It was Australian Jett Lawrence who dominated the AMA motocross championship series opener at Fox Raceway at Pala, in California, at the weekend.
The second half of the SMX World Championship regular season fired into life over the weekend with the opening round of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championships.
Riders took to Pala for the 18th round of the combined championships, where a sun-soaked track and mild temps set the scene for two standout performances.
Jett Lawrence returned from an ACL injury to pick up right where he left off, dominating both motos in the 450 Class and maintaining his undefeated record at the venue. In the 250 Class, Haiden Deegan kicked off his title defence with a commanding 1-1 effort at his home track.
450 CLASS
It was a familiar sight when the gates dropped for the opening 450 Class moto – the Lawrence brothers, Jett and Hunter, shot out side-by-side and nearly collided in the first turn, with Jett Lawrence narrowly edging out the Pro Motocross Holeshot. Hunter Lawrence was shuffled back by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper, while reigning champ Chase Sexton slotted into fifth on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine.
Sexton faced trouble early, forced to remove his goggles before ducking into the mechanics’ area for a new set. Things only got worse when he crashed on the following lap and retired from the moto with a DNF.
Out front, Jett Lawrence was untouchable, extending his lead into double digits and leading every lap to take his fifth consecutive moto win at Fox Raceway.
Cooper held strong for a career-best second, while Hunter Lawrence came home third. Eli Tomac finished fourth, with Aaron Plessinger rounding out the top five.
In the final moto of the day, Hunter Lawrence nailed the Pro Motocross Holeshot, but Jett Lawrence and Plessinger quickly slipped past, with Tomac just behind. Hunter clawed his way back into second before Tomac pushed through into the runner-up spot, setting up a heavyweight duel with Jett Lawrence.
For the first time in Pro Motocross, Tomac had Lawrence within reach and applied constant pressure, closing the gap to under a second with around eight minutes remaining.
“I was trying my heart out and it was close for about 25 minutes,” Tomac said. “We both had our strong spots on the track, so we were constantly trading momentum.
“It was definitely a pleasure to race against Jett.”
Despite the challenge, Lawrence remained composed. “I had a few good beast mode attacks from [Tomac] and I had to do everything I could to fend him off,” Lawrence explained. “I knew I had a stronger section, so I made sure I nailed it every time. With about five laps to go I had to give it everything and I tried to use the lappers to my advantage.”
Lawrence crossed the line 11.8 seconds clear for his sixth straight moto win, while Tomac held on for second. Plessinger managed to wrestle third from Hunter Lawrence in a late-race scrap.
In three 450 class appearances at Fox Raceway, Jett Lawrence has won all six motos and led every lap, extending his staggering form with a third straight 1-1 result and his 16th win in 17 career starts. Tomac, contesting his first opening round since 2022, finished second overall (4-2), while Hunter Lawrence rounded out the podium in third (3-4).
“It was a pretty average day, but I’ll take it. There’s a lot to build on,” Hunter Lawrence said of his podium. “I had a great battle with [Plessinger] in Moto 2 and made a little mistake right at the end and he was there to capitalise. That’s frustrating to end the day like that, but happy to be on the podium.”
Jett Lawrence leaves Fox Raceway with a 10-point lead over Tomac in the standings, while Hunter Lawrence sits 12 points behind in third.
Round two is set for Prairie City SVRA Rancho Cordova, CA, next weekend.
450 Class – Overall Results – Pala, CA:
Pos Rider Hometown Bike Motos
1st Jett Lawrence Landsborough, Australia Honda 1st – 1st
2nd Eli Tomac Cortez, CO, United States Yamaha 4th – 2nd
3rd Hunter Lawrence Landsborough, Australia Honda 3rd – 4th
4th Aaron Plessinger Hamilton, OH, United States KTM 5th – 3rd
5th Justin Cooper Cold Spring Harbor, NY, United States Yamaha 2nd – 8th
6th Jorge Prado Lugo, Galicia, Spain Kawasaki 7th – 6th
7th Jason Anderson Edgewood, NM, United States Kawasaki 9th – 5th
8th Joey Savatgy Thomasville, GA, United States Honda 8th – 10th
9th R.J. Hampshire Hudson, FL, United States Husqvarna 6th – 12th
10th Benoit Paturel France Suzuki 11th – 9th
11th Phil Nicoletti Cochecton, NY, United States Yamaha 10th – 11th
12th Derek Kelley Hesperia, CA, United States GasGas 12th – 13th
13th Dean Wilson Scotland Honda 13th – 15th
14th Christian Craig Temecula, CA, United States Husqvarna 15th – 14th
15th Marshal Weltin Ubly, MI, United States Yamaha 14th – 16th
16th Fredrik Noren Sweden Kawasaki 16th – 17th
17th Ryan Surratt Corona, CA, United States Yamaha 17th – 18th
18th Jerry Robin Hamel, MN, United States Yamaha 20th – 19th
19th Tristan Lane Port Orange, FL, United States KTM 22nd – 20th
20th Bryce Shelly Elizabethtown, PA, United States Yamaha 19th – 26th
250 Class – Overall Results – Pala, CA:
Pos Rider Hometown Bike Motos
1st Haiden Deegan Temecula, CA Yamaha 1st – 1st
2nd Jo Shimoda Suzuka City, Japan Honda 2nd – 2nd
3rd Tom Vialle Avignon, France KTM 4th – 3rd
4th Chance Hymas Pocatello, ID Honda 3rd – 6th
5th Julien Beaumer Lake Havasu City, AZ KTM 5th – 4th
6th Garrett Marchbanks Coalville, UT Kawasaki 6th – 5th
7th Seth Hammaker Bainbridge, PA Kawasaki 8th – 7th
8th Michael Mosiman Sebastopol, CA Yamaha 11th – 8th
9th Maximus Vohland Sacramento, CA Yamaha 12th – 10th
10th Ty Masterpool Fallon, NV Kawasaki 7th – 15th
11th Drew Adams Chattanooga, TN Kawasaki 9th – 14th
12th Casey Cochran Portsmouth, VA GasGas 14th – 11th
13th Ryder DiFrancesco Bakersfield, CA GasGas 17th – 9th
14th Parker Ross Herald, CA Yamaha 16th – 12th
15th Mikkel Haarup Silkeborg, Denmark Triumph 15th – 16th
16th Levi Kitchen Washougal, WA Kawasaki 10th – 38th
17th Enzo Temmerman Visalia, CA Kawasaki 18th – 17th
18th Jordon Smith Belmont, NC Triumph 13th – 23rd
19th Dilan Schwartz Alpine, CA Yamaha 24th – 13th
20th Lux Turner Gardnerville, NV KTM 19th – 18th
Photo courtesy Honda
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