Eli Tomac set an electrifying tone for the 2026 Supercross season, claiming victory at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship opener held at Anaheim’s iconic Angel Stadium on January 10, 2026. In front of a packed crowd, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider delivered a flawless performance, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite and making his debut for the KTM team unforgettable.
Intense 450SMX Main Event Unfolds Under Stadium Lights
The 450SMX Class Main Event captured the crowd’s excitement right from the start, albeit after a dramatic restart triggered by a multi-rider crash on the opening lap. Once the race resumed, Tomac quickly settled behind his new teammate Jorge Prado and then seized the lead during the first lap. From there, Tomac consistently pulled ahead, widening the gap on the field.
Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen started deep in the top ten but made a series of calculated moves, climbing into fourth before overtaking Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence for third place. Roczen continued his impressive charge, passing Prado to move into second and shrinking Tomac’s lead to just a couple of seconds. Throughout the demanding 20-minute plus one lap contest, Roczen remained Tomac’s closest competitor but could never get within striking distance of the Colorado native.
Podium Performances and Standings After Anaheim 1
Eli Tomac celebrated his second career Anaheim 1 triumph, finishing 1.4 seconds ahead of Roczen. Prado, who had taken the holeshot, claimed third for his first Supercross podium in only his seventh start on U.S. soil. However, Prado’s race ended with a technical setback when his KTM failed the post-race sound inspection, resulting in a three-point penalty from AMA, though he kept his podium placement.
Hunter Lawrence notched a personal best Anaheim 1 finish in fourth place, edging out Twisted Tea Suzuki’s Jason Anderson, who rounded out the top five. Defending class champion Cooper Webb tackled a turbulent main event for a seventh-place result, while Chase Sexton—last season’s runner-up and now riding for Monster Energy Kawasaki—struggled after going off track several times, ultimately finishing behind Webb.
With this victory, Tomac now holds a three-point advantage over Roczen atop the 450SMX class standings, with Prado trailing by five points in third.
Top Riders Reflect on Anaheim 1 Battles
Eli Tomac expressed the thrill of his dominant return, stating,
“What a start for us. We got out of the gate well and then it was just on. I would say our motorcycle was the best when it mattered. My bike was so in tune, and I had a great flow around the track. We can still do it. We got A1. What a cool night.”
– Eli Tomac, 1st Place – 450SMX Class
Ken Roczen recounted his close pursuit, remarking,
“We had an amazing race. Eli and I were just yo-yo-ing within one second. I would catch him a little bit then I’d make a little mistake, and he’d gain a little bit. It was just tough. It was a very tricky and very busy track that I expected to be softer than it was. You had to be really patient on the throttle. Overall, I’m very excited with this second place and I hope we have many more of those coming.”
– Ken Roczen, 2nd Place – 450SMX Class
Jorge Prado, jubilant after achieving his first Supercross podium, shared,
“This is unreal. I can’t even think about standing on the podium right now. This shouldn’t be now, it should maybe be at the end of the year or maybe next year, not Round 1. Hard work always pays off and this offseason I’ve been putting in a lot of work. I always do, but with the right people we managed to get here with a good result. With just the little experience I have in Supercross this feels amazing.”
– Jorge Prado, 3rd Place – 450SMX Class
Historic Night in the Western Divisional 250SMX Class
The energy continued in Anaheim with the 250SMX class as England’s Max Anstie made history, becoming the oldest winner in the class at 32 years, 8 months, and 16 days. Racing for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, Anstie started inside the top five and steadily advanced, passing rivals with composure before overtaking Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco for the lead just over seven minutes from the finish. Once ahead, Anstie pulled away, clinching his fourth career SMX win and starting the season atop the standings.
Chance Hymas, riding for Honda HRC Progressive, completed a remarkable comeback, securing second after a late pass in his first race since recovering from a torn ACL suffered the previous June. DiFrancesco, who had taken the early holeshot, celebrated his first career Supercross podium in his thirteenth start.
Defending Western Divisional 250SMX Champion Haiden Deegan showed grit in overcoming a poor start, climbing from outside the top ten to claim fourth and just missing the podium. Anstie now leads the class by three points ahead of Hymas, with DiFrancesco trailing by five and Deegan by seven.
Insights from 250SMX Front-Runners
Max Anstie recalled the emotional significance of his win:
“I’m just blown away. I remember coming here when I was 7 years old watching Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart race around here. To actually win tonight, that’s something special. Anaheim has a place in my heart. I always dreamed of being here and now I’m here. I’m 32 years old and this is the best night of my career thus far. It’s only Round 1. I know I’ve still got nine more [races] to go, and I know after last year what can happen. I’ll refocus tomorrow and go back to work for this championship.”
– Max Anstie, 1st Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class
Chance Hymas shared his journey back to the podium, saying,
“I’m kind of speechless. It’s been a long road just to get back to this. I haven’t raced since High Point [during the Pro Motocross Championship]. I honestly thought my career was over. I dug deep and I’ve got some really good people in my corner. The pieces are coming together and I’m figuring it out. It’s the first round and we came away with a really good result.”
– Chance Hymas, 2nd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class
Ryder DiFrancesco commented on his achievement:
“I got out front and thought I was going to give it all I got and win this thing or pull it into a third. I dream about this, especially at A1. I grew up coming here. I laid it all out there tonight.”
– Ryder DiFrancesco, 3rd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class
What Eli Tomac Supercross Anaheim 2026 Victory Means for the Season
Eli Tomac’s dominant win at Angel Stadium sends a strong message to the competition as the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship season gains momentum. With Ken Roczen and Jorge Prado also showcasing impressive speed and resilience, the battle for the 450SMX title is already intensifying. In the 250SMX class, Max Anstie’s record-breaking night and the emergence of riders like Chance Hymas and Ryder DiFrancesco signal a year full of potential and breakthrough moments. As the series moves forward, all eyes remain on the leaders and rivals eager to close the gap, ensuring that each round promises fresh excitement and Supercross drama.
