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

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

KTM NEWS

More Coenen perfection as MXGP speeds back to South Africa

Visualizza profilo
Lucas Coenen won for the fifth time on his KTM 450 SX-F in the 2026 MXGP FIM Motocross World Championship at Terra Topia and a long overdue return for the series to South African soil. Red Bull KTM also celebrated more trophies in MX2 (their tenth podium appearance in eleven rounds) thanks to Simon Laengenfelder’s 2nd position.

PODIUM FORM CONTINUES FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING'S JULIEN BEAUMER AT HIGH POINT

Visualizza profilo
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Julien Beaumer finished second overall in Round 4 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship courtesy of a 2-2 moto scorecard in 250MX, on a weekend at the High Point National where 450MX teammates Jorge Prado and Aaron Plessinger also featured inside the top-five. Beaumer qualified fourth fastest in the 250MX division aboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in the morning sessions, before launching to a top-three start in Moto 1 and taking over the lead 10 minutes into the race. After building an advantage of more than seven seconds, a small tip-over saw him surrender the lead, ultimately finishing a hard-fought P2 at the checkered flag. Another strong start in Moto 2 saw Beaumer once again convert his track position into a second-place finish, with a 2-2 scorecard earning him second overall for the round and a second-career 250MX podium. The impressive 20-year-old has climbed to third in the 250MX championship standings after four rounds, just two points from the lead as riders now have one week off before the series recommences at RedBud on July 4. Julien Beaumer: "This is special. I remember last year when they said I wasn’t an outdoor guy, but we’re getting there, and I think I’m in a position to start fighting for some wins. We’re in this thing and we’ll go into the off weekend with some confidence, keep building, and come out swinging at RedBud.” Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado qualified third fastest in 450MX with a 2:00.649 lap-time at High Point, carrying that form into Moto 1 where he raced to a convincing third-place finish. The four-time world champion started towards the front in Moto 2, running inside the top-five throughout the race, which included an intense late-race battle with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Plessinger. He eventually recorded 3-5 scores for the weekend, placing fourth overall and rising to P4 in the standings. Jorge Prado: "Round 4 at High Point was an okay day for me. Both qualifying and Moto 1 were very good, and then in the second moto I finished P5 for fourth overall. We can take some positives from today, even if we still have some work to do – we’ll get to it in the break and come out swinging at RedBud.” Plessinger was the seventh-fastest 450MX qualifier this weekend and was battling for a top-five in Moto 1, delivering a well-earned sixth position. ‘The Cowboy’ then posted an impressive outing in Moto 2, charging through the field to a P4 result and securing fifth overall on the day. As a result, Plessinger has advanced to seventh in the championship following Round 4. Aaron Plessinger: “This is a win for me – I haven’t ridden that good in almost a year! So, it feels good to get that monkey off my back and get up here and show the boys what I can do. I’ve got to give it up to the whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, because they’ve been behind me, pushing me, and believing in me, and I’ve got to give a shoutout to everyone on the team. My bike was working great today and this is a huge win – I’m happy to be up there and thanks to all who support me.” Next Race: July 4 – RedBud, Michigan Results 450MX Class – High Point National 1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 2. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 3. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 4. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 5. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 8. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 4 of 11 rounds 1. Jett Lawrence, 182 points 2. Hunter Lawrence, 180 3. Haiden Deegan, 144 4. Jorge Prado, 122 5. RJ Hampshire, 121 7. Aaron Plessinger, 102 16. Lucas Coenen, 44 22. Dante Oliveira, 25 28. Malcolm Stewart, 10 Results 250MX Class – High Point National 1. Cole Davies (Yamaha) 2. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 3. Jo Shimoda (Honda) 6. Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) 7. Casey Cochran (Husqvarna) Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 4 of 11 rounds 1. Levi Kitchen, 150 points 2. Jo Shimoda, 149 3. Julien Beaumer, 148 6. Ryder DiFrancesco, 111 15. Casey Cochran, 54 19. Sacha Coenen, 33 23. Daxton Bennick, 24