Image: Octopi Media.

450SX title challenger Chase Sexton says he ‘really had to work’ for his seventh-place result in Glendale, still searching to find consistent form since arriving at Monster Energy Kawasaki this season.

The 26-year-old was largely off-pace for his usual standard at round five of Monster Energy Supercross 2026, qualifying fifth and then recording P5 in his heat race as he struggled to get his KX450SR off the line.

Sexton was again boxed out entering the first turn of the main event, narrowly avoiding the downed Christian Craig (Quad Lock Honda), who in turn collected previous 450SX points leader Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

After completing the opening lap outside of the top-10, the 2023 450SX champion steadily climbed through the field, but largely lacked his customary speed and later conceded that P7 was all that was on the table exiting State Farm Stadium.

“Not the results I was looking for today,” Sexton recalled. “We had some positive moments to take away from the day and some adjustments we made to the bike that are going in the right direction.

“I felt like I had the speed all day to run up front, but my starts were holding me back today from being up there.

“In the main event, I really had to work to get up to where I did. Seventh was unfortunately all I had in me today, and I’m not satisfied with it. We’ll continue to test and build this week and look towards Seattle.”

The opening five rounds for the new Sexton and Kawasaki pairing have yielded mixed results, highlighted by victory at Anaheim 2. He has yet to return to the podium since, currently ranked fifth in the standings – 17 points behind new series leader Hunter Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive).