Chase Sexton secured his first win of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship during round three, held at Anaheim 2 on Saturday night. This milestone comes after his prominent switch to Monster Energy Kawasaki, marking a significant breakthrough in his career.
The victory not only ended a long winless stretch for Sexton but also set the tone for the season as he showed great determination and skill throughout the event. His performance was closely watched given the challenges he faced earlier in the season and his move to a new team.
Day’s Emotional Journey and Overcoming Setbacks
The race day brought a rollercoaster of emotions for Sexton. Despite qualifying as the fastest rider, he faced a setback when he crashed in the whoops during the final practice session, bending his handlebars and forcing him out of finishing that round. The disappointment weighed heavily on him, especially coming after a series of struggles since SuperMotocross (SMX).
Reflecting on the day, Sexton admitted,
“I was pretty upset with myself. I couldn’t finish the practice because my bars were bent, so I just went back. And then the heat race felt good again and went down. I was just like, This can’t be happening.”
He acknowledged that this victory felt especially meaningful after a long winless period, adding it was a relief to finally break through for his team, which had been working very hard all season.
Sexton emphasized the impact of some mechanical adjustments made after the heat race that greatly improved the bike’s handling, particularly in turning and navigating the whoops, which helped him perform better in the main event.
Preparing to Win: Mental Focus and Team Support
Throughout the week leading up to the race, Sexton found the confidence and control he had been missing. He credited both his own riding improvements and the efforts of his team during testing sessions.
“I had a really good day of riding on Wednesday. The team again crushed it this week with testing and I had finally a feeling on the bike that I’ve been looking for for a while since really since I got on it,”
Sexton explained.
He also described the mindset he adopted for the main event. Instead of pushing himself to the absolute limit, he chose to ride at a strong but sustainable pace that allowed him to enter a flow state, maintaining control and focus over the challenging track conditions. The track itself was notably tricky with rutted and soft sections unusual for Anaheim, more reminiscent of East Coast races.
Race Strategy and Handling the Pressure of a Lead
Sexton’s speed during the heat race and the main event was impressive as he quickly moved into the lead by making strategic passes. Despite the opportunity to extend his lead more aggressively, he consciously maintained a gap of just a few seconds, carefully managing his energy and focus. Holding a lead on such a demanding course required significant concentration to avoid mistakes and ride consistently lap after lap.
“It did feel like Indy,” he said, describing the track conditions as soft and spongy in some parts but hard-packed in others, presenting an unusual challenge for the Anaheim venue. Sexton highlighted the importance of rhythm sections and careful navigation to maintain speed and composure.
He also mentioned the special gear he wore for the victory celebration, a tribute to the legendary surfer Andy Irons. Sexton’s connection with Irons’ family and his admiration for the surfer’s style inspired a unique gear set that added personal significance to his win.
“It’s pretty cool to wear something that’s really not, it’s not for me. It’s for Andy and they were very happy about it, which was really special,”
he remarked.
Team Dynamics and Emotional Victory Celebration
Sexton acknowledged the key role played by his mechanic, Rango, with whom he has developed a strong working relationship since joining the team. He described how Rango had to handle last-minute race preparations under pressure, building the bike only a week before the race and facing limited testing opportunities.
“He was working his butt off and didn’t have my race bike because they tested, I think it was a week before Anaheim in Florida, and that was the final test. So, he had to build the race bike basically a week before the race,”
Sexton said, highlighting the teamwork and dedication involved.
The emotional weight of the victory was clear when Sexton and Rango shared a powerful moment after the race. Sexton reflected on how meaningful the win was not just for himself but for the entire team.
“It gave me chills and almost made me tear up because obviously winning is awesome, but when it means that much to somebody, and obviously it means a lot to me and also the team, it makes it that much sweeter,”
he explained.
Significance of the Win and Future Outlook for Kawasaki
This win marks a crucial moment for both Chase Sexton and Monster Energy Kawasaki, reaffirming their competitiveness in the 2026 Supercross season. For Sexton, breaking the victory drought establishes renewed momentum after a challenging start, while the Kawasaki team gains a much-needed boost of confidence in their ongoing efforts to dominate the championship.
Sexton expressed his commitment to maintaining success, emphasizing the hard work the team invests and their deserving place at the top. With the win now secured, focus will remain on consistency and sustaining this performance level as the season continues.
Overall, this victory is poised to strengthen Sexton’s position as a top contender and inject fresh energy into the Kawasaki program as they battle through the demanding Supercross calendar.
“I mean, yeah, I qualified fastest, but I didn’t finish the last session. It was a little bit unfortunate going down in the whoops. I was pretty upset with myself. I couldn’t finish the practice because my bars were bent, so I just went back. And then the heat race felt good again and went down. I was just like, This can’t be happening. I feel like I’ve been fighting an uphill battle a little bit the last… Well, honestly, since SMX. So, this one feels good to finally break through. Yeah, it feels like I haven’t won in a very long time, and it feels good to get the first one for the team. They’ve been working their butts off. Made some really good changes.”?Chase Sexton, Rider
“I had a really good day of riding on Wednesday. The team again crushed it this week with testing and I had finally a feeling on the bike that I’ve been looking for for a while since really since I got on it. And I finally felt freed up. I put the bike where I wanted. And even from press day, I just felt normal again and I felt like I could ride how I wanted. And yeah, it blew over into today. Obviously, my speed was good. Maybe it was overriding. I wanted to win so bad that I was overriding it a bit. And honestly, for the main event, I just told myself I’m going to go out there and ride it. Not 80%, but I was going to go out there and ride a good pace and get into a flow and see what happens.”?Chase Sexton, Rider
“Yeah, Rango, I’ve known him since I rode at James’ 2020 through 2022, and he was Malcolm’s mechanic, obviously. So, I got to know him there. And then when I came here, I was pretty comfortable obviously right off the bat. And we did a lot of testing, a lot of switching parts, suspension. He was working his butt off and didn’t have my race bike because they tested, I think it was a week before Anaheim in Florida, and that was the final test. So, he had to build the race bike basically a week before the race. And then I didn’t even ride it. Broc Tickle broke it in for me. So, it was pretty last second and it was cool to see how emotional he was after the race and how much it means to him. It’s pretty cool.”?Chase Sexton, Rider
“It gave me chills and almost made me tear up because obviously winning is awesome, but when it means that much to somebody, and obviously it means a lot to me and also the team, it makes it that much sweeter. So, it’s good to have Kawi on top again. I want to keep them there. They deserve it and they’re really hardworking team. So, it’s cool to finally get up here and plan to stay up here.”?Chase Sexton, Rider
