The opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship is finally here and qualifying did not disappoint. From rivals in the 250 class trading spots to a back and forth 450 battle, the fight for pole position was intense.
450 Class Notes
The opening 450 qualifying sessions of the year featured a bit of cat and mouse from three of the top championship contenders. Early in Q1, it was Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen who took the lead. Roczen eventually lost a bit of ground but held station in third as a new battle broke out. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton began trading the fastest lap. It was Tomac who won the duel at first, clocking in a 1:05.049 compared to Sexton’s 1:05.083.
In his first AMA Supercross qualifying session with KTM, Eli Tomac landed on top. (Photo: Ayala Media / Keyona Keeven)
The second session flipped the momentum in Sexton’s favor. Both Sexton and Tomac returned to the top spots, but the 2023 champion sent the first shot by dipping into the 1:04 range. After running a 1:04.9, Sexton dropped his time by half a second to a 1:04.4. After failing to have a 450 fastest qualifier a year ago, Kawasaki began the year on top. Sexton’s first race on a green machine kicked off with a pole, as Tomac claimed second. A few veterans struggled, with Aaron Plessinger and Justin Barcia mired back in 16th and 20th overall respectively.
450 Qualifying Top Ten
New bike, no problem for Chase Sexton. He was the first fastest qualifier of the 450SX season. (Photo: Ayala Media / Keyona Keeven)
250 Class
After some words on social media and in yesterday’s press conference, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen battled for the fastest time in the 250 West division. Deegan kicked things off by going fastest, with a time in the 1:06 range. Kitchen responded and went quickest a few laps later, topping the first session with a 1:06.217. The two were 1-2 once again in the final session, but both men were unable to top their previous Q1 marks.
Unfortunately, a pair of racers went down hard in their respective second qualifying sessions. Partzilla Blaster Power PRMX Kawasaki’s Jack Chambers and privateer Yamaha racer Wyatt Mattson were both carted off, but awake and alert.
Levi Kitchen made a statement in qualifying, beginning the year as the fastest 250 West rider. (Photo: Ayala Media / Keyona Keeven)
250 West Top Ten
Ryder DiFrancesco-1:07.148
The #1 begins the year P2 on the leaderboard. (Photo: Ayala Media / Keyona Keeven)
This story was originally published by Motocross on Jan 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the NEWS section. Add Motocross as a Preferred Source by clicking here.