Brea, CA - (January 13, 2025) - The 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season kicked off with a spectacular race at the Anaheim Supercross Opener. The enthusiastic crowd inside Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California was treated to intense racing action that promises another exciting season in 2025.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen started the year with a brilliant ride that earned him a main event second-place result after dominating his heat race
- Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Colt Nichols put in a great charge for one of the most exciting battles of the night in the LCQ.
- Kyle Chisholm delivered a consistent ride one day after announcing 2025 would be his 20th and final professional racing season.
Ken Roczen (94) had a great heat race, crossing the finish line first and expertly piloted his RM-Z450 to a second-place finish in the Main Event.
Ken Roczen (94) kicked off the racing season right. In his heat race, he started in third place and quickly put his Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki into the lead then ran away with the win. In the main, Roczen narrowly avoided getting collected in some especially brutal first turn chaos; he emerged from the first turn in eighth and immediately started his march toward the front. Less than five minutes into the race Roczen pushed his way into second place and held the spot for the rest of the race. Having won the Anaheim Opener four times prior (once on a different Suzuki team), Roczen said on the podium that it was one of the only races in which he’d told himself he’d be content with a second place, not a win. He now sits second in the points in the 17-round Supercross season.
“In qualifying I wasn’t where I wanted to be,” Roczen said. “It was a little bit my fault. I got caught in the middle of a lot of people and a lot of time went by. I ended up 14th [overall in qualifying]. I was mad about it, but I was calm. It’s not where I wanted to be, but I didn’t really care. I know how to race, and I knew I’d be fine. Sure enough, the heat race went great, and I was really happy with the main. I clicked off some good laps and had a good main. I’m stoked; it was a good podium for me.”
Colt Nichols (45) was strong and fast at the start his first full season aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450 after joining the squad mid-season last summer.
Colt Nichols (45) grabbed a good start in his heat race but was pushed wide into the Tuff Blox in the second corner; Nichols went down and was not able to reach a qualifying spot. Nichols came out to race in the LCQ. After being shuffled in the pack on the opening lap, Nichols started a charge forward. Nichols was on the move, pressing the lead pack together and making passes, but he unfortunately ran out of time and was not able to reach a transfer position.
“The night definitely didn’t go as planned, but that’s racing,” said Nichols. “We get to try again next weekend.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) kicked off his final professional season with a direct transfer into the main from his heat race.
Kyle Chisholm (11) used patience and race craft to put together a strong performance at the opening round. In the main event he was pushed wide by the first turn chaos. From there he put in steady laps to earn championship points and come out of the first round with a solid performance.
“I was a little nervous coming in, you know, being the first race of the season,” admitted Chisholm. “In my heat race I got out to a decent start, and just put my head down and raced. The field obviously is super stacked, so it was awesome just to get straight in [to the main] out of the heat. Main event time, I just didn’t ride my best. I wasn’t super comfortable, and I kind of just rode instead of raced. I need to get a little more comfortable and we’ll come back next week. This was probably my last A1. We’ll see, but that’s the plan for now. I’m definitely pumped to get out of here getting in the main and being out there racing.”
“It was a good start to the 2025 season,” Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager Larry Brooks summarized. “Ken Roczen finished second; he won his heat race and finished second in the main event. We actually worked pretty hard all day trying to get the bike set up, and we did for the night show, and Ken rode the bike really good. Kyle Chisholm did a really good job for the first race. The first race is always full of a lot of nerves and there’s a lot of competition, because everyone’s really trying hard at the opener. Colt Nichols had a rough night. He crashed in the heat race and didn’t quite make it. He just missed a transfer spot in the last chance qualifier. But we can work on some starts; he needs to get off the line a little bit better.”
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship heads south for Round 2 inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California on Saturday, January 18th. The riders and team members are looking ahead to more strong finishes throughout the 17-Round Supercross season.
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news.
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About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
