LAS VEGAS — Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence grabbed his third consecutive SMX World Championship™ with a dramatic overall victory on the SMX track built over The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
After winning the first moto, Jett delivered a nail-biting charge late in the second moto to reach second place; his (1-2) moto scores combined to win the night’s racing, the $100,000 race win bonus, and more significantly the $1 million championship payout.
Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence, entering the race with enough points that a victory would bring him his first 450SMX title, toughed out a win in the second moto despite entering the event under the weather.
Hunter’s third-place finish in the opening moto netted him second overall at the Vegas race as well as in the championship, which brought him a $500,000 championship runner-up bonus. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac battled up front in both motos and finished the night with (2-3) moto scores. Tomac wrapped up his season with a third place result in the moto, the event, and the championship, which came with a $250,000 bonus.
“[It’s conflicting] emotions of obviously wanting to win this, and get this, but then I also hate to see [Hunter not get the win] – today he deserved that. He executed two really good starts and obviously the guy’s battling with a cold right now, and [I’m] bummed to see him sad about it, because he worked really hard; we both worked hard, but I’m happy,” Jett Lawrence said. “Halfway through [the second moto] I honestly had some doubts that I could even catch those guys. [Hunter and Eli] were riding really, really well.
“But I had to dig deep and just try to send it. It was either sending it or crashing at that point. So, I tired, I was able to catch up to Eli. I had a few good laps and was able to make a quick pass when I had the chance. I’m happy for the team, with going 1-2 for Honda, but right now my mind’s thinking about multiple things… Because, obviously, this could be [Hunter’s] first 450 championship. But obviously I want it really badly as well, it’s a lot of money. It’s difficult, because you want to see your brother do well, it’s difficult competing against him.”
The 250SMX Class delivered peak thrills for any form of racing, and just the type of scenario that the SMX World Championship postseason structure was designed to create. The first moto delivered excellent racing, but almost nothing in motorsports could match the excitement delivered in the second 250SMX Class moto.
Sitting second in championship points, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan lined up to the inside of Shimoda for the final 250SMX moto of the year. The two bumped just off the gate, and by the third corner Deegan appeared to slow to take Shimoda wide; neither rider went down, but Shimoda lost two positions. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker had the holeshot and the early lead, and as the riders were positioned as they crossed the green flag, Hammaker would have the points needed to take the night’s win and the championship.
That was the math if every rider stayed where they were… but the race was about to explode with incredible riding, aggressive passes, take-out moves, heroic bravery, and frantic moto math to sort out what every development did to the championship standings.
Six minutes into the race, Deegan made his way past Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen to take over second place. From there Deegan appeared to alter his pace to mix up the front runners’ positions. Six and a half minutes into the race, Deegan moved past Hammaker, which included contact on a high-speed section. Shimoda, still in fourth at that moment, needed a third-place finish in the moto to secure the title from Deegan. Kitchen then dropped out with what appeared to be a bike problem.
At the moto’s midpoint, Shimoda reached second place and Deegan slowed to allow Hammaker to tighten back up to them. Over the next laps, Deegan instigated contact against Shimoda no less than three times, and the third impact put both riders on the ground. Shimoda quickly remounted in second place while Deegan walked away from his bike with what was later diagnosed as a broken collarbone.
The games up front allowed Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle to catch Shimoda and pass him with less than two laps remaining. With Hammaker leading, Vialle holding second, and Shimoda in third, the title would go to Shimoda with the night’s overall going to Hammaker. But Shimoda put on a final burst and passed Vialle in the final corner to earn second in the moto, an overall victory for the night, and secure the 2025 SMX World Championship. The title marks Shimoda’s first professional title and he becomes the first Japanese rider to earn an SMX, SX, or MX title.
The crowd was wildly enthusiastic for Jo Shimoda at the podium when he received his championship trophy, the $500,000 payout, and what sounded like a massive increase of the earnest racer’s fan base.
