Track walk is complete and some brief track work and watering has been wrapped up by the Dirt Wurx crew. Bikes will be on track for the first time at 10 a.m. local time with free practice. Check out the full race day schedule below, as well as the TV broadcast/streaming information.

Track Walk

The track here at round one is interesting. Some years they build it pretty basic in an effort to minimize the risk of injury at the opening round, but this year that doesn’t seem to be the case. We checked in with some of the riders yesterday, and the general consensus was that, for an opening round, it’s a bit tricky and technical. There are multiple rhythm lanes (one runs the entire length of the stadium), and one of them is preceded by a rather unique lefthand turn. There’s a small jump/lip leading to the inside of the turn, which is elevated before dropping back down after the turn and into a triple. Riders will have to slow down significantly to stay on the elevated portion of dirt on the inside, but riders who rail the outside will still have to slow down anyway because there’s a large hump in the way before the triple. Or maybe riders will opt to launch off that hump and turn the section into a two-two! Whatever happens, that’s going to be an interesting section to keep an eye on.

Elsewhere there’s a long sand section that’s a sweeping right hander. Most riders will likely opt for the inside in this turn, so it’s going to get chewed up pretty quickly. [Update: the outside line in this section is turning out to be much more popular than we thought it would.] The dirt is wet right now, and the track crew is currently busy working even more moisture into it. That’s good because it’s inevitably going to start drying up. The Sun is out here in Southern California, and when the bikes roll into the stadium the dirt is going to start drying out, especially if it gets breezy.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing riders built a replica of this track and have been riding for quite a while, so we’ll see if that makes a difference when we start dropping gates later tonight. –Aaron Hansel

Free Practice

250SX

Green flag on the season! SX rookie Parker Ross led the field as the 250SX Group C free practice got underway. Riders were getting their first time on the full layout as Friday’s media session cut out the whoops. But now that race day is here, it’s go time. Stilez Robertson led the first 250SX Group B free practice, but rookie Cole Davies was one of the faster riders in the session. Then Lux Turner led the 250SX Group A group onto the track. Levi Kitchen, who missed yesterday's media day due to an illness, was getting his first few laps in on the track. To no one’s surprise, Haiden Deegan put in a few really fast, really solid laps. Kitchen and Deegan were near each other for a few sections for about two laps or so, which we expect to see come the racing tonight.

450SX

Aaron Plessinger, Justin Barcia, Ken Roczen, Eli Tomac, Malcolm Stewart, and Fredrik Noren led the 450SX Group A free practice session. Jason Anderson and Hunter Lawrence each had separate tip overs in the sand section after the whoops. Chase Sexton, Tomac, and Jett Lawrence topped the leaderboard by the end of the session. Again, these times do not count for overall qualifying.

First Qualifying Sessions

250SX

The 250SX Group C first qualifying session got the green flag and qualifying was officially underway! The sand section has given a handful of riders trouble so far today. SX rookie Reven Gordon had a tip over in the back and forth turns across the starting straight. He was stuck under his bike momentarily before an Alpinestars medical crew member picked up his bike and freed him. Gordon got going again seconds later. Parker Ross topped the session with a 1:10.754 over Noah Viney’s 1:11.975.

Stilez Robertson led the 250SX Group B first qualifying session. Towards the end of the session, Derek Kelley had a hard crash. He was tended to by the medical crew and was eventually helped onto the medical cart. Sitting up, Kelley was placed in a soft neck brace, but he gave a peace sign as the cart left the stadium floor. The session resumed for the final minute on the clock before the checkered flag. Cole Davies topped the board that session (a 1:07.746).

The 250SX Group A first session began, and it was Jo Shimoda leading the field. Suddenly, it was noticeable Levi Kitchen—one of the pre-season championship favorites—was not on the track. Haiden Deegan went onto top the session with a 1:06.077.

450SX

When the 450s rolled out for the first timed qualifying session of the day it was Cooper Webb who set the first hot lap, a 1:08.654, but that was destined to come down, as the 250 A group had already set times in the 1:06 range. Sure enough, in his third lap, Eli Tomac banged out a 1:05.218. Behind him Chase Sexton and Jett Lawrence both dropped down into the 1:05 range too, and a few laps later, Jett Lawrence shot to the top with a commanding 1:04.278. The funny thing about Lawrence’s lap was, even though you could tell he was on a fast lap, his smooth, signature style makes him look like he’s not pushing it, even when he’s hammering down.

Tomac wasn’t done though, and responded by dropping down into the 1:04 range. It wasn’t quite enough to top Lawrence, but Tomac kept pushing and on the next lap he busted out a 1:04.043 to shoot to the top. This was near the end of the session, and Lawrence didn’t put in any attempt at a fast lap after Tomac took the lead. According to Race Day Live, if Tomac’s time stands in the second timed qualifying session, it’ll mark the first time he’s qualified fastest since Indianapolis in 2022!

In the 450 B group it was all Joey Savatgy. The Firepower Honda rider was in a league of his own and dominated the session from start to finish, ending with a 1:06.660. In the 450 C group it looked like Scott Meshey was going to top the group, as he seemed to be holding down the fastest time comfortably, but Gared Steinke snuck in a 1:12.432 about halfway through to top the group. That time would hold until the checkered flag came out, making Steinke the fastest 450 C rider in the session.

Breaking News: Levi Kitchen (illness) Out for Anaheim 1

Levi Kitchen is ill and tried to ride today but could not. After riding free practice, he wasn't up for it, so the team has sent him home. Because he only rode free practice and did not actually qualify for Anaheim 1, Kitchen is eligible to race the 250SX East Region.
Read the full update.

Second Qualifying Sessions

250SX

In the second 250SX Group C qualifying session, Collin Jurin had a crash in the whoops that caused a red flag. Jurin was helped onto the medical cart and put in a soft neck brace, similar to what Derek Kelley was in earlier. He was sitting up when the cart left the stadium floor.

In the 250SX Group B session, Jett Reynolds got the fake start holeshot and led the field around. Evan Ferry had a crash mid-way through the sand turn but got up okay. Gavin Towers was sitting P1 until Cole Davies put in a heater. Late in the session, Davies was already P1 in the session, but he improved his time with one final heater, a 1:06:128. Impressive start to the day for Davies!

The final 250SX Group A qualifying session got underway and off the fake start it was Jordon Smith leading the group. Michael Mosiman was also near the front of the pack until he had a hard slam while jumping across the starting straight. He took a minute to get going again but was okay. Ryder DiFrancesco put in solid laps but out front it was Julien Beaumer and Haiden Deegan going back and forth for P1. Beaumer would come out on top, taking the top spot in the session and also taking P1 in overall 250SX qualifying as well.  

450SX

Can all the qualifying sessions be as exciting as this one, please? In the opening stages Mitchell Oldenburg, Malcolm Stewart, Justin Barcia, Hunter Lawrence, all enjoyed being at the top of the leaderboard, but when the lap times started dropping for real, it was Chase Sexton who would emerge with the first meaningful lead with a 1:04.587. Behind him the times were tight though, with Cooper Webb less than a hundredth of a second off, and Eli Tomac, Justin Hill, and Aaron Plessinger all within three tenths of a second.

Jett Lawrence, meanwhile, didn’t seem interested in setting a fast lap until about five laps in, when he was somehow able to record a mind melting 1:03.881. That’s when things got interesting. Tomac lowered his visor and somehow produced a stunningly fast 1:03.795, only to see Sexton bust out a 1:03.477. No way anyone was going to go faster than that, right? Wrong. Tomac yet again was able to wring some extra speed out of the track, somewhere, and shot back to the top with a 1:03.120. It looked like Lawrence wouldn’t have a chance to respond, as time was close to running out, but he was able to cross the line just before the checkered flag came out, giving him one last chance to claim fastest honors. With all eyes on Lawrence, the Honda HRC rider flew around the track, and it was clear he was going for it. As he came flying into the final turn just before the finish line, however, he made a small mistake  and messed up the turn. He didn’t lose much time, but it was probably just enough to keep him from topping Tomac and he finished second, roughly two-and-a-half tenths back. If the rest of the season is like this, we’re in for an epic year!

In the 450 B group it was, again, all Joey Savatgy. He was fastest from beginning to end, with his closest competitor, Mitchell Harrison, turning a fastest lap about two seconds slower than Savatgy's. The the 450 C group Scott Meshey would get his revenge after being displaced by Gared Steinke in the first qualifier, finishing in the top spot. 

Night Show

Heat Races

250SX Heat Race #1

The gates dropped on the first heat race of the season, and it was rookie Cole Davies with the holeshot. Haiden Deegan was right behind him and made a pass on his teammate mid-way through the opening lap. Deegan checked out, but Davies rode a solid race himself. Coty Schock was inside the top ten but went down in the sand turn after the whoops then got up and got clipped by another rider, dropping his bike again! He was dead last but fought back to eventually finish in ninth, the final transfer spot. Out front, Deegan and Davies were rolling as Hunter Yoder was riding in a solo third. Jo Shimoda and Garrett Marchbanks charged to fourth and fifth ahead of Stilez Robertson. Max Miller, Noah Viney, and Schock claimed the final transfer spots. Late in the race, Dylan Walsh—who had a crash earlier in qualifying—had his bike give out. Around the same time, Evan Ferry went down himself. Ferry would be tended to by the Alpinestars medical crew and carried onto the medical cart favoring his right leg.

250SX Heat Race #2

When the gates dropped on the second heat race of the night, it was Ryder DiFrancesco, Jordon Smith, and Julien Beaumer out front. Smith quickly got into the lead, but Beaumer moved into second and into a stalking mode. He followed Smith—with DiFrancesco pretty close behind—but Beaumer was unable to make a move. After five laps, Beaumer was finally able to make a move as they exited the sand turn after the whoops side-by-side! Beaumer jumped to the inside and took the top position away from Smith! On the final lap, Smith went back after Beaumer, with a last-turn block pass, but Beaumer was able to blast away and take the checkered flag! Smith and DiFrancesco finished second and third ahead of Cole Thompson and Lux Turner, who had a huge heat race, finishing fifth. Michael Mosiman was sixth ahead of Jett Reynolds. Anthony Bourdon took the final transfer spot away from rookie Avery Long in the final turn! What an awesome start to the night!

450SX Heat Race #1

The first 450 holeshot of the year went to Dylan Ferrandis, but Justin Cooper was quick to take over, with Ken Roczen in tow. A little over half a lap later Roczen threw a move on Cooper to take the lead, and the crowed roared their approval. Jett Lawrence, meanwhile, hadn’t gotten a good start and was coming through the pack after starting in around 12^th. After a few laps the running order was Roczen, Cooper, Jason Anderson, Ferrandis, Cooper Webb, Justin Hill, and Lawrence. Ferrandis then went off the track and dropped a bunch of spots and ended up taking a trip to the LCQ.

With one minute left in the race, Roczen was leading by about six seconds, with Anderson and Cooper battling for second, a battle in which Anderson would be victorious. On the last lap Freddie Noren made a push to try to get by Mitchell Oldenburg for the final transfer spot, but wasn’t able to get it done. Roczen, Anderson, Cooper, Webb, Lawrence, Hill, Benny Bloss, Shane McElrath, and Oldenburg.

450SX Heat Race #2

Chase Sexton edged out Jorge Prado for the immediate lead and started checking out. Eli Tomac ran ninth after a bad start, but it didn’t take him long to start slicing his way forward. As Tomac was working his way forward, there weas a huge gasp from the crowd as Malcolm Stewart, who was running fourth or fifth, started swapping in the sand section, got bucked when he hit a Tuff Block, and was ejected from his bike. Stewart flew through the air upside down, landing on his lower back, and just like that, Stewart’s heat race was over.

With about a minute-and-a-half left in the race Tomac ran fifth, but was all over Hunter Lawrence for fourth. He passed Lawrenc over the finish line jump and the crowd exploded, but Lawrence got him right back in the next corner. Tomac tried like crazy to get by Lawrence, who was doing everything he could to get by Justin Barcia, but nobody could make anything stick. Sexton, Prado, Barcia, Lawrence, Tomac, Aaron Plessinger, Joey Savatgy, Vince Friese, and Kyle Chisholm all transferred to the main event. It was a dominating win for Sexton, who led every lap and won by over seven seconds.

LCQs

250SX LCQ

Those who did not qualify for the main event out of their respective heat races went to the first LCQ race of 2025. Parker Ross led Gavin Towers, Nique Thury, and Avery Long. Thury made a mistake and went down, giving third to Long and allowing TJ Albright to take over the final transfer spot. Towers got into the lead and took the race win as Ross, Long, and Albright claimed the final three transfer spots.

450SX LCQ

Ryan Breece jumped out with the initial lead, but Kevin Moranz and Freddie Noren went by in a hurry. After a lap, Malcolm Stewart, who was no doubt still hurting from his huge heat race crash, was in seventh. He wouldn’t stay there though—as the race wore on he started marching forward. When he made it up to fifth he inherited fourth, because Breece and Dylan Ferrandis tangled and Ferrandis went down. Up front Noren had taken the lead from Moranz, and Moranz then found himself under pressure from Breece and Stewart, both of who went by fairly quickly. Stewart was all over Breece in the twilight of the race, but didn’t seem willing to force the issue, and wasn’t overly aggressive on Breece. Finally he made the move in in a rhythm lane and squirted away.

At this point the battle to watch was fr fourth. Mitchell Harrison held the spot, but he had Moranz and Colt Nichos breathing down his neck. Harrison would successfully hold on though, and filled the final transfer spot behind Noren, Stewart, and Breece.

Main Events

250SX Main Event

Qualifying, the heat races, and the LCQs were all completed, and finally, it was main event time. The gates dropped and it was Julien Beaumer with the holeshot! Haiden Deegan was outside the top five off the start and went down in the second turn, colliding with Jett Reynolds. Deegan and Reynolds remounted in 21st and 22nd.Reynolds would finish 22nd in his first career 250SX main event start. But Deegan would get to work. Out front, Jo Shimoda snuck into the lead as he and Beaumer would start to check out. Garrett Marchbanks, Jordon Smith, and Ryder DiFrancesco would battle for the final spot on the podium, but Marchbanks would crash and eventually finish ninth. Shimoda rode home his third career 250SX main event win as Beaumer came through second to earn his first 250SX podium in his 11th main event start. Smith would best DiFrancesco—who rode great himself—to claim third, giving Triumph Racing their first podium in AMA Supercross. Deegan would benefit from crashes of those ahead of Marchbanks and others and would make up a ton of time on Coty Schock (running fifth) heading into the final lap. Deegan would make a block pass with two turns to go and Schock would try to retaliate, but Deegan squeezed away to claim fifth! From 21st to fifth, Deegan sure did a lot of damage. Last year, Deegan finished 15th at the Detroit Supercross opener after being involved in the dozen-rider first turn crash to start the race. So, in his podium interview tonight, Deegan said his fifth was better than last year’s start. Tough for DiFrancesco to get edged out by Smith for that podium spot, but the California native looks damn good in his 2025 form.

450SX Main Event

Jorge Prado holeshot the 450SX main, but Eli Tomac quickly took over the lead. But then Tomac went down and remounted in dead last! Just ahead of him was Jett Lawrence, who’d tangled with a Tuff Block banner on the start. Just like that, two of the title favorites were in the very back! Both were making progress, but Lawrence looked to get a little to aggressive in his charge at one point and bumped with Joey Savatgy in the sand and went down again, putting him  back in dead last.

The benefactor was Jason Anderson, who found himself leading early, but he was under intense fire from Chase Sexton, who had Ken Roczen on his tail. Then Anderson bobbled in a rhythm lane and Sexton shot right by. A couple laps later Roczen went by too, causing the crowd to absolutely explode. Behind Anderson lurked Prado, but he had his hands full defending against an extremely hard charging Justin Cooper.

Up front Sexton was running away with it, but then he stalled, which allowed Roczen to get right up on his rear fender. It looked like Roczen might make a move, but Sexton recovered and started stretching it back out. A few spots back, Hunter Lawrence crashed in the sand while running fourth. This race was crazy, and it was barely at the halfway point!

With about ten minutes to go Tomac made another pass, this one on Prado for sixth, and set his sights on Justin Barcia in fifth. It would take a while, Barcia had about seven seconds on Tomac and was riding extremely well, but Tomac finally closed to within a second with about a minute left. Barcia hung in there though, refusing to budge for Tomac. Over and over Tomac would push, only to be just short of being able to put a move on Barcia. Finally, on the last lap, Barcia didn’t guard the inside well enough in a lefthander and Tomac was able to take the spot. A few seconds later, he crossed the line in fifth.

Sexton won, with Roczen, Anderson, Cooper Webb, and Tomac rounding out the top five. Prado had a pretty good race going but crashed in the whoops while running eighth. He finished 14^th. Jett Lawrence never recovered after going down in the sand, and at times it looked like he was simply riding around out there. He ended the night in a very uncharacteristic 12^th place.