There were learning opportunities to be had for Team Honda HRC at Arlington last weekend, the seventh round of the AMA Supercross series in the United States.
After leading most of 450SX main, Honda’s Jett Lawrence was relegated to fourth thanks to late crashes, as Yamaha’s Cooper Webb went on to win his first main event of the season.
Lawrence was the fastest 450SX rider and led most of the main event; although late falls ultimately dropped him to fourth, he retained the points lead leaving Texas.
His elder brother Hunter Lawrence had what was arguably his best ride aboard a 450, running near the front of the main event before equalling his career-best premier-class result in fifth.
An impressive holeshot kicked off the 450SX main event for Jett Lawrence, with Hunter just behind, then slipping a spot before the second turn.
While Jett went about establishing a gap at the front, Hunter did his best to defend third place, which he successfully did until KTM’s Aaron Plessinger got by on lap six.
Through the middle section of the race, Hunter tried hard to retaliate, but he was overtaken by Yamaha’s Eli Tomac with six laps remaining.
Three laps later, Jett went off the track in a rhythm section and fell, losing the lead to Webb. Nearly two seconds down and with time expiring, Jett took off after the leader, getting to his rear fender on the last lap.
He attempted a pass through the whoop section, but he made contact with a lapped rider and went down, resulting in a fourth-place finish.
Also on the wild final lap, Hunter made a valiant pass attempt on Plessinger but slid into the stadium wall and had to settle for fifth.
In the 250SX East ranks, Fire Power Honda rider Max Anstie is enjoying another strong showing thus far this season. The Brit currently sits atop the points standings.
The AMA Supercross series will this weekend kick off Daytona Bike Week in Florida.
Photo courtesy Honda
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450SX Results, round 7:
- Cooper Webb (Yam)
- Eli Tomac (Yam)
- Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
- Jett Lawrence (Hon)
- Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
- Chase Sexton (KTM)
- Justin Cooper (Yam)
- Ken Roczen (Suz)
- Malcolm Stewart (Hus)
- Jason Anderson (Kaw)
450SX Championship Points (after 7 of 17 rounds):
- Jett Lawrence: 135
- Cooper Webb: 132
- Aaron Plessinger: 128
- Chase Sexton: 127
- Eli Tomac: 122
- Jason Anderson: 118
- Ken Roczen: 116
- Dylan Ferrandis: 93
- Hunter Lawrence: 86
- Justin Cooper: 75
250SX East Region Results, Arlington:
- Haiden Deegan (Yam)
- Cameron McAdoo (Kaw)
- Tom Vialle (KTM)
- Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
- Pierce Brown (Gas)
- Max Anstie (Hon)
- Chance Hymas (Hon)
- Coty Schock (Yam)
- Guillem Farres (Hus)
- Daxton Bennick (Yam)
250SX East Region Championship Points (after 2 of 9 rounds):
- Max Anstie: 38
- Pierce Brown: 34
- Daxton Bennick: 32
- Coty Schock: 32
- Haiden Deegan: 31
- Cameron McAdoo: 29
- Chance Hymas: 27
- Guillem Farres: 27
- Henry Miller: 26
- Austin Forkner: 25