FORT WORTH, Texas — Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence took the overall win at Texas Motor Speedway at SuperMotocross Playoff 2 of the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals, fueled by Monster Energy. The 450SMX Class rookie used (1-3) moto scores in the two-moto race format to earn his first overall win in 450 Class pro racing.
With a double-points payout at Playoff 2, Hunter Lawrence moved into the series points lead with one round remaining and a $5.5 million total prize payout on the line.
The recently-crowned AMA Pro Motocross Champion, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton, took the runner-up spot in Texas with (4-1) moto scores and a dominating performance in Moto Two. Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence, the 2024 Supercross champion who returned to racing with an overall win at SuperMotocross Playoff 1 just one week prior, finished third overall in Texas via (3-2) moto scores. These top three racers line up at the SuperMotocross World Championship next weekend in a winner-take-all scenario thanks to the triple-point payout.
“Super awesome! I had a little super accident on the back [of the track], but that’s SuperMotocross,” Hunter Lawrence said. “I’m happy to be getting out of here with the red plate. It feels good to get that one. I can’t say that I’m looking forward to riding that track again, so [I’m] thankful it’s done … a massive shout out to the team and everyone that’s been a part of this. We appreciate you guys, and we couldn’t do it without you, so thank you.”
In the 250SMX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan backed up his win at SuperMotocross Playoff 1 with another (1-1) victory to extend his points lead heading into the final postseason race of the year.
Deegan broke clear of the pack in each race, but there was great battling behind him. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle came out on top of a tense three-racer battle for second place in the second 250SMX moto; he earned second overall with (3-2) moto finishes. Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda followed up a second-place finish in Moto 1 with a third place in Moto 2 to grab the final spot on the podium.
“Just a lot of hard work and it pays off, and good family around you, too,” Deegan said. “The track, it was gnarly. It felt like – if anyone’s from Cali, they know Lake Elsinore at 5 p.m., literally it’s just baked. But overall, it was a good race, had some fun. Two perfect starts today, and that was my goal.”
Between the 450SMX and 250SMX motos, the Supermini World All-Stars race put the next generation of the sport on the track. The young racers, aged 12 to 15 years old, delivered more thrilling racing. GASGAS’ Brody Moss earned the win ahead of KTM’s Wyatt Duff. Kawasaki’s Carson Wood, last year’s champion, recovered from a dead-last start to grab the final spot on the podium just ahead of fourth-place finisher KTM’s Kane Bollasina.
With three racers locked in a tight points battle, the SuperMotocross World Championship will deliver a winner-take-all race on Saturday, Sept. 21st at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Hunter Lawrence, Sexton and Jett Lawrence all have moto wins over the two playoff rounds and one is set to earn the 2024 SMX title and its $1 million payday in Las Vegas.
Deegan is in a good position to take the 250SMX Class Championship, but with $500,000 on the line and a triple-points payout, anything can happen.