Opening night at Anaheim is always an unpredictable affair, and the 2023 Anaheim 1 was no exception. The 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship Series has a finishing order that might not sound too surprising, but how the race unfolded was certainly unexpected. In the end, defending Supercross Champion Eli Tomac broke his A1 curse, just as Jett Lawrence did in the 250SX West class, and took home the win on a tricky track.
Tomac and Chase Sexton brought Heat wins into the Main Event, but it was rookie Colt Nichols who grabbed the holeshot, with three-time A1 winner Justin Barcia leading the first three laps. Tomac was slotted into P2 with Ken Roczen right there.
On lap 4 (of 21), Barcia went off the track, handing the lead to Tomac, with Malcolm Stewart promoted to P3. Stewart made it past Roczen two laps later, and two laps after that, Sexton passed Roczen for P3. All the while, Tomac extended his lead.
However, Tomac made an unforced error on lap 9, going down on the face of the jump that split the starting line. Stewart inherited the lead, with Sexton in hot pursuit.
On lap 13, Stewart made an error in a rhythm section, allowing Sexton to close and make an aggressive pass in a 180-degree left-hander. The two bumped, with Stewart going off the track, giving Sexton a comfortable lead.
Tomac worked his way up to P3, passing Roczen on lap 14. Two laps later, Tomac passed Stewart to move into p2. Tomac charged toward Sexton, who was struggling, with Tomac taking the lead on lap 18. Stewart went down hard on the same lap while running in a podium position and was unable to continue.
From there, Tomac cruised uncontested to the win. Cooper Webb passed Sexton with two laps remaining, with Sexton holding onto P3 ahead of a charging Dylan Ferrandis. Roczen rounded out the top 5.
Nichols converted his holeshot into a P6 finish, ahead of Jason Anderson, who fell on lap 9 when running in P4. Aaron Plessinger finished in P8, ahead of Adam Cianciarulo and Joey Savatgy, to wrap up the top 10.
In the battle of the brothers, Justin Hill’s P15 beat his sibling Josh by two positions.
Racing resumes next week at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland. Check our 2023 Supercross Television Schedule for details.
Photography by Will Embree/SMX Pictures
2023 Anaheim 1 Supercross Results
- Eli Tomac, Yamaha
- Cooper Webb, KTM
- Chase Sexton, Honda
- Dylan Ferrandis, Yamaha
- Ken Roczen, Suzuki
- Colt Nichols, Honda
- Jason Anderson, Kawasaki
- Aaron Plessinger, KTM
- Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki
- Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki
- Justin Barcia, GasGas
- Marvin Musquin, KTM
- Christian Craig, Husqvarna
- Dean Wilson, Honda
- Justin Hill, KTM
- Malcolm Stewart, Husqvarna
- Grant Harlan, Yamaha
- Josh Hill, KTM
- Justin Starling, GasGas
- Kevin Moranz, KTM
- Fredrik Norén, Kawasaki
- John Short, Kawasaki
2023 AMA Monster Energy Supercross Championship Series Standings (after 1 of 17 rounds)
- Eli Tomac, Yamaha, 26 points (1W, 1 P, 1 T5)
- Cooper Webb, KTM, 23 (1P, 1 T5)
- Chase Sexton, Honda, 21 (1P, 1 T5)
- Dylan Ferrandis, Yamaha, 19 (1 T5)
- Ken Roczen, Suzuki, 18 (1 T5)
- Colt Nichols, Honda, 17
- Jason Anderson, Kawasaki, 16
- Aaron Plessinger, KTM, 15
- Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 14
- Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 13
- Justin Barcia, GasGas, 12
- Marvin Musquin, KTM, 11
- Christian Craig, Husqvarna, 10
- Dean Wilson, Honda, 9
- Justin Hill, KTM, 8
- Malcolm Stewart, Husqvarna, 7
- Grant Harlan, Yamaha, 6
- Josh Hill, KTM, 5
- Justin Starling, GasGas, 4
- Kevin Moranz, KTM, 3
- Fredrik Norén, Kawasaki, 2
- John Short, Kawasaki, 1
