Max Anstie Dominates Anaheim Opener to Kick Off 2026 Supercross Season

British SX superstar Max Anstie (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) proved that his recent FIM World Supercross Championship P2 class victory was no fluke as he stepped up – when it counted – and won the real deal, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Western Region (WSX) 250 class opener at Anaheim’s (Calif.) Angels Stadium.

But before we get into the 250 WSX main, a quick look back on the 2025 Birmingham (Ala.) SX… Noteworthy from the 250 ESX class was Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Max Anstie’s crash during afternoon qualifying at Protective Stadium, where he reportedly suffered a broken leg (Fibula). Anstie was leading the 250 ESX overall points chase heading into Birmingham, and is now said to be out for the remainder of the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.

So, for Anstie, the win on Saturday over teammate and defending WSX 250 champ Haiden Deegan was a full dose of poetic justice, coming full circle and putting himself back into position to win his first American regional SX title.

Said Anstie: “It think it’s (Anaheim) definitely got to be at the top. When I was a kid, seven, eight, nine years old I remember coming to this race, watching this race, dreaming about this race, thinking the win was so far away that I didn’t know if I’d ever be here.”

Off the 250 main event gate drop Monster Energy was looking good with No. 1 combined qualifier, Levi Kitchen (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) poised for the win. But a lazy wreck on the opening turn would end Kitchen’s run at the A1 overall. And held up in the Kitchen bobble was Deegan, which basically kept two of the favorites off the podium right out of the start.

Anstie, who started in 4^th position, would methodically click off consistent quick laps, passing Honda’s Chance Hymas and then Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) prior to the midway point of the 15-lap contest. Anstie then cruised to the victory by a convincing 6.733 seconds over Hymas. Rallying back to 4^th position and salvaging some valuable points was Deegan, who never ceases to amaze as he had the attention of the A1 faithful as he piloted his YZ250F past some of the world’s best supercross racers with ease.

Rounding out the top five in the 250 WSX A1 main for Monster Energy was Michael Mosiman (Star Racing/Yamaha) in 5^thposition.

In 450 class racing at Anaheim 1 Monster Energy’s lone top five finish came from Jason Anderson (PMG/Suzuki), who ran a consistent pace to seal the 5^th place position, battling with Honda’s Hunter Lawrence. One spot back of Anderson, in 6^th position, Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Justin Cooper would make the 450 main via the LCQ. And defending Monster Energy AMA Supercross champion Cooper Webb (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) would race up to 6^th position, battling as well with Lawrence, whom he collide with late (three minutes remaining) in the contest. Webb would only lose one position, finishing 7^th, and rounding out Monster Energy’s 450 class top ten placers at A1.

ANAHEIM 1 RESULTS

 OVERALL STANDINGS (1 of 17 Rounds)

NOTES & QUOTES

• “I’m going to repeat myself. He (Deegan) is prolific. And for good reason. But he has got to get better on the starts. Because when you get back there, you’re just subjecting yourself to issues.” – NBC announcer Ricky Carmichael on the defending 250 WSX champ at the start of the Anaheim 1 250 main.
• “Anaheim is special.” – Anstie on his win.
• Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) had a scary get-off towards the end of the 250 main - he ended up.
• “Haiden Deegan’s gonna have his hands full because of how strong Max (Anstie) is.” – NBC announcer James Stewart.
• Michael Mosiman had to qualify for the 250 WSX main through the LCQ and put up a good show, running in 4^th position until late when he was caught by teammate Deegan.
• A last-second main event gate pick change would haunt Deegan, according to the defending champ. “I really made a mistake switching my gate on the start. I dunno… I was trying to find a better rut. I’m regretting that one. I should have just stayed where I was at,” he said.
• Due to a failed sound test, KTM’s Jorge Prado was docked three points (20 to 17). This puts 5^th place Anderson in a tie with the former MXGP champ for 4^th place overall after one 450 round.
• Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton’s 450 class debut aboard the KX450 didn’t go quite as planned as the former SX and MX champ exited the Anaheim course on a couple of off occasions and overcame a crash to rally to 8^th place on the night. Definitely room for improvement for Monster Energy’s 450 class star.

Up next: The big SX rigs load up and drop down the I-5 to San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium for Round 2 of 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Jan. 17.