Honda HRC Progressive Controls SMX Playoffs After St. Louis Sweep!
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 14th 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 10th 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.
Honda HRC Progressive: ama.hondaracingcorporation.com
