2026 Anaheim 1 Supercross Recap
Wars and rumors of wars. America divided like no other time. Even the son of perdition lurks.
So, when 33 year-old Eli Tomac who seemingly almost retired a couple of years ago (perhaps the silver lining to that Achilles injury) rolls back the clock and proves age is just a number, some of us can find a little joy in the small things.
Tomac, debuting on a KTM, his fourth manufacturer in an already storied career, didn't just win the first round of 2026 Monster Energy Supercross season on Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Man, he dominated. And close behind? Ken Roczen, age 31.
Everyone else? Left far behind.
Chaos struck less than a minute after the gate drop when Justin Barcia and Malcolm Stewart crashed, prompting a Red Flag and complete restart of the 450 main. After the collective exhale - some frightening images but Barcia and Stewart will race again - and order restored in the aisles (see your social media feed), Tomac went to work.
The two-time 450 class Supercross Champion started second just a wheel or so behind Jorge Prado, quickly got the lead and more or less checked out. A vintage performance? Or Tomac riding on a level of comfort that suits him best? He dialed in the start - a plague of his in recent years.
Yep, just one race. He looked good last year until an injury derailed his season, but Tomac wanted to prove he remains relevant in a sport mostly for the young(er) so for the opening of Supercross 2026 he can check that box. (Yes, yes, yes, no Jett Lawrence but he wasn't around much last Supercross season was he?)
"What a start for us. We got two great starts and it was just on," Tomac said. "Our motorcycle was the best when it mattered and that was in the Main Event. My bike was so in-tune and I was having a great flow. We can still do it, we got A1. What a cool night!"
Prado, for his part, also had something to prove, checking that box while riding to third place for his first career podium. The multi-time MXGP world champion had a notorious 2025 with Monster Energy Kawasaki starting with an injury that ended his Supercross season early and a less than stellar Outdoors, some public comments here and there ultimately leading to an early contract termination.
"This shouldn't be now, Round 1," said Prado, back on KTM which he won on overseas. "Hard work always pays off and this offseason I've been putting in a lot of work. With the right people we managed to get here and get good results. With the little experience I have in Supercross this feels amazing."
The veteran Roczen killed it in second, hanging on less than three seconds back of Tomac the entirety of the race with Prado 25 seconds or so behind him. (Prado was penalized three points for his bike failing the postrace sound check but retains the third-place trophy.)
Hunter Lawrence took fourth and Jason Anderson rounded out the Top 5. Defending Champion Cooper Webb nailed the first gatedrop taking a quick lead in front of Tomac but the Red Flag restart wasn't as lucrative as he finished seventh. Chase Sexton, widely considered a title contender, took eighth. Jumping to Kawasaki this year did not curb his propensity for crashing and he also rode off the track in a rough start to the year for the 2023 champ.
Elsewhere, Dylan Ferrandis, introducing Ducati to Supercross for the first time, finished ninth. Austin Forkner, racing the 450 class for the first time, took 15th.
250 West Class
Age was irrelevant in the 250 West class as well. Max Anstie, 33 in April, looked like the Champion he almost was in the East last year until injury sidelined him.
Anstie need about half the race to catch the younger Ryder DiFrancesco who led from the start. Anstie worked his way around Chance Hymas and Cameron Mcadoo taking over first with less than eight minutes left on the clock and checked out. Anstie became the oldest rider to win a 250 class Main Event.
"I'm just blown away. I remember coming here was I was 7 years old and to actually win tonight that's something special," Anstie said. "Anaheim's got a place in my heart and I used to dream of coming here. I came from England a long way way from here, I'm 32 years old, this is the best night of my career so far. Of course it's only Round 1 and I know after last year what can happen."
Hymas held on for second and DiFranceso took third for his first career podium.
Levi Kitchen, widely considered a title contender, went down in the first corner at the start and worked his way to sixth. Mcadoo's crash dropped him from podium contention to a last place finish. And, the defending champion was mostly irrelevant on this night landing fourth.
2026 Supercross 450 Class Anaheim 1 Results
- Eli Tomac
- Ken Roczen
- Jorge Prado
- Hunter Lawrence
- Jason Anderson
2026 Supercross 250 West Class Anaheim 1 Results
- Max Anstie
- Chance Hymas
- Ryder DiFrancesco
- Haiden Deegan
- Michael Mosiman
2026 Supercross 450 Class Season Standings After Round 1
- Eli Tomac - 25
- Ken Roczen - 22
- Hunter Lawrence - 18
- Jorge Prado - 17
- Jason Anderson - 17
2026 Supercross 250 West Class Season Standings After Round 1
- Max Anstie - 25
- Chance Hymas - 22
- Ryder DiFrancesco - 20
- Haiden Deegan - 18
- Micael Mosiman - 17
