Anaheim 1 is never just another race. For off-road and dirt bike fans—even those who just casually follow Supercross—it’s the tone-setter. The first gate drop of the season at Angel Stadium carries pressure, unpredictability, and the kind of chaos that can derail a championship before it ever really begins.
That’s why Honda HRC Progressive’s approach to the 2026 AMA Supercross opener stood out. Instead of forcing the issue, the team leaned into strategic patience—and when the dust settled, it paid off with a strong second-place finish in 250SX West for Chance Hymas and a gritty fourth-place run from Hunter Lawrence in the premier 450SX class.
Calculated Racing At A High-Risk Season Opener
From the moment the trucks rolled into Anaheim, the Honda HRC Progressive mindset was clear: survive, score points, and build momentum. Anaheim 1 has a long history of red flags, pileups, and title contenders leaving bruised or broken. Team manager Lars Lindstrom summed it up best: “This was for sure one of the smoothest A1s that we’ve ever had as a team… We wanted to get through the first one safe and get some good points, which we accomplished.”
Hunter Lawrence: Battling Through Chaos In The 450SX Main
Hunter Lawrence came out swinging in the 450SX main event, launching to a strong second-place start. A lap-one red flag reset the field, but Lawrence regrouped and once again put his CRF450R out front, restarting in third.
The restart didn’t come without adversity. Lawrence slipped back early and spent much of the race locked in a tense battle with Jason Anderson, searching for a clean way through on a tricky Anaheim rhythm section. With just minutes remaining, things nearly went sideways—literally—when Lawrence had a scary off-track moment that could’ve ended his night.
Instead, he recovered, regrouped, and made a decisive pass stick. He even mounted a late charge on the rider ahead before ultimately crossing the line fourth.
“That was my best A1 to date,” Lawrence said. “I said to myself that I’d be content with a top-five finish… this is one of my worst venues if you look back over my career, so I’m happy to move forward.”
Despite missing the podium, Lawrence leaves Anaheim sitting third in the 450SX championship standings, thanks in part to a post-race penalty to Jorge Prado for failing a sound test. After one round, he’s just four points out of second in a 17-round title fight.
Chance Hymas Delivers Big In 250SX West
If there was one ride that truly turned heads it was Chance Hymas in the 250SX West main event.
Fresh off knee surgery, Hymas nearly grabbed the holeshot and immediately settled into second behind Ryder DiFrancesco. What followed was one of the more intense battles of the night, as Hymas fought tooth-and-nail with Cameron McAdoo and Max Anstie in a fast, physical scrap for podium position.
Mid-race, Hymas briefly slipped to third. Staying smooth and consistent, he clawed his way back to second, ultimately finishing behind Anstie and ahead of a stacked 250SX West field.
“The first round at A1 was really good for me,” Hymas said. “Third overall in qualifying, third in the heat race, second in the main was really good. I wanted some consistent laps; I made a few mistakes, but we’ll clean it up for next weekend.”
Points, Momentum, And What Comes Next
After one round, Honda HRC Progressive sits exactly where it wants to be: healthy, competitive, and firmly in the title conversation.
“He didn’t ride to his full potential,” Lindstrom said of Lawrence. “That makes me excited for the rest of the series, since he tends to improve throughout the season.”
Next up is AMA Supercross Round 2 in San Diego, where the patience shown at Anaheim could quickly turn into podiums—and wins—as the series starts to take shape.
You might also like
ECD Automotive Design Pushes the Modern Defender Further with ECD x Chelsea Truck Company Defender 02
ECD Automotive Design continues its partnership with Chelsea Truck Company, unveiling the ECDxCTC Defender 02, a V8-powered Defender 110.
