Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac continued his perfect start to the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross season, backing up his round one victory with another commanding performance at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium to remain unbeaten in the 450SX class. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan also responded in style, rebounding to take the win in 250SX West. Both riders spoke to media following the main events for these Debrief interviews.

450SX

Image: Octopi Media.

Eli, congratulations. Running it back – not just back-to-back wins, but San Diego last year to this year. Can you just talk about that move the moves you had to make to find the front.

Yeah, it was quite a back and forth there. In the beginning of the race, I tried to play the patience game. You know, Hunter [Lawrence] and Ken [Roczen] were really, really dicing it out, so I kind of just tried to warm up into the race there and stay on them, but also try not to do anything too wild. Then, of course, I made my way forward, passed Hunter, and then started dicing with Ken back and forth. On the first pass, I’m like, ‘Okay, I think I’m going to make it stick and I can get away.’ And sure enough, that didn’t happen, and Ken came back. It was tough. Once I got in front of him the second time, I got back into a good groove again and thought I was all good, just watching Ken and kind of marking him around the track. Then on the last lap, I go over the tunnel and I hear this rev, and I look over and see a red fender, and I’m just like, ‘What in the world is that?’ And it was Hunter. I’m kind of bummed with myself, like I just wasn’t paying attention. Plus, the Lawrences ride so quiet on the track, you just don’t know they’re there. So that’s bad on me for not watching the pit board, the tower, and being aware – honestly just watching Ken too much.When I saw him all over the tunnel, I’m like, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing this next corner. Do I just pin it into that berm and hope for the best?’ So, of course, a great night and another win, two weekends in a row with this team, but it was close.

Right after you came off to finish, you were talking to your mechanic, Jade [Dungey]. It’s one of the happiest I’ve seen you after a race. Can you give us some of those post-race reflections, why you enjoyed this battle and this night so much?

Well, there was just the back and forth in there, and then thinking I was in control, but little did I know I wasn’t. I was maybe a little lazy through the whoops, lazy into that bowl turn before the tunnel jump there, and of course Hunter was right there. So I just feel like I was somewhat lucky to hold on to that one.

You talked about in your opening statement how you tried to make that pass on Ken Roczen and it just didn’t stick and you lost your rhythm a bit. Tell everybody what it takes to be able to reset, find you rhythm and then make another push.

I mean, for one, you just have to be comfortable with what you’re working with, and I was able to do that. I was able to basically get my heart rate back under control, because I made a couple of good pushes up to them but didn’t really make anything happen. Then I kind of had to reset and think about where I was going to try to make the move on them. Thankfully, I was able to do that and kind of control that area of the race for myself.

Can you talk about your corner speed a little bit? You look so comfortable in pretty much every turn, like you have complete confidence in the bike. And secondly, is a 1–1 to start the season exceeding your expectations?

The turns were awesome. I was able to move around, and I’m really happy with what I’m working with right now on this motorcycle. I can do my feet up on the pegs if I want to, I can kind of move around, and I can just lay the bike over into the ruts right now. As far as winning two in a row, of course you dream of it, but making it happen is a whole different deal. So it’s a great start for us.

Eli, congrats on two win – pretty awesome. Your bike – you look super comfortable on it, and you make it look really light. Do you feel like it’s any lighter than bikes you’ve ridden in the past?

I’ll say the left-to-right on this bike is really nice. I can throw this thing around right now, and I’m very efficient on the bike too. So it’s a good motorcycle for me right now. I feel really at one with this motorcycle, and it’s showing.

Win number 55 in the 450 class. Over the past couple of years there’s been a lot of rumours about a final year. But if anything, you’re looking prime – two for two to start the year. How do these wins feel?

Yeah, I mean, of course the clock’s ticking, but I’ve improved myself. It’s a great spot to be in, and of course I’m enjoying it. I keep saying it, but man, it’s pretty wild to think this is double-nickel win number 55 – pretty cool.

It looked like there was a little more traction tonight than last week. Does it help on the new motorcycle to know that if the conditions are different, the result can still be the same? Do you learn by winning on two different types of soil?

Yeah, it was different. It felt way different. To be straight up, it felt like an east coast track. The dirt was pulling way more on the bike under braking and acceleration, and we had ruts. So it was good to put it in that situation, right? But it was a much different surface than last week at Anaheim.

250SX

Image: Octopi Media.

Haiden, I know this is where you expect to be. Does this feel like redemption, or just another win in the long win column?

I’m just grateful. Man, after last weekend, this week was just rough. I worked so hard in the off-season, and just with everything that’s going on – everyone doubting what I can do in the future and now. I really locked in this off-season, like I’m going to work my butt off harder than I ever have, and I did. To not be able to show it at the first round, that hurts. So yeah, I came out swinging this weekend and it went well.

Fans were booing you after the race. Does that change your opinion on how you would approach passing Anstie, and how does it make you feel in general?

I’ve seen videos of Kobe Bryant getting booed, so it’s like they’re booing the guy that’s winning. That’s just how it goes sometimes. And I don’t know, this world may have gone a little soft, but it was really not intentional to take Max [Anstie] out. When you race Supercross, you go up the inside like that, a guy will go to cut down, and all I did was try and cut down with him and ended up getting his front wheel. And yeah, you know, I’ll go tell him sorry whether he takes it or not, but it wasn’t on purpose. So it was a good night though, and that’s all that matters.

Overcoming what was a disappointing finish last week, how important was it to establish yourself with the heat win and the race win this week?

Yeah, I needed that. I needed to get some momentum underneath me. I’m glad I could do it quicker than last year. And yeah, just keep working hard and keep grinding every week.

You made a number of passes in the short rhythm section at the end of the start straight. Anything special about that, or just opportunity?

No, today I just feel like I was in a mode where I was like, I’m going to sprint these races. And I feel like I’m in a position where if I ride at a 90 percent pace, smooth and smart, I should be winning these things. So no, just sprint pretty hard through these races.

How important is it to you to get this early win in the season, and how much momentum do you think it gives you?

Yeah, this is what I was looking for last week. So thank God I could get some momentum under my belt. I’m freaking working hard, so it’s nice for it to pay off. And yeah, it’s good.

I know you and Max are teammates, and I don’t know how much time you’re spending riding together during the week, but before you made that pass, how good of a sense of anticipation did you have of what his strengths or weaknesses might be out there?

Yeah, I ride with him every week, so I know exactly how he rides. And yeah, the goal was, I just wanted to get around him and take off, try to get a lead, and not focus on anything around me, just focus on myself.
So unfortunately that incident happened, which, you know, I wasn’t intending to take him out. I was just glad I could get by him and take off.

You have a replica of this track at your home facility. How similar did it end up being tonight?

Yeah, it was super close. I came into the whoops and wheel-tapped on the first lap of qualifying free practice laps, so it was quite close. Some of the rhythms are obviously a little different because they have to build it in a stadium, but it was good.

Are you expecting any form of retaliation from Max, or how does that kind of relationship unfold from this point?

Yeah, I mean, it wasn’t really a dirty move. It wasn’t intentional in that way. Which, I mean, retaliation, this or that, whatever – I’m always ready for anything, and we’re racing dirt bikes. So if that’s what it comes down to, it comes down to that, and hopefully it doesn’t need to. I’m going to go talk to them and try to clear the air because it truly wasn’t intentional. But, I mean, it’s racing dirt bikes, right? If it happens, it happens, and I’m ready for it.

Going into next weekend, we’re going back to Angel Stadium. How are you approaching it now? Of course, Anaheim 1 is a whole different beast, but any sort of different approach now, especially as the points leader going into A2?

Yeah, same approach I’ve had. Just be smart at these races, nail my laps, nail a top-five start, and ride my race.