Image: Octopi Media.

A second-career 250SX podium had Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas ‘speechless’ following the Anaheim 1 Supercross opener, with second position setting the early tone for his 2026 campaign.

Hymas hadn’t lined up since last year’s fourth round of Pro Motocross at High Point, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sidelining the 20-year-old for the remainder of the SMX season.

After making wholesale updates throughout the off-season, including a move from Florida to the west coast, the changes delivered standout results at Angel Stadium on Saturday night, with Hymas qualifying third and finishing P2 in the main event.

“Yeah, it was really good for me,” Hymas told MotoOnline. “I’ve put in a lot of hard work these past six months, and it’s very rewarding. [I’m] still kind of speechless from the whole thing, but it’s just [been] a bit of a rollercoaster.

“It was nice just to come in here, and just kind of do my own thing – I felt really confident all day and honestly just mellow, calm, and just tried to stay low-key and do my own thing. It was everything I wanted to do, and I executed as I felt I could. I wanted to be on the podium tonight, at least, and yeah, second place was perfect for me.”

An increase in consistency is the target between rounds one and two, with Hymas identifying that as an area he can improve on leading into this weekend.

“I just need to log a little bit more consistent laps,” he continued. “I felt like I was good, but a little bit high and low. Max [Anstie] was just really solid, and also doing the big lines that were really fast. But I feel like I’m in a good spot right now, and obviously, there’s always stuff to work on, but I feel like I’m in a good spot.”

Hymas earned victory in the mud at last year’s Foxborough Supercross, marking the first time he’d stood on an indoor podium. He sits three points behind A1 winner Anstie (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) entering San Diego this weekend.