Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1542578
ROUND 1 / JANUARY 10, 2026 ANGEL STADIUM / ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA SUPERCROSS I MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS / SUPERMOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP P62 Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen was the top 250cc qualifier but crashed in turn one of the main event. He remounted and worked up to sixth at the finish, ahead of Max Vohland, Hunter Yoder, Avery Long and Dilan Schwartz. It wasn't the result Kitchen was hoping for. "It felt good to start the sea - son with the fastest qualifying time," Kitchen said. "The speed is there, and the bike felt great all day. The main event didn't go how we wanted off the gate, but salvaging a sixth after being that far back." CN 450SMX 1. Eli Tomac (KTM) 20 Laps 2. Ken Roczen (Suz) 1.470 3. Jorge Prado (KTM) 26.956 4. Hunter Lawrence (Hon) 28.678 5. Jason Anderson (Suz) 31.935 6. Justin Cooper (Yam) 32.484 7. Cooper Webb (Yam) 34.935 8. Chase Sexton (Kaw) 45.249 9. Dylan Ferrandis (Duc) 49.616 10. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) 57.541 250SMX West 1. Max Anstie (Yam) 15 Laps 2. Chance Hymas (Hon) 6.733 3. Ryder DiFrancesco (Hus) 9.058 4. Haiden Deegan (Yam) 9.814 5. Michael Mosiman (Yam) 16.482 6. Levi Kitchen (Kaw) 20.698 7. Max Vohland (Yam) 28.270 8. Hunter Yoder (Yam) 34.551 9. Avery Long (KTM) 42.284 10. Dilan Schwartz (Yam) 46.848 and win this thing or pull it into a third," said DiFrancesco. "I dream about this, especially at A1. I grew up coming here. I laid it all out there tonight." Haiden Deegan won his heat race but suffered a poor start in the main event. The defending champ had a good jump off the gate but got swallowed up in the first turn and rounded the first lap in 12th. From there, the Mon - ster Energy Star Racing Yamaha Team rider slowly worked his way through the pack until he was running fourth with DiFran- cesco within sight. But time ran out, and the fan favorite finished a disappointing, for him, fourth. Michael Mosiman finished fifth, making it three Star Racing Yamahas in the top five after qualifying through the LCQ. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ pionship]. I honestly thought my career was over. I dug deep, and I've got some really good people in my corner. The pieces are coming together, and I'm figuring it out. It's the first round, and we came away with a good result." DiFrancesco started the main event up front with a crucial holeshot. This put him ahead of the pack and allowed the newly signed Rockstar Husqvarna rider to lead the first half of the race. DiFrancesco looked comfortable out front, but his gap slowly dwindled as Anstie and Hymas closed in. Eventu - ally, both riders made their way around the early leader, but "Ry- der D" still held on for the final spot on the box and captured his first career podium. "I got out front and thought I was going to give it all I got Defending champ and heat-race winner Haiden Deegan just missed the 250SX podium after getting a bad start. He was also celebrating his 20th birthday on Saturday. PHOTO: KIT PALMER