Chase Sexton’s first race with Kawasaki at the 2025 Anaheim 1 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season opener showed flashes of promise, though it ended with mixed results. During qualifying, Sexton demonstrated his speed by clocking the fastest 450SX time, signaling his potential on the new Kawasaki KX450SR. However, his main event was marred by early setbacks that brought his finishing position down to eighth.
Strong Qualifying Performance Signals Potential
Sexton’s day began positively as he recorded the fastest time during the 450SX qualifying session, confirming his speed remains intact moving from Honda CRF450R and KTM 450 SX-F machines to Kawasaki. His comfort and pace were evident early in the day, raising hopes that a competitive run was possible despite the team change.
Heat Race Incident and Main Event Struggles
In his heat race, Sexton fought closely with Ken Roczen for the lead but suffered a crash on the over/under bridge, forcing him down to a fifth-place finish in that segment. This setback affected his momentum heading into the main event, where poor starts placed him near the back of the pack through the first turn. The race was temporarily halted due to a major collision involving Justin Barcia and Malcolm Stewart, forcing a full restart.
Comeback Efforts and Race Finish
At the holeshot stripe during the restart, Sexton improved to 14th, then surged up to eighth by the end of the first lap. Despite this recovery, he slipped back to 11th two laps later and had to fight through challenges, including a fall and leaving the track twice. Sexton reached a highest position of seventh before crossing the finish line in eighth place, indicating both resilience and areas needing improvement.
Sexton’s Perspective on the Debut and What Lies Ahead
In the post-race statement from Kawasaki, Sexton acknowledged the ups and downs of the day but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to progress. He said,
“The day started off well with earning fastest qualifier. I felt really comfortable on the track and felt like I had the speed to contend up front. Unfortunately, I had a couple of mistakes during the heat race and main event that forced me to work my way through the field. It’s only the first round, and we have a good base to build off. We’ve got some work to do, but I know we’re capable of improving and putting up better results next week.”
?Chase Sexton, Rider
Looking Forward to Growth and Improvement
While Sexton’s debut race with Kawasaki was challenging, his quick pace in qualifying hints at a strong foundation for future races. Early mistakes and race incidents show there is still work to be done as he adjusts to the new bike and team dynamics, but his determination could yield better outcomes in upcoming rounds. As the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season unfolds, closely watching Sexton’s progression on the Kawasaki KX450SR will be essential for fans and competitors alike.
