With three rounds to go in 2026, Ken Roczen has led 152 laps this season. Roczen is one point behind Hunter Lawrence in the points standings. Hunter has led 96 laps this season.
Haiden Deegan has led 90 laps in his coast and Cole Davies has led 81 laps in his coast (so far!). Roczen, Deegan and Davies are all in the single season Top 20 (since 2003) ranks with a few rounds to go.
So how do these figures compare historically both from a total laps standpoint and a laps led percentage % standpoint?
Unfortunately, we only have laps led data back to 2003. So it only goes back that far. Also, for the 250SX class, this will only include championship rounds for the season. Basically, seasons where the 250SX E/W shootouts were for no championship points, they won’t be included – just the championship rounds.
450SX Class Single Seasons Laps Led (Since 2003)
Total Laps Led in a Season:
| Rank | Rider | Year | Manufacturer | Laps Led |
| 1 | James Stewart | 2007 | Kawasaki | 225 |
| 2 | James Stewart | 2009 | Yamaha | 197 |
| 3 | Jett Lawrence | 2024 | Honda | 193 |
| 4 | Ryan Villopoto | 2013 | Kawasaki | 180 |
| Eli Tomac | 2017 | Kawasaki | 180 | |
| 6 | Chad Reed | 2004 | Yamaha | 176 |
| 7 | Ryan Dungey | 2016 | KTM | 171 |
| 8 | Chase Sexton | 2023 | Honda | 166 |
| 9 | Chad Reed | 2008 | Yamaha | 163 |
| Ken Roczen | 2020 | Honda | 163 | |
| 11 | Ryan Villopoto | 2012 | Kawasaki | 161 |
| 12 | Eli Tomac | 2018 | Kawasaki | 158 |
| 13 | Ken Roczen | 2021 | Honda | 156 |
| 14 | Ryan Villopoto | 2014 | Kawasaki | 154 |
| 15 | Chad Reed | 2003 | Yamaha | 153 |
| 16 | Ken Roczen | 2026 | Suzuki | 152 |
| 17 | Jason Anderson | 2022 | Kawasaki | 150 |
| 18 | Ryan Dungey | 2015 | KTM | 148 |
| Chase Sexton | 2025 | KTM | 148 | |
| 20 | Eli Tomac | 2023 | Yamaha | 146 |
| 39 | Hunter Lawrence | 2026 | Honda | 90 |
Included where Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence rank this season in italics. Roczen only needs a bit more laps led to move up into the Top 10. Interestingly, Roczen led 156 in 2021 and 163 in 2020, his career bests. Unfortunately, he led the most laps in those seasons but didn’t win the title. Hunter is currently 39th all-time since 2003.
Other notes:
- No surprise to see James Stewart’s two championship seasons at the top here. 225 in a season is absolutely insane! And this is when the mains were limited to 20 laps and no triple crowns!
- Jett Lawrence’s rookie championship season is third since 2003, pretty impressive.
- There are a lot of non champions on this top 20 list: Tomac 2017, Roczen 2020, Tomac 2018, Roczen 2021, Reed 2003, Anderson 2022, Sexton 2025, Tomac 2023.
- Ricky Carmichael doesn’t make the Top 20, however, remember this only goes back to 2003…also he is just off the list at 21st for his 2005 season with 140 laps led.
Lets see how the percentage of laps led compares to this list.
450 Class Laps Led % since 2003:
| Rank | Rider | Year | Manufacturer | Laps Led % |
| 1 | James Stewart | 2007 | Kawasaki | 70.31% |
| 2 | James Stewart | 2009 | Yamaha | 57.94% |
| 3 | Chad Reed | 2004 | Yamaha | 54.83% |
| 4 | Ryan Villopoto | 2013 | Kawasaki | 52.94% |
| 5 | Ryan Dungey | 2016 | KTM | 50.89% |
| 6 | Chad Reed | 2008 | Yamaha | 49.85% |
| 7 | Ryan Villopoto | 2012 | Kawasaki | 47.92% |
| 8 | Chad Reed | 2003 | Yamaha | 47.81% |
| 9 | Eli Tomac | 2017 | Kawasaki | 45.92% |
| 10 | James Stewart | 2006 | Kawasaki | 45.60% |
| 11 | Ryan Villopoto | 2014 | Kawasaki | 45.29% |
| 12 | Ricky Carmichael | 2005 | Suzuki | 44.87% |
| 13 | Jett Lawrence | 2024 | Honda | 43.76% |
| 14 | Ryan Dungey | 2015 | KTM | 43.53% |
| 15 | Ricky Carmichael | 2003 | Honda | 40.63% |
| 16 | Ken Roczen | 2021 | Honda | 38.81% |
| Ryan Dungey | 2010 | Suzuki | 38.81% | |
| 18 | Ken Roczen | 2026 | Suzuki | 37.81% |
| 19 | Chase Sexton | 2023 | Honda | 37.64% |
| 20 | Ryan Villopoto | 2010 | Kawasaki | 36.12% |
| 39 | Hunter Lawrence | 2026 | Honda | 23.88% |
Roczen’s 2026 puts him 18th currently, Hunter ranks 39th currently with three rounds to go.
It is interesting to see how the percentage impacts the rankings of the previous list. Jett Lawrence goes from 3rd to 13th. Really shows the impact of the 20+1 mains and triple crowns.
Only 5 times has a rider led over 50% of the laps in a season. Villopoto’s 2012 would have been over 50% if not for getting hurt the last few rounds.
When we break down the percentages, only 5 instances of the top 20 are non champions. Theres 8 when we look at total laps led.
Stew’s 2007 is a crazy season…70% laps led, insane!
Lets look at the 250s.
250SX Class Single Seasons Laps Led (Since 2003)
Important to remember as mentioned before: this only includes championship rounds – no non point E/W shootout rounds are included. If they were for points, then they are included.
250SX Class Most Single Season Laps Led:
| Rank | Rider | Year | Coast | Manufacturer | Laps Led |
| 1 | Austin Forkner | 2019 | East | Kawasaki | 123 |
| 2 | Hunter Lawrence | 2023 | East | Honda | 103 |
| 3 | Jett Lawrence | 2023 | West | Honda | 101 |
| 4 | James Stewart | 2003 | West | Kawasaki | 100 |
| 5 | Jett Lawrence | 2022 | East | Honda | 95 |
| 6 | Ryan Villopoto | 2007 | West | Kawasaki | 93 |
| Austin Forkner | 2020 | West | Kawasaki | 93 | |
| 8 | Cole Davies | 2025 | West | Yamaha | 90 |
| Haiden Deegan | 2026 | West | Yamaha | 90 | |
| 10 | James Stewart | 2004 | East | Kawasaki | 88 |
| 11 | Adam Cianciarulo | 2019 | West | Kawasaki | 87 |
| 12 | Ivan Tedesco | 2004 | West | Kawasaki | 85 |
| 13 | Cole Davies | 2026 | East | Yamaha | 81 |
| 14 | Marvin Musquin | 2015 | East | KTM | 79 |
| 15 | Shane McElrath | 2020 | East | Yamaha | 78 |
| 16 | Justin Barcia | 2012 | East | Honda | 75 |
| Christian Craig | 2022 | West | Yamaha | 75 | |
| 18 | Chase Sexton | 2020 | East | Honda | 72 |
| 19 | Cole Seely | 2014 | West | Honda | 67 |
| Levi Kitchen | 2024 | West | Kawasaki | 67 |
Haiden Deegan is currently tied for 8th with Cole Davies from last year! Davies is currently 13th so far through this season. Both can keep moving up.
- Bummer seeing Forkner in first and sixth here. He was unreal in those 2019/2020 seasons before injuries.
- The Lawrence brothers are high up as well.
- James Stewart isn’t as high on total laps led, but just wait for the laps led %.
- I didn’t realize how many laps Davies led last year in 2025.
- With more rounds nowadays, 15+1 mains and triple crowns, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and Ivan Tedesco are the only riders pre 2010.
Lets look at the percentages:
| Rank | Rider | Year | Coast | Manufacturer | Laps Led % |
| 1 | James Stewart | 2003 | West | Kawasaki | 83.33% |
| 2 | James Stewart | 2004 | East | Kawasaki | 83.02% |
| 3 | Ryan Villopoto | 2007 | West | Kawasaki | 77.50% |
| 4 | Ivan Tedesco | 2004 | West | Kawasaki | 71.43% |
| 5 | Marvin Musquin | 2015 | East | KTM | 65.83% |
| 6 | Austin Forkner | 2019 | East | Kawasaki | 65.78% |
| 7 | Justin Barcia | 2012 | East | Honda | 56.82% |
| 8 | Haiden Deegan | 2026 | West | Yamaha | 54.55% |
| 9 | Hunter Lawrence | 2023 | East | Honda | 54.21% |
| 10 | Jett Lawrence | 2023 | West | Honda | 53.44% |
| 11 | Austin Forkner | 2020 | West | Kawasaki | 51.10% |
| 12 | Cole Seely | 2014 | West | Honda | 49.63% |
| 13 | Trey Canard | 2008 | East | Honda | 48.00% |
| 14 | Jett Lawrence | 2022 | East | Honda | 45.89% |
| 15 | Ryan Dungey | 2009 | West | Suzuki | 45.83% |
| 16 | Josh Grant | 2006 | East | Honda | 45.71% |
| Ryan Dungey | 2007 | East | Suzuki | 45.71% | |
| 18 | Martin Davalos | 2016 | East | Husqvarna | 45.45% |
| 19 | Justin Barcia | 2011 | East | Honda | 44.44% |
| 20 | Christophe Pourcel | 2010 | East | Kawasaki | 43.33% |
| 21 | Cole Davies | 2026 | West | Yamaha | 42.86% |
Deegan so far in 2026 is at 8th place, Davies is at 21st. Unlike the total laps led chart, Deegan and Davies could move up or down on this list.
- Stewart leading over 80% of laps is pretty wild…and he did it twice.
- Villopoto’s 2007 season was pretty insane as well.
- How about Ivan Tedesco with 71% in 2004. And Marv in 2015.
- Its interesting to see how much the 2003 to 2010 range shows up here.
Thanks of reading! Any questions, hit me up on Instagram or Twitter: @MXReference
