The sound of bikes on the track, the crowd waiting for the gate to drop, and some of the best motocross riders in the world chasing a championship. The 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship Finals was an incredible weekend to experience, and I was lucky enough to be there with my camera as part of the media team.
The final took place September 26 at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri. I spent the weekend photographing practice, FanFest, and championship day, then sharing a look at the action with everyone following along at Heartland Honda in Springdale, Arkansas.
If you love dirt bikes, you know there’s something different about being at a race in person. You hear the engines before you see the riders. You feel the anticipation build as they line up. And when the gate drops, everything happens at once.
Practice day: The first look at the track
Before championship day, practice gave us a chance to see the riders and their bikes on the track. For me, it was also the first chance to figure out where I wanted to photograph from and what kind of shots I hoped to capture.
That’s one of my favorite parts of photographing motocross. You can plan for the angle and watch how riders approach a section, but the best photo often happens in a split second. A bike kicks up dirt. A rider finds a different line. The light catches the action just right. Then it’s gone, and you’re already looking for the next moment.
Practice day also brought FanFest and the excitement that comes with having so many racing fans in one place. People came to see their favorite riders, get a closer look at the bikes, and enjoy the weekend before the championship was decided.
Championship day at Thunder Ridge
By Saturday, the energy felt different. This was the SMX World Championship Final. The riders had worked through an entire season to reach this point, and fans had traveled to Ridgedale to watch it happen.
From behind the camera, I was focused on the details that make racing so exciting: a rider charging into a corner, a battle for position, the dirt flying as bikes accelerated away. I also wanted the photos to show what it felt like to be there. A championship weekend is bigger than any one shot of a bike in the air. It’s the riders, the fans, the teams, and all the moments surrounding the racing.
I took a lot of photos, but every now and then, I had to put the camera down for a second and take it in. Being on the media team for an event like this was an opportunity I’ll always be grateful for.
Why a weekend like SMX matters to us
At Heartland Honda, we get to meet riders at all kinds of stages. Some have followed motocross for years. Some are shopping for their first dirt bike. Others are parents helping their kids find a way into the sport they love.
That’s part of what made this weekend so fun to share. The riders competing at the highest level and the families heading to a local track on the weekend are connected by the same excitement for riding. Seeing Honda dirt bikes on a championship stage was especially cool for our team, but so was thinking about the riders back home in Northwest Arkansas who were following along.
You don’t have to be chasing a world championship to understand the feeling. If you’ve ever loaded up a dirt bike before sunrise, spent a day at the track with friends, or cheered for someone coming through the final corner, you get it. Racing has a way of bringing people together.
Bringing the photos home to Northwest Arkansas
One of the best parts of being there was getting to bring the experience back to Heartland Honda’s community. Photos let us share more than the results. They show the speed, the effort, and the atmosphere of a weekend that so many motocross fans look forward to.
We’ll be sharing more of my photos from the 2026 SMX World Championship Final on Heartland Honda’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Whether you were at Thunder Ridge or watched from home, I hope they give you another chance to enjoy the weekend.
And if seeing the action has you thinking about getting on a bike, stop by Heartland Honda in Springdale, Arkansas. We can help you explore our Honda dirt bikes, youth motorcycles, riding gear, parts, and service and talk through what fits the kind of riding you want to do.
For now, I’m heading back to the photos. There are plenty more moments from Ridgedale I can’t wait to share.
