Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing Sweeps the 250SX Podium in Cleveland
Nate Thrasher earns his first win of the season, Landen Gordon scores his first-career podium, and Cole Davies extends his 250SX Championship lead / Apr 21, 2026 /
When you reach the closing stages of a championship, it’s not always just about stacking wins or extending the points lead. Sometimes, it’s about finding your way back or breaking through. On Saturday night in Cleveland, Ohio, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 riders did all of that, delivering a podium sweep in the process.
Nate Thrasher led the charge, securing his first win of the season. Rookie Landen Gordon followed with a breakout performance, earning his first career podium with a runner-up finish in just his second professional start. Rounding out the sweep was points leader Cole Davies, who overcame adversity to claim third overall and further extend his championship lead. Add to that, it was also a great night for the team in the 450 class, with Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper finishing on the podium.
“It's really tough to say anything other than it was a great night for the entire team,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “All five guys that we had here are on the podium, and we extended the lead in the 250 championship – we can't ask for much more.”
The first Supercross in Cleveland in more than three decades, Round 8 of the 250SX East Championship was also the final Triple Crown event of the season, and changing weather at the Huntington Bank Field added to the challenge.
Thrasher was quick from the start, and in the first main event, he moved to the front and led the first eight laps, ultimately finishing second. He then came out swinging in the twice-started second main event. After taking control early, he built a gap to remain unchallenged, putting himself in the overall lead heading into the final race.
As conditions worsened with continued rain, Thrasher didn’t get the start he was looking for in the final main but managed the race well, navigating the deteriorating track to finish fourth and secure the overall victory with a 2-1-4 score. The victory marked Thrasher’s first of the season and the seventh of his career, which also extended the team’s win streak and made him the fifth Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider to win in the 250SX class this year.
“It was a great day,” said Thrasher. “The first race got off to a great start, but I really didn't ride my best, and got a little arm pump. In the second race, I got the win, but that last one didn't come easy. I had to fight for it. I didn't ride my best in the beginning, but we sorted it out, and at the end I felt unbelievable. In those last four laps, I was just able to click them off, be consistent, and get the overall win with 2-1-4 on the night. I just had great starts all day. It was an awesome race win, the seventh of my career – it’s an unbelievable feeling.”
It was also a standout night for his young teammate, Landen Gordon, who showed poise amidst the chaos of a Triple Crown event. He got great starts in all three main events and rode a strong pace, earning a fourth-place finish and a pair of runner-up finishes, securing second overall and his first podium in the pro ranks.
“It was an awesome day for me,” said Gordon. “Second pro race and finishing second overall – it couldn’t have gone much better. I was pretty close to a first place, actually, which is unreal. It was a pretty consistent day for me. I learned a lot in my first Triple Crown. Let’s keep it going!”
For championship leader Cole Davies, it was an eventful day in Cleveland, but the New Zealander showed resilience. He started strong in the opening race, charging into second before a tip-over dropped him to sixth. He had another moment as he tried to make his way through, but would regroup and make the pass for fifth on the final lap. Then, a crash after the start of the second main event had him back in 14th, but the race was red-flagged and brought about a complete restart, with Davies finishing fourth.
In the final race, Davies grabbed the holeshot, set the fastest lap early, and controlled the race from the front to take the win. Although he ended up tied in points with his championship rival – Seth Hammaker – the commanding victory secured third overall, which further strengthened his championship lead to 22 points with two rounds remaining.
“It was a pretty wild Triple Crown, but I still managed a podium,” said Davies. “I went down in Race 1 and came together hard with another rider in Race 2, but I didn't give up and fought through it. The bike was handling the conditions really well, especially in Race 3, where I pulled the holeshot and took the win. Our championship lead stretched out a little further heading into Philadelphia next weekend. Congrats to the boys – they rode well tonight.”
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship now heads to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Round 9 of the 250SX East Championship at Lincoln Financial Field on April 25.