Anything strange could have happened to cause its failure. Seen lots of brand new items break or fail soon after put into service or arrive defective.
Just installed new chain and sprockets on my track bike today, amazing how strong they are from the demands we put on them. As shown with the wear on my vortex rear sprocket. Aluminum and done after two track days as expected. Got it for 1/2 price so no big loss. Replaced with a steel this time just to avoid replacing again so quickly. I am not worthy enough to notice the difference of rotational mass.