Team Honda HRC Extends Win Streaks at High Point National
High Point Raceway
・Yet another 1-1 score for Jett Lawrence in 450 class
・Hunter Lawrence posts a 3-1 250 moto tally for first overall
・Chance Hymas leads laps and takes sixth overall in 250s
On paper, the High Point National looked a lot like the first three rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross series—Jett and Hunter Lawrence sweeping the 450 and 250 overall wins with 1-1 and 3-1 moto scores, respectively. But in reality, the Team Honda HRC colleagues and brothers had to overcome additional challenges this time around, thanks to crashes, a muddy track and stiff competition.
Jett put his CRF450RWE in front with a 450 moto 1 holeshot, but he went down at about the one-third mark, allowing Ken Roczen by. The Australian remounted in third but moved by Garrett Marchbanks and Roczen, reassuming the lead with four laps and winning by 26 seconds. Jett started about sixth in moto 2 and was up to fourth after the first lap. After taking third the next lap, he ran in that position for a long time, but then he turned up the heat, dispatching Adam Cianciarulo at the halfway mark. At that point he was down over four seconds to Roczen, but he closed the gap and took the lead with six laps remaining, then riding to a two-second win.
Hunter nailed a decent start in the first 250 moto but had to pause when another rider crashed in front of him. He was 11th after one lap, but five laps in, he moved into the top five. He took over third with three laps remaining and maintained the position to the finish. Hymas crossed the holeshot line in second for 250 moto 2 and quickly established a small lead, while Hunter was once again held up by a crash. After completing lap 1 in seventh, Hunter went on a tear, advancing to second just after the one-third point, then moving by his teammate with eight laps remaining. Hunter went on to score a comfortable 18-second win, although he was docked seven points for jumping during a red-cross flag, while Hymas held on to finish fifth—good for sixth overall.
NOTES
Chase Sexton missed his third race in a row as he recovers from a concussion, but Team Honda HRC hopes to have him back in the pits soon. The series not racing next weekend will give the Illinois native more time to recover.
Mosites Motorsports, a dealership in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, set up a pop-up activation booth in the Team Honda HRC pits, where they engaged with fans and customers.
Jett Lawrence posted the second-best qualifying time in the 450 class, while Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas were third- and eighth-best in the quarter-liter division.
Jett posted the fastest lap time in the first 450 moto, and Hymas posted the best time in the second 250 moto.
With Jett’s win, Honda topped the 450 class at High Point for the first time since 2004, and moved into a tie for the manufacturer with the most premier-class overall victories at High Point, with 13. Past Red Riders to achieve that feat at the venue include Jimmy Ellis, Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson (twice), Jeff Stanton (twice), Doug Henry, Damon Bradshaw, Ezra Lusk and Ricky Carmichael (three times). Honda also has the most premier-class moto wins at High Point (28).
Jett extended his flawless AMA 450 class record, with four-straight overall wins and eight-straight moto wins. High Point marks the first race of his young AMA 450 class career at which he didn’t lead every lap. Jett also has another overall win at High Point, as last year saw him go 2-1 for the 250-class victory.
Hunter’s success put him on the list of Red Riders to take the 250/125 overall win at High Point, as he joins Micky Dymond (twice), Guy Cooper, George Holland, Jean-Michel Bayle, Brian Swink, Doug Henry, Scott Sheak, Josh Grant, Eli Tomac, Jeremy Martin and Jett Lawrence.
Hunter’s victory moved him into a tie for the second-best start to a 250 season, with four consecutive overall wins, matching Jett Lawrence, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart and Adam Cianciarulo. This marks the fifth career AMA Pro Motocross 250 overall win for Hunter, who also extends his moto-win tally to 11 and his moto-podium mark to 32.
Jett’s total in the 450 class is now a perfect 200 points, which puts him 49 ahead of second place. Hunter is now 28 ahead of second place in the 250 class, despite being docked seven points at High Point for jumping during a red-cross flag. Hymas is sixth in the 250 division.
Once again, both Lawrence brothers participated in the post-race press conference.
Following its first weekend off next week, the AMA Pro Motocross series will head to the RedBud National in Buchanan, Michigan, over Independence Day Weekend.
I was a little uncomfortable all day. To have a track like this be covered in mud makes it hard to even ride, let alone race. Honestly, it was really humbling all day, having to battle and break up the routine. I almost feel like that crash was needed just to stay focused and keep the perspective that it won’t always be holeshots and checking off laps. I’m learning how to push through when I don’t have my best stuff, which I know I’ll need as we go on. I’m excited to have a little bit of time off this week, and I can’t wait to head to RedBud.
I was a little uncomfortable all day. To have a track like this be covered in mud makes it hard to even ride, let alone race. Honestly, it was really humbling all day, having to battle and break up the routine. I almost feel like that crash was needed just to stay focused and keep the perspective that it won’t always be holeshots and checking off laps. I’m learning how to push through when I don’t have my best stuff, which I know I’ll need as we go on. I’m excited to have a little bit of time off this week, and I can’t wait to head to RedBud.
Apart from the penalty, it was a great day. We got the overall, so we couldn't ask for more there. The track was wild. There were so many soft spots and sinkholes that you didn’t really know what to do; it was all throttle control and finesse. From first practice on, my goal was just to not crash. I took what I could in the first moto without getting too aggressive, and just focused on hitting my lines in the second. It was a really good day for us, and I’m looking forward to a little break.
Apart from the penalty, it was a great day. We got the overall, so we couldn't ask for more there. The track was wild. There were so many soft spots and sinkholes that you didn’t really know what to do; it was all throttle control and finesse. From first practice on, my goal was just to not crash. I took what I could in the first moto without getting too aggressive, and just focused on hitting my lines in the second. It was a really good day for us, and I’m looking forward to a little break.
Today was a big learning day. I kind of struggled in qualifying and the first moto, trying to find my groove. It was a great experience leading some laps in the second moto; I just need to focus on finding more lines as the race goes on and keeping the tempo up. Overall, it was a good day and one I can take some positives from.
Today was a big learning day. I kind of struggled in qualifying and the first moto, trying to find my groove. It was a great experience leading some laps in the second moto; I just need to focus on finding more lines as the race goes on and keeping the tempo up. Overall, it was a good day and one I can take some positives from.
This race was a bit more challenging than the first three rounds, but the boys were able to knock out another double win, which is just incredible. The track was super challenging, with the amount of rain that came before the race. It was cool having Kenny race; it was great having another top rider back in the 450 class, and it helped us out in points, so that was nice! It was also very cool to see Chance lead some laps and also have the fastest lap of the second moto. The experience he’s gaining now will hopefully help him for the rest of the season and beyond!
This race was a bit more challenging than the first three rounds, but the boys were able to knock out another double win, which is just incredible. The track was super challenging, with the amount of rain that came before the race. It was cool having Kenny race; it was great having another top rider back in the 450 class, and it helped us out in points, so that was nice! It was also very cool to see Chance lead some laps and also have the fastest lap of the second moto. The experience he’s gaining now will hopefully help him for the rest of the season and beyond!
250MX Standings
| Pos. | Rider | Num. | Team | Constr. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter LAWRENCE | 96 | Honda | Team Honda HRC | 175 |
| 2 | Haiden DEEGAN | 238 | Yamaha | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha 250 Team | 147 |
| 3 | R.J. HAMPSHIRE | 24 | Husqvarna | Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing | 133 |
| 4 | Jo SHIMODA | 30 | Kawasaki | Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki | 129 |
| 5 | Justin COOPER | 32 | Yamaha | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha 250 Team | 121 |
| 6 | Levi KITCHEN | 43 | Yamaha | Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha 250 Team | 115 |
| 9 | Chance HYMAS | 832 | Honda | Team Honda HRC | 92 |
| 28 | Maxwell SANFORD | 162 | Honda | Concrete Plants Inc | 5 |
