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Eli Tomac dominates Anaheim 1 to win the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross opener as Max Anstie makes history with a landmark 250SMX victory.
Supercross Round #1 Recap | Anaheim | 10 Jan 2026
Eli Tomac Leads Every Lap at Anaheim 1 to Capture 54th Career Victory as Max Anstie Makes History
The 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship roared to life inside a sold-out Angel Stadium as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship opened with a dramatic and historic Anaheim 1. Veteran brilliance was on full display as Eli Tomac and Max Anstie delivered statement wins to begin their championship campaigns in unforgettable fashion.
Tomac’s Perfect Night at Anaheim 1
At 33 years old, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac proved once again why he remains one of the sport’s all-time greats. In his debut race with the team, Tomac led every lap of the 450SMX Class Main Event to secure the 54th victory of his legendary career.
The race was restarted after a red flag halted the opening lap due to a multi-rider incident. When the gate dropped for the second time, Tomac quickly moved past teammate Jorge Prado and took command of the race. From there, the Colorado native set a relentless pace, building a gap while maintaining flawless control over the challenging Anaheim track.
Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen charged forward from deep in the top ten, slicing through the field with precision. The German veteran eventually passed Hunter Lawrence and Prado to move into second, closing to within striking distance of Tomac. Despite keeping the pressure on for the full 20 Minutes + 1 Lap, Roczen was unable to mount a decisive challenge.
Tomac crossed the line 1.4 seconds clear of Roczen to claim his second Anaheim 1 victory. Prado rounded out the podium, earning the best Supercross result of his career in just his seventh start. Although Prado’s KTM failed post-race sound inspection—resulting in a three-point penalty—his third-place finish officially stood.
Hunter Lawrence secured fourth after a race-long duel with Jason Anderson, while defending champion Cooper Webb finished seventh. Chase Sexton endured a difficult debut with Monster Energy Kawasaki, recovering from multiple off-track moments to finish just behind Webb.
With the win, Tomac leaves Anaheim with an early three-point lead in the 450SMX standings over Roczen, while Prado sits third, five points back.
“What a start for us. My bike was so in tune, and I had a great flow around the track. We got A1. What a cool night.”
Eli Tomac:
Anstie Makes History in the 250SMX Class
The Western Divisional 250SMX Main Event delivered a historic moment as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Max Anstie became the oldest winner in class history at 32 years, 8 months, and 16 days.
Anstie carried momentum from a dominant Heat Race and methodically worked his way forward in the Main Event. After passing Chance Hymas for second, he tracked down holeshot winner Ryder DiFrancesco and made the decisive move for the lead with just over seven minutes remaining.
Once out front, Anstie sprinted away from the field to claim his fourth career SMX victory by a commanding 7.5-second margin. Hymas impressed in his return from a torn ACL to finish second, while DiFrancesco celebrated the first Supercross podium of his career.
Defending Western Division champion Haiden Deegan struggled off the start but charged through the pack to finish fourth, narrowly missing the podium.
Ryder DiFrancesco, Max Anstie, and Chance Hymas
Anstie now holds a three-point championship lead over Hymas, with DiFrancesco and Deegan close behind as the title fight begins to take shape.
“I’m 32 years old and this is the best night of my career thus far. It’s only Round 1, but winning at Anaheim is something special.”
Max Anstie:
A Championship Season Takes Shape
Anaheim 1 once again delivered drama, history, and elite-level racing. With Eli Tomac asserting early dominance in the 450SMX Class and Max Anstie rewriting the record books in the 250SMX division, the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross season is off to a thrilling start—and the battle for championships has only just begun.