Mikkel Haarup put 5.11 Triumph Factory Racing fifth in the 450MX class at Budds Creek, the penultimate round of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. His 8-5 scorecard delivered the first top-five of his career in the class and the best overall result so far for both Haarup and Triumph’s TF 450-X in the series.

Haarup’s day began with seventh place in timed qualifying, described by the team as his second-best qualifying result of the season. A difficult launch in the opening moto dropped him to 16th, but he responded immediately. By the end of the first lap he was already inside the top 10, and consistent laps from there carried him to eighth at the chequered flag. It was his best moto result since round six.

The second moto produced the breakthrough result. Haarup started fifth, moved almost instantly into third and held that position for five laps. He lost two places as the race progressed, but maintained a comfortable fifth to the finish. The result was a career best for Haarup both in a single moto and overall, while also setting a new benchmark for the TF 450-X.

A tougher round for Smith and Denno

Jordon Smith endured a much more difficult round. His first moto ended early after a rare issue. In the second, a difficult start on the one-lined track left him in a challenging position, although he moved from the edge of the top 20 toward the top 15 before a minor mistake dropped him back. He finished 17th in the moto and 19th overall on a 39-17 scorecard.

Deacon Denno, who had improved after returning the previous week, was ruled out of the penultimate round following a crash in the first moto. He had been running as high as 10th. Jeremy Coker, general manager of Triumph Racing America, said another rider crossed in front of Denno, forcing him into a mud pile and resulting in a reinjured collarbone. Coker said the team’s focus was now on getting Denno healthy; no further medical details were provided.

The championship picture and finale

Hunter Lawrence won the round with a 1-1 score, ahead of Jorge Prado on 3-3, Haiden Deegan on 2-4 and Jett Lawrence on 5-2. After round 10, Hunter leads the championship with 442 points, just one ahead of Jett on 441. Haarup sits ninth in the standings with 220 points, while Smith is 11th on 170.

The season finale will be held at Ironman Raceway in Indiana on Saturday, August 29. For Triumph, Haarup’s Budds Creek performance is an important step in the team’s third AMA Pro Motocross season and a clear sign of progress for the TF 450-X in the 450MX class. Triumph lists the motorcycle with a starting price of $10,695. The available evidence does not establish pricing or availability in Greece.