lead over Davies to retain the position
Davies had little incentive to win the moto as he only needed a solid result to secure the 250 championship. This is his second title of 2026 after winning the Supercross East division.
Hymas remounted his bike in fourth after his Lap 2 crash, but he took the final moto podium position quickly, passing Landen Gordon.
Daxton Bennick battled for the final position in the top five for most of the race, but he found a burst of speed in the final laps and passed Gordon for fourth.
Gordon rounded out the top five.
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