16 year old Caden Dudney 250 East

Love2Fly
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How does this kid do? Can he finish top 10? Top 15 maybe. Looked good in SMX Next.

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ohh_454
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2/19/2026 9:32pm Edited Date/Time 2/19/2026 9:33pm

I think he can do a top 10, he’s fast. He got a 7th in his first pro moto outdoors last year at Unadilla or something. The kids got speed. 

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JJO741
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2/19/2026 10:13pm

I think he can definitely top 10 and I’d even say he can podium outdoors. 

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The Shop

uncledaddy69
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2/19/2026 10:31pm

He’s young and he’s on the team that puts the most amount of pressure on its 250 riders. Hoping for the best for him. 

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2/19/2026 11:22pm

I thought the minimum age for 2026 was 17, and moving to 18 for 2027?

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dfoerster92
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2/20/2026 2:02am

I thought the minimum age for 2026 was 17, and moving to 18 for 2027?

Yes but that's why he raced a national last year so he would be grandfathered in

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Motofinne
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2/20/2026 2:23am

He’s young and he’s on the team that puts the most amount of pressure on its 250 riders. Hoping for the best for him. 

If the kid is the real deal he will manage the pressure without any issues.

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2/20/2026 3:18am

If Star moves him up this early he must be doing really well at the test track. I wouldn't be surprised if he got multiple top 5s this year

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2/20/2026 5:15am

I thought the minimum age for 2026 was 17, and moving to 18 for 2027?

Yes but that's why he raced a national last year so he would be grandfathered in

Thanks for explaining that.  I was wondering the same thing.

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Spoonguy
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2/20/2026 5:26am

Top 5. Just a hope. This sport needs fast teenagers making an impact from this country like years ago, Lechien, RC, James, etc.. Such a history of a fast kid entering the ranks I don't know what ever happened.

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Village Idiot
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2/20/2026 5:38am
Spoonguy wrote:
Top 5. Just a hope. This sport needs fast teenagers making an impact from this country like years ago, Lechien, RC, James, etc.. Such a history...

Top 5. Just a hope. This sport needs fast teenagers making an impact from this country like years ago, Lechien, RC, James, etc.. Such a history of a fast kid entering the ranks I don't know what ever happened.

16 YO Damon Bradshaw beating RJ at the Osaka SX was an all-timer. 

image 2630.png?VersionId=gRAmmb3gmibO4tXP
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Brad460
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2/20/2026 6:40am

Star would not send him out there if they didn’t think he had top 5 or better speed. They have a gauge of the fastest 250 riders …

 

 

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JoeyNovice
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2/20/2026 6:49am

I would not be surprised to see him have a similar season to Davies last year. Extremely talented.

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GrapeApe
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2/20/2026 7:15am
Spoonguy wrote:
Top 5. Just a hope. This sport needs fast teenagers making an impact from this country like years ago, Lechien, RC, James, etc.. Such a history...

Top 5. Just a hope. This sport needs fast teenagers making an impact from this country like years ago, Lechien, RC, James, etc.. Such a history of a fast kid entering the ranks I don't know what ever happened.

I think two things happened: (1) injuries derailed promising careers of guys like Forkner, Hammaker and Robertson, and (2) Jett Lawrence. Otherwise we've had a pretty consistent influx of champions and race winners if your paying attention:

2005 - RV

2006 - Dungey

2010 – Tomac

2011 - Anderson

2012 - JMart

2013 – Webb

2013 – AC

2015 - Plessinger

2016 – Forkner

2017 – Sexton

2018 – Cooper

2019 – Hammaker

2020 – Shimoda*

2021 – Stilez Robertson

2022 – Kitchen

2022 - Hymas

2022 – Deegan

2023 -  Ryder D

2024 – Beaumer

2025 – Adams

2026 - Dudney(?)

 

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Mavetism
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2/20/2026 7:34am
ohh_454 wrote:
I think he can do a top 10, he’s fast. He got a 7th in his first pro moto outdoors last year at Unadilla or something...

I think he can do a top 10, he’s fast. He got a 7th in his first pro moto outdoors last year at Unadilla or something. The kids got speed. 

I've definitely noticed his name last year but I didn't even realise he was just 16. He beat some really good guys outdoors, very impressive, looking forward to watching that kid ride!

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ohh_454
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2/20/2026 8:06am
ohh_454 wrote:
I think he can do a top 10, he’s fast. He got a 7th in his first pro moto outdoors last year at Unadilla or something...

I think he can do a top 10, he’s fast. He got a 7th in his first pro moto outdoors last year at Unadilla or something. The kids got speed. 

Mavetism wrote:
I've definitely noticed his name last year but I didn't even realise he was just 16. He beat some really good guys outdoors, very impressive, looking...

I've definitely noticed his name last year but I didn't even realise he was just 16. He beat some really good guys outdoors, very impressive, looking forward to watching that kid ride!

Yaa, he’s a young one, the other one to watch out for is Carson Wood, I think he’s like 15 years old. 

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Love2Fly
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2/20/2026 8:58am
GrapeApe wrote:
I think two things happened: (1) injuries derailed promising careers of guys like Forkner, Hammaker and Robertson, and (2) Jett Lawrence. Otherwise we've had a pretty...

I think two things happened: (1) injuries derailed promising careers of guys like Forkner, Hammaker and Robertson, and (2) Jett Lawrence. Otherwise we've had a pretty consistent influx of champions and race winners if your paying attention:

2005 - RV

2006 - Dungey

2010 – Tomac

2011 - Anderson

2012 - JMart

2013 – Webb

2013 – AC

2015 - Plessinger

2016 – Forkner

2017 – Sexton

2018 – Cooper

2019 – Hammaker

2020 – Shimoda*

2021 – Stilez Robertson

2022 – Kitchen

2022 - Hymas

2022 – Deegan

2023 -  Ryder D

2024 – Beaumer

2025 – Adams

2026 - Dudney(?)

 

Thanks for all that research.

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kawasa84
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Flower Mound, TX US
2/20/2026 9:32am Edited Date/Time 2/20/2026 10:44am

Well, it's great to have another fast kid coming out of the state of Iowa, (by way of Texas to ride year round as an amateur). From Chad Pedersen, Teddy Maier, Gavin Faith, Izaih Clark and Justin Brayton all from one little town in Iowa, (Fort Dodge, IA) to Cameron McAdoo from Sioux City, IA and now Cayden Dudney out of Winterset, IA. 

For a state that's less than half the population the the Dallas-Ft Worth metro, there sure have been some good pros from ole District 22. 

Even though I wish Star hadn't poached him from team green, I hope Dudney races as calm as a 16 yr old rookie can, stays healthy and takes what the track gives him each week. I also think he can possibly podium this season. Will definitely be someone to watch and root for.

Hopefully some Championships in this Cadens future too. Make Iowa, (& TX ) proud!

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Nairb#70
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2/20/2026 10:23am

Let's hope he stays healthy and avoids injury.

1
2/20/2026 10:37am
Love2Fly wrote:

How does this kid do? Can he finish top 10? Top 15 maybe. Looked good in SMX Next.

Top 5.

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mx691
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2/20/2026 10:40am

Podium

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jmo443
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NY US
2/20/2026 11:07am

We can work with speed. 

matze
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Stuttgart DE
2/20/2026 2:39pm Edited Date/Time 2/20/2026 2:40pm

Damn… just look at his riding style. He definitely stood out on press day. No wonder Star put him on the line
 

deanwhite51
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Location
Sydney AU
2/20/2026 3:25pm

Be Interesting to see what 450 seats open up for these young 250 riders who could be moving up within the next 2-3 years. 

2/20/2026 8:44pm

I thought the minimum age for 2026 was 17, and moving to 18 for 2027?

They tried implementing that rule in like 2008 

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Love2Fly
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2/21/2026 10:31am
Love2Fly wrote:

How does this kid do? Can he finish top 10? Top 15 maybe. Looked good in SMX Next.

Looking good Dudney

IMG 4809
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