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We Went Fast
FAST FACT

The 2026 Fast Power Index, In-Season Edition.

By Fowlers Facts

Welcome to the We Went Fast Fast Power Index (FPI), a performance-based rating built from race results, context, and trend analysis. It’s not a prediction model (we see you RC!) or a championship standings replacement. It’s a power ranking designed to measure current competitive strength.

The FPI is a ranking of the best riders, based on performance, not hype, reputation or last year’s points.

This In-Season FPI will ultimately measure the a riders competitive strength over the last 4 rounds (the first three will be thin on data). Built for fans to bench race and for team managers to evaluate talent, the FPI reduces everything to a single number–backed by detailed on-track performance data. No practice track rumors. No social buzz. Just facts.

The In-season FPI (same as the Pre-season FPI) considers:

  • Recent race results
  • Win and podium frequency
  • Finish quality: where results came from, not just raw position
  • Race craft: includes qualifying, mains, individual Triple Crown races and East/West Showdowns

FPI does not assume improvement, decline, or “new bike magic.” Those things may happen, but they have to be proven on the track before the numbers move.

Special thanks to my co-conspirator Arich Knaub. In addition to being a good friend and great father, he’s a data scientist and engineer and helped with a chunk of the behind-the-scenes work.

450 FPI Rankings

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Be sure to read What Really Happened? for a more detailed breakdown of the FPI.

Important Footnotes:
- In-season FPI will ultimately be based on the last 4 rounds of performances. 
- "Starts" include individual Triple Crown Races. There are 23 gate drops per 17-rd. season.
Top 20

*slide table left to reveal more info.

  • Remember, this Index will ultimately use a 4 week rolling average so don’t be surprised when it tracks to results closely the first two rounds.
  • Eli Tomac delivered what he hadn’t the consistently done the last two years – a great start. He round lap 1 in 1st vs. his Preseason two year average of 8.1!! That’s right, Eli was 7.1 positions better on lap 1 than he’d averaged the past 2 years. The rest was classic All-time Eli.
Our Preseason FPI noted Eli Tomac averaged 8.1 on the 1st Lap over the last two seasons. He was 1st on the 1st lap last weekend in Anaheim.

  • Jorge Prado did the unbelievable. 6th fastest in qualifying, won his heat with the 2nd fastest overall heat laptime, and then uncorked the holeshot and set the 6th fastest lap in the main event. The speed wasn’t podium level speed so we’ll be watching that metric closely.
  • Cooper Webb finished 7th but I’ve got him locked in at 8th ranked FPI. Two reasons – good but not great speed and mediocre start. He was 8th fastest in qualifying, 11th fastest overall in the heat, and 8th fastest in the main. And he rounded lap 1 in 9th on the restart. This looks a lot different if there’s no red flag.
  • Amazing how quickly the internet trolls are on the Sexton/Kawasaki finish. The facts folks. He was fastest qualifier and 3rd fastest in the main. What sticks out his 12th fastest overall in the heat and 5th. That leads to a bad start in the main. That leads to mistakes trying to come through the pack. Facts.

Two other riders to note…

  • Austin Forkner finished 15th in Triumph’s 450 Supercross debut but I’ve got him +3 positions better in the FPI. 12th fastest lap in the main and an 11th place start show there’s upside here.
  • Justin Cooper finished 6th, but I’ve got him 10th in the FPI. 9th ranked speed across qualifying, heat, and main event and 12th place 1st lap position are great. But he made it up with consistent laps and no mistakes. But the speed (aka gotta skim the whoops).

250 FPI Rankings

Whether you love or hate this, join the conversation on Instagram or Twitter, @wewentfast

Important Footnotes:
- In-season FPI will ultimately be based on the last 4 rounds of performances. 
- "Starts" include individual Triple Crown Races. There are 23 gate drops per 17-rd. season.
Top 22
  • Cameron McAdoo might have finished 22nd, but the Fast Power Index is based on his riding and he showed he’ll be a contender all season. While he was only 10th fastest in qualifying, he was 5th fastest overall in heats, 6th fastest in the main, and maybe most importantly started the main in 2nd.
Cameron McAdoo leads Haiden Deegan at the beginning of the A1 250 main event. Photo: Octopi Media.
  • Levi Kitchen finished 6th but the Fast Power Index drops him to 9th – that’s entirely the impact of finishing the 1st lap in 20th. His speed – fastest qualifier, 3rd fastest in the heat, 2nd fastest in the main – shows he’ll be much better over the next couple of rounds.
  • Parker Ross finished 14th but I’ve got him at 11th. Qualifying and heat race pace (17th fastest) wasn’t awesome, but he was 11th on the start in the main and 12th fastest. He showed up when it counted and the FPI noticed it.

Glossary of Terms

Here’s a quick cheat sheet on definitions.

Speed Metrics
  • Main Fast Avg. – This is the average fastest lap rank in a main event.
  • Heat Fast Avg. – This is the average fastest lap rank in heat races.
  • Qualifying Avg. – This is the average qualifying rank.
Start Metrics
  • 1st Lap Pos. – This is the average position when crossing the finish line for the first time.
Results
  • Podiums – The count of top 3 finishes.
  • Starts – The number of times they started a race, either a main event or a triple crown race.
  • Race Minus – This is a race where a rider loses positions between the 1st lap and the finish. Typically represents when a rider has made a mistake. That said, it can also highlight riders where they are great starters but don’t have the speed to maintain position. In either case, it’s not optimal.