Deacon Denno has capped off a breakout season by claiming the SMX Next Supercross AMA National Championship, delivering a major result for Triumph Factory Racing aboard the Triumph TF 250-X.
The 18-year-old sealed the title in style at the final round in Philadelphia, taking a dominant win in brutal, rain-affected conditions to lock in the championship. Across the five-round SMX Next series, Denno stood on the podium three times, including two race wins.
Strong season progression
Denno’s campaign started steadily with a fifth-place finish at Anaheim 2, before stepping up in Houston where he claimed his first podium with a second-place result after leading laps in the main event.
From there, the momentum built.
At Daytona, Denno broke through for his first SMX Next victory, controlling the race and taking the win by four seconds — a performance that firmly put him on the radar as one of the sport’s rising prospects.
A setback came in Birmingham, where a leg injury during practice left him outside the top 10 off the gate. Despite that, Denno charged through the field to finish fifth, showing resilience under pressure.
Championship sealed in Philadelphia
The final round proved decisive.
On a slick, rain-affected track at Lincoln Financial Field, Denno grabbed the holeshot and checked out early, setting the fastest lap of the race and stretching a gap of over a second per lap on his rivals.
The win secured him the SMX Next Supercross AMA National Championship, underlining both his consistency across the series and his ability to deliver when it counted.
Rider reaction
“It’s been a great end to the series and a dream come true to come away with the SMX Next Supercross AMA National Championship title,” said Denno.
“My goal when I came into these events was to win races, so I’m pretty pumped to walk away with two wins and a second place.
“The SMX Next season has brought so much experience for me. There’s been some highs and lows, but I was able to power through mentally and physically, and I learnt a lot.
“The highlight for me has to be Daytona — it’s such an iconic place. To win there for my first Supercross win and for the team is something I won’t forget.”
Denno also credited the bike and team for the result.
“The bike has been great right the way through. I adapted to the TF 250-X really well and felt comfortable straight away. The more we test and dial it in, the better it’s gotten.
“Having a team like Triumph Factory Racing behind me has been awesome. I’m grateful to everyone in my corner for the work they put in.”
Team perspective
Triumph Racing America General Manager Jeremy Coker praised Denno’s rapid progression.
“His grit, hard work and determination is stronger than most, and he’s shown so much promise during the SMX Next events. It’s a great platform for young riders to build experience, and I believe Deacon’s ceiling is extremely high.”
Team Manager Steve Westfall highlighted the consistency behind the headline result.
“He’s been strong at every round, even when things didn’t go perfectly. He took two wins with the TF 250-X, which we’re really proud of.
“Overall, he would have won the series on total points as well, which says a lot about how well-rounded he is.”
What’s next
With the SMX Next title secured, Denno now shifts focus to the outdoor motocross season, continuing his progression towards the professional ranks.
Based on this trajectory, he’s one to keep a close eye on.
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