Time machine

When winner Max Anstie stepped up on the 250SX podium at the 2026 Anaheim opener, it marked a historic moment. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider was now the oldest rider in supercross history to win a 125/250 main event—by a single day! Anstie was 32 years, 8 months, and 16 days old, which meant he surpassed vet legend John Dowd’s previous record by 24 hours. Dowd set the mark at the 1998 Dallas 125SX. Both were aboard Yamahas; though Max’s was a YZ250F, Dowd rode a YZ125. Coincidentally, the night Dowd won—April 25, 1998—just so happened to be Max’s fifth birthday.