San Diego delivered great racing, but more importantly, it provided a clearer picture of what to expect this season. Eli Tomac backed up his Anaheim performance with another win in San Diego, further establishing himself at the top of the field. Haiden Deegan put his Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha on the top step of the 250 podium, but not without controversy, taking down his teammate in the process. The night also showed that Hunter Lawrence has taken a step forward, Chase Sexton is still making mental mistakes, and Cooper Webb is off to a rough start.
Once again, Tomac got off the gate well, putting himself third on the opening lap. He quickly charged forward, getting past Hunter Lawrence and setting up another Tomac-versus-Roczen battle. His first pass for the lead was followed by a few mistakes that allowed Roczen back by, but Tomac regrouped and made the move stick a few laps later. Lawrence kept the pressure on until the final lap, even catching Tomac off guard with a late pass attempt.
Hunter Lawrence was able to get out front early and showed he made a big step this offseason. Lawrence looked comfortable up front with no big moments, and was able to hold the pace for 20+1. His late-race charge proved he is ready to compete for wins, and not satisfied with simply being a podium guy. If he can bring the consistency he has shown in motocross into the stadiums, he may find himself in the title hunt late in the season.
Ken Roczen continued to build momentum and showed why he remains a legitimate title contender. As usual, he was fast early, getting past Lawrence to take the lead. While he was able to counter Tomac’s first attack, the second pass appeared to knock him out of rhythm and opened the door for Lawrence to get by. Roczen kept it close to the end, but a podium was all he had. He continues to keep championship pressure at bay by taking it “race by race,” and it will be interesting to see how that approach evolves in the coming weeks.
Chase Sexton once again proved he has the speed, but mental errors continue to hold him back. Slamming into the gate is not how you want to start a main event, yet he charged through the pack quickly, taking Cooper Webb down in the process. Webb, meanwhile, is clearly struggling to find his footing this season. Since the red flag in Anaheim, things have not gone his way, and Sexton’s takeout will certainly factor into the championship picture moving forward. Both Sexton and Webb already face a significant points deficit early in the season.
Now to the 250 class. Levi Kitchen found himself on the ground off the start for the second week in a row. To his credit, he worked his way through the pack well, something that has not historically been his strong suit. Max Anstie, on the other hand, has his starts dialed, getting out front early before being taken down by teammate Haiden Deegan. Deegan clearly had the speed to win, which makes the move on Anstie feel unnecessary. It will be interesting to see how that situation unfolds as the season progresses. Chance Hymas was putting together another solid ride, but after a scary save, it looked like it took some wind out of his sails.
San Diego felt like a race where the field started to show its hand. Tomac looks comfortable and in control, Lawrence showed he belongs in the win conversation, and small mistakes are already carrying big consequences. It’s still early, but nights like this matter, because they reveal who’s building something and who’s already playing catch-up. The season is far from decided, but the direction is starting to show.
