Hunter Lawrence Gives ’25 CRF450R a Moto Win and Podium Overall Finish in AMA Debut

• Runner-up premier-class overall finish for the Australian, with 1-2 moto finishes
• Chance Hymas crashes out while leading 250 race
• Moto 2 crash results in broken collarbone for Jo Shimoda

Hunter Lawrence confirmed the competitiveness of Honda’s 2025 CRF450R during its AMA Pro Motocross debut at Unadilla MX in Upstate New York, racing the new machine to 1-2 moto finishes for a second-place overall result. It was an impressive showing by Team Honda HRC that helped make up for the squad’s final 250 results; despite strong riding by Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda (the former topping qualifying and leading most of the first moto, and the latter challenging for the lead in the second moto), both riders suffered crashes that ended their days early.

Lawrence put his new ride into second place in its first AMA Pro Motocross start, and although he lost a spot to Chase Sexton, he muscled his way back by and then powered by Aaron Plessinger to take over the lead on lap 1. Sexton was able to close up toward the end of the race, even getting by momentarily, but Lawrence made an impressive pass back and held on for an exciting win.

The gate was held for a long time on the moto 2 start, and after it dropped, Lawrence found himself in 10^th place out of turn 1. He was up to sixth after one lap, and into fourth by the midway point. Feeling strong in the moto’s latter stages, Lawrence charged to second by the finish, earning the same position overall. Also impressive was Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis, taking fourth overall with 6-3 moto scores.

The first 250 moto saw Hymas cross the holeshot line in seventh place, but it was immediately clear that he was the fastest rider on the track, which he had shown earlier by qualifying almost 2 seconds faster than P2. He made multiple early passes (including overtaking two riders in one turn) to secure the lead on lap 1. Once in front, the Idaho native began building a cushion that eventually grew to over 5 seconds, only for a violent crash on a downhill to take him out with just five laps remaining. (He was credited with a 32^nd-place result.) Meanwhile, Shimoda was back in 10^th place after lap 1, but he worked his way through the pack to finish the moto in fourth.

Shimoda snared a fourth-place start and was quickly up to second. He rode in that position—regularly challenging for the lead—for much of the race, until he went down in a corner with just four laps remaining. Although it was essentially a tip-over, the incident was awkward enough that it resulted in a broken collarbone for the Japanese rider, who was forced to withdraw. Meanwhile, Hymas started the second moto, but the effects of his moto 1 crash were such that he pulled out at about the one-third mark.

NOTES

• All three active Team Honda HRC riders attended Unadilla’s Media Day on Friday, although the track time was canceled due to precipitation.
• Amsterdam, New York, dealership Outdoor Motor Sports staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Team Honda HRC pits at Unadilla.
• Chance Hymas was the fastest 250 rider during the morning qualifying sessions, with Jo Shimoda sixth-best. Hunter Lawrence was fourth-fastest on the 450 timesheets.
• Hymas turned the fastest lap time during the first 250 moto, and Shimoda did likewise in the second moto.
• SLR Honda fielded several riders making their AMA Pro Motocross debuts at Unadilla. Parker Ross and Jace Allred campaigned the 250 class, finishing 24^th and 28^th overall, respectively, and Jaxon Pascal entered the 450 class but didn’t qualify for the motos.
• Next up for Team Honda HRC is the penultimate round of AMA Pro Motocross, to be held in Budds Creek, Maryland.

Media contact:

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

450 Overall Results

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

—

21. Jeremy Hand (Hon)

26. Cullin Park (Hon)

29. Izaih Clark (Hon)

30. Zack Williams (Hon)

31. Vincent Luhovey (Hon) 

450 Championship Points (after 9 of 11 rounds)

1. Chase Sexton: 407
2. Hunter Lawrence: 379
3. Aaron Plessinger: 319
4. Justin Cooper: 317
5. Jason Anderson: 295
6. Dylan Ferrandis: 273
7. Malcolm Stewart: 238
8. Jett Lawrence: 210
9. Christian Craig: 188
10. Justin Barcia: 148

—

19. Cullin Park: 67

250 Overall Results

1. Levi Kitchen (Kaw)
2. Haiden Deegan (Yam)
3. Jalek Swoll (Tri)
4. Garrett Marchbanks (Kaw)
5. Max Anstie (Yam)
6. Pierce Brown (Gas)
7. Jordon Smith (Yam)
8. Ty Masterpool (Kaw)
9. Julien Beaumer (KTM)
10. Ryder DiFrancesco (Gas)

—

12. Jo Shimoda (Hon)

24. Parker Ross (Hon)

28. Jace Allred (Hon)

36. Chance Hymas (Hon)

250 Championship Points (after 9 of 11 rounds)

1. Haiden Deegan: 408
2. Levi Kitchen: 338
3. Tom Vialle: 327
4. Jo Shimoda: 289
5. Chance Hymas: 275
6. Ty Masterpool: 259
7. Pierce Brown: 225
8. Jalek Swoll: 221
9. Ryder DiFrancesco: 204
10. Jordon Smith: 191

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