The 2026 World Supercross Championship began with a bang in Calgary, as Cooper Webb and Max Anstie delivered impressive performances under challenging conditions. The Canadian GP was marked by a dramatic storm that interrupted the final race, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
Webb, racing for Rick Ware Racing secured his first victory of the season in the SX1 class. His triumph came after a thrilling battle in the Main Event which was ultimately red-flagged due to severe weather conditions. Despite the early end, Webb’s performance in the sprint races secured him the
Cooper Webb’s Path to Victory
Cooper Webb showcased his skill and determination throughout the event. In Sprint Race 1 he finished second behind his teammate Justin Hill who set the pace in practice and qualifying. Webb’s performance improved in Sprint Race 2 where he delivered a textbook ride, excelling through the whoops and making decisive passes to take victory.
The Main Event was a different story. Strong winds blew tough blocks onto the track, prompting the FIM to red-flag the race for safety reasons. However, the combined results from the sprint races awarded Webb the Canadian GP win. Dean Wilson took second place
Max Anstie’s Flawless Performance
In the SX2 class, Max Anstie made a stunning debut for Rick Ware Racing with a clean sweep of victories. Anstie’s performance was particularly impressive given the competitive field and the challenging conditions. He overcame a surprise challenge from the Stark riders, who benefited from the high altitude in Calgary, which sits 3,500 ft above sea level.
The Stark bikes, powered by electric motors, were not hampered by the performance deficit experienced by their fuel-powered rivals. Brian Hsu and Michael Hicks made explosive starts in all three races, with Hsu leading the opening laps. However, Anstie’s strength in the whoops and his race experience allowed him to pass the Stark riders and secure a perfect three-race score.
In the Main Event, Anstie sealed the Hicks finished third in the Main Event and second
Rick Ware Racing’s Strong Start
Rick Ware Racing has assembled a top-class team for the 2026 season, with Webb and Anstie joining Hill and Devin Simonson for the duration of the championship. Team boss Dave Antolak expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance in Calgary, despite the extreme weather conditions.
Antolak noted that the cancellation of the third race actually helped the team, as Hill was credited with joint-second place instead of third. He also emphasized the team’s commitment to giving the reigning champions, Quad Lock Honda a battle for the title. “We were pretty getting tired of Yarrive Konsky winning it all the time,” Antolak said, “so I want to give them a little competition.”
With a short break before the next event in Birmingham, Antolak said the team would not be resting on their laurels. “Well, no matter how good you look on paper, you still have to go out there and race,” he said. “But this definitely helps this weekend, we laid the ground work to have some more good results from now on.”
