Brandon Clarke
By Brandon Clarke. Photos by Octopi Media
Going into Anaheim 1, the rumor mill was spinning faster than Tomac’s KTM wheel in the whoops. Exiting A1, the chatter hasn’t slowed one bit. Honestly, we probably won’t have a grip on the full storylines until we’re three or four rounds deep, but that’s half the fun, right? Beyond the usual defending champs and big names like Deegan and Webb, there were a bunch of subtle storylines that had me frothing by the checkered flag.
250 West Division
The 250 privateer scene came out swinging. Club MX’s Hunter Yoder led most of his heat, even after Monster Energy Star Yamaha’s Max Anstie snatched the hole shot. Yoder tied his best career finish with an impressive P8 in the main, just behind teammate Maximus Vohland in P7. These guys are quietly building momentum, and if you blink, you might miss them blowing up the season.
AEO KTM’s Avery Long upgraded his personal best from P12 last year to P9 at A1, while Bar X Yamaha’s Dilan Schwartz slid just one spot back from his career-best to round out the top 10. Consistency is king, but these guys are starting to make some serious noise.
On the factory side, Anstie wasn’t on my radar to win, but the old-school statesman reminded everyone that experience still beats raw hype. And then there’s Rider DiFranciso’s mustache, which might bring magical powers, because he pulled his career-best Supercross result. If this is a trend, expect some Mustache Wax sponsorships to hit his inbox any day now.
Levi Kitchen had a rough start but somehow made 14 passes to salvage his night. Numbers alone don’t do it justice, his speed, composure, and precision from the back really scream title contender. Watching him slice through the pack was like watching a chef dice onions, exact, relentless, and oddly satisfying.
450 Class
Eli Tomac looked buttery smooth all day. The pass on Justin Barcia in the heat? Pure finesse through the sand section. Call me crazy, but it reminded me of a younger rider with a serious doughnut addiction. Rumor has it that veteran riders try to avoid the bumps, and maybe the KTM’s power helps him do just that. Either way, it was art in motion.
Christian Craig finished P11, just outside the top 10, but he looked dialed on his Quad Lock Honda. He hasn’t cracked the 450 top 10 since 2023 on the Factory Husky, but he looked confident and comfortable enough to make the old Geico Honda nostalgia hit hard. I anticipate him improving quite a bit as the season continues.
Speaking of 450 privateers: only 6 in total made it to the main. Quad Lock Honda had Craig, Joey Savatgy, and Shane McElrath; Team Tedder Racing’s Justin Hill; ISRT Kawasaki’s Vince Friese; and Partzilla Blaster PRMX Racing’s Mitchell Harrison. With the addition of Triumph and Ducati joining the mix, the privateer landscape appears to be shifting, yet these guys are proving they still belong.
All told, Anaheim 1 was a wild night of racing. The 2026 season is officially off the hook, and I don’t know about you, but I’m already counting the minutes until round 2.
