Doubling Down
Chase Sexton had every reason to celebrate after his A1 victory. Wins at this level are hard-fought, especially early in the season when the entire roster is healthy and ready to compete. But what could top claiming the first round? Backing it up with another win in San Diego. With Jett Lawrence, who had a tough start at A1, trailing by 15 points, now is the perfect opportunity for Sexton to build momentum, rack up victories, and establish a commanding lead in the standings. -Aaron Hansel
Bouncing Back
As for Lawrence, the Honda HRC rider endured the worst 450SX finish of his career at A1. A collision with Jason Anderson and a Tuff Block at the start, followed by a crash in the sand section, derailed his race. He also struggled significantly with his bike setup, as Jason Thomas detailed earlier this week in Breakdown. However, don’t expect this rough patch to last. Lawrence is poised to return to the front sooner rather than later, and there’s a strong possibility he’ll do just that in San Diego. -Hansel
A Missed Opportunity
Eli Tomac had a prime chance to set the tone for the season at A1 but saw it slip away after an early crash while leading. If he hadn’t taken an unplanned look at the dirt after overtaking Jorge Prado for the lead, the outcome of the 450SX main event might have been entirely different. Despite the setback, Tomac managed to charge back to finish fifth, salvaging valuable points. This weekend, if he can stay upright, it will be interesting to see what kind of result he can deliver. -Hansel
A Strong Start
Jo Shimoda nailed it—literally and figuratively—at A1. When the gate dropped for the 250SX main, he got off to a fantastic start, took the lead, and held off Julien Beaumer to claim the season’s first victory. In the past, Shimoda has been criticized for slow starts, gradually improving as the season progressed. If his A1 performance is any indication, that might be a thing of the past. Should he replicate this effort in San Diego, the entire outlook of the 250SX West championship could shift. -Hansel
Stepping Up
Whatever Julien Beaumer focused on during the offseason has clearly paid off. The Red Bull KTM rider was the fastest qualifier, won his heat race, and positioned himself early in the 250SX main to challenge Shimoda for the win. What stood out even more was his maturity—opting not to push recklessly for the lead, a common occurrence in the 250SX class. Beaumer has undeniably leveled up for 2025. Could this translate to another podium, or even his first career win in San Diego? -Hansel
Far from Ideal
That’s a fitting way to sum up Haiden Deegan’s night last week. While he did an impressive job fighting his way back to fifth place after an early first-lap crash, Deegan isn’t out there chasing top-five finishes—he’s gunning for wins every time he lines up. While his performance keeps him within striking distance in the points race, a victory in San Diego is crucial to keep his championship aspirations on track. The last thing Deegan needs is for competitors like Jo Shimoda and Julien Beaumer, who appear to have made significant progress during the offseason, to build momentum as the season progresses. -Hansel
A Milestone Achievement
Jordon Smith’s third-place finish at A1 was more than just a podium—it marked the first-ever supercross podium for the Triumph brand. That’s a significant accomplishment, and after watching Smith’s strong performance on his new bike, it’s easy to believe there are plenty more podium finishes in Triumph’s future this season. With more opportunities for milestones ahead, a second-place or even a victory in San Diego would tick yet another box for both Smith and Triumph. -Hansel
The Underdog
It’s not that Jorge Prado was completely overlooked before A1; it’s just that most of the chatter about him revolved around phrases like, “He’s more of an outdoor rider than a supercross competitor.” Yet Prado delivered an impressive performance in the opener, securing strong starts in both his heat race and the main event. He didn’t back down either, forcing his rivals to fight hard for every pass. With his knack for great starts, Prado will have the chance to learn from the top riders every weekend. If he can adapt quickly to the steep supercross learning curve, he could surprise a lot of people. Can he replicate his solid performance this weekend? -Sarah Whitmore
The Rising Star
New Zealand’s Cole Davies has been turning heads since his breakout moment at Anaheim 2 last year, where he came seemingly out of nowhere to win the Supercross Futures event. At A1, he showed his potential once again by leading his first-ever heat race and finishing eighth in the main despite a crash. It’s easy to see why Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing promoted him this year. Now that his first-race nerves are behind him, can Davies refine his approach this weekend and secure a spot on the podium? -Whitmore
The Other Contenders
While much of the pre-A1 hype focused on Lawrence, Sexton, and Tomac, Ken Roczen and Jason Anderson quietly proved they’re still major players. Anderson showed speed all day in qualifying, while Roczen, despite qualifying 14th, shrugged it off, saying it wasn’t a concern. The two riders then delivered strong performances, finishing 1-2 in their heat race and securing second and third in the main event, respectively. Their results highlight just how stacked the field is this season—no one can be counted out. Can Roczen and Anderson deliver again in San Diego? -Whitmore
BONUS: A New Challenger Emerges
When Levi Kitchen fell ill at the season opener and subsequently decided to switch to the 250SX East Region, it left Garrett Marchbanks as the lone Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider in the 250SX West Region. However, on Tuesday, the team announced Ty Masterpool would join the 250SX West lineup and make his season debut at this weekend’s San Diego Supercross. Masterpool has long expressed his desire to race supercross, and now he finally has his chance. How will #26 fare as his SX campaign kicks off? -Mitch Kendra
