Hunter Lawrence extends perfect overall podium streak in 450 class

As the AMA Pro Motocross series cleared its midway point with the traditional Independence Day Weekend race at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan, Team Honda HRC sophomore rider Chance Hymas seized the occasion to notch the first overall victory of his career in the 250 division, with a masterful moto 2 win following a fourth-place finish in moto 1. Following him across the finish line in moto 2 (and taking his second overall podium in a row) was Jo Shimoda, whose 5-2 tally was good for third overall. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence showed impressive speed in the 450 class, leading most of moto 1 before a late crash dropped him to second. In the second moto, the Australian rode to a fourth-place finish, good enough to keep his unblemished premier-class podium streak alive. Words: HRC

• 4-1 moto tally nets 250-class victory for the Idaho native
• Second consecutive podium overall result for Jo Shimoda
• Hunter Lawrence extends perfect overall-podium streak in 450 class

For the fourth time this season, Lawrence took the holeshot in the first 450 moto, and he rode strong at the front until there were less than two laps remaining, when he suffered a hard fall on a rough descent. The Australian recovered in time to finish second. Lawrence was fifth off the start in moto 2 and completed lap 1 in seventh, but he went to work and was into the top five by lap 6. He took over fourth a lap later, and that’s where he would spend the remainder of the race—sufficient for an overall podium.

The first 250 moto saw Hymas start third and get around two riders on lap 1 to take over the lead. He built up a lead of over 5 seconds, but his line selections eventually led to a loss of flow and riding tight. He held on to finish the moto in fourth. Meanwhile, Shimoda spent most of the moto recovering after being knocked down in turn 1, as he climbed from eighth on lap 1 to fifth at the finish. Hymas started off moto 2 with a holeshot, and he stayed at front for the duration, initially establishing a comfortable margin but eventually having to fend off the advances of his teammate, who had started third.

Hunter Lawrence: “I knew coming in it would be tough to beat Chase; it’s his home race, and I knew he’d be on it. I was close in the first one until I was upside down, but I’m thankful to not be hurt; it happened so fast, but that’s the nature of the beast. The lappers were tough this weekend; I’d get held up a bit, and then Chase would get held up a bit.”

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager: “We have a new perspective coming into the rest of the motocross series without Jett lining up, but the goal is still the same, which is obviously to win this championship. The way that we’ll do that is to not change anything and keep the same feeling as normal on race weekends. Hunter was riding awesome and doing everything he needed to do in the first moto until the track beat him in one of the most difficult sections. After that, he definitely didn’t have the same intensity, and the bike changes we made for the second moto didn’t help either. Everyone on the team and at Honda is so happy and proud of chance for getting his first win. His first-lap intensity and overall speed is so impressive to watch, and it was great to see him back it up the second moto with the win and overall. What made it even sweeter was seeing both of our CRF250Rs racing for the second-moto win, and both Chance and Jo being on the overall podium of our series’ greatest track, with the best crowd of the summer.”

Image: HRC