The 2016 season opener marks the 67th time the gate will drop for a 450SX Class race in Anaheim. No stadium in supercross history has hosted more races. Anaheim is the proverbial Mecca of the sport.
In 13 of the last 15 seasons, Angel Stadium hosted three races of the championship.
Anaheim has hosted a race in every supercross season with the exception of: ’74, ’75 ’80, ’88, ’97, and ’98. Thus, it has been a part of the championship for 36 of the 42 seasons in history.
Angel Stadium has served as the home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and three iterations of the MLB’s Angels franchise – California Angels, Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Anaheim has been a destination city for more than 50 years with Disneyland sitting less than three miles from Angel Stadium.
All competing manufacturers are based in Southern California, within an hour drive of Angel Stadium.
450SX Class Stats: Anaheim Opener
The first 450SX Class race held in Anaheim was on December 4, 1976. Marty Smith won on a Honda.
Honda is the single most successful manufacturer in Anaheim opener history, posting a combined 20 wins across the 450SX and 250SX classes.
Honda has the most Anaheim opener wins with 13, despite not having a rider win the race in a decade. Kevin Windham gave Honda its last Anaheim opener win in 2005.
Ken Roczen has finished off the podium in just one of his six 450SX Class starts in Anaheim. He won three of those starts.
Ken Roczen gave KTM its first Anaheim opener victory in 2014.
Defending champion Ryan Dungey has never won the Anaheim opener. He is one of just five past champions never to do so.
Coincidentally, despite winning five Monster Energy Supercross titles Ricky Carmichael never won a season opener in Anaheim, meaning he had to come from behind to win each championship.
A total of 23 different riders have stood atop the podium to start the season in Anaheim.
Ken Roczen is the only rider in Monster Energy Supercross history to win back-to-back Anaheim openers on different brands.
Suzuki has won two of the last three Anaheim openers with Davi Millsaps (2013) and Roczen (2015).
Since 1974, the winner of the season opening race has gone on to win the championship 17 times. Of those 17 seasons, 15 of them began in Anaheim.
Last year’s fourth-place finish by Ryan Dungey signified the first time he failed to finish on the podium in the 450SX Class opener.
Anaheim Opener Wins by Brand (Last Win)
Honda: 13 (2005)
Yamaha: 12 (2010)
Kawasaki: 6 (2012)
Suzuki: 4 (2015)
KTM: 1 (2014)
All-Time Anaheim Wins by Brand (Last Win)
Yamaha: 20 (2011)
Honda: 19 (2005)
Kawasaki: 14 (2014)
Suzuki: 10 (2015)
KTM: 3 (2015)
First Time Winners in Anaheim
1978, Gaylon Mosier
1979, Kent Howerton
1982, Donnie Hansen
1983, David Bailey
1984, Johnny O’Mara
1990, Damon Bradshaw
2003, Chad Reed
2009, Josh Grant
2014, Ken Roczen
Anaheim Opener Wins
Jeremy McGrath: 6
Chad Reed: 3
James Stewart: 3
Ken Roczen: 2
Ryan Villopoto: 2
Davi Millsaps: 1
Josh Grant: 1
Kevin Windham: 1
David Vuillemin: 1
Ezra Lusk: 1
Damon Bradshaw: 2
David Bailey: 2
Kent Howerton: 2
Mike LaRocco: 1
Jeff Stanton: 1
Rick Johnson: 1
Jeff Ward: 1
Broc Glover: 1
Johnny O’Mara: 1
Donnie Hansen: 1
Gaylon Mosier: 1
Bob Hannah: 1
Marty Smith: 1
All-Time Anaheim Wins
James Stewart: 8
Jeremy McGrath: 8
Chad Reed: 8
Ricky Carmichael: 8
Ryan Villopoto: 5
Ken Roczen: 3
Ryan Dungey: 2
Kevin Windham: 2
Ezra Lusk: 2
Damon Bradshaw: 2
David Bailey: 2
Kent Howerton: 2
Davi Millsaps: 1
Josh Grant: 1
David Vuillemin: 1
Mike LaRocco: 1
Jeff Stanton: 1
Rick Johnson: 1
Jeff Ward: 1
Broc Glover: 1
Johnny O’Mara: 1
Donnie Hansen: 1
Gaylon Mosier: 1
Bob Hannah: 1
Marty Smith: 1
250SX Class Stats: Anaheim Opener
The first 250SX Class race held in Anaheim was on February 2, 1985. Mike Healy won on a Suzuki in his first career start.
The 2016 season opener marks the 59th time the gate will drop for a 250SX Class race in Anaheim. No stadium in Supercross history has hosted more 250SX Class races.
The winner of the Anaheim opener has gone on to win the Western Regional 250SX Class title 12 times.
Damon Huffman is the only 250SX Class rider to ever win three consecutive Anaheim openers. Four riders have won back-to-back Anaheim openers – Jake Weimer, Travis Preston, Jeremy McGrath and Jeff Matiasevich.
A total of 22 different riders have stood atop the podium to start the 250SX Class season in Anaheim.
Ryan Villopoto and Jeremy McGrath are the only riders in history to win the Anaheim opener in both the 450SX Class and 250SX Class.
Jessy Nelson became the first rider of the new millennium to earn his inaugural victory at the Anaheim opener. Despite all its history, only seven riders have earned their first career wins at the Anaheim opener.
Yamaha has not won the 250SX Class Anaheim opener in 14 seasons.
KTM has won back-to-back Anaheim openers for the first time in brand history. Of the brand’s six Anaheim wins, half have come in the season opener.
Anaheim Opener Wins by Brand (Last Win)
Kawasaki: 9 (2011)
Honda: 7 (2013)
Suzuki: 6 (2008)
KTM: 3 (2015)
Yamaha: 3 (2001)
All-Time Anaheim Wins by Brand (Last Win)
Kawasaki: 25 (2014)
Honda: 11 (2014)
Yamaha: 8 (2015)
Suzuki: 8 (2009)
KTM: 6 (2015)
First Time Winners in Anaheim Opener
1985, Mike Healy
1986, Tyson Vohland
1987, Jeff Matiasevich
1990, Michael Craig
1993, Damon Huffman
1999, Casey Johnson
2015, Jessy Nelson
Anaheim Opener Wins
Damon Huffman: 3
Jake Weimer: 2
Travis Preston: 2
Jeremy McGrath: 2
Jeff Matiasevich: 2
Jessy Nelson: 1
Jason Anderson: 1
Eli Tomac: 1
Cole Seely: 1
Josh Hansen: 1
Ryan Dungey: 1
Ryan Villopoto: 1
Andrew Short: 1
Nathan Ramsey: 1
Ivan Tedesco: 1
Ernesto Fonseca: 1
David Pingree: 1
Casey Johnson: 1
Kevin Windham: 1
Michael Craig: 1
Tyson Vohland: 1
Mike Healy: 1
All-Time Anaheim Wins:
Ivan Tedesco: 5
Jake Weimer: 4
Eli Tomac: 3
Ryan Dungey: 3
Ryan Villopoto: 3
Ernesto Fonseca: 3
Damon Huffman: 3
Cooper Webb: 2
Cole Seely: 2
Josh Hansen: 2
Grant Langston: 2
Nathan Ramsey: 2
Travis Preston: 2
James Stewart: 2
David Pingree: 2
Jeremy McGrath: 2
Jeff Matiasevich: 2
Jessy Nelson: 1
Jason Anderson: 1
Dean Wilson: 1
Ken Roczen: 1
Trey Canard: 1
Jason Lawrence: 1
Andrew Short: 1
Brock Sellards: 1
Tallon Vohland: 1
Casey Johnson: 1
Kevin Windham: 1
Michael Craig: 1
Tyson Vohland: 1
Mike Healy: 1
