Anaheim, CA, (January 11, 2025) A sold-out Anaheim 1 Supercross Opener in Angel Stadium lived up to expectation as one of the most exciting season openers in recent years. The thousands in attendance were at the edge of their seats watching the whole main event as title favorites like Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha riders’ Eli Tomac and Haiden Deegan found themselves on the ground during the opening lap of their respective main event races.
In the 20-minute plus one-lap 450 class main event, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jorge Prado took the holeshot and the early lead until crowd favorite Eli Tomac did quick work to the front. But not long after, he got run over by Red Bull KTM Racing’s Chase Sexton after his motorcycle’s front end washed out in the corner. But it was Sexton who took his first opening round win in convincing fashion, even with a brief stall near the midpoint where Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, who battled forward, reaching second place, almost caught him. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson managed to avoid first-turn chaos and found himself in the lead on the first lap. After intense battles with Sexton and Roczen, he finished the race on the podium in third place.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac crashed on the opening lap while leading and made an impressive comeback from last place to fifth, while the defending champion, Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence, had two big mistakes in the opening laps and was only able to climb back to 12th spot.
“I kind of knew where I was at coming in here. I knew I had good speed. I feel more like myself in 2023 when I was fast, but I feel like I’m a little more mature now and I can get out front and kind of run my own laps and not make mistakes, so it was a fun race. [I] had Kenny behind me, and also Jason, and it was just a good ride. Honestly, I had so much fun on this track tonight. I can’t give it up to the team enough. They put in so much hard work this off-season to get me comfortable, knowing that I wasn’t comfortable last year; and coming in now we’re back where we need to be. We still have lots to improve; it’s only one race in and there’s 16 left, but we’re off to a good start and first time winning A1 feels pretty good.” – Chase Sexton, after winning the A1 Main Event following his Heat Race victory.
“Talk about a high and a low; I mean, oh my gosh, I just couldn’t believe it, you know?… [I] made the pass for the lead over the triple there. I’m like, ‘Okay, you know, here we go! Let’s put this great 20 minutes in…’ And just like that, it ended. I just tucked my front end there in that 90 degree corner. Good Ol’ Anaheim, gets slick in the evening, and didn’t respect it. So all these years I’ve done it and just, you know, barely made that mistake. I had a good come back, getting to that fifth. I’m excited [about] the way I rode the rest of the main there, so thank you… I was feeling just like I should, and what I know I can do, the whole day there. So great qualifying and a good quarter lap, but we’re going to come back. [laughs]” – Eli Tomac, when asked to describe his emotions after crashing out of the lead on the first lap.
In the 250SX West class, Honda HRC Progressive’s Joe Shimoda rode a nearly flawless race and led every lap to take the victory. The Japanese rider surprised many, even the all-star broadcast team members James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael, with a great start, while two-time 250 SMX World Champion Haiden Deegan had a bad start, hit the rear tire of the rider in front of him, and hence crashed, getting fifth place in the 15-minute plus one-lap main event.
“This is the start I was looking for every single year. And I think I was honestly sleeping on the gate [in previous seasons]. [Laughs] 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.” – Jo Shimoda, when asked on the podium how it feels to start the season with a strong performance.
“Not really happy to get interviewed for fifth, but better than last year. We’ll take the positive. Obviously not a great start. It happens, [I] went down, [then] fought my heart out and made my way back up to fifth and that’s all I could do. But congrats to the boys, obviously the light should be shined on them and all we can do is come out swinging at the next race.” – Haiden Deegan, when asked about his impressive charge to fifth place.