Anaheim 1: Eli Tomac and Max Anstie take top points at AMA Supercross season opener
By Team TMX on 12th Jan 26
The 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship burst into life in front of a sold-out Angel Stadium crowd on Saturday night, with Eli Tomac delivering a statement performance to win the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Making his debut for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, the 33-year-old led every lap of the 450SMX Main Event to secure the 54th victory of his illustrious career and his second Anaheim 1 triumph, confirming his status as a title contender once again.
The race was initially halted by a red flag following a multi-rider incident on the opening lap, but when the Main Event was restarted Tomac wasted no time asserting control. Starting just behind teammate Jorge Prado, the Colorado native made the decisive move into the lead on the opening lap and steadily built a cushion at the front.
Ken Roczen emerged as Tomac’s closest challenger. The Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki rider charged through the field after starting deep in the top ten, passing both Hunter Lawrence and Prado to move into second. Roczen closed to within striking distance late in the race and kept the pressure on, but Tomac held firm to take the chequered flag by 1.4 seconds.
Prado completed the podium in third after converting the holeshot into the best Supercross result of his career. Although the Spaniard was later penalised three championship points following a post-race sound inspection failure, his podium result stood — marking a significant milestone in just his seventh Supercross start.
Behind the top three, Hunter Lawrence finished fourth after a prolonged battle with Jason Anderson, who completed the top five. Defending champion Cooper Webb endured a difficult night to finish seventh, while Chase Sexton’s debut for Monster Energy Kawasaki was compromised by multiple crashes, leaving him eighth.
With the win, Tomac leaves Anaheim with a three-point advantage over Roczen in the early 450SMX standings, while Prado sits third, five points off the lead.
“I would say our motorcycle was the best when it mattered,” said Tomac. “My bike was so in tune and I had a great flow around the track. We can still do it. We got A1.”
The Western Divisional 250SMX Main Event delivered its own historic moment as Max Anstie became the oldest race winner in class history at 32 years, eight months and 16 days.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider backed up a Heat Race victory with a measured ride in the Main Event, working his way into contention before taking second from Chance Hymas and later reeling in early leader Ryder DiFrancesco. Anstie made the pass for the lead with just over seven minutes remaining and sprinted clear to win by 7.5 seconds.
Hymas completed a remarkable return from injury to finish second in his first race since suffering a torn ACL last June, while DiFrancesco claimed the first Supercross podium of his career in third after converting the holeshot into a breakthrough result.
Defending Western Division champion Haiden Deegan was forced to come through the field after a poor start and ultimately finished fourth.
Anstie now holds a three-point lead in the early Western 250SMX standings ahead of Hymas, with DiFrancesco and Deegan close behind.
“To actually win tonight at Anaheim is something special,” said Anstie. “This is the best night of my career so far, but it’s only Round 1. I’ll refocus and go back to work for this championship.”
