2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Opener: Garrett Marchbanks Faces Setbacks in Debut with Monster Energy Kawasaki
Garrett Marchbanks encountered a challenging start to his season at the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross opener, failing to secure a spot in the main event during his debut with Monster Energy Kawasaki.
In the second 450SX heat race, Marchbanks fell at the outset, relegating him to the back of the pack. He fought back to finish tenth, just behind Shane McElrath, falling short of the vital transfer position. Subsequently, in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), he advanced from a sixth-place start to third but lost control of his KX450SR in the whoops midway through the race, resulting in a crash that hindered his efforts. He managed to remount but finished tenth, again missing a main event berth.
Reflecting on the race, Marchbanks stated, “Today was a tough one for me and not how I expected or would have liked for it to go. I felt good during qualifying, and I had good speed throughout sections of the track. Poor starts and mistakes on my part led to me being out of the mix. I know what the team and I are capable of, and we will show it next weekend. This will be a learning experience for me and we’ll move forward.”
Marchbanks will aim for improvement in the upcoming San Diego SX, as he looks to capitalize on the potential demonstrated in practice.
