More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Ken Roczen Delivers Dominating Victory at Round Five of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Glendale, Arizona provided warm weather for Round 5 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, which also served as Round 5 for the SMX World Championship. The Supercross track inside State Farm Stadium challenged the riders and thrilled the fans with high speeds, tall obstacles, and a technical sand section.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen earned his first victory of the season and advanced into second place in the championship standings.
- 450 Class
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Jason Anderson blitzed through the pack to recover maximum points after a first-turn incident.
- Colt Nichols used newfound speed to gain positions throughout the Glendale main event.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) came into Round 5 with three Glendale wins already under his belt. Roczen slotted his Suzuki RM-Z450 into the starting gate with his sights set on his first main event victory of 2026. Roczen got a good jump off the gate and a strong drive down the start straight. Another rider pushed Roczen wide, and he crossed the holeshot stripe in third position. Roczen was quickly into second, then used an aggressive inside line in the sand section to take over the lead entering the fourth lap. From there, Roczen balanced aggression and finesse; he steadily pulled a five second gap as the track deteriorated and the lapped riders thickened. Roczen crossed the checkers and earned his fourth Supercross win in Glendale, his third on a Suzuki RM-Z450. The victory moved Roczen into second position in the point standings, just five points away from running the red plate. Roczen has now won a Supercross main event every year since joining the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki team in 2023.
“Glendale, Arizona, you have been a hell of a [good] time,” Roczen said back at the rig. “We always want to get better. Our riding has been so good over these last few weeks, but we were lacking in the starts. So, we did a bunch of testing this week for the first time in a long time. I’m glad that we did, because it shows that we want to get better, and starts nowadays are so important. Tonight we got a good start in the main event and we just had overall such good momentum. My motorcycle worked great, and we were able to take it all the way to the checkered flag. [It was] a phenomenal first place for me as part of my family, Griff, my oldest, and my wife were here. So, to do it again in Arizona, this is my fourth win [here], I kind of have to let it sink in a little bit on the flight home and enjoy this one.”
Roczen dedicated the win to his Team Manager, Larry Brooks, who recently announced a battle with Stage 2 colon cancer that is being met with determination and optimism. On the podium, Roczen told the stadium crowd and viewers at home, “I want to dedicate this race win specifically to Larry. He hasn’t been able to be with us here the last few races, which really hurts all of our hearts. He loves this more than anybody; this one goes out to him. We’re talking every single day, morning ‘till night, and even though he couldn’t be here, I dedicate this win to him. Larry, I love you. Congrats as well.”
Jason Anderson (21) grabbed his fourth heat race podium in four heat race starts (Round 4’s Triple Crown format forgoes heat races). Anderson showed incredible speed through the whoops section and recorded the fastest time for that track sector in his heat. In the main event, Anderson ran into trouble early and found himself in 21st place when the racers commenced lap one. Anderson kept his speed advantage in the whoops section, again setting the fastest sector time, and gained ten positions over the 20-minute plus one lap race.
“This weekend was not the best, but my riding was a lot better in the main event, so that was nice,” Anderson reported. “In the heat race I started in [fifth], got up to third, and ended up third. And then in the main event I [got squeezed on the corner exit and] stalled it in the first corner and then worked my way back up to 11th. I think my riding was quite a bit better than where I finished, but we’ll get there.”
Colt Nichols (45) was able to once again get up to race speed early in the day; he matched his season-best qualifying position in the first session. He kept the ball rolling into the night’s racing and matched his season-best heat race result for a direct transfer into the main event. When racers entered the first corner of the main, Nichols was entangled up in a multi-rider crash. Nichols quickly remounted and set out after the pack; he clawed his way forward and matched his overall result from the previous three rounds.
“I crashed in the first turn with [two other riders who collided],” said Nichols. “I tried to do everything I could to come back, but the field was pretty spread out, not like in a big group, and I just couldn’t really do anything with it. So, P-16 for the night. I’m frustrated, I want to get out of the gate better and try to put myself in a better position. I’m sick of being back there. [My position is] just the result of being back in the back of the pack, being stuck, and running into guys and crashing. We just need to be better out of the gate, straight up. But my riding’s a lot better. I’m improving every weekend through practice and the heats. I’ve just got to be better in the main.”
“It was a really, really great night for the team. Ken with the win; it’s a really big win at a really big point in the season,” reported Dustin Pipes, Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team. “We closed the points gap, we’re down five points now, and more importantly he really rode great. It was a complete win, and it was very good to see. Obviously with the news of Larry being out for an extended period of time, Ken has been wanting to get a win for him. It’s good that he got this weight off his shoulders and he was able to get this win for Larry, because he’s someone that’s on our minds and in our prayers. Jason and Colt also rode extremely well. The results didn’t show it, but first-turn wrecks had both guys [in 20th and 21st]. Jason’s times were comparable to the top five, and I think if we wouldn’t have fallen that’s where he would have finished; Colt would’ve been right around the top ten. What’s great about Ken’s win is that it’s putting us on a good trajectory for the rest of the season.”
The Supercross season moves north and west to Lumen Field, the home stadium of the Superbowl-winning Seattle Seahawks, where Round 6 takes place on Saturday, February 14th. The Suzuki riders and team members have proven they have the equipment and the talent to win, and they are looking ahead to more outstanding performances in the 2026 season.
For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Hunter Lawrence takes over title-fight lead at Glendale Supercross.
・Fourth consecutive second-place result for the Australian
・Lawrence earns career-first 450SX red plate to Seattle
In front of a record-breaking crowd in Glendale, Arizona, for round 5 of AMA Supercross, the premier-class main event delivered high drama in the championship fight. Hunter Lawrence powered to a strong second-place finish-his fourth runner-up result in a row-and, for the first time in his 450SX career, took possession of the red plate that goes to the championship leader.
The 450SX main event saw the Honda HRC Progressive rider launch from the gate in third, but he wasted no time charging forward, taking over the lead on the opening lap. Lawrence set the pace for several laps before being overtaken by Ken Roczen, at which point he settled into a consistent rhythm and maintained a comfortable gap over third place. A signature late-race surge wasn’t enough for the Australian to reach Roczen, and Lawrence crossed the checkered flag in second place.
With championship rival Eli Tomac involved in a first-lap incident and finishing 12th, Lawrence now leads the 450SX championship standings by five points over Roczen, marking an important milestone in his career and strengthening his position in the championship fight.
NOTES
・Scottsdale dealership Western Honda Powersports activated a pop-up booth in Honda HRC Progressive’s pits, featuring a CRF450RWE motocrosser and a CRF-E2 electric minibike. Dealership staff used the opportunity to connect directly with fans and customers.
・Fans in Glendale enjoyed meeting Hunter Lawrence during a private autograph session while his teammates continue to recover from injuries.
・Peacock’s broadcast coverage of the race included a profile on Honda HRC Progressive Team Manager Lars Lindstrom, who started with the team as a shop assistant and worked his way up. Lars’ father Gunnar also worked as the squad’s team manager in 1979 and ’80. Lars was also interviewed in the booth during Race Day Live.
・Also interviewed for the broadcast was SLR Honda rider Mikayla Nielsen, in a feature on the Women’s Motocross Championship, which will be featured in a showcase race at the SMX World Championship Final in September.
・Hunter Lawrence placed fourth in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda rider Joey Savatgy turned in the seventh-fastest time overall, followed by teammates Christian Craig in 14th and Shane McElrath in 17th. Other Red Riders included John Short IV in 28th (Short Racing), Zack Williams in 31st (McGinley Clinic) and Luke Kalaitzian in 33rd (Kalaitzian Brothers Racing).
・In 250SX combined qualifying, participating Red Riders included SLR Honda racers Justin Rodbell and Matti Jorgensen in 17th and 27th, respectively; Next Level riders Hunter Schlosser and Colby Copp in 23rd and 28th; and Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres in 37th.
・Rodbell qualified directly through the 250 heat race, finishing seventh, while Schlosser and Copp advanced to the evening program through the 250 LCQ, in which they finished second and fourth, respectively.
・The first 450SX heat race saw Lawrence get a third-place start and hound Quad Lock Honda’s Christian Craig for several laps before finally making the pass and holding second through the final three laps. Craig went on to finish fifth, and his teammate Joey Savatgy finished an impressive second in the second heat race. Another Quad Lock Honda rider-Shane McElrath-won the LCQ.
・Lawrence participated in the Feld-organized podium-finisher media scrum following the 450SX main event.
・With Hunter Lawrence finishing second and Eli Tomac finishing outside the top 10, the Honda HRC Progressive rider is the new leader of the championship, five points ahead of Ken Roczen.
・Next up for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 6 this Saturday in Seattle.
Hunter Lawrence: “Second again-we just focus on the positive. I just felt a little flat; usually, around the 10-minute mark, I feel like, ‘Alright, we’re on,’ but I couldn’t quite get into that tonight. I tried to make a push at the end with Kenny [Roczen] and closed a little bit on him, but a little too late. The first thing I focus on is the start, and I saw Eli [Tomac] down when I came back on the start straight; that was obviously in my favor, but I just focused ahead. Kenny had the sand line really good. The majority of the day, the outside was a better run into that double-triple; I hadn’t gone inside yet in the race, and I didn’t realize how good it actually was. Sure enough, after I got passed [by Roczen], I went inside for the rest of the race, so that’s on me. Before the beginning of the season, I had supercross circled on my calendar for this year. I’m happy to have the red plate-it’s cool in the 450 Supercross Championship. I want to keep it, but I just want the red plate at the last round, plain and simple. From 2020, the amount of work to be here, it’s kind of tough to put into words how much goes into getting to this point, but it is pretty damn cool.”
Lars Lindstrom: “It’s crazy to think that we’re almost one-third of the way through the series already, and to be this far in and take the red plate with Hunter is a fantastic feeling-and I think the best is yet to come! I really like Hunter’s mentality, and I think we share it on the team as far as not getting too caught up and worrying about when we will win a race, and also to just focus on doing the best possible result every Saturday night, rather than worry about protecting the red plate. As long as we all do our job, and Hunter can do his, we should be in good shape. We’re definitely excited to get on the road, on to other tracks that Hunter enjoys.”
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb makes championship gains with a third-place finish at Glendale Supercross, with Justin Cooper also taking a step forward in fourth.
Yes, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship spans 17 rounds, but in a class stacked with championship-proven veterans and hungry young challengers, urgency sets in quickly when things aren’t going to plan. Momentum matters. And for Cooper Webb, last weekend’s win in Houston marked a major shift in the right direction. Now, with a third-place finish at Round 5 in Glendale, Arizona—a venue that has historically been a tough stop for the reigning champion—that momentum continues to build.
“Being on the podium here is a win for me,” Webb said. “We’ll start getting to these tracks that I really enjoy, so we’re back in the swing of things, which is nice.”
It wasn’t just a good night for Webb. It was positive momentum for both riders on the team, with Justin Cooper continuing to make improvements—earning both his best heat race and main event result thus far this season.
“It was a pretty good day overall,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “We made a few adjustments, mainly with Justin throughout the day. The main goal was improving in the whoops and the starts, and I felt like he improved with both. He skimmed the whoops all night, got himself a good start, and rode really well in the main event. For Webb, it was another solid night here. It’s been a tough place for him to come to and get a good result over the years, and now he has two podiums, two years in a row, which is pretty good.”
From the start of the day at State Farm Stadium, both Webb and Cooper showed speed, posting solid qualifying times and getting good starts. It was also a good battle between the two in that first 450SX Heat Race of the evening, with Cooper making a pass on Webb around the halfway point and finishing third.
Then, in the main event, it was another good start with Webb making moves early to third. He tried to close the gap to the front, but ultimately was happy to score valuable points with the final podium spot. The result moved him up to fourth in the standings, now just 15 points from the leader.
“Glendale Supercross was a good night for me, overall,” Webb reflected. “Qualifying was good, and I felt good all day. I was able to get a good start in the main event, get into third, and kind of rode there all night. I was there with Hunter (Lawrence) for a little bit, and then, the boys just kind of got me. But, overall, I’m happy with the night. For me, this is a place that isn’t my favorite, so it’s good to get a podium here. We’ll keep the ball rolling.”
For Cooper, Glendale marked a noticeable step forward. After passing Webb in the heat race, the New Yorker rode away to a secure third, earning a strong gate pick for the main event. He backed it up with another good start, slotting in behind his teammate before moving into fourth on Lap 2, maintaining the position to the finish.
“I got decent starts in the heat and the main,” Cooper said. “I felt like I had a good pace going at the front. I made a few mistakes in the middle, just trying to push. This track is a little bit hard to push on, so you almost have to relax a bit to find a better flow to move forward, and that’s kind of what I started to find towards the end.”
Like Webb, Cooper left Arizona encouraged by the progress, and excited for when the series heads east.
“It was a big improvement from last weekend,” Cooper said. “Fourth place on a track and dirt that I usually struggle on a lot was really good. I was close to the podium, but we’ll take it as a win, and we’ll move on to next weekend in Seattle. Then we go east. I’m excited for the rounds coming up and dirt that suits me a little bit more.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan continues to raise the bar in the 250SX West Championship, further strengthening his title defense.
It’s been full steam ahead for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan since San Diego Supercross. The 20-year-old has been unstoppable, and at Round 5 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship, he delivered another masterclass performance at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The reigning champ continued to add to his list of accomplishments in what is his final title campaign aboard the YZ250F. Thus far in 2026, Deegan has notched four consecutive wins – including a Triple Crown sweep in Houston – four heat race wins, and four straight fastest qualifier honors. He added to the momentum in Glendale with a pair of holeshots, one in the heat race and one in the main event, allowing him to lead from start to finish on the technical track.
“Four in a row, and it was another perfect day, so yeah, it’s amazing,” Deegan said about the day. “The track was pretty technical in the main event, pretty slick, but we were able to make it happen. I finally pulled a holeshot in the main event, so that was very nice. That’s a wrap on Glendale. Now we’re on to Seattle.”
Deegan now holds a commanding 27-point lead at the halfway mark of the 250SX West Championship. With one round remaining before the series break, he’s focused on keeping the momentum rolling while also looking ahead to what’s next.
”I’m so excited to get on a 450 and start getting ready for outdoors,” Deegan said. “These races have been solid. It’s been lots of hard work with the family and the team, and my bike has been amazing. Man, this feels good. The hard work that I put in during the preseason, it paid off, and it shows you who works and who doesn’t.”
After a tough outing in Houston, Michael Mosiman rebounded with a strong performance in Glendale. The Californian got a solid start in his heat race, running third before making the pass for second on Lap 3 and riding a smart race to the finish. In the main event, Mosiman once again got a strong start and slotted into second behind Deegan, holding the position for much of the race. Late pressure saw him lose spots to Levi Kitchen and Cameron McAdoo in the closing laps, ultimately finishing fourth. The result, however, moved him back into second in the championship standings.
“Glendale delivered a solid points night,” Mosiman said. “Qualifying wasn’t where I wanted it to be, but I had confidence in my riding and my abilities going into the main event. My starts were strong, which was a big focus for me after last weekend, so that was a positive takeaway. Losing the podium in the final laps was frustrating, and that’s on me. I know exactly where I need to improve, and I’m confident I can make those adjustments to finish races stronger. I’ve worked hard to get back to a place where I’m consistently fighting for podiums, and the same determination and resilience that got me here will keep driving me forward. A big thank you to the team for their effort and support.”
Max Anstie’s night proved challenging. He got a flying start to the first heat race of the evening, but unfortunately went wide and off track, rejoining towards the back of the field. The British rider put his head down, making an impressive charge through to fifth, but then a bad start in the main event made for an uphill battle. In 16th after the opening lap, he charged his way through to eighth by the halfway mark, where he would ultimately finish.
“It was not a good day today,” said Anstie. “I got a bad start in the main and only made it back to eighth. I did all that I could, but it wasn’t good enough tonight.”
“It was definitely nice for Haiden to leave here with another pretty perfect night,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “Mosi (Michael Mosiman) was riding well and unfortunately lost the podium at the end of the race, but he’s second in the championship. Max just had an off night. We need a nice reset and will come back next weekend.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing will be looking to finish on a high note before the Western Divisional 250 class goes on break. They head to Seattle, Washington, next weekend for Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship series at Lumen Field on February 14.
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:
Jorge Prado continues 450SX progression with Glendale Top-Five.
A top-five result for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado marked another impressive performance at Glendale’s fifth round of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship, with the Spaniard topping the 450SX qualifying timesheets, claiming a convincing Heat Race victory, and finishing fifth in Saturday night’s premier class Main Event.
The four-time world champion continued his progression in the 2026 SMX World Championship season inside State Farm Stadium, posting the fastest qualifying time in the afternoon with a 56.451s lap on the high-speed, technical Arizona layout.
The 25-year-old followed that by controlling 450SX Heat 2 from start to finish onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before a top-10 start translated into a composed fifth-place result in the Main Event to conclude round five of the series. With his Glendale finish, Prado advances to seventh position in the championship standings.
Jorge Prado: “My start was actually very good, it was just that I didn’t have much space entering the first corner. But still, I managed to get around the turn decently, and then I was battling back and forth with Justin [Cooper], which made me get a little bit tight. I ended up bringing it home in P5, which I would say is a solid night. We’re getting better and better with P1 in qualifying and the Heat Race, and then fifth in the Main Event is a good progression. I am happy with my riding and effort, so thanks to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team – they’re doing a great job, we have a great bike, and hopefully I can put it on the box again soon.”
Entering the Glendale round as the 450SX red plate-holder, Eli Tomac arrived READY TO RACE on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and charged to the second-fastest time during the qualifying sessions, only marginally behind teammate Prado.
A strong start in 450SX Heat 1 saw the two-time Supercross champion take the holeshot, going on to control the race from the front as he recorded a decisive 5.987s victory and secured a strong gate selection for the Main Event.
The Colorado native endured a challenging start to the 450SX race, however, after being caught up in a multi-rider, first turn incident, before remounting to make a determined climb from the rear of the field to finish 12th, salvaging valuable championship points in the process. Tomac is now positioned third in the series, eight points outside of the lead.
Eli Tomac: “I put myself in a position where bad things can happen. I got a little pinched at the start and then got taken out – so I don’t know what happened before that, all I know is, I was done. It took me a little while to get warmed up again, kind of got my body loosened up and going, and that’s what I had to get back to 12th. The good thing is, we’re not too far down – we’re fine – so we’ll just have to do some digging now.”
Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger qualified a promising ninth overall during the afternoon sessions, later claiming a direct transfer to the 450SX Main Event courtesy of a sixth-place finish in his Heat Race.
‘The Cowboy’ then battled inside the top-10 throughout the Main Event in Arizona and ultimately claimed eighth position when the checkered flag flew, providing a solid platform to build upon entering the middle stages of the Supercross season.
Aaron Plessinger: “Glendale was a step in the right direction. The result may not show it, but the last few weeks have been really tough, so this week was a lot better as a stepping stone and I think we are on the way to turning things around. I felt better on the bike – that was my first 20-minute moto since San Diego – and it is safe to say that things have been up and down. But, either way, we are moving forward, and that’s a positive for us. We’ll go back, do some more homework this week, and show up for Seattle! I’m ready to go.”
Next Race: February 14 – Seattle, Washington
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders Levi Kitchen and Cameron McAdoo powered to another double podium finish at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Glendale, Arizona. Kitchen earned a hard-fought second-place finish, while McAdoo rode a consistent race to cross the line just behind his teammate in third. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton battled through a challenging race to secure seventh place, while Garrett Marchbanks continued his steady progression with a solid performance, finishing with his best result of the season in 13th place.
In 250SX Qualifying, Kitchen laid down consistently fast laps, briefly topping the board during the second session before ending second overall. McAdoo delivered two solid sessions as well, showing strong speed in the second session to take third overall, behind his teammate.
In Heat 1, Kitchen pulled a strong start, swapping positions with the riders around him through the opening lap. The No. 47 Kawasaki quickly charged forward, joining a tight three-rider battle at the front. Kitchen then pushed past two riders to take second in the heat race, while also recording the fastest lap of the race and half of the fastest sector times. In Heat 2, McAdoo launched out of the gate and rounded the first turn in second. Caught up in rider traffic, he was shuffled back a few positions before finding open track and charging back to third in the closing laps.
In the 250 Main Event, McAdoo rocketed out of the gate aboard his KX™250, rounding the first turn in third before battling with other riders on the opening lap. Kitchen, meanwhile, had a less-than-ideal start and would come out of the opening lap towards the back of the pack. Undeterred, Kitchen made strategic passes on his charge to the front of the field. McAdoo made a bold pass to move back into third, while Kitchen continued his charge forward, breaking the Top 5 by the midway point. Focused on the front, Kitchen reached his teammate and made an assertive pass to take over a podium position before advancing into second place before the checkered flag waved. In his rally to the finish, the No. 47 passed an impressive 17 riders and posted the fastest time in three sectors. After being pushed back to fourth, McAdoo kept his sights firmly on the podium and, with two laps remaining, made the move for third to secure another finish on the box. Overall, the night ended with both 250 Class riders moving up one position in the championship standings, with McAdoo now fifth and Kitchen sixth overall.
Levi Kitchen: “It was a pretty good night. There were a lot of positives, but my Achilles heel this season has been my starts, and that’s something I plan to work on all week in practice. I’m happy with my riding, so I don’t feel like I need to make any adjustments in that area. Overall, I’m satisfied with my result tonight, but I know I can do better. I would’ve liked to catch up to the front more, but with how spread out the field was, you can’t expect to make up that much time. This week, I’m going to stay in California with the team and head into Seattle looking for better results. I’ve just got to keep working and keep pushing.”
Cameron McAdoo: I had to fight for that one tonight, but I felt the best I’ve felt throughout a main event in a while. I got passed back to fourth on the first lap due to a line choice. I focused on where I was going and picked apart the different lines and where I could make passes. I knew where I could be better once I focused on my race, and I passed Ryder [DiFrancesco] back. I made a mistake later on with around three laps to go, and my teammate, Levi [Kitchen], passed me. I looked up, and I saw Michael Mosiman in front of me, and I knew I could make up another position since he was close. I wasn’t done; I knew I was going to get a podium tonight.Having my sister here meant a lot, and that gave me some extra motivation. I can’t thank my team enough for sticking with me through the early rounds. This one was special, and it felt great to put two Pro Circuit bikes on the podium again.”
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton used the first session to learn the track while still posting strong laps to clock the fastest time in sectors four and six. After making adjustments to the bike, the No. 4 Kawasaki felt stronger in the second session, able to push to fifth overall. Marchbanks felt comfortable on the track as well, turning in his best qualifying result of the season with 12th overall.
In Heat 1, Marchbanks pulled a strong start and positioned himself just outside the Top 5. The No. 36 Kawasaki rode consistent laps as he held his ground to finish sixth and transfer directly into the main event. In Heat 2, Sexton had a less-than-ideal start, slipping to mid-pack down the start straight. Sexton powered through the field to finish fifth while setting the fastest lap time of the race.
In the 450 Main Event, Sexton found himself off balance out of the gate while Marchbanks skillfully avoided a multi-rider crash down the start straight. Sexton emerged in 13th, with Marchbanks close behind in 16th. Both riders put their heads down and charged forward through the field. Sexton never stopped pushing, clocking fast laps and the fastest time in three sectors, but he ultimately settled for seventh on the night. Marchbanks worked his way up to 11th but started to tighten up in the closing minutes and slipped to 13th. A solid effort from the No. 36 as he captured his best result thus far this season and continues to progress in the class.
Chase Sexton: “Not the results I was looking for today. We had some positive moments to take away from the day and some adjustments we made to the bike that are going in the right direction. I felt like I had the speed all day to run up front, but my starts were holding me back today from being up there. In the main event, I really had to work to get up to where I did. Seventh was unfortunately all I had in me today, and I’m not satisfied with it. We’ll continue to test and build this week and look towards Seattle.”
Garrett Marchbanks: “We made really good progress during the week leading into Glendale. We put in a lot of time on Tuesday and Wednesday to get the bike dialed in. We put in about 100-120 laps altogether in just those two days of riding. We made a lot of changes to the bike to help me feel more comfortable. I wanted to make adjustments that would make me feel more at home when we go racing, and I felt like we made the right decisions during this week to lead to that this weekend. In qualifying, I felt really good in both sessions and qualified my best in the second session. In the main event, I didn’t get the best start and had some riders flinch on the gate near me that didn’t help. There was a big first turn crash that I was able to avoid, and I made some good passes midway through the race. I got up to 11th and started to lose my flow in the last five minutes. I’m working on getting up to race pace shape with the longer format in the premier class, but I’m happy with 13th, my best result of the season so far. We’ll keep moving forward and look to next weekend.”
More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Ryder DiFrancesco races to P5 in 250SX at Glendale.
DiFrancesco displayed exceptional pace from the outset on the sprawling State Farm Stadium layout, qualifying fifth on combined times aboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition ahead of the night program.
The 20-year-old was up-front early in 250SX Heat 2 before a fall in the challenging sand section dropped him toward the rear of the field. However, the Californian would mount an impressive recovery ride, climbing through the pack to secure a hard-fought eighth-place finish and a direct transfer to the Main Event.
A solid start and Main Event performance saw DiFrancesco run inside the top-three throughout the opening stages, before ultimately earning a consistent fifth-place result, taking valuable championship points and climbing to third in the championship entering Seattle next weekend.
“Glendale was good,” recalled DiFrancesco. “I started off the day really fast in qualifying and then ended up going down in the Heat Race, but managed to fight my way back to eighth. That gave me a bad gate pick, but I positioned myself really well, actually, to start the Main Event. I ran third for a while, and lost a couple of places from there, so we have some work that needs doing between now and the next one, but I like the ruts and I like Seattle. We’ll make some tweaks and come out swinging next weekend!”
More from a press release issued by Red Bull Ducati Factory:
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis Stays Steady Under Pressure.
Sunnyvale, CA, February 8, 2026 — The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Team delivered a substantial performance in sunny, hot conditions at the Glendale Supercross, a race defined by the longest start straight of the season and by full-throttle intensity throughout the night.
The Glendale track was built to emphasize power and starts, and the Ducati Desmo450 MX rose to the challenge. Improved launches off the start throughout the day highlighted the bike’s horsepower and marked a clear step forward for the team. Although the morning began with setup challenges, the crew worked through the issues, ultimately identifying and correcting, turning the day into a positive step in overall development.
Dylan Ferrandis entered the weekend under the weather but ready to push forward. The day took an early hurdle during Qualifying 1 when Ferrandis was struck by a rock from another rider, resulting in a laceration to his eyebrow that required stitches and forced him to retire early from the session.
With limited track time compared to the rest of the field, Ferrandis returned for Qualifying 2, finishing 15th overall and lining up for Heat Race 2.
In the heat race, Ferrandis delivered one of the highlights of the night with a strong start, a major positive for the team after prioritizing starts and starting positions. Running fourth off the gate in a stacked heat, he ultimately finished 8th.
Ferrandis carried momentum into the Main Event with another excellent start, crossing the line around fourth place on the opening lap. After being shuffled just outside the top five early, he battled in the 7th–8th range before settling into 9th by lap nine, where he would finish. The result marked his fourth top-ten finish of the season and his third ninth-place result.
“It was overall a very difficult day for me,” said Dylan Ferrandis. “I came to this race a little sick. Then 1st practice, I was hit by a rock… and I cut my eyebrow and I had to pull out from the practice to go stitches. So we lost one full practice and track time and was struggling a lot with a good feeling on the track. I had great starts every time we were on track, so that was very, very positive for today. I struggled a bit with the bike set up, and I made some change for main event and It was better. It was a bad beginning of the day but We salvaged to make at least the same result as my best result so far.”
Despite the adversity, Glendale proved to be a valuable round for the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Team, showcasing improved starts, continued progress with the Desmo450 MX, and the resilience to turn a difficult beginning into another solid top-ten finish.
