Jett Lawrence Tops Weather-Shortened Opening SMX Round

• Reigning champion dominates 450 class to earn the first SMX victory of 2025
• Fourth place for Hunter Lawrence at the Charlotte event
• Jo Shimoda recovers from an early crash to finish third in the 250 class

While the situation was somewhat unique for this weekend’s opening 2025 SuperMotocross Playoffs round, with only half of the scheduled races completed due to inclement weather, the results were familiar, with Honda HRC Progressive continuing its perfect premier-class record in the short history of the series. Before heavy winds, rain, thunder and lightning cut short the day’s program, reigning and two-time champion Jett Lawrence had convincingly topped the first 450 moto, with Hunter Lawrence finishing fourth. The brothers’ teammate Jo Shimoda finished third in the first 250 moto. The weather turned foul just as the first motos were completed, with lightning being the main concern. Repeated close lightning strikes in the area prevented the racing from safely continuing, which eventually led to the additional concern of having enough daylight to race safely. After careful consideration by the officials, it was decided to cancel the remaining races, using the first-moto results as final.

The single 250 moto saw Shimoda get a strong jump on the unique split, back-to-back start, then quickly move from fourth into second by the end of the first lap. The Japanese rider quickly closed in on the leader but fell while attempting an aggressive pass on lap 3, dropping him to 11^th. Undaunted, he responded with an impressive charge through the field, making a series of passes to finish fourth. A late attempt to overtake Levi Kitchen came up just short but, after a penalty was assessed to Kitchen, Shimoda was moved up to third, which stood as his overall result once the second moto was canceled.

Jett took command of the 450 moto from the start, grabbing the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE. He fended off an early challenge from Eli Tomac and then managed a modest-but-comfortable lead on the treacherous track, ultimately winning by 3.865 seconds. Hunter sat in sixth off the start and worked his way forward to eventually secure fourth. Also scoring impressive results were Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis and Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy, who placed eighth and ninth, respectively.

NOTES

• Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and Jo Shimoda represented Honda HRC Progressive in Friday’s pre-race press conference ahead of the SuperMotocross opener.
• RideNow Concord, a dealership based in Concord, North Carolina, joined Honda HRC Progressive in the team pits at Charlotte, displaying a CRF125F, a CRF450RL and a Talon 1000R-4. The dealership connected with fans throughout the day, showcasing Honda’s diverse powersports lineup.
• The Peacock stream of the Charlotte SMX round included a feature on Jett, shot at his Florida home, where the SMX champ was interviewed by James Stewart as the two racing greats played pool. In addition, it was during a live interview with Jett Saturday evening that broadcaster Will Christien announced that the second motos had been canceled and overall rankings would be based on moto 1 results only.
• Hunter and Jett both took part in the opening ceremonies, with Jett recognized as the reigning SuperMotocross World Champion.
• Jett wore a yellow number 1 on a blue background, showcasing his status as the reigning 450 SMX champ.
• Honda HRC Progressive partnered with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation for the Charlotte SMX round, continuing a relationship that spans nearly three and a half decades. On Friday morning, associates from Honda’s North Carolina and South Carolina plants visited a group of patients at the Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, and that evening the team hosted other patients for a dinner in the pits. The team’s race bikes featured special Throttle Jockey graphics with art from North Carolina patients and their siblings. The autographed bodywork will be auctioned to benefit PBTF.
• American Honda Power Sports & Products leaders were on site at Charlotte, including Kazuya Arakawa (Vice President & Business Unit Lead), Mark Kohls (Vice President), John Stevens (Director of Sales Operations), Jeremy McGuire (Director of Customer Engagement) and Brandon Wilson (Manager of Racing & Advertising). Their presence underscored American Honda’s commitment to Honda HRC Progressive and powersports racing in general.
• Also attending the event were approximately 75 associates from Honda’s North Carolina and South Carolina production plants, as well as the Georgia Power Sports & Product headquarters. The group enjoyed the event while showing their support in the stands, waving red Honda towels and displaying oversize number-one fingers.
• A group of top Honda Powersports dealers from Costa Rica were also on site, demonstrating the brand’s strong global network and commitment to its international partners.
• Jett Lawrence was second-fastest in 450 combined qualifying, with Hunter fourth. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis finished eighth, while Quad Lock Honda Racing teammates Joey Savatgy and Shane McElrath qualified 11^th and 14^th, respectively. Unseeded riders Dean Wilson (Quad Lock Honda Racing) and Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) also transferred through the 450 Wildcard LCQ with fifth- and sixth-place results.
• Shimoda posted the 13^th-fastest time in 250 combined qualifying. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park was seventh and, upon finishing third in the 250 Wildcard LCQ, he secured his place in the main program.
• The Charlotte SMX event was scheduled to host an SMX Next round, and Phoenix Racing Honda rider Tiger Wood was the eighth-best rider in combined qualifying. Unfortunately, the class’s main event was canceled due to the weather conditions.
• Honda HRC Progressive riders notched the top times in both motos at Charlotte, with Shimoda quickest in the 250 race and Hunter best in the 450 race.
• Four Hondas finished in the top 10 in the 450 class—twice as many as the next-best manufacturer.
• In premier-class racing, Honda HRC Progressive remains undefeated in the SuperMotocross Playoffs. The young series has now held seven events, five of which have been won by Jett Lawrence. Hunter Lawrence won one last year, and the inaugural 2023 series saw then-Honda rider Chase Sexton win the first-ever SMX Playoff race, which was also held at zMax Dragway.
• With one of three SMX rounds in the books, Jett holds a 9-point lead in the 450-class title chase, while Hunter is tied for fourth (just one point behind third). Shimoda is second in 250-class points, eight behind the leader.
• Next up, the SuperMotocross Playoffs head to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis for round 2, which will pay double points.

Media contact:

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

450 Overall Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Hon)
2. Chase Sexton (KTM)
3. Eli Tomac (Yam)
4. Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
5. R.J. Hampshire (Hus)
6. Ken Roczen (Suz)
7. Cooper Webb (Yam)
8. Dylan Ferrandis (Hon)
9. Joey Savatgy (Hon)
10. Justin Barcia (Gas)

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15. Shane McElrath (Hon)

16. Dean Wilson (Hon)

21. Jeremy Hand (Hon) 

450 Championship Points (after 1 of 3 rounds)

1. Jett Lawrence (47)
2. Chase Sexton (38)
3. Justin Cooper (36)
4. Eli Tomac (35)
5. Hunter Lawrence (35)
6. Cooper Webb (33)
7. R.J. Hampshire (29)
8. Ken Roczen (27)
9. Justin Barcia (25)
10. Dylan Ferrandis (24)

250 Overall Results

1. Haiden Deegan (Yam)
2. Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
3. Jo Shimoda (Hon)
4. Levi Kitchen (Kaw)
5. Austin Forkner (Tri)
6. Ryder DiFrancesco (Gas)
7. Tom Vialle (KTM)
8. Cole Davies (Yam)
9. Nate Thrasher (Yam)
10. Ty Masterpool (Kaw)

—

16. Cullin Park (Hon)

250 Championship Points (after 1 of 3 rounds)

1. Haiden Deegan (50)
2. Jo Shimoda (42)
3. Seth Hammaker (34)
4. Tom Vialle (33)
5. Levi Kitchen (29)
6. Austin Forkner (25)
7. Nate Thrasher (24)
8. Maximus Vohland (24)
9. Ryder DiFrancesco (23)
10. Garrett Marchbanks (20)

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