Commanding Victory for Lawrence, who Reclaims Sole Possession of Red Plate

• Australian delivers fourth win of the season with a statement ride in Nashville
• Lawrence extends championship advantage to 10 points

With a crash and subsequent sore wrist having affected his performances at the previous two rounds, Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence came to the Nashville round feeling relatively fit. The outcome was a return to the form he had shown earlier in the season, with a composed and dominating ride, his fourth premier-class victory of the season and sole possession of the red plate. In challenging, deteriorating conditions, the Australian combined focus and speed to win comfortably and extend his championship lead to 10 points.

The 450SX main event saw Lawrence nearly claim the holeshot before he slid and was relegated to fifth by the end of the first lap. Remaining calm and calculated, he quickly worked his way through the field, moving into second in the opening minutes and setting his sights on the leading Ken Roczen. Lawrence studied the evolving track conditions, waiting to make his move until after the race’s halfway point. Immediately after executing a decisive pass, he established control of the race, showcasing superior pace and consistency as he steadily built a gap, ultimately crossing the line with an advantage of more than seven seconds over runner-up Cooper Webb.

Behind him, Quad Lock Honda Racing riders Shane McElrath, Dean Wilson, Christian Craig and Joey Savatgy finished 10^th, 11^th, 14^th and 16^th, respectively, while McGinley Clinic-backed privateer Zack Williams completed the main event in 20^th place.

NOTES

• Ahead of race day, Hunter Lawrence and Jett Lawrence connected with fans during a meet-and-greet at Nashville’s Gibson Garage on Friday, signing autographs and taking part in an exclusive fan experience.
• Currently sidelined with a foot/ankle injury, Jett remained engaged with fans throughout the weekend. He attended Saturday’s autograph session alongside Hunter, and helped call the 250SX East main event in the broadcast booth. Jett returned to riding on a turn track last week and is expected to resume motocross training soon, with the goal of lining up for the AMA Pro Motocross opener in Pala, California, May 30.
• Three days after a crash at last week’s St. Louis round, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda was diagnosed with a small fracture in his left fibula. The Japanese racer will sit out the remainder of AMA Supercross in an effort to be ready for the AMA Pro Motocross season. The team’s injured 250SX West ride, Chance Hymas, is also hoping to be back for the start of the outdoors series.
• Honda HRC Progressive sponsor SKDA prepared special guitar graphics for Hunter’s CRF450RWE race bike, as part of a collaboration with Gibson and Gibson Garage, complemented by custom Alpinestars riding gear. Hunter was also presented with a custom Gibson guitar (Gibson guitars were also presented to the podium finishers as trophies). “Gibson holds such a prestigious, elite aura in Nashville, with all the rock stars and artists that they support,” Hunter said. “When you’re in the Gibson Garage, and you’re walking through the backstage areas, you just can’t help but feel this presence of greatness, and it’s cool.”
• Chattanooga, Tennessee, dealership Southern Honda Powersports enhanced the fan experience through an interactive activation within the Honda HRC Progressive pit area, where they showcased CRF450R and CRF250R machines and interacted with fans and customers.
• A group of Honda associates and managers from American Honda’s Alpharetta, Georgia, Powersports Headquarters attended the Nashville race, cheering Hunter to his fourth victory of the season.
• Despite the absence of Shimoda, Red Riders pushed hard in 250SX East qualifying, with Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) the best of them in 11^th. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Gavin Towers and Even Ferry were 14^th and 20^th, respectively, Storm Lake Honda riders Luke Neese and Izaih Clark qualified 15^th and 17^th, Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 22^nd, and Short Racing’s John Short IV qualified in 25^th.
• Hunter posted the second-best time in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Dean Wilson, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath qualified close together, in 12^th, 13^th, 15^th and 16^th, respectively. Other Red Riders included Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic), Kyle Bitterman (Underdog Racing) and Ronnie Orres (Lasting Impressions) who qualified 25^th, 30^th and 42^nd, respectively.
• Several Red Riders advanced through the 250SX East heat races, including Towers, Clark, Hand and Neese, while Floyd secured his main-event position through the LCQ.
• Hunter nailed a strong start in the first 450SX heat race, quickly moving into second place out of the first corner. He maintained the position throughout, securing a favorable gate pick for the main event. Savatgy and McElrath followed with fourth- and eighth-place finishes, respectively. In the second heat race, Craig and Wilson finished sixth and seventh, and Williams secured his place in the main event with a fourth-place finish in the 450 LCQ.
• Neese was the top Honda rider in the 250SX East main event, with an 11^th-place result. Towers and Floyd were 15^th and 16^th, respectively, while Hand and Clark were 20^th and 21^st.
• Hunter turned the fastest lap time of the 450SX main event, on his way to the victory.
• Hunter has a positive history with the Nashville round, as it’s where he clinched the 2023 250SX East Region crown, earning the final victory of his 250 supercross career.
• With this year’s Nashville premier-class victory, Hunter now holds four 450SX wins on the season and in his career, and he takes a 10-point advantage in the title chase, with four rounds remaining.
• Next, Honda HRC Progressive heads to Round 14 of AMA Supercross in Cleveland.

Media contact:

Zoe Vargas // Jonnum Media // zoe@jonnummedia.com // 619-971-6440

450SX Results

1. Hunter Lawrence (Hon)

2. Cooper Webb (Yam)

3. Ken Roczen (Suz)

4. Chase Sexton (Kaw)

5. Justin Hill (KTM)

6. Dylan Ferrandis (Duc)

7. Justin Cooper (Yam)

8. Garrett Marchbanks (Kaw)

9. Colt Nichols (Suz)

10. Shane McElrath (Hon)

—
11. Dean Wilson (Hon)
14. Christian Craig (Hon)
16. Joey Savatgy (Hon)
20. Zack Williams (Hon)

450SX Championship Points (after 13 of 17 rounds)

1. Hunter Lawrence: 270

2. Ken Roczen: 260

3. Eli Tomac: 255

4. Cooper Webb: 242

5. Justin Cooper: 213

6. Chase Sexton: 162

7. Joey Savatgy: 159

8. Malcom Stewart: 145

9. Jorge Prado: 140

10. Justin Hill: 134

—
12. Christian Craig: 115
13. Shane McElrath: 107
28. Dean Wilson: 11
33. Zack Williams: 2
34. Jeremy Hand: 2
37. Ryan Breece: 1

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