Supercross’s Round 5 at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, proved to be a difficult night for Supercross racers. The evening’s races were marked by multiple crashes and injuries.
Cortez’s Eli Tomac, after clocking the fastest lap time in the first practice round on Saturday night, injured his leg in the second practice round. The injury occurred after his foot got caught in between his bike’s foot peg and the ground. Though he didn’t place in the top five of the qualifying round or the main event, he still raced well enough to maintain a top-five position in the overall point standings.
The night wasn’t all bad, however. For Tampa native Malcolm Stewart, it was a night of success and proof that perseverance will pay off. Stewart won the 450SX main event, clinching his first ever 450 win in his hometown in front of his family and brother James Stewart, former racer and a current commentator.
In the main event, Chase Sexton claimed the hole shot with Justin Cooper and Justin Barcia in second and third, respectively. Stewart raced in ninth and Tomac in 20th.
Soon, Jason Anderson moved to second, passing both Barcia and Cooper as Ken Roczen took third place.
As he rode at a commanding pace through the track’s perilous whoops section, Stewart quickly moved from ninth place to fourth. Roczen passed Anderson for second place.
At the 15-minute mark, Stewart claimed third place while Tomac fell to 22nd. At this point in the race, Sexton was riding five to six seconds ahead of the second- and third-place riders.
As the racers got to the nine-minute mark, Stewart had moved to second place, only three seconds behind Sexton.
Roczen crashed with lapper Jeremy Hand. As Roczen and Hand flew off their bikes, the chain came off Roczen’s sprocket, forcing him to leave the track.
Meanwhile, Stewart continued to chase Sexton down, narrowing his lead to a little over a second, with less than three minutes to go. Sexton crashed in the whoops, allowing Stewart to take over the lead spot. The crash damaged Sexton’s brake and throttle, causing him to fall back in the pack.
Stewart placed first, winning his first ever Supercross 450SX race, while his brother James Stewart cheered him on from the commentator’s box. Commentators noted the uphill battle that Stewart has faced, as he missed the 2023 season due to an injury and fought his way back to where he is now during the 2024 season.
Cooper Webb placed second, Anderson third and Cooper fourth. Sexton finished in fifth and Tomac in 17th.
During the first heat, Webb claimed the hole shot. Justin Hill rode in second and Hunter Lawrence in third, followed by Tomac in fourth. In the first lap, Lawrence crashed into a Tuff Block, flying off his bike and into the track. Lawrence was unable to finish the race. Though his team hasn’t specified his injuries as of Monday, they noted that they would be working to “determine the extent of his injuries” through “further evaluations.”
Webb held a strong lead throughout the entirety of the race, placing first. Aaron Plessinger placed second and Anderson third.
Tomac placed seventh.
“Eli Tomac is showing a tremendous amount of grit and determination and bravery just to get through this,” commentators said.
Jerry Robin took the hole shot in heat two, followed by Cooper in second. Roczen crashed around the first corner. Not long later, Robin also crashed, allowing Cooper to move to first and Sexton second. Stewart followed Sexton in third.
With less than one minute left in the race, Sexton passed Cooper on the inside to place first. Stewart placed second and Cooper third.
Tampa shook up the overall point standings. Sexton remains in first with 101 points, followed by Webb in second (96), Anderson in third (84), Roczen in fourth (83) and Tomac in fifth (80). Tomac was in third prior to Tampa.
Round 6 of the 2025 Supercross season will take place on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
| 1. Chase Sexton | KTM | 101 |
| 2. Cooper Webb | Yamaha | 96 |
| 3. Jason Anderson | Kawasaki | 84 |
| 4. Ken Roczen | Suzuki | 83 |
| 5. Eli Tomac | Yamaha | 80 |
| 6. Malcolm Stewart | Husqvarna | 77 |
| 7. Jett Lawrence (out for season due to injury) | Honda | 71 |
| 8. Justin Cooper | Yamaha | 69 |
| 9. Justin Barcia | GasGas | 68 |
| 10. Hunter Lawrence | Honda | 62 |
