Red Bull KTM racer Eli Tomac secured his fourth victory of the 2026 AMA Supercross season by claiming the main event at Daytona, marking his eighth career win at the Florida speedway. Despite starting fifth in the 405SX Main Event, Tomac advanced quickly, overtaking several competitors within the first half of the race.
By passing riders Malcolm Stewart, Cooper Webb, Hunter Lawrence, and Ken Roczen in rapid succession during the opening eight minutes, Tomac demonstrated remarkable pace and control. Even though Lawrence was faster in the final moments and managed to overtake Roczen, he could not close the gap to Tomac, who crossed the finish line just over a second ahead.
Championship Points Tighten as Lawrence Holds Lead
Hunter Lawrence’s second-place finish allowed him to maintain his lead in the championship points, though his advantage over Tomac shrank back to a single point heading into the next race in Indianapolis. This narrow margin echoes the gap prior to Lawrence’s triumph at Arlington.
Ken Roczen rounded out the podium in third place, while Cooper Webb and Joey Savatgy secured the fourth and fifth positions respectively. Both Roczen and Webb now trail the championship leader by 20 points, intensifying the race for the title.
Following Savatgy, Aaron Plessinger took sixth place, with Garrett Marchbanks, Shane McErath, Justin Hill, and Malcolm Stewart completing the top ten. Notably, Dylan Ferrandis withdrew from the main event before it began, and Chase Sexton missed Daytona entirely due to a practice crash during the week, placing him 49 points behind the championship leader.
Brief Overview of 250SX East Battle at Daytona
In the 250SX East race, Seth Hammaker dominated from start to finish, capturing his first win of the season after securing the holeshot. Cole Davies provided a contrast with a strong comeback, moving from twelfth at the start to challenging for a podium spot by consistently posting laps up to two seconds faster than the leader.
Davies was closing in on Jo Shimoda for second place when Shimoda crashed in the sandy section of the track with about two and a half laps remaining. This mishap allowed Davies to push harder after Hammaker, but he was ultimately unable to reduce the gap significantly before the race ended.
Shimoda’s fall elevated Pierce Brown to third place, maintaining his perfect record of podium finishes for the season after his Arlington victory. Daxton Bennick finished fifth, marking a strong showing in his second appearance with the Rockstar Husqvarna team. Coty Schock edged out Nate Thrasher for sixth place, while Cullin Park, Devin Simonson, Jalek Swoll, and Caden Dudney completed the top ten. Drew Adams had been in the top five early in the race but withdrew before the finish.
Significance of Tomac’s Victory and Championship Outlook
Eli Tomac’s eighth win at Daytona further cements his dominance at the Florida speedway and showcases his resilience in the 2026 Supercross season. With the championship points gap narrowing to only one point between him and Hunter Lawrence, the upcoming Indianapolis round promises an intense battle for the title. The competitive performances from Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb add additional intrigue and depth to the championship fight.
The absence of Chase Sexton due to injury and the retirement of Dylan Ferrandis from the main event have also influenced the standings, highlighting the challenges riders face on the demanding Supercross circuit. As the season progresses, each race will be pivotal in shaping the overall championship outcome.
