Deegan vs. Everyone
The only box Haiden Deegan hasn’t checked in the 250 class so far is a 250SX championship, which he hopes to get done this year in the western region. Of course, with Deegan being a polarizing figure, his competition wants to beat him just as badly as he wants to win the title. Levi Kitchen even called Deegan’s team to verify which region he’d be racing so he could be sure to race against him! How Deegan starts his supercross season off is anyone’s guess, but there sure will be lots of eyes watching! -Aaron Hansel
Back in Action
We haven’t seen a whole lot from Michael Mosiman lately. He was set to race AMA Pro Motocross last year, but a neck injury forced him to the sidelines shortly before the season. He raced just two supercross races in 2024, Seattle and St. Louis, and before that he only raced four 250SX races in 2023. In other words, he’s probably going to have some rust to knock off in the first few races. Then again, we’ve seen flashes of blistering speed from Mosiman in the past, seemingly out of nowhere, so it’s possible he could surprise everyone. We’ll find out this Saturday! -Hansel
- Supercross
- Pre-Season Special ShowLiveDecember 29 - 5:00 PM
- Pre-Season Special ShowLiveDecember 29 - 5:00 PM
- Pre-Season Special ShowDecember 29 - 6:00 PM
- Race Day Live (Qualifying)LiveJanuary 11 - 2:30 PM
- Race Day Live (Qualifying)LiveJanuary 11 - 2:30 PM
- Anaheim Pre-Race ShowLiveJanuary 11 - 7:30 PM
- Night ShowLiveJanuary 11 - 8:00 PM
- Night ShowLiveJanuary 11 - 8:00 PM
- Night ShowLiveJanuary 11 - 8:00 PM
- Night Show (Encore Presentation)January 12 - 2:00 PM
Second Run
Last year was Julien Beaumer’s rookie run in supercross, and he did pretty well, earning seventh overall and picking up sixth, in Anaheim, as his best result of the season. He also earned AMA 250SX rookie of the year honors along the way and was extremely impressive at the first round of SMX, where he took second overall. His fitness has improved since last year, and he’s also armed with experience and knowledge. Will it be enough for him to land on the podium this weekend? -Hansel
Reloaded
Eli Tomac made an impressive return to racing last year following his torn Achilles tendon, sustained in Denver in 2023, but he wasn’t quite back at his previous level when he lined up to race in 2024. Well, he’s had whole year to get back on pace, and he even recently won the 2024 World Supercross Championship. How will Tomac fare when the gate drops this Saturday night? -Hansel
The Australian Elephant in the Stadium
Whether you admit it or not, you’re wondering whether or not Jett Lawrence is going to win the season opener on Saturday. Everyone is, and the people who aren’t are already convinced he will. That’s because he’s the best in the world right now, and it’s been quite a long time since anyone has been able to mount a sustainable challenge against him. Will the dominance continue, or has the competition closed the gap during the offseason? -Hansel
The World Champ
Riders coming from Europe to race in America is nothing new, but this year there is a gigantic name coming to America—Jorge Prado. Fresh off his second MXGP championship, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider is set begin his first full season in America this Saturday. He raced a few 450SX races at the beginning of last year, finishing as high as seventh, but that was a mud race, as was much of the first leg of 2024. How will the world champ stack up in his first race of his first dedicated season of Monster Energy Supercross? -Hansel
Primed and Ready
Chase Sexton didn’t have the easiest go of things when he first rolled into stadiums on his Red Bull KTM in 2024. Coming off a Honda, the defending champ didn’t gel immediately with his new KTM, and it took him a while to find a setup that worked for him. He eventually got things dialed in—he won the last race of the season before going on an incredible championship run in the summer—so you’d think he’d be likely to better, earlier, in 2025. If Sexton comes in hot in Anaheim, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him win the opener. -Hansel
Big Five
For the first time ever the 450 class will see five previous champions line up on the gate this Saturday. From last year’s champion, Jett Lawrence to the 2023 champ Chase Sexton add in Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb and the 2018 champion Jason Anderson and this class is stacked. What a time to be a fan of Monster Energy AMA Supercross! – Sarah Whitmore
Surprise!
While all the attention is on the five previous SX champions in the 450 class, don’t be surprised if someone else comes away with the win this weekend. Remember Justin Barcia has won the opening round three times now. Opening round nerves and weirdo rides, you never really know who will win Anaheim 1. – Whitmore
Slow Burn
By now Jo Shimoda has a bad reputation of starting a season off slow and then by the end of the season, being blazing fast, winning races and leaving everyone thinking “what if” he could start a season off strong. Being his second year with the Honda HRC Progressive team can he turn things around and be upfront for the whole series? – Whitmore
