2024 Anaheim One Supercross | Kickstart Recap

"What frame are you on?" was a common question to the KTM-Husqvarna-GASGAS riders throughout the weekend. From what we could see, Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger opted for the orange Factory Edition…

While Christian Craig and Malcolm Stewart stayed with the standard white bike…

And Justin Barcia and Jorge Prado were split between the new (Prado) and the old (Barcia) red models. This will be a topic of discussion in the weeks to come.

Eighteen riders from nine different countries (France, Australia, Canada, Spain, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, New Zealand, and Japan) were on the entry list at Anaheim One, and half of them qualified for the Main Events (four in the 250 division, five in the 450 division).

Jett Lawrence spent some of his offseason at the tattoo parlor and added more to the ink on his right hand and arm to go with the three sparrows that signify he and his brothers Jett and Tate.

Eli Tomac was the center of attention during the press conference, and rightly so. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider's return to action after the Achilles' injury has added another layer to his legacy, and many are expecting the two-time SX champion to pick up a handful of race wins on his way to a third title. "When I made the switch to Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha, I was on a yearly timeline for each season, and that's how I've been playing the game," he said while on stage. "As you get older, you enjoy those moments more, and you fall more in love with it. But you are on a finite timeline, and you just don't know it yet."

How many 450 AMA Championships do you see on this stage? We counted 13.

The SCOTT Fury seems to be gaining popularity, as Max Vohland, Julien Beaumer, and Jorge Prado all opted for the scaled-down, outrigger-free frame that's lined with a three-layer foam and fitted with the same 1mm lens, tear-offs, and Lens Lock retention system as the Prospect. The Fury retails for around $70, about 35 bucks less than the high-end Prospect.

Unfortunately, there were some injuries at A1. Lux Turner was having quite the day at his first pro SX race, as the AEO Powersports KTM rider made it to the Main Event through the LCQ and was running in sixteenth place until a crash in the last half of the feature put him on the ground and caused in fractures in his hip and pelvis. The Alpinestars Mobile Medical team carefully got him off the track and protected the downed rookie as riders raced down the first base rhythm lane.

Dylan Walsh's day was cut short just two laps into the first Timed Qualifying Session. The incident left the Host/Grindstone/Kawasaki rider with damage to his small intestine that required immediate surgery and an ongoing stay at the hospital in Orange. This was to be Walsh's first go at the entire 250 West Coast Region, and despite the massive setback, he intends to return for the closing rounds later in the season.

On Friday morning, Dean Wilson inked a deal to wear the Factory Ride Optics goggles during his final season of US SX. The specs, which are a new division of FXR and produced by EKS Brand, feature a pre-curved, injection-molded polycarbonate lens that's impact-resistant, treated to prevent fogging, and secured in the outrigger frame through the "WAVELATCH" quick-change system. A complete line of accessories, including 45mm roll-off film, laminated tear-offs from Racing Optics, and various tints, is available through FXRRacing.com, dealerships, and online retailers.

We had a quick catch-up with Alex from Dirt Wurx on Friday afternoon, and he filled us in on a few details about the A1 build. The material had been on the floor since November, thanks to a special Monster Jam event (a Feld production), and the time inside mixed with some rain on Wednesday improved the dirt's overall condition. The layout was supposed to be for Anaheim Two, but Feld decided to swap the designs created for Angel Stadium. We'll get an interview with the guys sometime this year to discuss what comes with their role in the series.

We are very, very interested to see how these two handle each other in the months and years ahead because Cooper Webb has rattled almost everyone on the starting line at some point, while Jett Lawrence has a unique way of batting down competitor's attempts to get in his head. The two have a history, as Webb rode with the Lawrences during his brief break from the Baker's Factory in 2022, and that could add another element to the situation.

After years of working every job imaginable in the paddock, from laying cable for the TV crew to rider support with multiple brands, John Kuzo has joined Star Racing and will be the Assistant Team Manager of the 250 program. Congrats, Coach K.

Chris Howell, racer and small business owner. After years of traveling in a Sprinter, the privateer and his wife started Smell Good Athlete, a line of laundry bags and odor absorbers that contain and de-funk the sweat-soaked pieces in your gear bag. smellgoodathlete.com

Here's a tip from seasoned pro Kyle Chisholm: add a stretching routine to your daily life and warm up before you get on the motorcycle. The 36-year-old has had his share of hits and injuries over the years but isn't one to complain about getting old and is still making Main Events.

Progressive, America's largest insurance provider in the automotive categories, expanded its presence in Supercross with continued title sponsorship of both divisions of HEP Motorsports (Progressive Insurance/ECSTAR/Suzuki and Twisted Tea/Suzuki/Presented by Progressive Insurance) and new support for Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha's 450 program.

Wear and tear. Eli did this in about 40 minutes of riding, two 10-minute press sessions on Friday afternoon, and another pair of 10-minute practices on Saturday morning.

If you make it to the pits at a round of Supercross this year, be sure to swing by the Beta pit and get a close-up look at the all-new 450 RX, including the race bikes in the work area and the display bike that fans can touch and sit on. The Italian-made motorcycle looks striking and very different from the other OEMs.

Let's get tropical. Cooper Webb debuted this blue setup last year at Daytona, and the public response prompted the San Diego County brand to put it into production for the 2024 Spring collection. This kit and the black/blue/yellow setup worn by Star Racing will be available through Parts Unlimited dealers starting on January 22nd.

We got on the phone with Logan Karnow for a Midweek Podcast ahead of A1, and he outlined the relationship he forged with OnlyFans over the past two years. Despite some erroneous reports posted online, the content platform can sponsor riders and teams in Supercross, but creators with explicit content outlined by the AMA are not.

Is that a headlight? John Short got the call from Liqui Moly Beta Factory Racing to fill in for Colt Nichols through the opening rounds of the Supercross season the week before A1, and poor weather in Paso Robles kept him from getting much SX track time on the 450 RX leading up to the race.

Props to AJE Motorsports rider Josh Varize for shaking off what must be the scariest sort of mechanical failure (the front-end of his bike broke during Friday morning's local press session) and finishing 15th in the 250 Main Event about 30 hours later.

Yes, that was Ryder DiFrancesco's first pro SX. The prodigy debuted with Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing and showed speed all day with an eleventh-place rank in Timed Qualifying and a ninth-place finish in the 250 Main Event. "I don't think anyone thought it was my first one because I'm so mature, or that's what people are saying," he said at the end of the night. "Making it out of the Heat Race was a big stress off my shoulders because people think we should all be in the Main Event and that everything is easy. But tonight was a big learning curve with the new bike, my first time being at A1, my first Main Event, and everything. It was a lot to take in, and maybe it showed, but everyone in front of me has been doing it for a long time. I think me and JuJu are the youngest ones in the class."

Talon Hawkins had a rough go in Session One of Timed Qualifying, but props to the second-year pro and AEO Powersports KTM rider for staying on the track and doing laps on an Evel Knievel-looking 250 SX-F.

James Stewart brought his boys to the opening round, an eventful cross-country flight that he recapped at the end of his Bubba's World review show. Anyone else's parents dressed them and their siblings in matching outfits?

Kidney belt? Yeah, Stank Dog really is a dad.

Anthony Rodriguez has joined the Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/Rides Unlimited team for 2024 and will take on the 450 Class. It was good to see the Venezuelan in action because the last time we saw him at a race (the opening round of Kicker Arenacross), he was walking off the track with a shoulder that looked out of place.

A9 autofocus.

You know you're good when even James Stewart is impressed by the big jump combo you find and launch.

Fox Racing will celebrate its 50th anniversary with special gear drops through 2024, a run that started with a special sets of green gear and the iconic logo's modern update. The second release will happen in San Francisco, a throwback to the company's start as a mail-order brand in NorCal. Stay tuned.

Big green. The Kawasaki KX450F is all-new in 2024, and Jason Anderson is very happy with the setup of the factory bike. The low-slung Pro Circuit header and carbon-capped muffler, bold bodywork, fresh Dunlop rubber, and the shine of the metal looked great in the SoCal sun.

Hot knife. We spotted a few times hitting the knobs on their Dunlop tires with groovers through the weekend, a tactic that alters the rubber's grip and flex.

Ever see the episode of King of the Hill when Hank uses a small can of WD-40 to get the cap off a bigger can of WD-40?

Cooper Webb took one thing from his time on a KTM with him to the Yamaha: a hydraulic clutch. Webb said the unit, available through the GYTR catalog, was a big help in his reacclimating to the blue bike and that it improved his starts tremendously compared to the SMX rounds and Paris SX.

When the CEO of Ford showed up at last year's Detroit race in KTM merch, we figured something was in the works between the car company and motorcycle maker. On Thursday, the two groups announced Ford's sponsorship of the KTM JR SX Challenge with the F-150 Lightning, an electric-powered pick-up truck that can charge the SX-E 5 minibike.

Fox Racing started putting riders in the V3-RS at the early rounds of SX last year, and the helmet is now available for purchase by the public. What stands out about the lid? The integration of the MIPS Integra Split impact protection system, a design that separated the yellow liner into different pieces and the addition of "woofer" bumpers to the low friction layer, a 4K carbon shell, MDEPS™ EPS liner, and emergency removal cheek pads that are made with moisture wicking and cooling materials.

That's a bit of a price difference compared to Saturday…

We stood Eli Tomac during opening ceremonies at Denver last year, and their reaction when the home state hero emerged was unbelievable, a chill-inducing roar that we'll remember and talk about for years to come. Knowing this, we posted up in his tunnel at Angels Stadium and watched the two-time champion roll out to a response that was just slightly off that.

Carson Mumford got zapped by a bout of pneumonia in the final weeks of the offseason, an issue the MotoConcepts rider struggled with on his way to tenth place in the 250 Main Event. "I led a few laps and felt awesome, the speed I had before I got sick, but after three laps, I was gasping for air. Once I knew I was fourth and would make it to the Main Event, I backed it down to save some energy. Unfortunately, I had nothing for the Main. A decent start put me in eighth place, but when I looked up and saw 10 minutes left, I was dying."

The AMA celebrates 100 years of representing riders' rights to enjoy motorcycles in America.

Billy Laninovich's return to racing at 40 is commendable, and we're excited to see the former 250 Main Event winner go against a generation of riders that weren't born or in diapers when he got the checkered flag at San Francisco in 2005. Lano's last gate drops before this happened at the 2012 Budds Creek MX and the 2012 Las Vegas SX.

Just another Jordon Smith-RJ Hampshire duel. The 250 Class veterans have come through the pro ranks together, literally, starting with their time at GEICO Honda, and we asked them what it's like to still be going against a guy you've done countless laps with, from scrimmages led by Mike LaRocco to Main Events at A1. "You know what you're gonna get with him," said Smith of Hampshire. "He's gonna be fast every night. He's gonna do the big lines. He's gonna get good starts. He's gonna put himself in good positions." Hampshire had equal praise for Smith, saying, "We have the same respect for each other, and then it shows up on the racetrack when you're gonna get your best for both of us. I told him before the start today, and I was like, 'Man, I hate racing, you.' We're both gonna try to kill ourselves just to try to win like it doesn't matter."

Technique check.

At least one rider considered a contender for Main Event wins when down in their Heat Race at A1, including Levi Kitchen, and the hustle that everyone put in to get back to a transfer position was impressive, to say the least. "You can't win the championship at the opening round, but you sure can lose it."

The first Heat Race win of your career deserves a whip, especially if the finish line is a booter. Congrats, Maximus.

Wheel-to-wheel. Ken Roczen's reaction to the gate drop was clutch because it helped the Progressive Insurance/ECSTAR/Suzuki rider stay clear of the first turn carnage that collected so many of his competitors.

You've got to respect Hunter Lawrence for getting up after a vicious tumble at the start of 450 Heat Race One. The positions he gained came from other riders pulling off, but the laps on the track had to have helped the Team Honda HRC rider shake off the crash, mentally and physically.

It's a bummer to see Logan Karnow's season end at the first turn, but we're sure the privateer's OnlyFans account will be popping with boat days and trips to the bar during the recovery. Buy some merch. onlyfans.com/logankarnow

Whip and win for Ken Roczen. The 94 has seen the checkered flag first at A1 more than any other active rider on the line and has four trophies on the shelf to show for it (2014, 2015, 2017, 2022). The Progressive Insurance/ECSTAR/Suzuki rider has one more chance to break his three-way tie for fifth in all-time victories at Angel Stadium with RD and RV.

Props to TJ Albright for picking up the win in the 250 LCQ, a milestone moment for the rider. We first met the New York native at MTF in 2022, and after years on the privateer grind, we are stoked to see him take on the 250 West Coast Region with the Rock River Yamaha team.

Josh Hill said that after racing everywhere in 2023, he'd back it down in the new year. That didn't last long, though, because Big Hill was on the line in the 450 Class at A1 aboard a YZ450F that still had the safety stickers on the rear fender.

How tense was the battle for the last transfer out of the 450 LCQ? Third-place finisher Freddie Noren kept an eye on it as he crested the lip of the big double…

And how could you blame him? Hunter Lawrence's charge put him on Cade Clason at the last lap, but he didn't make the much-needed pass and finished 0.230 seconds behind the PRMX Kawasaki rider. Watch this week's SML Show to hear what Cade had to say about making the Main Event.

What up, Wiggins? The former Kawasaki factory mechanic got the call from longtime friend JBone and will be one of the AMA's on-track officials at a handful of West Coast rounds.

The start got the best of Mitchell Oldenburg, who admitted he got antsy with gate drop's long count, but his mistake helped Garrett Marchbanks get a wheel on the 250 Class.

Nate Thrasher is sore but okay after a brutal slam at the halfway point of the 250 Main Event. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider DNF'd and was credited with a 21st-place finish, earning him one point through the AMA's revised point structure.

RJ Hampshire, Anaheim One winner. This was the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider's second career victory, and the timing puts him in control of a championship that he's favored for and would very much like to win.

Uh-oh.

Ken Roczen and Malcolm Stewart got tangled up in the first rhythm lane of the 450 Main Event, a scary situation that put Roczen very close to Stewart's rear wheel, but both guys got up from the crash, clicked off the laps, and got back to tenth and eleventh after a trip to mechanic's area (Roczen) and two more get-offs (Stewart).

Watching this play out through our camera's viewfinder was something. Jorge Prado had a gap on Tomac when they entered the second set of whoops, but his hop line was no match for Tomac's hard skim, and the reigning world champ glanced down and watched the pass happen. We'll have to ask Jorge what it sounded like when the YZ450F was behind him.

Eli Tomac's record at Anaheim One is a mix of results, and this year's opening round ended with a ninth-place finish. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider explained in the preseason that getting through January and being in the mix for the title is his goal for the first month, and his quote in the Yamaha PR was to the point, stating, "It was great to be back on the gate, but I underperformed, to say the least. We will be back stronger next week."

Aaron Plessinger was very, very quick at Anaheim One, as the Red Bull KTM rider diced it up in 450 Heat Race One and finished fourth in the 450 Main Event. "Practice went like it always does, and I ended up twelfth," he said with a laugh in HWYW. "But I came out in the Heat Race, got a pretty bad start, and battled through the pack to get second. It's always funny when I do that because the team will be like, 'Dude, where was that? Why can't you do that in practice?' And I'm like, "I have no idea why I can't do that in practice! It just doesn't happen.'" Man's a great interview.

How many battles will these two have in 2024? Their Main Event was a thriller until Cooper's endo, as the cagey champions did their best to outmaneuver the other with tight lines in turns and clean jumps through the rhythms.

That's one. Much has been made about Jett Lawrence's move to the 450 Class, including a preseason comment about going for Jeremy McGrath's 72 Main Event Win record, but his explanation of it in the post-race press conference added much more context to it all. "In all seriousness about that, it's just… it probably might not get done. It's a lot of race wins, but I just, coming in, you've got to set such a high goal for yourself that's going to make you go a little crazy for it and make sure you work hard. So it's not meant like, I'm going to do it, it's more of just like I want to have myself a goal because if I didn't have a goal, then I'd just be happy to be here and just race around and finish whatever position I get."

Back on the box. Jason Anderson was the only rider other than Lawrence with a 1:03 average lap in the 450 Main Event, and a look at the individual time chart shows speed and consistency from Lap One to 15. The pace changed drastically at Lap 16, though, when it spiked to 1:05, which added another 1.532 seconds to Lawrence's lead.

Chase Sexton and Red Bull KTM crammed some much-needed work into the final weeks of the preseason, a push that the defending champion said made all the difference at A1. "We had our struggles, but the last week or so, we've been moving in the right direction, and tonight, I feel like we're going in the right direction," he said in the press conference. "I knew coming in that I was going to be maybe a little bit not where I want to be. I went out there and tried to salvage everything I could and try to get better. I think the last practice today, I started to get into a flow." The rider and team ended the night walking through the whoops and talking about the SX-F.

Not the worst ever, but definitely technical and challenging.

Bruce Stjernstrom and Dan Fahie's night included their own track inspection, including looks at this five-rut bowl turn at home plate.

It's great to be back at the races and really great to be in the car by 9:30PM. Thanks for reading, onto Oakla… San Francisco.