Honda HRC Progressive Controls SMX Playoffs After St. Louis Sweep

• Hunter Lawrence wins 450 class with 1-3 moto scores
• Despite illness, Jo Shimoda captures SMX 250 overall win, assumes points lead
• Jett Lawrence second overall in 450 class to retain lead in title chase

The second event of the SuperMotocross Playoffs saw Honda HRC Progressive sweep the overall wins in St. Louis, taking control of both title fights in the three-round series. Hunter Lawrence rode to the second SMX 450 overall victory of his career, posting 1-3 moto finishes, while teammate Jett Lawrence tallied 4-1 results for second on the day, enough to retain a slim series lead over his brother. Meanwhile, a sick Jo Shimoda delivered a gritty 2-2 performance in the 250 class, securing the overall win and taking the red plate. The strong showing marked another milestone for Honda as the team carries momentum into next weekend’s Las Vegas finale.

Hunter Lawrence powered his CRF450RWE to the 450 moto 1 holeshot and led every lap. Ken Roczen kept him honest throughout the opening stages, but Hunter stretched his advantage to nearly seven seconds by the finish. Meanwhile, Jett suffered a poor start and bobbled in the first corner, leaving him nearly dead last early in the first lap. On a track where passing was difficult, the reigning champ charged through the pack impressively, finishing lap 1 in 14^th place and advancing to eighth by the one-third mark. A late push carried him into a three-way battle over second, and although he had to settle for fourth at the finish, he had minimized the damage in what could have been a catastrophic turn of events.

Jett returned to his usual excellent starting form with the moto 2 holeshot and early lead, while Hunter slotted into fourth and then passed Chase Sexton for third on lap 2, which he knew would be good enough for the overall win. Jett, Eli Tomac and Hunter steadily pulled away from the rest of the field, and although lapped riders made for a close finish, Jett held on for the win. Hunter was third (over 14 seconds ahead of the next rider), for an inspiring overall victory, with Jett second on the day. Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis also rode well, securing ninth and 10^th overall, respectively.

The first 250 moto saw Shimoda get a strong jump out of the gate and sneak through on the inside of turn 1 to emerge in second place. He held the position throughout the race, fending off both the effects of his illness and pressure from a trio of Kawasaki riders, crossing the line in the runner-up spot.

Shimoda took his CRF250RWE to the moto 2 holeshot, and although he was quickly overtaken by Tom Vialle, he knew that second place would be good enough for the overall win. That result was far from a sure thing given his physical state, but the Japanese racer knuckled down and pulled it off, putting him in an excellent position for the final round, which he enters with a crucial 10-point lead.

NOTES

• Ahead of SMX round 2 in St. Louis, Honda HRC Progressive riders Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and Jo Shimoda participated in Friday’s pre-race press conference. Unlike at most SMX events, Friday was not open to the public in St. Louis.
• Lou Fusz Honda Powerhouse, based in Fairview Heights, Illinois, joined Honda HRC Progressive for the St. Louis SMX round. The dealership displayed a CRF450R and a CRF50F, and engaged with fans and customers throughout the day.
• All three active Honda HRC Progressive riders took part in the opening ceremonies.
• In combined 450 qualifying, Jett and Hunter were first and second, respectively. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Joey Savatgy posted the 10^th-fastest time, while Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis was 13^th, and Savatgy’s teammate Shane McElrath was 16^th. In the Wildcard LCQ, Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Dean Wilson finished second and Valley Motorsports’ Jeremy Hand was fifth, both securing spots in the night program.
• Shimoda was 13^th in combined 250 qualifying. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park and Rodbell Racing’s Justin Rodbell advanced from the Wildcard LCQ by finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
• Jett set the fastest lap times in both 450 motos.
• In all three seasons of SuperMotocross competition to date, Hunter Lawrence has earned the round 2 overall victory. He topped the 250 class in Joliet, Illinois during the inaugural SMX season in 2023, won the 450 class last year in Fort Worth, and was victorious this weekend.
• This marked the second time that Shimoda has earned a 250 overall win in SMX, as he topped the class at the series’ very first round (Charlotte) while riding for a different team in 2023.
• Honda extended its perfect record of premier-class overall victories in the still-young history of the SMX Playoffs. Jett has five wins, Hunter has two, and 2023 saw then-Honda-mounted Chase Sexton top a round.
• The SMX Next program made up its rained-out Charlotte main event on Friday in St. Louis, when Phoenix Racing Honda’s Tiger Wood finished on the podium in third. Wood went on to earn sixth place in Saturday’s regularly scheduled SMX Next main event.
• Jett and Hunter took part in the post-race press conference, while Shimoda was excused due to his illness.
• Honda HRC Progressive holds both red plates heading into next weekend’s series finale—the last regular-season race of the year. For the second year in a row, Jett and Hunter are prepared for a dramatic 450 title-fight showdown, as Jett leads his brother by six points heading to Las Vegas, where triple points will be paid out. In addition, Shimoda holds a 10-point lead over Haiden Deegan in the 250 class as the series heads to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Media contact:

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

450 Overall Results

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

—

18. Shane McElrath (Hon)

21. Dean Wilson (Hon)

22. Jeremy Hand (Hon)

450 Championship Points (after 2 of 3 rounds)

1. Jett Lawrence (91)
2. Hunter Lawrence (85)
3. Eli Tomac (75)
4. Chase Sexton (68)
5. Cooper Webb (67)
6. Justin Cooper (64)
7. Ken Roczen (63)
8. R.J. Hampshire (61)
9. Dylan Ferrandis (48)
10. Joey Savatgy (47) 

250 Overall Results

1. Jo Shimoda (Hon)
2. Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
3. Nate Thrasher (Yam)
4. Ty Masterpool (Kaw)
5. Tom Vialle (KTM)
6. Haiden Deegan (Yam)
7. Jordon Smith (Tri)
8. Daxton Bennick (Yam)
9. Max Anstie (Yam)
10. Levi Kitchen (Kaw)

—

16. Cullin Park (Hon)

22. Justin Rodbell (Hon)

250 Championship Points (after 2 of 3 rounds)

1. Jo Shimoda (92)
2. Haiden Deegan (82)
3. Seth Hammaker (78)
4. Tom Vialle (67)
5. Nate Thrasher (64)
6. Levi Kitchen (53)
7. Ty Masterpool (48)
8. Jordon Smith (48)
9. Ryder DiFrancesco (41)
10. Cole Davies (41)

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