Powerful Return to Racing for Honda HRC Progressive at Fox Raceway

• Jett Lawrence returns from ACL surgery with incredible 1-1 performance
• Hunter Lawrence finishes third overall in his first race back
• Jo Shimoda second overall in 250 with 2-2 finishes
• Chance Hymas top 250 qualifier and fourth overall

Just 112 days after exiting the AMA Supercross series with a torn ACL, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence returned to action for the opening AMA Pro Motocross round in Pala, California, where he extended his flawless overall-win record at Fox Raceway to eight (five in 250, three in 450), via an impressive premier-class moto sweep. Also returning from a layoff (his due to a shoulder injury) was Hunter Lawrence, who tallied a 3-4 score for third overall. Meanwhile, the 250 class saw Jo Shimoda turn in an impressive 2-2 ride for second overall, while Chance Hymas showed impressive speed all day and finished fourth overall.

On a track that developed deep ruts and technical lines throughout the day, the Lawrence brothers showed poise and composure in their return to racing. Jett and Hunter nailed their moto 1 starts aboard their CRF450RWE race machines, exiting turn 1 first and second, respectively. Jett went wire-to-wire to win by 11.482 seconds over Justin Cooper, with Hunter a solid third. Hunter went on to rip a huge moto 2 holeshot before Jett quickly took over. Eli Tomac moved into second early and engaged in a legendary battle with Jett, who held off the “Beast Mode” challenges the entire 37 minutes and 4 seconds to take an emotional win. Hunter defended third place from Aaron Plessinger for most of the race, only to relinquish the position when he made an error on the final lap, though his fourth place was good enough for third overall.

Hymas grabbed the 250 moto 1 holeshot board his CRF250RWE and, after briefly losing the lead, ran at the front until a lap-6 tip-over cost him a couple spots. Shimoda sat in fourth after lap 1 and then lost a position, but he came on strong in the second half of the race to notch a solid second-place result, one ahead of Hymas. Moto 2 saw the Japanese racer once again complete lap 1 in fourth place and mount a charge midway through, for a second-place result and second overall. Hymas suffered a terrible start but rode well and advanced steadily from 14^th on lap 1 to sixth at the finish, for fourth on the day.

NOTES

• All four Honda HRC Progressive riders—Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence, Jo Shimoda, and Chance Hymas—participated in Friday’s pre-season press conference at Pala Casino Spa Resort, followed by riding sessions on the Fox Raceway track.
• This weekend marked the return to racing for both Lawrence brothers, with Jett back from an ACL injury and Hunter returning from a shoulder (labrum) injury sustained during the early rounds of the AMA Supercross season.
• Temecula Motorsports, a powersports dealership based in Murrieta, California, staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, where they displayed a CRF450R and a CRF250R, and engaged with fans and customers.
• In 250 timed qualifying, Hymas set the pace with the fastest lap time, topping the charts by 1.6 seconds over the next rider. Teammate Shimoda also rode well despite experiencing a tip-over in the first session, with another rider landing on his bike, preventing him from continuing the session. Shimoda rebounded in session 2 to qualify ninth overall. SPR’s Lance Kobusch was 27^th, with Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers 32^nd. TiLube Honda’s Ryder Floyd and Patrick Murphy qualified 34^th and 36^th, respectively, claiming the final direct-transfer positions.
• In the 450 class, Jett posted the fastest time in both sessions, ending over a second faster than P2, signaling a strong return to Pro Motocross, while Hunter was fifth fastest. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Joey Savatgy qualified in 11^th, with Raylentless Racing’s Brandon Ray 28^th and IQ Racing Team’s John Short IV 33^rd. In the consolation race, Next Level’s Hunter Schlosser earned the final transfer spot with a fourth-place finish.
• Jett notched the best lap times in both 450 motos. Shimoda posted the fastest lap time of the second 250 moto, with Hymas posting the second-fastest time, despite coming through the pack.
• Honda HRC Progressive took three of four holeshots at Fox Raceway.
• Including this weekend’s success, Honda has the most overall 450 wins at Pala, with five (three ahead of the closest manufacturer). Red Riders to have scored 450-class overall wins at Pala are Jett Lawrence (three times) and Chase Sexton (twice).
• As noted by Peacock commentator Jason Weigandt, Jett has led every lap at Fox Raceway since he moved up to the 450 class for the 2023 season.
• Not only was this Jett’s third premier-class overall win at Pala, it was the 16^th of his career—an impressive accomplishment for the 21-year-old, who missed most of last year’s series with injury.
• Among 250-class Red Riders not on the Honda HRC Progressive roster, SPR’s Lance Kobusch finished 27th overall, while TiLube Honda’s Ryder Floyd and Patrick Murphy were 30^th and 38^th, respectively. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers was 40^th.
• Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Joey Savatgy was eighth overall with consistent rides in the 450 class, while Raylentless Racing’s Brandon Ray and IQ Racing Team’s John Short IV were 27^th and 34^th, respectively. Grassroots MX rider Gavin Brough rounded out the group in 36^th
• The Fox Raceway event also hosted the opening round of the Women’s Motocross Championship, held on Friday. SLR Honda Racing’s Mikayla Nielsen earned the overall win, starting her title campaign on a high note. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Charli Cannon rode to a fourth-place finish despite racing with a broken finger and stitches from an injury sustained earlier in the week, and Red Rider Jaylie Gallacher took 12^th The WMX series resumes next weekend at Hangtown.
• At the Fox Raceway National, Honda kicked off a sweepstakes to give away a 2025 CRF450RWE. The sweepstakes will run through the final SMX round in Las Vegas, where the winner will be announced. Fans can sign up by scanning the QR code on popup banners located in the pits at the Honda race teams, including Honda HRC Progressive, Quad Lock Honda and Phoenix Racing Honda.
• Next up, AMA Pro Motocross heads north to Rancho Cordova, California, for the Hangtown Motocross Classic.

Media contact:

Tati Ziemer // Jonnum Media // tati@jonnummedia.com // +1 (707) 888-9418

450 Overall Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Hon)
2. Eli Tomac (Yam)
3. Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
4. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
5. Justin Cooper (Yam)
6. Jorge Prado (Kaw)
7. Jason Anderson (Kaw)
8. Joey Savatgy (Hon)
9. R.J. Hampshire (Hus)
10. Benoit Paturel (Suz)

—

27. Brandon Ray (Hon)

34. John Short IV (Hon)

35. Hunter Schlosser (Hon)

36. Gavin Brough (Hon)

450 Championship Points (after 1 of 11 rounds)

1. Jett Lawrence (50)
2. Eli Tomac (40)
3. Hunter Lawrence (38)
4. Aaron Plessinger (37)
5. Justin Cooper (36)
6. Jorge Prado (31)
7. Jason Anderson (30)
8. Joey Savatgy (26)
9. R.J. Hampshire (26)
10. Benoit Paturel (24)

—

250 Overall Results

1. Haiden Deegan (Yam)
2. Jo Shimoda (Hon)
3. Tom Vialle (KTM)
4. Chance Hymas (Hon)
5. Julien Beaumer (KTM)
6. Garrett Marchbanks (Kaw)
7. Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
8. Michael Mosiman (Yam)
9. Maximus Vohland (Yam)
10. Ty Masterpool (Kaw)

—

27. Lance Kobusch (Hon)

30. Ryder Floyd (Hon)

38. Patrick Murphy (Hon)

40. Gavin Towers (Hon)

250 Championship Points (after 1 of 11 rounds)

1. Haiden Deegan (50)
2. Jo Shimoda (44)
3. Tom Vialle (38)
4. Chance Hymas (36)
5. Julien Beaumer (35)
6. Garrett Marchbanks (33)
7. Seth Hammaker (29)
8. Michael Mosiman (25)
9. Maximus Vohland (22)
10. Ty Masterpool (22)

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