Breakout Weekend for Team Honda HRC at Thunder Valley MX

• Jett Lawrence rebounds to take a 2-1 overall win in the 450 class
• Moto win, second-overall results for Hunter Lawrence, who takes points lead
• In 250 class, Chance Hymas earns career-first moto win and career-best second overall
• Solid fourth-overall finish for Jo Shimoda, with 5-3 moto finishes

At the Lakewood, Colorado, Thunder Valley National (round 3 of the AMA Pro Motocross series), all four Team Honda HRC racers enjoyed positive showings that were important steps toward achieving their aspirations for the season. Following the worst outdoor performance of his career last week (and still affected by a hard crash), Jett Lawrence took the 450 overall win and significantly reduced his deficit in the title chase. Hunter Lawrence earned the first 450 moto-win of his career and left the Centennial State with his first premier-class red plate. The 250 class saw Chance Hymas also notch his first moto-win and take his first overall-podium finish. Jo Shimoda tallied his first moto-podium finish and continued a steady progression in overall results (from sixth at round 1, to fifth at round 2, to fourth in Colorado).

Hymas sat in third for the first two-thirds of 250 moto 1, but a late pass by Levi Kitchen left him finishing fourth. Meanwhile, Shimoda advanced from just inside the top 10 on lap 1 to finish just behind his teammate, in fifth. It was Hymas’s CRF250R exiting turn 1 of moto 2 with the lead, and the Idaho native rode well for the entire race, successfully fending off early advances from Haiden Deegan before winning by almost 4 seconds. Shimoda quietly climbed from sixth on lap 1 to a commendable third place, catching Deegan on the last lap and almost making the pass. The Japanese racer earned fourth overall.

The first 450 moto saw Hunter and Jett start fifth and sixth, respectively, and they both moved up one position on the first lap. The brothers steadily advanced, overtaking Jason Anderson, Justin Barcia and Justin Cooper, to put them first and second at the three-quarters mark. Later, Hunter was second out of turn 1 in moto 2, with Jett just behind. Chase Sexton passed them both on lap 1 but went down a couple laps later. Jett passed his brother with six laps remaining, and with four laps left, they both got around erstwhile leader Cooper. Hunter put on a charge against his brother, with Jett responding, and they both did the fastest laps of the race on the last lap, finishing just over a second apart. With the Lawrences’ finish positions flipped from moto 1, they tied on points, with Jett getting the nod in the overall tally thanks to his better moto 2 result.

NOTES

• On Friday, Team Honda HRC attended Media Day for the Thunder Valley National, getting in some track time and participating in interviews. A storm that evening caused some damage at the track, but Team Honda HRC was largely unaffected.
• Once again, a pop-up dealer-activation booth was set up in the Team Honda HRC pits at the Thunder Valley National, this time staffed by Littleton, Colorado, dealership Peak Honda World.
• During morning qualifying, Jett Lawrence posted the fastest 450 lap time, with Hunter Lawrence second. In the 250 ranks, Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda were third- and fourth-best, respectively.
• In both 450 motos, Jett and Hunter Lawrence occupied the top two positions on the fastest-lap timesheets. Chance Hymas posted the fastest time in the second 250 moto.
• Jett Lawrence’s success this weekend gave Honda sole possession of the record for most premier-class overall wins at Thunder Valley, with six. Other Red Riders to have scored wins include Ivan Tedesco, Ken Roczen (three times) and Jett last year. Honda also now ties Kawasaki for most premier-class moto wins at the track, with 11.
• Hunter Lawrence’s steady results so far this year put him in the title-chase lead for the first time in his career, six points ahead of Chase Sexton, which means his CRF450RWE will wear the red plate at the next round. After losing ground last week due to a crash, Jett Lawrence sits third, having slashed his deficit from 24 to 16. In the 250 ranks, Chance Hymas now sits second in points, 23 behind leader Haiden Deegan. Jo Shimoda is fifth.
• Team Honda HRC is back in action in one week, at the High Point National MX in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania.

Media contact:

Danny Gonzalez // Jonnum Media // danny@jonnummedia.com // +1 (805) 915-7889

450 Overall Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Hon)
2. Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
3. Justin Cooper (Yam)
4. Justin Barcia (Gas)
5. Chase Sexton (KTM)
6. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
7. Jason Anderson (Kaw)
8. Malcolm Stewart (Hus)
9. Dylan Ferrandis (Hon)
10. Christian Craig (Hus)

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19. Cullin Park (Hon)
20. Henry Miller (Hon)
21. Jeremy Hand (Hon)
22. Tyler Stepek (Hon)
23. Ryder Floyd (Hon)
24. Luca Marsalisi (Hon)

450 Championship Points (after 3 of 11 rounds)

1. Hunter Lawrence: 129
2. Chase Sexton: 123
3. Jett Lawrence: 113
4. Justin Cooper: 109
5. Aaron Plessinger: 100
6. Jason Anderson: 97
7. Justin Barcia: 95
8. Dylan Ferrandis: 89
9. Malcolm Stewart: 87
10. Fredrik Noren: 68

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16. Cullin Park: 29
17. Dean Wilson: 17

250 Overall Results

1. Haiden Deegan (Yam)
2. Chance Hymas (Hon)
3. Tom Vialle (KTM)
4. Jo Shimoda (Hon)
5. Levi Kitchen (Kaw)
6. Jalek Swoll (Tri)
7. Ty Masterpool (Kaw)
8. Pierce Brown (Gas)
9. Julien Beaumer (KTM)
10. Jordon Smith (Yam)

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36. Gavin Brough (Hon)

250 Championship Points (after 3 of 11 rounds)

1. Haiden Deegan: 144
2. Chance Hymas: 121
3. Tom Vialle: 121
4. Levi Kitchen: 119
5. Jo Shimoda: 99
6. Jalek Swoll: 93
7. Pierce Brown: 84
8. Julien Beaumer: 73
9. Ty Masterpool: 69
10. Joey Savatgy: 60

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