Slaw
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Silly season is one of my favorite times of the calendar and the 2025 off-season brought in a host of changes. From Eli Tomac and Jorge Prado moving to Red Bull KTM to Chase Sexton leaving KTM for Monster Energy Kawasaki to Troy Lee Designs ushering in a new era with Justin Barcia and Dylan Ferrandis at Ducati, there were a LOT of moving parts. So for this week’s GUTS Power Rankings I will be ranking who had the best debut on a new team at the season opener in Anaheim.
Don’t worry, I will revisit this in a few weeks. Enjoy and as always, send all hate mail to Weege.
1 Jorge Prado
Yes, I’m aware Eli Tomac won the race and is on a new team, but how could Prado NOT be no 1 here? He was run through the mud after a disastrous first year with Kawasaki and even his move to the familiar KTM platform didn’t inspire much confidence entering Anaheim 1. I don’t think many outside the Prado family saw this coming. He proved an entire industry wrong with his performance on Saturday.
2 Eli Tomac
At 33 years old, Eli Tomac continues to prove Father Time is for mere mortals. Not Sir Eli Tomac. In his first race with KTM, Tomac, who notoriously struggles at Anaheim, won the opener and entered his name squarely into the title fight. He also joined Chad Reed as the only riders to win on four different brands in the process.
3 Hunter Yoder
Lost in the shuffle of the more high-profile moves was Hunter Yoder’s debut with ClubMX Yamaha. Not only did he secure a top 10 finish with an 8th, he did it riding with a partially torn ACL!!!!! Yoder suffered the injury on Tuesday and still showed up and rode to a fantastic finish. Big things could be on the horizon for the former amateur standout.
4 Ryder D
Are we considering this a “new team’? Ryder D moved over to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna after spending 2025 with GasGas, which is also owned by the PIERER Mobility AG. Some won’t, but I am, because he deserves his accolades. First career 250SX podium for a rider that came in with so much promise and has dealt with so many injuries.
5 Jason Anderson
Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t feel like this is getting the attention it should. Suzuki continues to shut people up about their bike and delivered not 1, but 2 top five finishes at the opener as JA returns to the brand that he spent much of his amateur career with.
6 Dylan Ferrandis
I wrote before the season that success for Ducati in year one would be top 10 finishes. While I had this coming much later in the season, Ferrandis showed up to the first race and snagged one in the teams debut.
7 Chase Sexton
Not good, but I have zero concern long-term.
8 Christian Craig
Sneaky good finish for the veteran in his U.S. debut with Quad Lock Honda.
9 Carson Mumford
Mumfy moved to AEO KTM this off-season and this team continues to produce good results. A solid debut for Mumford on his new team.
10 Justin Barcia
I’m just glad he’s okay. Scary situation at the opener.
Images: KTM
