Image: Supplied.

The Lawrence brothers will switch coasts for the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross season after the revelation that Jett has been injured in the pre-season, positioning Hunter in 250SX West for Anaheim 1.

It was initially announced that Jett would be riding the western region and Hunter would be on the east, however, a fractured rib sustained last month have prompted the switch.

Team Honda HRC has confirmed that Jett sustained a cracked rib on his left side in a crash while training in Florida on 27 December. He was diagnosed the following day at B3 Medical in Tampa and, after taking a week off, still wasn’t 100 percent when he tried riding in California on Monday.

“It’s a bummer, but at the end of the day, it could have been much worse,” Jett Lawrence explained. “If it was necessary, I might even have been able to race at A1, but waiting for the east coast races is obviously the smarter choice.

“I’ll focus on healing up and getting ready for Minneapolis, and in the meantime, I know Hunter will do great in the west.”

Lawrence had been rated as the title favourite entering Anaheim’s opener, but will instead now wait for round one of 250SX East at Minneapolis schedule for 19 February. Jett was third on the east last year, with Hunter runner-up in the western region.

“I’m pumped to be able to start racing sooner than expected,” Hunter Lawrence stated. “Honestly, I was already getting impatient to race, so although I’m obviously bummed for my brother, I was kind of excited when the decision was made for me to move to the west coast races. Hopefully we can both come out on top.”