Is there no stopping Australian Jett Lawrence? – the young Honda star won the opening round of the 2024 Super-Motocross World Championship (SMX) season-opener at Anaheim 1 at the weekend.
The Team Honda HRC rider became the first athlete to win his first 450SX class main event with a decisive victory at the opening round of the 17-round 2024 Monster Energy Supercross season on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson earned second place in front of a packed Angel Stadium.
Red Bull KTM’s new signing Chase Sexton earned the final podium spot in the first race of the year that marks the 50th anniversary season of AMA Supercross.
Each Supercross race also pays points toward the 31-round Super-Motocross World Championship.
In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire earned the first win of that 10-round championship.
“It’s an unreal thing to kind of grasp. Really because you just think with how many years this sport’s been around, you’d have thought someone has done it before. But it’s cool that it took that many years for someone to do it. I’m definitely grateful and I’m happy to do it for Honda and Red Bull.
“They’ve been behind me for a very long time now so it’s good to give back in that type of way and get up in the history books for them, ” Jett Lawrence said, when asked about the significance of being the first rider to win his first 450SX race.
In the opening round of the Western Regional 250SX class, RJ Hampshire racked up first place points and the early-season lead.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith battled up to a second place. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen brought home the third place spot for his new team for 2024.
“I know how fast it can change and how up and down it is … Stay level-headed and take next weekend the same as we took this weekend. Stay in the fight, give myself a chance. If the win’s there, awesome, if not, take what the night gives me,” said Hampshire downplaying the importance of one win to establish himself early in the season as the front runner.
Round two takes the action to Oracle Park in San Francisco on January 13. The racing starts earlier this year and the opening ceremonies kick-off round two at 8pm. Every round of the 17-round Monster Energy Supercross season also serves as the first 17 rounds of the 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship.
After its launch in 2023, the SuperMotocross League combines the excitement of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross season, two playoff rounds, and one final to crown an overall winner in both the 450SMX and 250SMX classes.
Photo courtesy Honda
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