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FAST FACT

The 2026 Fast Power Index, In Season RD05.

By Fowlers Facts

Welcome to the We Went Fast Fast Power Index (FPI), a performance-based rating on a rider’s skills and how they’re trending over the last 4 rounds. It’s not a prediction model (we see you RC!) or a championship standings replacement. It’s a power ranking designed to measure a rider’s current competitive strength built for fans to bench race and for team managers to evaluate talent.

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.

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

450 FPI Rankings

Remember the Fast Power Index (FPI) uses the last 4 rounds to determine the ranking, that means Anaheim 1 is no longer included in the numbers below. From this point forward the FPI will be a great representation of who’s strong NOW vs. championship standings that represent the whole season.

Last 4 Rounds
The starts have been critical to the Eli Tomac’s last two rounds.

* Excludes riders with only one start in the last 4 rounds.

  • Hunter Lawrence moves into the #1 FPI ranking and 1st lap position continues to be his top strength – he’s not rounded lap 1 worse than 4th position all season! That said, he’s also steadily improved his speed the last 2 rounds and he’s now ranked 2nd fastest the last 4 rounds (he was 4th ranked thru 3 rounds)!
  • Eli Tomac sits third in the championship standings but 2nd in the Fast Power Index. It’s the first time all season he’s not #1 and that’s all due to 1st lap position. The first 3 rounds he was 1st, 3rd, and 5th. The last 3 rounds he’s been 5th, 9th, 11th, 1st, and 22nd (remember we count individual Triple Crown races independently in the FPI).
  • Jorge Prado sits 7th in the standings but 5th in the FPI and with good reason. He’s had 4th ranked speed in qualifying and heat races the last 4 rounds along with 5th ranked lap 1 position. His challenge is finding that same speed in the main events where he’s 7th ranked.
  • Justin Cooper sits 6th in the standings but I’ve got him ranked at 8th in the FPI because he’s 15th ranked lap one position (15.3) the last 4 rounds. You simply can’t win races (or even podium) from 16th, 14th, 12th, 5th, 16th, or 5th position on the first lap!
  • For those making bets, don’t pay attention to Cooper Webb’s qualifying or heat race speed. He’s ranked 7th and 10th, respectively, the last 4 rounds. In the main events, he’s got 5th ranked speed.
  • Chase Sexton has rounded lap 1 outside the top 10 in the last 3 races and 4 of the 7 races this season. If he can figure out the starts his 3rd ranked speed will have him in title contention.
450 FPI Key Stats Leaders (Rolling 4 Rounds Average)
  • Main Event Fastest: Eli Tomac (2.8)
  • Main Event 1st Lap Position: Hunter Lawrence (2.2)
  • Podiums: Hunter Lawrence (5)
  • Heat Race Fastest: Chase Sexton (1.7)
  • Qualifying Fastest: Eli Tomac (2.2)

250 FPI Rankings

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Latest 4 Rounds
  • Haiden Deegan has been perfect the last 4 rounds – fastest qualifier, 4 heat wins, the best 1st lap position in the mains, and fastest in all 4 rounds. That’s how you top the FPI and lead the 250 West division with authority.
  • Levi Kitchen’s 1st Lap Position woes re-emerged in Glendale rounding lap 1 in 13th position. His 2nd ranked speed simply won’t matter when he’s averaging 7.2 on the 1st lap the last 4 rounds.
  • Max Vohland sits 7th in the standings but 5th in the FPI because he’s got the 2nd ranked starts over the last 4 rounds. He’s averaging 3.5 position on the 1st lap in this span. Now he’s gotta add some speed to stay up front – he’s only got 8th ranked speed.
  • Ryder DiFrancesco sits 3rd in the standings but 7th in the FPI. His qualifying speed is 3rd ranked but his main event speed is 7th ranked. His starts have been inconsistent too. He was 3rd on the first lap in Glendale but his season is up and down – 1st, 19th, 6th, 15th, 5th, 7th, 3rd.
250 FPI Key Stats Leaders (Rolling 4 Round Average)
  • Main Event Fastest: Haiden Deegan (1)
  • Main Event 1st Lap Position: Haiden Deegan (2.5)
  • Podiums: Haiden Deegan (6)
  • Heat Race Fastest: Haiden Deegan (1.7)
  • Qualifying Fastest: Haiden Deegan (1)

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.

About the Fast Power Index (FPI)

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.