The Weekend Breakdown | 2026 Daytona

Daytona's vast International Speedway remains a popular stop on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross schedule, despite 450SX's tendency to deliver some predictable results. Those shaped the dominant narratives of the night and demanded attention within Lewis Phillips' recapitulation.

TOOTHLESS TOMAC THRIVES

Eli Tomac is the only 450SX rider with multiple victories to his name and that's amplified by his fourth triumph. Consider that his closest rival has just one and his dominant stance should be underlined! Only the unprecedented consistency from Hunter Lawrence has stopped him from running away with the crown, although there is a sense that he himself is his biggest foe.

The statistics state that rounds seven through twelve are where he does his best work: we are in the midst of that.

It's Tomac's eighth win inside of the Daytona International Speedway that is the lead narrative, however, and one that came in a powerful fashion. He started behind his main rivals, passed them all and stood unchallenged. The late push from Lawrence fueled excitement, but there was no doubt that Tomac had the situation under control. Indianapolis poses an opportunity for him to regain control of the championship lead.

It will be curious to see how he plays in Indianapolis' soft conditions – he has repeatedly celebrated the cornering potential of his KTM 450 SX-F and that will be very beneficial in Lucas Oil Stadium. Will he have Cooper Webb tendencies and consequently take his season total up to five? Back-to-back victories for the first time since races one and two would be ominous for the competition.

"The bike was super planted in the sand," Tomac said in the wake of his Daytona victory. "I felt like I was really good in the sand and able to leverage the bike really well. I was running the scoop tire too, but the bike was very planted in the sand. I guess it had a different feel to the stuff that I have raced in the past." Of the top four, Tomac was the quickest in the sand on nine of the sixteen laps.

Verdict: Without doubt, this is now Eli Tomac's title to lose.

KENNY'S STARTS 'ROC' 450SX

Ken Roczen has started in first in the last two Monster Energy AMA Supercross rounds and therefore reaped the benefits of continuous testing. Only Lawrence has a better average starting position over eight rounds (third versus fourth).

"I'm still messing around with it, honestly," Roczen told me on Friday. "There are still some things… I am trying to do it more methodically than in the past. Instead of just trying to throw everything at the bike, I do one bit at a time. We have gotten better and better, but there are still other things that I would like to test. Sometimes when I feel good in the week and pretty content, I pick one thing that I'm going to try and leave it at that. 

"I don't want to put everything upside down. You have got your clutch, lever ratios, start maps, engine packages, clutch plates… You have a lot to test. There's a difference between, you know, the jump that you get off the gate and everything that comes after that." It will come as a surprise to most that Roczen's Daytona holeshot occurred despite the lack of the famed scoop tire on his RM-Z450.

Tomac's starts have vanished in recent weeks, in contrast. With the exception of the last main at Houston's Triple Crown and Seattle, he has not ended lap one inside of the top three since San Diego. That, of course, makes his current win record even more impressive. It also means that he is handing an advantage to Lawrence, Roczen and Cooper Webb each week though.

Verdict: So much rests on the starts. Not in 2026, evidently.

SAVATGY SHIFTS PERCEPTION

Joey Savatgy is SMX's standout star, so much so that his rides have already yielded off-track results. Much was said about his desire for a factory transmission and, despite initial skepticism, Honda stepped up with the support that he dreamt of. Savatgy first utilized the system in Arlington, where he passed Tomac in a heat race and scored seventh in the main event.

"It's just been unbelievable," Savatgy recollected. "We had it [a factory transmission] last weekend. First has so much grunt and torque that I can use that without running out. Second gear is an odd one – it is something that I have worked on. My biggest thing is that it's controllable off the line and that has dramatically helped my starts. My confidence has jumped. Being able to jump off the start without having to worry about fighting the bike has made my life easier. First being longer is very nice."

Savatgy has finished in the top five more this season than in the last six combined – the resurrection of his career and profile should not be understated. Not only that, but he is also the only athlete in 450SX's top eleven without full-factory support. Can he dream of even more? "I am not bummed with fifth but, with the speed in qualification and the heat, I wish I had the opportunity to start with them to see where it could've gone," he added. "I was just out there, for the most part.

"It's a weird fifth. It is one of those where I was just there. I did not ride terrible, but I'm not sure that I necessarily rode amazingly. It's hard not to look too far down the road. If I can be closer to fifth then I think that is a realistic goal. Even then, I'm not really looking at positions now. I want to get off the gate and ride well. Fifth is nice, but I'm not overly stoked with how I executed."

Verdict: A motivational story for those who dream of more.

TWO THUMBS DOWN AND OUT

Even a casual viewer can see that injuries have taken their toll on the SMX paddock. With Monster Energy AMA Supercross on the cusp of its halfway point, more riders are dealing with ailments and keen to maintain a perfect attendance record. The almighty thumb injury – the most frequent wound in the last twelve months – is headline news again too.

Ducati's Dylan Ferrandis sprained his right thumb when Logan Leitzel rode into him in Daytona's first heat race but transferred nonetheless and remained confident about building on a season-best rank in qualification (sixth). Those were in vain, however, and he withdrew after two laps. An MRI scan is scheduled for early this week and that will determine his status for this weekend's Indianapolis fixture.

The news is worrisome for those on Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing, as Ferrandis is their last hope for Desmo450 representation. Justin Barcia is unlikely to return soon despite remounting his steed prior to Daytona.

In similar news from the 250SX East division, Drew Adams' fall in the whoops resulted in a bone fracture in his thumb. Adams, already in a cast before the conclusion of the 450SX main, is desperate to push through the pain in Indianapolis. "It is still possible, in my head," Adams remarked. "I did not want to miss any races this year, so I will try. I'll have a true MRI on Monday and hopefully it's just bone – that is what the x-rays showed."

Verdict: Without any doubt, pain lies in both riders' futures.