RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING'S CHASE SEXTON SPRINTS TO ANAHEIM 1 SUPERCROSS VICTORY

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Chase Sexton have started their 2025 AMA Supercross Championship in spectacular form by taking victory in the Anaheim 1 season-opening round, on a night where teammate Julien Beaumer earned the runner-up result in 250SX West.

After qualifying third-fastest, Sexton and his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION were unstoppable for the rest of the night, as the reigning Pro Motocross Champion took the holeshot and comfortably won his heat race by more than seven seconds.

Quick moves in the Main Event saw the 25-year-old Sexton surge into the lead during the opening laps. From there, he managed the race and claimed his first-ever Anaheim 1 victory.

Chase Sexton: "I’m still kind of processing tonight. It’s cool to win Anaheim 1 since it’s a pretty hyped race! I’ve come close in the past, so it was nice to come out on top tonight. I had a lot of fun riding today, had a good time on the track, which was really busy, and I think that kind of plays into my favor. We put a lot of work in during the off-season to get back to where I need to be, so it’s been a long road, but it makes this win feel even better."

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger experienced a steady night on his way to ninth in the Main Event. The 28-year-old qualified ninth fastest, then finished his Heat Race in P6. A chaotic start to the final saw Plessinger have to fight his way forward from near the back of the field, eventually crossing the finish line in P9.

Aaron Plessinger: "Anaheim 1 didn't go the way I wanted it to, but we’re walking out healthy. I was kind of sluggish all day, and I didn’t get off to a very good start in the Main Event, which made things harder for me. I’m going to go back and do some more testing this week, do some work, and come into San Diego with an improved feeling and aim to get back on the box."

It was also an exceptional opening round for Beaumer in the 250SX West division. Equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, the 18-year-old charged to the top of the qualifying leaderboards, then won his Heat with a well-timed pass late in the race.

A strong start to the Main Event saw him quickly slot into P2 and he put in a series of calculated, fast laps to end his night with a well-deserved runner-up result – signifying his first career Supercross podium.

Julien Beaumer: "We’re in a lot better space mentally and physically than we were last year, and I have a lot more belief in myself that I can go the distance. Today I concentrated on minimizing the mistakes on race day, I rode with a lot more maturity than I did last season. I rode calmly, smoothly and tried to ride like I do at the test track. I feel like I achieved that and showed that I’m one of the title contenders this year."

Next Race: January 18 – San Diego, California

Results 450SX Class – Anaheim

1. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki)

6. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)

9. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

10. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)

Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 1 of 17 rounds

1. Chase Sexton, 25 points

2. Ken Roczen, 22

3. Jason Anderson, 20

6. Justin Barcia, 15

9. Aaron Plessinger, 12

10. Malcolm Stewart, 11

Results 250SX West Class – Anaheim

1. Jo Shimoda (Honda)

2. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

3. Jordon Smith (Triumph)

4. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)

Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 1 of 10 rounds

1. Jo Shimoda, 25 points

2. Julien Beaumer, 22

3. Jordon Smith, 20

4. Ryder DiFrancesco, 18

KTM NEWS

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AND ELI TOMAC RACE TO ANAHEIM 1 SUPERCROSS VICTORY

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing opened the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship with a pair of convincing podium performances tonight at Anaheim 1, where Eli Tomac captured a spectacular 450SX Main Event victory and with teammate Jorge Prado claiming third position. In his SMX World Championship debut with KTM, Tomac set the quickest time in Qualifying 1 and then was P2 on combined times onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION within the famed Angel Stadium. The decorated two-time 450SX Champion from Cortez, Colorado, managed a strong start in 450SX Heat 1, charging to second position and holding firm to secure a direct transfer into the Main Event. Following an initial race restart, the 33-year-old Tomac moved to the front of the field on the opening lap of the Main Event and controlled the race from the head of the pack, eventually taking the checkered flag with a closing advantage of 1.470 seconds in clinching the season-opening win – marking the 54th of his career in the premier division. Eli Tomac: "This one feels good! Leading from the get-go like that is tough, because you need to really maintain focus the whole time, but my motorcycle was the best it was all day in the Main Event after a slight adjustment from the Heat Race. We went in the right direction, and this is the perfect way to start a new season and with my new team in Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. After a big off-season with both myself and the team testing and developing all over the place, it means a lot to achieve this early success together." Making his first appearance with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in Supercross, multi-time MXGP World Champion Prado qualified an impressive sixth while acclimatizing to the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in race conditions, before he powered to the holeshot in the first 450SX Heat Race of the year to hold off a fast-finishing Tomac for P1. Upon launching to another impressive holeshot in the Main Event, the Spaniard rode a calculated race to earn a first-career Supercross podium finish, making for a significant Red Bull KTM Factory Racing double podium result. Jorge Prado: "This is really ahead of my expectations – the goal for this weekend was to just get through each session and do the best that I can. I had a great preparation leading into this year, but I am still so new to Supercross. Getting the Heat Race win was awesome, but I am really happy with my Main Event and to be on the podium. I rode within my limits, and still don't have a lot of words to describe my feelings right now, but all I can say is that hard work always pays off! It's great to start the season this way, so now we'll keep learning and look forward to a new opportunity next week." In a welcome return to competition, Aaron Plessinger was back in action at Anaheim 1 to open the 2026 season. 'The Cowboy' led his Heat Race early on, before contact with another rider ultimately sent him to the Last Chance Qualifier. After winning the LCQ, Plessinger raced his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION forward to 10th place in the Main Event, earning solid points at Round 1. Aaron Plessinger: "Obviously, this wasn't the Anaheim 1 that I wanted. It started well, but I hit the ground with Coop [Cooper Webb] in the Heat Race, which was unfortunate, but it happens. Good to get the Round 1 jitters out, and I had a few good starts today actually, which was nice. We have a good direction, my setup is in the ballpark, and I came from dead-last in the Main Event to 10th place, which I thought was a good way to rebound. It was a decent ending to a tough start, and now we'll go back and do some homework for next weekend." Next Race: January 17 – San Diego, California Results 450SX Class – Anaheim 1. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 3. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 10. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 14. Justin Hill (KTM) 18. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 22. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 1 of 17 rounds 1. Eli Tomac, 25 points 2. Ken Roczen, 22 4. Jorge Prado, 17 10. Aaron Plessinger, 12 14. Justin Hill, 8 18. RJ Hampshire, 4 22. Malcolm Stewart, 0

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING EXTENDS THANKS TO CHASE SEXTON

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Following two seasons in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing thanks Chase Sexton for the success achieved together throughout 2024 and 2025. KTM and Sexton dominated the AMA Pro Motocross Championship in 2024, winning seven of 11 rounds en route to earning the 450MX title outdoors. Despite his title defense being cut short in 2025, this year's highlight came via a single overall victory at Washougal. Supercross saw the 26-year-old Illinois native finish third in the 450SX standings in 2024 and he improved to the runner-up position in 2025, falling short of the championship by only two points this season. In total, Sexton won nine 450SX Main Events onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, with seven of those this year – including Anaheim 1's high-profile opening round – making for the winningest season of his Supercross career. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing wishes Chase well for 2026 and beyond.