The 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship began in electric fashion Saturday night as a sold-out Angel Stadium crowd watched two veterans steal the spotlight at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season opener. Eli Tomac delivered a flawless debut for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in the premier class, while Max Anstie rewrote the history books in the Western Divisional 250SMX Class.
Angel Stadium, the most iconic stop on the Supercross calendar, once again set the stage for a memorable Anaheim 1—and this year’s opener did not disappoint.
Tomac Perfect in 450 SMX Debut with KTM
At 33 years old, Eli Tomac proved once again that experience still matters at the highest level. After a red-flag restart halted the 450SMX Main Event following a first-lap incident, the field regrouped for a complete restart—and from that moment on, the race belonged to Tomac.
When the gate dropped the second time, Tomac quickly moved into position behind teammate Jorge Prado before asserting control on the opening lap. From there, the Colorado native settled into a smooth, calculated pace and led every lap of the 20-minute-plus-one-lap Main Event, showcasing both composure and outright speed aboard his new KTM machine.
Ken Roczen mounted a determined charge after starting deep in the pack. The Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki rider sliced through the field, eventually passing Hunter Lawrence and Prado to take over second place. Roczen closed the gap to within striking distance late in the race, keeping Tomac under pressure, but never quite found an opening to challenge for the lead.
Tomac crossed the line 1.4 seconds clear of Roczen to earn his second career Anaheim 1 victory and the 54th win of his storied Supercross career.
Behind them, Jorge Prado capped off a breakthrough night in just his seventh Supercross start. The Spaniard turned a holeshot into his first career Supercross podium, marking the strongest U.S. Supercross performance of his career. Though a post-race sound violation cost Prado three championship points, his third-place finish remained intact.
Hunter Lawrence finished fourth after a steady ride, holding off Jason Anderson in a race-long duel. Defending champion Cooper Webb battled through an inconsistent night to finish seventh, just ahead of Chase Sexton, whose debut with Monster Energy Kawasaki was marred by multiple crashes.
With the victory, Tomac leaves Anaheim holding the early red plate, three points ahead of Roczen, while Prado sits third in the standings.
Anstie Becomes Oldest 250 SMX Winner Ever
History was made earlier in the night in the Western Divisional 250SMX Main Event. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Max Anstie delivered a calculated and commanding performance to become the oldest winner in 250SMX history at 32 years, 8 months, and 16 days.
Anstie carried momentum into the Main Event after a Heat Race win and quickly worked his way into podium contention. He methodically passed Chance Hymas for second before setting his sights on leader Ryder DiFrancesco. With just over seven minutes remaining, Anstie made the decisive move for the lead—and once out front, he was gone.
Anstie opened a commanding gap and cruised to a 7.5-second victory, the fourth SMX win of his career and arguably the most meaningful.
Behind him, Chance Hymas delivered one of the night’s most emotional performances. Racing for the first time since tearing his ACL last summer, the Honda HRC Progressive rider charged late to reclaim second place. Ryder DiFrancesco rounded out the podium, turning a holeshot into the first Supercross podium finish of his career.
Defending Western Division champion Haiden Deegan faced adversity early after a poor start but fought his way through the field to finish fourth, narrowly missing out on the podium.
After Round 1, Anstie holds a three-point advantage over Hymas in the standings, with DiFrancesco and Deegan close behind as the championship battle begins to take shape.
A Statement Night at Anaheim
Anaheim 1 once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most unpredictable and pressure-filled races of the season. For Tomac, it was a statement win that confirmed his immediate chemistry with KTM. For Anstie, it was a career-defining moment that proved persistence can still triumph in a youth-driven class.
With nine months of racing ahead and championships still wide open, the 2026 SMX season is officially underway, and if Anaheim is any indication, it’s going to be one worth watching.
Full Throttle Media 