The first race of the 2025 Supercross season was marked by multiple crashes, close encounters and Chase Sexton’s first Anaheim 1 Supercross win. Cortez native Eli Tomac gave an impressive performance after a crash, placing fifth in the 450 main event.
In the 450 main event at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, Jorge Prado claimed the hole shot with Justin Cooper riding in second. Jett Lawrence fell to last place after his bike got caught in one of the blocks surrounding the perimeter of the track.
Eli Tomac roared from fourth place to first to the cheer of the crowd, taking a commanding but short-lived lead before his front tire “washed out,” causing him to crash. Though he was run over by Chase Sexton in the chaos, Tomac was able to get back on his bike, though nearly in last place.
Jason Anderson rode in first and Sexton in second as Jett Lawrence crashed in the sand section. His brother, Hunter Lawrence, later crashed in the same section.
Sexton moved to the lead while Ken Roczen challenged him from second place. Meanwhile, Tomac moved quickly from 15th to 13th to 10th.
At the five-minute mark, Tomac was in sixth place, battling Justin Barcia for fifth. Tomac was successful in passing Barcia toward the end of the race, solidifying his place in the top five in the first race of the year.
Sexton won, followed by Roczen, Anderson, Cooper Webb and Tomac.
In the first 450 heat race, riders went down right out of the gate, pushing Jett Lawrence to the back of the pack while Dylan Ferrandis claimed the hole shot. Cooper and Roczen raced on his heels.
Cooper overtook Ferrandis for first place, but his hold on the front was short-lived as Roczen flew past Cooper on the outside. At the four-minute mark, Jett Lawrence had moved to 10th place.
In the final lap, Roczen was still in first, while Jett Lawrence had moved to fifth. Roczen won the first heat, followed by Anderson, Cooper, Cooper Webb and Jett Lawrence.
The second heat featured Tomac, Sexton, Hunter Lawrence, Malcolm Stewart, Aaron Plessinger and Barcia.
The announcers acknowledged Tomac’s return to racing after battling injury, noting that this was “allegedly” Tomac’s last season.
“He’s looking good. He’s looking fast,” they said.
At the start of the race, Barcia claimed the hole shot, followed by Hunter Lawrence and Sexton. Tomac raced behind in 10th. Sexton quickly moved from third to the first place spot while Tomac moved to fifth. Stewart crashed, eliminating his chance to compete in the main event.
Tomac rode side-by-side with Hunter in a battle for fourth before passing him. Hunter passed Tomac again, reclaiming the fourth place position.
“They’re riding like this is the main event,” the announcers said.
Sexton won the second heat, followed by Prado, Barcia, Hunter Lawrence and Tomac.
The next Supercross race will take place Saturday, Jan. 18 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.
