Pre-Race Interviews: Anaheim 2

January 23, 2026

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We're back in Anaheim for Round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. We caught up with Sexton, Hunter Lawrence, and Anstie for some 1:1 interviews today at press day.

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Chase Sexton

I guess 8-4 is probably not the way you want to start the year, but what are the positives so far? What are you able to take away from the weekend?

I think my riding got a lot better last weekend compared to the first one, so we made some improvements. Obviously, we’ve been changing the bike a little bit to get it better for me in racing. We kind of missed the mark in the first round, and that was pretty much all on me. Now we’re getting the bike closer to how I want it, but also trying to think about how the races are going to be. That’s been key. I know the results haven’t been great, but I think last week my riding was better than a fourth place. The circumstances just weren’t really in my favor. It’s only two rounds in, so it’s still early.

When you say you missed the mark in the first round, was it totally bike setup? Was it something you were riding in the offseason that just didn’t translate to Anaheim?

Yeah, and I also didn’t ride very good, which didn’t really help either. It was stuff I had been riding on, but it’s hard to say, especially when riding a new bike that you don’t really know how it’s going to work on race day. It’s hard to guess when you haven’t raced it yet. Now we know how the bike works, and we can tune it to how it performs in a race. It’s always tough when you’re on a new motorcycle and haven’t raced it before, but now we’ve got it pretty honed in and definitely a lot closer.

This past week, was it still a lot of trying new things and testing on the bike, or do you feel like you’re in a good enough place now?

This week was actually the least amount of testing I’ve done, which is good. I got to do some motos, especially on Wednesday, and I only tried one thing. It was nice to just do laps, ride, and work on myself again. Before that, it was pretty much all testing, usually just two or three laps at a time.

Do you feel like you’re fully used to the new bike yet, or is there still a lot to figure out?

As far as getting used to it, I’m used to it. Every rider is different, though. Jason and Jorge didn’t really like the bike the way I like it, so you have to change a lot of things. What’s nice is that sometimes you get stuck in a setup window where the bike only works one way, and you can’t get away from it. This bike went from being set up completely opposite of how I like it, and it still works really well. That’s pretty cool.

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Hunter Lawrence

Congrats on the second last week. We’ve seen you get 2nd before and be super fast, but does this one feel different? How did last weekend feel?

Yeah, it felt good. I felt comfortable on the gate, and I think if I have the machinery to help me do what I know how to do, I’m going to be a race-winning contender every weekend. That’s what we’ve been working on, and hopefully I can replicate that again this weekend.

Mentally, are you in it for the championship, or are you just focused on getting that first race win and building from there?

Absolutely the championship. That’s my dream, and it’s a huge goal of mine. I’m not thinking about it every day, but it’s definitely my motivation.

Do you feel like the bike is completely set up the way you want right now, or are you still tweaking things during the week?

We’re still figuring things out. I think we made a lot of progress during the week, and I’m excited to see if that confirms itself this weekend.

Have you been based in California so far?

I’ve been in California for the first three rounds. We’ll go back this week because the series heads to Houston, which is pretty close [to home in Florida].

So you’ve been in California the whole time? Is that mainly to cut down on travel, or is it also about getting used to the tracks?

Mostly for travel and testing with the team. We usually test during the first few rounds to get everything situated, so it’s just easier logistically.

Do you feel any added pressure with your brother and Jo out, with it mainly being you and Chance right now?

I don’t really feel it, honestly. At the end of the day, it’s racing and things happen sometimes. I’m just out here doing everything I can, and the team is trying to help me achieve my goals. We’re working together. Maybe on a corporate level there’s some pressure since there aren’t as many riders out there, but it’s not something I feel, and I don’t think anyone on the team feels it either.

At least there’s still one Lawrence brother out there.

Yeah, amen.

You mentioned at the preseason press conference that it’s nice being able to bounce ideas off Jett during race weekends. What’s it been like without him around?

Jett is still deep into rehab, so during the week he’s not training with me as much since he’s focused on that. But my dad is still there every step of the way and works really well with me and the team, just like when Jett is around. We might talk about a few small things when he’s there, but it’s mostly myself, my dad, and the team working together.

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Max Anstie

You’ve probably been asked this nonstop, but how are things between you and Haiden?

You’re actually the first one to ask. As far as I’m concerned, I’m just doing my thing. Of course, we’re battling, and we’re only at round three. We’re fighting for a championship, and I hit his rear wheel last week. That was on me. I’m just here to do my job. There’s a big enough age gap there, and I’m focused on my own thing.

I’m really just focused on myself during the week, coming to the weekends, and doing my job. I honestly couldn’t be happier with where we’re at. It’s a fantastic position to be in, to be talked about and mentioned in these conversations. I love it. I’d rather be here than not talked about at all. We’re only at round three, so let’s keep the ball rolling.

You rode together this week? Was everything fine between you?

Yeah, we rode together this week. He did his thing, I did mine. We didn’t touch each other after the race. Not really. That’s just kind of how it is.

Did it bother you at all that there wasn’t much interaction afterward? Would you expect an apology?

After the race and the press conference, he did say sorry and that he didn’t mean it. As far as I’m concerned, I left it there. We’re fine. We’re in a good spot.

Does it add stress when you’re battling your teammate? Does it change how you race him?

No, not really. Before last weekend, the team’s plan was to stack points and not race each other. That was the direction we were given. Obviously, things changed a bit last week, but I’m still here for the team. We’re both on the same color bike, and it’s still fantastic to be racing in this position. It doesn’t really change anything for me. I just focus on myself and do my thing.

You’re still close in the points. Is the goal still the championship, or are you not thinking about that yet?

I think thinking about the championship means taking wins when they’re there, and when they’re not, minimizing the damage and not losing too many points. If you’re single-mindedly focused on needing a win every night, that’s when you step over the line and crash, and that’s not the way forward. The goal is to be there every week.

It’s still early. Once we get past the halfway point, maybe you start thinking differently. Right now, it’s just another day, another track. I focus on myself and do the best job I can. There are so many good guys out there who can be in the mix, so we just take it as it comes.

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