2025 Detroit Supercross Photo Gallery

2025 Detroit Supercross Recap

With two title contenders lost to injury, the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross season needed some resuscitation and Round 6 in Detroit on Saturday at Ford Field gave the series a pulse.

Seemingly determined to remove any perceived asterisk in the event he wins the 450 class title, points leader Chase Sexton endured some self-inflicted roadblocks to reach the podium while two-time Champion Cooper Webb outdueled Ken Roczen for the checkers.

At the gatedrop, Sexton jumped hitting the starting gate and briefly stuck in place while everyone else throttled off. Just a bit later on the first lap when he caught the pack, Sexton crashed after riding into the rear-wheel of another rider. Meanwhile, Roczen grabbed the early lead after a brief back-and-forth with Aaron Plessinger and began to check out, so it seemed.

Behind him, Webb worked his way up front getting by Jason Anderson and Malcolm Stewart for third before the end of the first lap. Sexton was 12th after four minutes, fifth with seven minutes left and fourth with less than six minutes remaining. As Sexton salvaged points, Webb stalked Roczen pulling in close then dropping back like a shark circling his prey.

Sexton reached Anderson for third with three minutes on the clock resulting in a couple of bump and runs - the most blatant coming from Anderson when he pushed Sexton off the track. Undeterred, Sexton made the pass less than 30 seconds later and finished third, too far behind Webb and Roczen to make it a three way race.

Now less than two minutes on the clock, Webb caught Roczen, made the pass, then Roczen took the lead back, pulling away slightly. Not going anywhere, Webb again made the pass attempt with a minute left and this time made it stick. Roczen made a run to get upfront in the final laps but settled for second. Webb's first win of the season ties him in points with Sexton.

"I really liked where I was by Lap 3 when I got around Aaron (Plessenger) and was with Kenny. I knew he was riding well today so it was going to be a good pace," Webb said. "I am stoked to get the first win and get the Red Plate."

Roczen said it was a fun race while acknowledging the rivalry he has with Webb and the stigma of Webb remaining undefeated when the two battle up front for the checkers.

"We're executing our plans that we have coming into the night show. I'm happy with tonight," he said.

Despite the messy start, Sexton said he had fun and it was his best ride of the year. Imagine the distance between Sexton and second-place if he harnessed the raw intensity when coming from last if he started in first.

Anderson crashed on the last lap dropping from fourth to sixth giving Stewart, who won last week for the first time in the 450 class, fourth. Justin Cooper rounded out the Top 5.

Now, if anyone wants to argue a deserving asterisk the 250 East class coughed one up. In an historical first, the 250 race was Red Flagged with SEVEN seconds left.

Max Anstie, looking for this second straight win to open the 250 East season, had the win. Barely losing the Holeshot to Carson Mumford, Anstie took a quick lead then checked out. Holding a six second-plus cushion, the seemingly routine race turned into anything but when Cameron Mcadoo swapped out in the whoops, hit the crossbars and went down. Laid out like a snow angel on dirt, the medical crew made the call.

This meant a staggered restart erasing Anstie's six second gap over Levi Kitchen and put Kitchen on his fender for the restart. As engines roared to life, Anstie kept his slim lead for really what felt like mere seconds as the aggressive Kitchen claimed the lead at the finish line jump before Anstie quickly took it back. The two went bar-to-bar until Kitchen took Anstie high on a berm passing him. Anstie's failed attempt at reclaiming the front position dropped him to third briefly when RJ Hamsphire moved into second but the whoops proved friendly to Anstie who shot by Hampshire and held on to second.

"That was a crazy race. Just the emotions from going and then having to a stop," Kitchen said. "Max he rode so good at the beginning of that Main Event and pulled away from me pretty big then the Red Flag came out. I took a few deep breathes and I just treated like a two lap spring. We'll take it (the win). I had to bounce back after last weekend.

Anstie looked visibly vexed at what just happened post-race and admitted he was cruising around the final laps.

"At the end of the day I've done my job," he said "I knew Levi was fast and the track was quite open. I would have done the same thing. It is what it is at the end of the day. Still solid, got some good points. Would have liked that first place bonus. I had it in the bag. Yeah, what a bummer."

A recent rule change requires the staggered restart regardless of time left. Had this unfolded two years ago, Anstie would have been declared the winner.

Despite the drama, Anstie retains the Red Plate even adding to his points lead.

Supercross heads to Texas for Round 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington where the 250SX West class resumes giving the East a weekend off.