The 2024 race season is coming up and Team Honda HRC is already expecting success following a dominant 2023 performance in the United States.
During a special event this evening, American Honda presented its race plans for the fast-approaching 2024 racing season.
Held in the new Collection Hall and meeting space at the manufacturer’s Torrance, California, campus, the event was attended by team sponsors and members of the media, and was highlighted by the factory Team Honda HRC lineup, including riders, managers and technicians.
The factory squad is coming off a record-setting 2023 season that saw it take a record six professional AMA championships. In addition, an impressive list of Honda-supported teams was presented, including SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda, SLR Honda, JCR Honda, Turner Racing Honda, Honda Off-Road Factory Racing and Raceco-USA Honda.
Also present was Phoenix Racing Honda, celebrating the recent signing of two-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion Dylan Ferrandis, the Frenchman to campaign the premier class in AMA Supercross.
Heading up Team Honda HRC is Australian rider Jett Lawrence, who at 20 years old has already accumulated six AMA crowns, including three in 2023—the 250SX West title, the AMA Pro Motocross 450 championship and the inaugural SuperMotocross title.
The 2024 season will be Jett’s first campaigning the premier class indoors. Joining Jett aboard another factory CRF450RWE is his elder brother Hunter Lawrence, who last season earned the 250SX East and AMA Pro Motocross 250 crowns.
As previously announced, Japan’s Jo Shimoda takes Hunter’s old spot aboard the team’s CRF250R, along with returning racer Chance Hymas.
The four-rider lineup is among the strongest ever fielded by the squad, which is intent on carrying its success forward into the coming season.
That confidence is thanks also in part to the return of top members within the team and crew, including manager Lars Lindstrom and 450 and 250 crew chiefs Grant Hutcheson and Jordan Troxell, respectively.
Christien Ducharme is Jett Lawrence’s mechanic, while Hunter’s technician is Cameron Camera. Ben Griffith and Thomas Harris will serve as mechanics for Shimoda and Hymas, respectively.
The 17-round 2024 AMA Supercross season starts on January 6 in Anaheim, California, followed by the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross series and the three-round SuperMotocross Championship.
Brandon Wilson, manager of racing and experiential marketing, said: “While it’s gratifying that we were able to get Team Honda HRC back on top where it belongs in 2023, this team’s proud legacy wasn’t built on a one-and-done philosophy; in fact, the recent success just makes us even more determined to keep it going in 2024.
“Fortunately, I think we have all the pieces needed to accomplish that: an incredibly talented rider roster, a capable crew, competitive machinery and valuable sponsors.
“And while of course the factory squad is the focus, I’m also very proud of the lineup of support teams we’re fielding in various disciplines. I can’t wait for the new season to get started.”
Photo courtesy Honda
© Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here
2023 FINAL AMA MX SERIES STANDINGS:
450 Class Championship Final Standings:
1 Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 550 Points
2 Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Yamaha – 399 Points
3 Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 386 Points
4 Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 338 Points
5 Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki – 328 Points
6 Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha – 255 Points
7 Ty Masterpool, Fallon, Nev., Kawasaki – 242 Points
8 Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Suzuki – 219 Points
9 Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 207 Points
10 Grant Harlan, Justin, Texas, Yamaha – 176 Points
250 Class Championship Final Standings:
1 Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 419 Points
2 Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 399 Points
3 Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki – 393 Points
4 Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 371 Points
5 Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha – 322 Points
6 Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 302 Points
7 Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM – 295 Points
8 RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna – 288 Points
9 Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Husqvarna – 221 Points
10 Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Kawasaki – 208 Points