The 2025 AMA Supercross season roared to life at Anaheim 1 with a chaotic and thrilling night of racing that saw KTM’s Chase Sexton claim victory in the 450SX main event.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Joe Shimoda (Honda) claimed the 250 West Coast honours.
Sexton’s poise and precision under pressure set him apart as he capitalised on mistakes by his rivals to secure the first win of the season, marking a strong start in what promises to be a fiercely competitive championship.
Colorado’s Eli Tomac, racing in his final season, set the tone early in qualifying by clocking the fastest lap with a 1:03, narrowly edging out Australian and defending US champion Jett Lawrence, while Sexton rounded out the top three.
The field was tightly bunched, with positions fourth through tenth separated by less than a second, highlighting the depth of talent lining up for the 2025 season.
The main event, however, was a race of attrition and comebacks. The night started disastrously for Jett Lawrence, who got tangled with a trackside safety bale in turn one and dropped to last place.
Meanwhile, Spain’s MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado and American hero and fellow Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson battled at the front before Sexton surged ahead, displaying the speed and consistency that would ultimately win him the race.
Tomac, despite a stellar qualifying session, crashed on the opening lap and was forced to claw his way back from the rear of the pack. Heat one winner Ken Roczen (Suzuki), from Germany, steadily worked his way into second, briefly challenging Sexton after a small mistake by the leader.
However, Sexton quickly recovered and extended his lead, leaving no room for a late-race challenge.
The track conditions and technical layout claimed several victims throughout the night.
Jett Lawrence’s struggles continued with another crash midway through the race, forcing him to make a second comeback and eventually finish 12th. Hunter Lawrence also fell in a similar section, dashing his hopes of a top-five finish.
Prado, who had been running in seventh, went down in the whoops with just minutes remaining, ending his chances of a top-10 result.
Sexton crossed the finish line in dominant fashion, with Roczen securing second place and Anderson rounding out the podium. Cooper Webb rode a quiet but consistent race to take fourth, while Tomac salvaged an impressive fifth after battling his way through the pack, passing Justin Barcia on the final lap.
“I knew I had good speed coming in and felt more like my fast 2023 self, but with more maturity to run clean laps and avoid mistakes,” Sexton said afterwards.
“It was a fun race with Kenny and Jason behind me, and I really enjoyed the track. The team worked hard in the off-season to get me comfortable, and now we’re back where we need to be. There’s still room to improve, but starting the season with a win at A1 feels great.”
Roczen, known for his candid and reflective post-race insights, shared his thoughts following an unexpected yet satisfying second-place finish.
“My practices were terrible, and I was 13th in the last one, but I stayed calm and focused,” Roczen said. “Despite a chaotic start, I rode a solid race. Earlier, I had thought second place would be perfect for tonight—and I made it happen. The bike worked great, and I’m stoked with this result.”
Anderson reflected on a chaotic Main Event and the hard work behind his solid start to the season:
“The whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team has been putting in a lot of work, and I’m thankful to have them behind me. That main event was crazy. In the first corner, I tangled with just about everyone, and I don’t know how I survived.
“The contact ripped out some spokes, and I kept seeing them ticking on my fork, but luckily the wheel held up. I felt good overall, had a few close calls, and hope to clean things up to stay on the podium. I’m excited for the season ahead.” Anderson declared.
The opening round delivered all the drama fans could hope for, with stellar performances, costly errors, and a glimpse of the intense battles to come. With Sexton leading the standings, Roczen showing his consistency, and Tomac proving his resilience, the championship already feels wide open already.
250 WEST COAST SERIES
The 250SX West Coast class also delivered a thrilling opening round, headlined by a wire-to-wire victory from Jo Shimoda.
The Japanese rider took command of the race from the holeshot and never looked back, showcasing flawless execution to secure the first win of the season. Julien Beaumer followed closely in second, while Jordon Smith took his Triumph to rebound from an early crash and rounded out the podium.
The day began with a shake-up as Levi Kitchen, one of the championship hopefuls, withdrew from Anaheim 1 due to illness. Kitchen, who rode briefly in free practice, decided to sit out the West Coast campaign and will instead compete in the 250SX East region, beginning in Tampa.
With Kitchen sidelined, qualifying saw Beaumer shine, as he edged out Haiden Deegan for the top spot. The two riders traded fast laps throughout the session, with Beaumer ultimately clocking a time just over a tenth quicker than Deegan’s. Ryder DiFrancesco claimed third, with Shimoda and Smith rounding out the top five.
New Zealand’s Cole Davies impressed with a sixth-place time, despite coming from the B practice group.
When the gates dropped for the 250SX main event, chaos erupted. Shimoda rocketed to the holeshot, while Deegan found himself on the ground in the first-turn melee. Shimoda quickly pulled away, leading the field with precision, while Beaumer settled into second and maintained a steady chase throughout the race.
Behind them, the action was intense. Smith crashed early but fought his way back through the pack to claim third, overtaking DiFrancesco in the process. Britain’s Gavin Marchbanks, who had been battling for a podium spot, also went down and saw his hopes dashed.
Meanwhile, Deegan launched a determined comeback after his crash, pushing through the field with aggressive riding. His efforts culminated in a dramatic final-turn pass on Coty Schock to secure fifth place.
“Not really happy, but it’s better than last year,” Deegan said afterwards. “We’ll take the positives. I went down, fought my heart out, and got to fifth.”
Shimoda’s dominant performance sets the tone for what could be a breakout season for the Honda rider. “It feels great to start the year with a win,” Shimoda said. “The team did an amazing job, and I felt comfortable all night. I’m excited to keep this momentum going.
“This is the start I was looking for every single year,” he continued, “And I think I was honestly sleeping on the gate. But we came out with a good start and just put in some consistent laps, you know, and never looked back. All this happened because of my team behind it. I’d just like to thank everyone at Honda, my trainer, mechanic and everybody… Thank you so much. Thank you, I love you guys.”
Beaumer was happy with his speed and the second place result was a good way to get the season underway.
“I think obviously I was fast in the off-season, but I haven’t translated that to a race yet. So, I had to show myself that tonight, and I think I did that,” Beaumer said. “I believe I can be in the hunt for this championship and win these races. So, I’m going to get back to work this week and be ready for next weekend.”
Jordon Smith reflected on his strong performance and the journey with his new team, Triumph Racing, after earning their first Supercross podium with third:
“I’m really happy with my riding tonight. I tipped over after catching a [Tuff Blox trackside safety bale] with my clutch but felt great in the main event,” Smith said. “Moving from Star Yamaha to Triumph Racing, there were so many question marks, but I have full belief in the team. We worked hard this off-season, improving every day with better parts and suspension settings. It’s a full team effort, and it’s awesome to deliver their first Supercross podium. Hopefully, we’ll be on top of the box soon.”
With Beaumer and Smith showing strong form, and Deegan demonstrating resilience, the 250SX West championship already looks to be an unpredictable and exciting battle.
The series now heads to Oakland for round two, where riders will continue their fight for the championship leader’s red plate.
Photo courtesy KTM
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