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Morning Report

Good morning race fans. After a few warmer and sun-filled races in California, we are in Texas for our first non-California round of 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Welcome to NRG Stadium for the series' first race here since January 2023. The home of the Houston Texans National Football League (NFL) team's nice indoor stadium is hosting us for round four as we get our first taste of the chilly conditions the East Coast has been facing lately. It is expected to be cold today, with a high of 46 so bundle up this morning!

It is also our first Triple Crown event of '26 as well. The three-race format provides us with varying results and adds to the drama of the already-exciting series. Remember, the LCQs will take place this afternoon as part of the Race Day Live qualifying broadcast. Then tonight, the main program night show will start with opening ceremonies then roll right into the first 250SX and 450SX sprint races. 

Bikes will be on track at 11 a.m. local time (Central)/12 p.m. Eastern with the KTM Junior practice, followed by SMX Next free practice, then the first 250SX qualifying session gets the pro classes rolling.

Check out today's full schedule (times local to Houston, Texas, in Central time zone).

Chase Sexton rolls into town more confident this weekend after picking up his first win of ’26 at the Anaheim 2 SX following battles with Jason Anderson, Hunter Lawrence, and Eli Tomac. Tomac continues to lead the championship so he will again have the red plate backgrounds on his #3 KTM 450 SX-F here today. Lawrence’s strong start to the years (4-2-2 finishes, respectively) has him second in the standings as Sexton, Ken Roczen, and Anderson round out the top five. Cooper Webb earned his first top-five finish of the year last weekend, finishing 7-8-5 to start his title defense. Webb and Sexton both had tough nights at the opener but Sexton has a podium/win, whereas Webb’s results have not taken him to the top three yet, so he sits sixth in the standings. A little further back, do not count out the following three riders: Justin Cooper,  Joey Savatgy, and Jorge Prado. The three are each off to a solid start and with today’s shorter, more sprint races, this trio could find themselves in the mix for podiums/race wins. The guys that get great starts repeatedly—Lawrence, Prado, Cooper, Roczen, etc.—all will be ones to watch with today’s three-race format. Thinking back to last year’s first Triple Crown event of the ’25 season (the Glendale SX), there were three different riders that won the three races (Webb, Roczen, then Tomac) and a fourth different rider won the overall (Sexton). Glendale was the fourth round last year, just like today’s first Triple Crown of ’26 is. Maybe we see similar results with several different races winners?

And in case you missed it, Ty Masterpool is racing today. After racing with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki squad in 2025, the Texan will be on the line for the first time on his private #44 YZ450F in Houston. How will his season debut go? While he has a ton of raw speed, qualifying for the 450SX races is not a guarantee. With Masterpool, you never really know! 

As for the 250SX Class, Haiden Deegan’s 4-1-1 leaves him with a nine-point lead over his teammate Michael Mosim and a ten-point lead over his other teammate Max Anstie. And the 411 on the championship is that Deegan has started to take control after his second consecutive win in a row. Mosiman has started 5-3-2 so far and looks to be in his best form since 2022 when he earned his maiden 250SX main event win. As for Anstie, his 1-5-6 results are trending in the wrong direction. Also trending in the wrong direction is Chance Hymas, who left San Diego seventh in the standing after 2-6 finishes. Then, he suffered a dislocated shoulder at Anaheim 2 and he will now miss the next several rounds of SX, if not the entire series, as he had shoulder surgery yesterday (Friday). Ryder DiFrancesco and Maximus Vohland round out the top five in the standings, then Cameron McAdoo, Hymas, Dilan Schwartz, Levi Kitchen, and Carson Mumford. McAdoo and Kitchen were both hoping to be title contenders but have ran into bad luck, McAdoo with a 21st at the opener after a collision with Deegan and Kitchen with three straight main event first turn crashes—and a DNF a A2—to start the year. Will the Yamaha teammates out front be the top three finishers tonight? Will Kitchen bounce back and finally land that podium? Could Vohland—or his teammate Hunter Yoder—sneak out a podium/race win in the three sprint races? 

Give us your winners and some predictions for tonight in the comments section below!

Read the full injury report for today.

Austin Forkner OUT for Today's Race

On Friday during the press day riding session, Austin Forkner crashed at the end of the long rhythm section.

This morning, Triumph Racing announced Forkner will miss today's race, due to a hand injury from said crash.

Triumph's post said the following:

Forkner missed the San Diego SX main event after a crash earlier in the afternoon during qualifying resulted in a trip to the hospital. Luckily, he was not injured and competed last weekend at the Anaheim 2 SX. In Forkner's first 450SX starts this season (and the first two 450cc races of his pro career), he finished 15th (A1) and 17th (A2). 

If you missed it, check out our press day video recap below.

While we wait for qualifying to start, check this interesting stat on Jorge Prado: he has nine 450SX starts entering today, and all have been in the state of California! And on top of that, all of his 450SX starts today have been at outside venues. So, today's race will be Prado's first indoor SX race.

He has already competed in one Triple Crown race though. He finished 12-8-15 for 12th overall at 2024 Anaheim 2 SX Triple Crown on January 27, 2024. That was Prado's fourth and final 450SX start in '24 while he was on his #111 GasGas MC 450F.

First Qualifying Sessions

250SX

Ayden Shive’s 51.656 topped the first 250SX group B qualifying session.

It 250SX group A, Haiden Deegan had the top time mid-way through the session then a red flag came out for Robbie Wageman. Wageman crashed but got up and back onto his bike moments later. He was talking to the mechanics and had a mangled bike, so he pulled off and rode up through the tunnel. The session got back underway as Deegan (48:457) lead Michael Mosiman (49.970) on the results page. Then, Deegan and Ryder DiFrancesco put in back-to-back heaters. DiFrancesco put down a 47.790 but then Deegan retaliated with a 47.554! Hunter Yoder tipped over in a turn and was just trapped under his bike and Deegan rolled up and stopped, and helped the #60. Yoder then gave the #1W knuckles after he got up before remounting his bike. Our man on the floor Tom Journet caught the Yoder crash and Deegan assist on camera, check it out in the Instagram video below! Deegan’s time would stand as the fastest in the session. Levi Kitchen slid into third with a 48.074, then Mosiman and Max Anstie rounded out the top five.

450SX

The first 450SX group A got underway and it was a flurry of fast laps! Justin Cooper had the top spot with a 47.795, but then Ken Roczen went to the top with a 47.695. Eli Tomac came out and put down a 47.149, which was followed by a new heater of 47.659 by Cooper Webb that slid into P2. These guys really started to get rolling! Chase Sexton knocked Webb back with a 47.233 of his own to move into second behind Tomac. Jorge Prado joined the fun with a 47.293 to move into third. Then, Tomac dropped a blistering 46.684, improving his top fast lap. At the checkered flag, it was Tomac, Sexton, Cooper, Roczen, and Webb. Signs of life here from Webb, who has never been known as a fast qualifier in his 450SX career. He is likely hoping to get the ball rolling here early with tonight’s three sprint races needing a good start and high gate pick.

Afterwards, Tomac said his fast lap was "Pretty close to perfect, in my opinion."

Mitchell Harrison topped the 450SX group B session with a 49.633, followed by Ty Masterpool with a 50.098. Logan Leitzel topped the 450SX group C first qualifying session with a 52.404. 

SMX Next – Supercross

Kayden Minear, who won the Anaheim 2 SMX Next main event last weekend, led the field out as their first qualifying session got underway following some track maintenance. Minear had a close call in one of his early runs through the whoops as the rear end of  his #99 YZ250F got a kick as he was exiting the whoops section. It happened so fast, but Minear was able to adjust quickly and still nail the 180-degree turn that followed. Minear had the top time with a 49.123 as Vincent Wey moved into P2 ahead of Landen Gordon. Then, Caden Dudney put in a time—a 48.7400—that took over the top spot. Dudney, Minear, and Gordon topped the field, followed by Wey and Kade Johnson, who put in a heater mid-way through the session.

Second Qualifying Sessions

250SX

Ayden Shive again topped the 250SX group B session with a 51.080.

Haiden Deegan, Max Anstie, Michael Mosiman, and Cameron McAdoo were out front off the practice start to begin the 250SX group A second qualifying session. Deegan waved Anstie by after a lap, then Anstie, Deegan, and McAdoo all started heaters right behind one another. Anstie was at the top of the field, but Ryder DiFrancesco, Levi Kitchen, and Deegan moved up. Kitchen's 47.745 was the top time of the second 250SX group A qualifying session but Deegan’s 47.554 from the first session tops the overall 250SX qualifying. The session was red flagged in the middle for Dilan Schwartz. His status for tonight is TBD.

Shive's time is the final spot directly qualifying (18th overall) into the night show program and the three Triple Crown sprint races.

450SX

Hunter Lawrence and Jorge Prado were side-by-side off the practice start as the 450SX group A second qualifying session got underway. Prado backed out of the pace exiting the first turn and going wide, riding slowly off the track after testing the first turn. Out front, Ken Roczen and Lawrence were leading the field. On the results, Tomac’s time from the first session was sitting as the top spot (like Deegan) but Chase Sexton was able to top the field in this session. Sexton’s 47.097 topped the group over a train of 47-second laps! Tomac’s 47.102 was next, then Lawrence’s 47.176, then Roczen’s 47.211, then Prado’s 47.292, and so on. The list of sub-48 lap times went all the way back to Joey Savatgy, who was 14th in the session!  

Mitchell Harrison's 49.546 topped the second 450SX group B qualifying session. 

In terms of the final qualifying spots, RJ Hampshire (15th), Vince Friese, Shane McElrath, and Garrett Marchbanks (18th) take the final four direct qualifying spots, as Justin Hill (19th), Mitchell Harrison, Cade Clason, Josh Cartwright, Ty Masterpool, Cole Thompson, and Fredrik Noren sits 25th. Kevin Moranz, Tristan Lane, Grant Harlan, and John Short also will be in the LCQ.

The LCQs are coming up next, so stay tuned into Peacock!

LCQs

250SX

The top 18 riders were set for tonight, but the battle was on for the final four spots in both classes for tonight’s Triple Crown racing. The gates dropped on the 250SX LCQ and it was Slade Varola out front, followed by Dominque Thury, Reven Gordon, Matti Jorgensen, and Lane Shaw. Varola made a mistake and dropped to third, as Gordon had a crash that ended his race early. Thury took over the race lead as Hunter Schlosser took over second. Jorgensen made a pass on Shaw to take over the fourth and final transfer spot, and although it was not a dirty move, Shaw went down so his hopes of transferring into the night show ended. Jorgensen took over third from Varola, who dropped to fourth. Thury took the win as Schlosser, Jorgensen, and Varola all transferred to the main event. Keegan Rowley came up short in fifth, in the first non-transfer spot.

450SX

The gates dropped on the 450SX LCQ and it was Justin Hill out front as he led Mitchell Harrison, Logan Leitzel, Cade Clason, Tristan Lane, Cole Thompson, and the rest of the field. Ty Masterpool ran seventh early on as Lane made a huge run through the whoops to pass Clason and take over third place. Leitzel dropped back a few positions as Fredrik Noren and Thompson closed in on Clason. Clason had late press on the final lap but held strong. Hill won the race and will join Harrison, Lane, and Clason in the Triple Crown racing later tonight. Masterpool finished seventh in the LCQ in his season debut. Kevin Moranz did not get one of those Kevin Moranz great starts he usually does, and he finished eighth. Leitzel came through 14th.

When we come back tonight for the main program/night show, we will go right into our three sprint races for the Triple Crown format. Or, you can tune into Peacock at 7 p.m. Eastern.

First Races

250SX

We got word that Schwartz, who qualified in the top 18, is OUT for tonight. Keegan Rowley (fifth in the 250SX LCQ) gets the nod to take the final gate.

After opening ceremonies, it was time to go racing—and this go round we were right into the Triple Crown races that count towards tonight’s overall. So, important racing right from the get-go!

The gates dropped on the first 250SX race and it was Haiden Deegan with the holeshot and early race lead. Deegan led Maximus Vohland, Cameron McAdoo, Levi Kitchen, Avery Long, Lux Turner, and Michael Mosiman. Kitchen quickly jumped into second as Vohland was shuffled back behind both Kitchen and McAdoo on the opening lap. Back in the pack, Max Anstie hit the ground on the opening lap as he tried to go inside on Dominque Thury in the 180-degree turn after the whoops. Thury cut down, and with Ryder DiFrancesco on the inside of Anstie, the #61 had nowhere to go and went down. Out front, Deegan held a lead of about 2.5 seconds over Kitchen as McAdoo and Mosiman had started to separate from the rest of the field some. Hunter Yoder made some moves forward, including passes on two BarX Yamaha teammates Parker Ross and Lux Turner. Deegan took the first 250SX Triple Crown race of the night and he pointed back at Kitchen over the finish line as the #1W took the win by 2.052 seconds. Kitchen kept Deegan honest the entire race but the #47 never got close enough for a pass attempt. McAdoo, Mosiman, and Vohland rounded out the top five. Anstie came through tenth after going down on the first lap.

450SX

When the 450SX gates dropped for their first race of the night, it was Jorge Prado and Ken Roczen exiting the first turn side by side. Roczen was able to quickly jump into the lead and from there, he started to pull away. The #94 pulled out that vintage, blistering opening-lap speed he always finds. It was Roczen leading Prado, Chase Sexton, Hunter Lawrence, Cooper Webb, Eli Tomac, Dylan Ferrandis, and Malcolm Stewart. Sexton had pressure from Lawrence, Webb, and Anderson but he passed Prado and started to pull away and go after Roczen! Ferrandis was passing Craig in the inside turn after the whoops and the #28 went down in the process, although the pass did not seem overly aggressive. Looked like Craig ran out of track on the outside. But then a mistake—Sexton said afterwards he stalled his bike after the finish line one lap—allowed Roczen to open up a four-second lead out front. Eli Tomac was tenth through the starting stripe, meaning he had work to do. He moved forward, battling Webb in the process. They got stuck behind Prado, and Tomac almost accidently rear-ended Prado at one point. Lawrence was running third, but he made a mistake and crashed right before crossing by the mechanics’ area, which dropped him back a few positions as Tomac, Webb, Prado, and Anderson all got by the #96. It was an uncharacteristic mistake by the older Lawrence brother and it cost him a podium finish. Roczen took the race win by 1.975 seconds over Sexton, then Tomac.

Second Races

250SX

The second race began and it was Levi Kitchen and Cameron McAdoo side-by-side over the starting stripe. Michael Mosiman washed the front end while in a turn by himself, setting him back on the first race. Kitchen started to pull away out front as Haiden Deegan got by McAdoo to take over second. Deegan had over a 2.5 second deficit but he went to work and slowly picked up time on Kitchen. Then, came the pass attempt. Deegan cut over across the top of several ruts and made a block pass on Kitchen that slowed the #47 almost to a dead stop. The pass was aggressive—as Deegan made a hard cut across the ruts to make the move—but there was no contact, as he let up at the end. Kitchen saw the move coming and stayed up. Props to Deegan for not taking Kitchen out. Deegan then checked out. Just like the first race: Deegan won and gave the finger gun back to P2 Kitchen, then McAdoo rounded out the final podium spot.

450SX

The second 450SX began, and it was Hunter Lawrence and Jorge Prado out front once again! Eli Tomac was eighth as Chase Sexton crashed and was 17th off the start and had work to do. Out front, Prado was leading Lawrence and Jason Anderson. Tomac started to make his way forward and he was up to fourth. But then, Tomac had a huge get off! (See below). Luckily, he was not injured, and he was able to get up and finish the race, coming through 13th. Cooper Webb, Anderson, and race one winner Ken Roczen were battling as Tomac crashed right ahead of them all. Lawrence went after Prado but the #26 was riding defensive. After a few laps, Lawrence was able to make a pass stick and take the lead. Sexton then had a crash on his own, washing the front end. Lawrence took the race win as Webb took second after a late pass on Prado. Justin Coopper and Roczen rounded out the top five. This completely shakes up the overall heading into the third and final race!

SMX Next Main Event

Kayden Minear, Landon Gibson, and Kade Johnson were all not on the gates for the SMX Next main event after separate qualifying incidents earlier today. 

The gates dropped on the SMX Next main event, and it was Vincent Wey with the holeshot and early race lead. He had company in the form of Deacon Denno and Caden Dudney, as Denno made a pass into the lead. Then, Dudney snuck into second. Dudney went at Denno for the lead and took off, although Denno would keep the gap within reason. Wey was battling Denno for the second until he had a wild ride at the end of the whoops that hindered his results. Dudney took the race win as Denno and Gordon rounded out the podium. Jesson Turner rode to a sneaky fourth place finish, then Jeremy Fappani brought home a great top-five finish. Wey came through 12th.

Third Races

250SX

The third and final 250SX race started and it was Maximus Vohland out front! Max Anstie, Haiden Deegan, Levi Kitchen, and Carson Mumford were behind him. Right after the finish line jump, Kitchen and Deegan made some back-and-forth moves on one another. Deegan took the position and kept going forward. Deegan blew past Anstie and took over second and after a couple of laps led by Vohland, Deegan took over the race lead. From there, Deegan checked out. Anstie ran second then teammates Kitchen and McAdoo were eventually able to both get around Vohland to take over third and fourth. In terms of the overall, Deegan’s 1-1-1 made the math easy. Then, it was Kitchen and McAdoo rounding out the overall podium as Vohland and Ryder DiFrancesco rounded out the top five overall.

450SX

The 450SX finale was up next and, unlike the pretty simple math from Deegan in the 250SX Class, good luck figuring out who would win the race and who would win the overall!

The gates dropped and it was Eli Tomac, on his second bike that Red Bull KTM had for him since he and the team were cautious with his crash in the second race, with the holeshot! Tomac led Jason Anderson, Hunter Lawrence, and Christian Craig, and from there, boy, did we have an epic race. The top six kept trading positions, and, man, was it a fun battle!

Cooper Webb was mid-pack exiting the first turn and he almost came together with both Ken Roczen and RJ Hampshire going over the finish line jump, causing Webb to shoot left and only about halfway to the landing of the double. He somehow stayed up and did not get landed on, but lost lots of time and positions on the opening lap. Out front, Anderson passed Tomac for the lead. Tomac then battled Lawrence for second. Chase Sexton charged forward and as Tomac retook the lead, Sexton snuck into second. But then one lap later, the entire five positions behind Tomac changed! Sexton went from second and going after Tomac for the race lead to sixth in a matter of a minute. Webb bested both Roczen and Anderson to take over third behind Tomac and Lawrence, the latter who charged up to P2. The riders continued to shuffle. Tomac’s 13th in the second race ruined his chances at the overall, but he took off with the race win. Lawrence, Roczen, and Webb were all in the running for the overall and it was going back and forth, back and forth, literally each lap as passes were made and positions were traded. Webb running third late in the race meant he was in position to win the overall suddenly! Tomac took the race win to be the third different race winner in the three races, as Lawrence came through second and Webb third. But in terms of the overall win, it was Webb’s 4-2-3 finishes over Lawrence’s 7-1-2 finishes, and Roczen’s 1-5-4 finishes. Tomac’s 3-13-1 landed fourth overall, and Sexton’s 2-9-6 was fifth overall. Tomac still leaves with the championship lead.