In a race that took the battle down to the final lap, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Eli Tomac grabbed the win inside Snapdragon Stadium to earn his 53rd career Monster Energy AMA Supercross victory. Significantly for the crowd favorite, Tomac takes over the points lead for the first time since suffering what was potentially a career-ending injury in 2023.

Team Honda HRC Progressive's Jett Lawrence was on Tomac’s rear fender until the very end but never mounted an attack for the top spot; Jett’s second place finish marked a strong improvement from his 12th place finish at the Anaheim Opener. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cooper Webb led early but was overtaken by Tomac and Lawrence nearly simultaneously at the race’s mid-point. Webb, under the weather, held off a late race charge from Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki's Ken Roczen to keep his podium spot.

Last weekend’s winner, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Chase Sexton recovered from a first lap crash; he reached sixth place by the time the checkered flag flew. The Western Regional 250SX Class produced a new first-time winner when Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Julien Beaumer earned his first Supercross win and took over the division’s points lead.

More comments to come throughout the day, so keep checking back.

Eli Tomac: “It has been a long time since I’ve won one of these 20-minute Main Events. So it feels so good to rebound from last weekend; it was a heartbreak there in Anaheim... I had to work for this. I made a lot of passes and was able to keep it on two wheels. This feels so good.”

Jett Lawrence: “That [race with Eli] was awesome. He got me at the start and I was trying so hard just to get close enough to make a pass, but he was ripping… I’m just happy that I’m ten positions better than last weekend, for sure, so I’m happy to be on the box… We tested hard this week to try and get the bike to a better spot, and it was much better.”

Cooper Webb: “It was a good race. I was able to lead a lot of laps. I got a great start, much better than last week. We saw that those two guys [Tomac and Lawrence] were coming, and then they were [by me and] gone, just like that... I’ve been a bit under the weather so at about the halfway point that was all I had. I gave it my all, had a great battle with Kenny, and was able to hold him off and get a solid podium.”

Chase Sexton: “On the first lap I almost got landed on and then in [about] the next turn I fell over. It was just me not being ready to go at the gate drop, honestly. That kind of lit a fire under me and after that I really feel like I rode the best that I’ve ridden in a long time… Some night’s aren’t your night so we’ll come back at A2 and try to get back on the top step. It was a chaotic night for me. I fell on the first lap and had to do a lot of work to catch back up. I felt like my riding was really good and the bike felt good, so honestly, we just need to work on our starts and get ready for Anaheim 2. I feel pretty confident with where I’m at, so I’m excited."

Aaron Plessinger: "San Diego was an interesting one. I didn’t really feel comfortable early on, so we made some changes and they felt really good during the Heat race. I actually felt good and I was able to push and have some really good lap-times, so I went into the Main optimistic and got a decent start, but unfortunately, I got wrapped up with Chase. I got up and tried to charge through the pack, but then I crashed on the triple-quad section – before I knew it, I was on the ground. I’m not hurt bad – I’m just really sore – but I didn’t feel like my head was in the right space and I decided to call it a night. It’s been a tough start to the season, but we’ve got 15 more rounds and I can definitely bounce back next weekend."

Malcolm Stewart: "San Diego was a good rebound from what happened to me at A1. I felt pretty good in practice and my Heat race was solid. Then in the Main, I didn’t get the best start, but I kinda made it work going into the first turn and I was sitting inside the top five. During the race there were times I felt like, 'Alright, let’s go', but I made a few mistakes and felt a little flat. I’m not sure if it’s because I was a little stiff, but at the end of the day we finished seventh and we can keep building from here. Even though I’m not riding to my full potential, I was still able to land inside the top 10."

Justin Barcia: "It was a better day, for sure. We started off qualifying P7, which was good, as I’ve struggled in practice a bit so far this year. The bike was working well though! My Heat race was good, but I needed a better start, and it was the same in the Main Event. I needed to fight really hard to eighth place, so it wasn’t the result we wanted, but we did a lot of good stuff today and we’re extremely excited to fix a few little things this week and come out swinging at A2."

In 250SX Class racing, 18-year old Julien Beaumer followed up his career-first podium with his first career win. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cole Davies, in only his second pro race, led early with Beaumer making several moves for the lead before working his way past six and a half minutes into the race. Triumph Racing’s Jordon Smith was steady in third until taking over the second-place position at the race’s midpoint. Defending 250SMX World Champion Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan fought forward from a mid-pack start. With just under four minutes left on the clock Deegan reached third, capitalizing on a mistake in the rhythm section from Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing's Ryder DiFrancesco.

Julien Beaumer: “It was an amazing main event. I got off to a good start and was just trying to be patient behind Davies. I tried to wear him down a little bit and then made my move. From there I just tried to ride my own race.”

Jordon Smith: “It was a good day. We were changing settings on the bike all day trying to make it better. We still have a lot of things that we can dial in a little bit just to get a little more comfortable, but overall [the bike’s] been really good… the track was gnarly tonight. There were a lot of rocks coming out, even in the faces of the jumps, so you had to be careful.”

Haiden Deegan: “Congrats to Juju, that was a good race on him. My race was just embarrassing, I’m sorry you had to watch that. I just got a little pumped up in the beginning and it just [got worse] from there. All I can do is work harder this week and come out swinging.”

Ryder DiFrancesco: "San Diego was good all day! My qualifying, Heat race and Main Event were all consistent. The Main was going to plan until halfway when I made a huge mistake and got bumped back to fourth, then got passed on the last lap and finished fifth. My goal was to be in the fight all year and that’s where we are, so it was a good day all-in-all."