Lawrence Brothers shine in the Southwick sand

The 2024 AMA Pro Motocross series was closely fought heading into round 5 in the New England sand of The Wick 338, and by the time the championship left, the battle was even closer. With his fourth overall victory of the year, Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence reduced his deficit in the premier-class title chase to only three points, while Hunter Lawrence continued his perfect podium streak, retaining possession of the points lead. The squad’s 250 riders also had respectable showings aboard their CRF250Rs, Jo Shimoda notching his first moto victory and overall podium of the season, while Chance Hymas tallied 3-5 finishes for fourth overall. Words: HRC

• Four overall wins in five rounds for the defending champion
• Hunter Lawrence keeps podium streak alive, retains red plate
• First 250 moto win and overall podium of the season for Jo Shimoda
• Fourth overall for Chance Hymas in 250 division

As has been typical of this season, the CRF450RWE race machines of Jett and Hunter Lawrence were in front out of turn 1 in the first premier-class moto, and that’s where they remained throughout the race, with just 6 seconds separating them at the checkers and another 11 back to third place. Once again, Jett and Hunter were 1-2 around moto 2’s first turn, and two laps later, Hunter moved by his brother for the lead. Jett got back by on lap 10, by which time the clouds had started to sprinkle. Chase Sexton managed to pass both Lawrences in the late going, but with the brothers holding on for second and third, Jett earned the overall victory, with Hunter third overall and still in possession of the red plate.

Hymas was third across the first 250 moto’s holeshot line and quickly up to second, while Shimoda was buried in the pack following a first-turn crash, completing lap 1 just inside the top 30. Hymas was displaced by Tom Vialle on lap 7, by which point Shimoda was inside the top 15. At the finish, the Red Riders were third and ninth, respectively. Shimoda enjoyed a pair of stronger starts in moto 2 (the second coming following an early red flag), as he ran second after four laps. The Japanese rider moved by Vialle for the lead with three laps remaining and, following a rousing late battle with Vialle and Haiden Deegan, that’s where he was at the finish, earning his first moto win and overall podium of the season. Hymas was fifth in the moto, good enough for fourth overall.

NOTES

• Woonsocket, Rhode Island, dealership B&B Motorsports staffed a popup activation booth in the Team Honda HRC pits at Southwick.
• Team Honda HRC had a pair of guest riders pitting in their footprint at Southwick: MXGP rider Alvin Ostlund (from JWR Racing) and Japanese rider Takumu Yokosawa (current points leader in Japan 250 MX). Ostlund in particular had a commendable showing, finishing 16^th overall in the 450 class.
• Jett Lawrence was second-quickest in the morning’s combined qualifying times, with Hunter Lawrence eighth. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis was fifth-best. In the 250 ranks, Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda were seventh and 24^th, respectively.
• Jett and Hunter Lawrence were first and second, respectively, on the first 450 moto’s lap-time sheet, whereas Hunter had the best time in the second moto.
• In taking the 15^th 450 overall victory of his career this weekend at Southwick, Jett Lawrence tied Jeremy McGrath for two records: 10^th on the all-time AMA Pro Motocross premier-class win list, and second on the all-time Honda AMA Pro Motocross premier-class win list.
• Hunter Lawrence stretched his status as the only rider this season to have finished on the overall 450 podium at every round.
• Honda has the most premier-class overall wins of any manufacturer at Southwick, now with 16—twice the tally of the next-best brand. Red Riders to have won include Pierre Karsmakers, Marty Smith, Donnie Hansen, Rick Johnson (twice), Jeff Stanton (four times), Jeremy McGrath, Ezra Lusk, Ricky Carmichael (three times) and Jett Lawrence (now twice).
• The 450-class points chase is even closer leaving New England, as Hunter Lawrence is on top, three points ahead of Jett Lawrence and Chase Sexton. In the 250 division, Hymas remains in second place, while Shimoda is fifth.
• The AMA Pro Motocross series now heads to Buchanan, Michigan’s RedBud MX for the traditional Independence Day Weekend round.

Jett Lawrence: “Southwick wasn’t too bad. My legs got tired in the second moto, so we have to work on that for the rest of the season. Chase was riding strong; I tried going for it a couple times, but decided it was time to check up. I’m very happy to get out of here with the overall win. We just have to keep pushing.”

Hunter Lawrence: “Gnarly day at the ’Wick! I left it all out there today, and we have some good things to take away from this weekend. If you saw how many moments I had late in the second moto, it’s safe to say I was pushing and giving it my all! I came up a little short, but it’s a huge positive to leave here with the red plate after losing it here the last two years. Now we can keep getting better this week.”

Lars Lindstrom -Team Manager: “You can tell we’ve been having a lot of success when, after a great weekend like this one, we aren’t satisfied with the results, even though we won! [Laughs] This is probably the most difficult track on our circuit, both physically for the rider and also mechanically on the motorcycle, so I’m proud of how well both performed. I have to say, for his first time at this track, I’m impressed and stoked with how well Chance Hymas rode, and I’m also really happy for Jo to win that second moto; if it weren’t for that first-moto first-turn crash, he could’ve been a threat for the overall win.”

Image: HRC