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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

MIXED FORTUNES FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING IN NASHVILLE SUPERCROSS

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing endured a mixed day out at Round 13 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Nashville, where Eli Tomac qualified quickest and won his Heat race before a difficult 450SX Main Event saw him finish outside of the top 10 and directly ahead of teammate Jorge Prado. Two-time 450SX Champion Tomac entered this weekend jointly holding the series leader's red plate, with the Colorado native qualifying fastest in both 450SX sessions onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION with an eventual benchmark of a 51.407s lap-time. That momentum continued in the afternoon's racing program within Nissan Stadium for Tomac, who started the second 450SX Heat Race in third position, before making a move on Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Prado during the later stages to claim the victory. A slow start to the Main Event proved costly for the number 3, who steadily climbed through the field to enter the top 10 in dry, technical track conditions, only to be impacted by a late-race crash on his way to finishing 12th. He now sits third in the 450SX standings with four rounds remaining, 15 points from the points lead. Eli Tomac: “What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result! I was comfortable with my setup all day, so I’m just frustrated not only with the bad gate selection – I should have avoided the inside on the start – but also the crash. That bad start really put me in a tough spot from the get-go and I had my work cut out for me trying to make passes on such a slick, tight track. I lost a bunch of points today, but all I can do at this point is ride my best at the remaining rounds and let the chips fall where they may." Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Spanish standout Prado recorded the fifth-fastest combined qualifying time – highlighted by P3 in the opening session – before powering to the holeshot and a third-place finish in 450SX Heat 2. The 25-year-old ran up front during the early stages of the Main Event, crossing the line in third on Lap 1, and was contending for a podium position through the first half of the race. An incident around the midway point unfortunately dropped him outside the top 10, as Prado would go on to claim 13th position. Jorge Prado: “It was a frustrating Main Event in Nashville. I felt good all day, and I’m just upset with myself that I wasn’t able to execute the plan I had in my head for the race. I knew I had to push hard – push it to the limit every lap – if I wanted to be on the podium. I feel I had what it took to be on the podium tonight, so I’m disappointed. My bike was good all day and good enough to be up there, so it’s frustrating to know that one mistake cost me what could have been a great night. But the positive is I’m here to learn this year, and learning every week is what I’m doing. I will regroup, keep putting in the work this week, and be even better next weekend." Next Race: April 18 – Cleveland, Ohio Results 450SX Class – Nashville 1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 5. Justin Hill (KTM) 12. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 13. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 17. Kevin Moranz (KTM) 18. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 13 of 17 rounds 1. Hunter Lawrence, 270 points 2. Ken Roczen, 260 3. Eli Tomac, 255 8. Malcolm Stewart, 145 9. Jorge Prado, 140 15. Aaron Plessinger, 99 21. RJ Hampshire, 38