Continuing an incredible year, Australian Jett Lawrence posted yet another a 1-1 moto score, this time at Unadilla, at the weekend, allowing him to clinch the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross 450 Championship with two rounds remaining in the series.
Lawrence, who had just celebrated his 20th birthday less than a week ago and was a rookie in this 450cc class this season, has been absolutely dominant, winning every race so far.
That’s 18 consecutive race wins and that has never before been achieved in this competition.
The theme of perfection also applies to Team Honda HRC, which earlier this year swept all three AMA Supercross titles, with Jett Lawrence taking the 250SX West Region crown, brother Hunter Lawrence earning the 250SX East Region trophy and Chase Sexton collecting the premier 450SX laurels.
Sexton was second overall in the 450 class today at Unadilla, and Hunter Lawrence (who currently leads the AMA Pro Motocross 250 points chase) earned the 250 overall win at the weekend aboard his Honda.
This all comes during a season in which Honda marks the 50th anniversary of its first production motocross bike, the CR250M Elsinore, aboard which Gary Jones rode to Honda’s first AMA Motocross 250 Championship, in 1973.
Other Red Riders to have taken the title in the class (which has since switched to 450cc four-stroke machinery) include Donnie Hansen, David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Jeff Stanton, Jean-Michel Bayle, Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael.
Although Honda last earned the 450 outdoor title in 2004, the brand is tied with Kawasaki for the class’s championship record, with 14 number-one plates over the years.
A native of Landsborough, in Queensland, Australia, Jett Lawrence has ridden for Team Honda HRC since 2021, a year after he turned pro with the Honda-supported Factory Connection squad.
He earned the AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship in 2021 and 2022, as well as the 2022 250SX East title and the 2023 250SX West crown.
“It’s an unreal opportunity,” Jett Lawrence at the weekend. “Like Hunter said when he won his championship, I haven’t even dreamed of this, because we never thought it was possible to be where we are today. To do it like this, being undefeated so far, it’s very emotional for me, with all the hard times we’ve gone through, and the hard work.
“That whole [second moto], I was keeping it together and just pushing, pushing, pushing. Then as soon as I went over the finish line, the emotions came out. I’ve got to send a huge thank-you to my mechanic, Christien Ducharme; we’re like family now. My manager Lucas [Mirtl], is awesome, and my family—everyone who has been behind me. HRC Honda took a risk with taking us in after 2020, and I’m glad I’m able to repay the favour.”
“We knew when Jett moved to the 450 class that he would be a force to reckon with, but I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted the level of success and consistency that he has already exhibited,” added Brandon Wilson, Manager of Sports and Experiential at American Honda. “This year has just been incredible for the entire team, but Jett’s performance in particular has been one for the record books.
“We’re so happy that he has put Honda and the CRF450RWE on top, and we look forward to seeing him continue to earn the success that he’s clearly capable of achieving.”
Jett Lawrence and the rest of Team Honda HRC will finish out the AMA Pro Motocross series over the next two weekends, after which they’ll take a weekend off and then campaign the first-ever AMA SuperMotocross Championship.
Photo courtesy Honda USA
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here
RESULTS & STANDINGS AFTER ROUND NINE:
450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points):
1 Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (1-1 // 50)
2 Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (3-2, 42)
3 Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Yamaha (2-3 // 42)
4 Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (4-6 // 33)
5 Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (5-5 // 32)
6 Harri Kullas, Estonia, Yamaha (7-7 // 28)
7 Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha (6-10 // 26)
8 Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (14-4 // 25)
9 Ty Masterpool, Fallon, Nev., Kawasaki (9-8 // 25)
10 Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Suzuki (13-9 // 20)
450 Class Championship Standings (Round 9 of 11):
1 Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 450 Points
2 Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Yamaha – 347 Points
3 Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 312 Points
4 Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki – 269 Points
5 Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 260 Points
6 Ty Masterpool, Fallon, Nev., Kawasaki – 215 Points
7 Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha – 200 Points
8 Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Suzuki – 189 Points
9 Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM – 147 Points
10 Jose Butron, Cadiz, Spain, GASGAS – 138 Points
250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points):
1 Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (2-2 // 44)
2 Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha (1-4 // 43)
3 Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (5-1 // 41)
4 Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki (3-3 // 40)
5 Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM (4-6 // 33)
6 Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (8-7 // 27)
7 Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Husqvarna (6-14 // 22)
8 Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Kawasaki (9-12 // 21)
9 Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., Yamaha (14-9 // 19)
10 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (12-11 // 19)
250 Class Championship Standings (Round 9 of 11):
1 Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 344 Points
2 Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 322 Points
3 Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki – 309 Points
4 Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 308 Points
5 Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha – 290 Points
6 RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna – 288 Points
7 Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM – 252 Points
8 Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 237 Points
9 Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Kawasaki – 167 Points
10 Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Husqvarna – 166 Points