Perfect weather conditions at Pennsylvania’s High Point Raceway brought out the best in the stars of the United States Motocross Championships at the fourth round of the 50th anniversary season.
The High Point National represented this summer’s East Coast debut during Father’s Day weekend and featured the most closely contested battles for victory this season across both the 450 class and 250 class, where a tiebreaker decided the winner in each division.
450 CLASS
A dominant opening moto by Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton suggested it might be his afternoon to make a big statement as the championship point leader.
Instead, another stellar second moto performance by Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Eli Tomac left the overall win in the balance.
The multi-time series champion ended the day with the chequered flag to secure the tiebreaker and capture his 28th career win.
Tomac also became the fourth different winner in the division in as many races.
250 CLASS
For the first time this season, a head-to-head battle between the Lawrence brothers decided the overall winner.
The Australians set the standard once again with another 1-2 performance, their third of the season, but it was their stellar battle for the race two win, and ultimately the overall, that served as one of the highlights of the event.
Jett and Hunter traded the lead several times in the closing stages of race two, where Jett prevailed over his older brother by a mere half second to clinch the tiebreaker and a fourth straight win to open his title defence.
Photo courtesy Honda
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RESULTS & STANDINGS:
450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes / Points):
1 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (2-1 / 47)
2 Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (1-2 / 47)
3 Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (3-5 / 36)
4 Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (7-3 / 34)
5 Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (6-4 / 33)
6 Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS (4-7 / 32)
7 Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki (5-8 / 29)
8 Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha (8-6 / 28)
9 Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha (10-10 / 22)
10 Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., Husqvarna (13-9 / 20)
450 Class Championship Standings (Round 4 of 12):
1 Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 181 Points
2 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha – 167 Points
3 Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda – 163 Points
4 Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 147 Points
5 Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 122 Points
6 Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha – 120 Points
7 Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS – 106 Points
8 Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 90 Points
9 Antonio Cairoli, Italy, KTM – 89 Points
10 Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha – 86 Points
250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes / Points):
1 Jett Lawrence, Australia, Honda (2-1 / 47)
2 Hunter Lawrence, Australia, Honda (1-2 / 47)
3 Jo Shimoda, Japan, Kawasaki (3-5 / 36)
4 Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., GASGAS (5-4 / 34)
5 Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (8-3 / 33)
6 Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki (4-6 / 33)
7 RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (7-7 / 28)
8 Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM (6-9 / 27 )
9 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (10-10 / 22)
10 Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (9-11 / 22)
250 Class Championship Standings (Round 4 of 12):
1 Jett Lawrence, Australia, Honda – 186 Points
2 Hunter Lawrence, Australia, Honda – 174 Points
3 Jo Shimoda, Japan, Kawasaki – 137 Points
4 Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 133 Points
5 Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha – 115 Points
6 Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., GASGAS – 115 Points
7 Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 110 Points
8 Stilez Robertson, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 94 Points
9 Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM – 90 Points
10 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS – 80 Points