Image: Octopi Media.

Before their anticipated duel in the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross season, Jett and Hunter Lawrence led the way in qualifying for their respective classes, while Jason Anderson set the high mark in the premier class.

Jett, leading the 250SX West regional championship, was fastest in both of his timed qualifying outings, while Hunter was third in the first session before setting the pace in Q2 for the eastern region.

Faster times in the second round of qualifying saw Jett turn a 47.895s lap, making him the fastest 250SX rider across both coasts entering the night show.

The younger Lawrence brother was the only 250 rider to turn a lap quicker than 48s.

Hunter’s 48.701s, meanwhile, would’ve placed him third on the West but came on a more-difficult track as it followed the second western region qualifier on the schedule.

Beyond the Team Honda HRC duo, RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) was the second-fastest West rider, coming within 0.758s of Jett’s top time.

Max Vohland (Red Bull KTM), Carson Mumford (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), and Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas) found the top five in the West.

Enzo Lopes (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha), Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Cole Thompson (Team Solitaire Heartbeat Hot Sauce Yamaha), Dilan Schwartz (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki), and Hunter Yoder (Partzilla PRMX Racing) comprised the rest of the top 10 for the class.

In the East division, Jordon Smith crashed heavily twice in the second session but was second on the combined timesheet on the strength of his 48.728s lap from Q1. That revolution of the MetLife Stadium track put him within 0.027s of Hunter.

Max Anstie was third for Fire Power Honda, ahead of Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM), Chris Blose (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Cullin Park (Phoenix Racing Honda), Michael Hicks (Ti-Lube Storm Lake Honda Racing), and Coty Schock (Phoenix Racing Honda).

Image: Octopi Media.

In the 450SX category, Anderson turned a 47.707s lap to beat Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) to the top by 0.373s.

Coming off his win a week ago in Atlanta, Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton found third, ahead of Justin Hill (Team Tedder Monster Energy Mountain Motorsports) and Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas).

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) was sixth on the combined timesheet, edging out title rival Eli Tomac, who crashed heavily at the start of the first session and limped off the track. Tomac returned for Q2 and went fast enough for seventh.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) was eighth on the combined chart thanks to his first-session lap after going over the handlebars at the start of Q2 and only going fast enough for 12th after that.

Josh Hill (Team Tedder Monster Energy Mountain Motorsports) and Sexton’s Team Honda HRC stablemate Colt Nichols rounded out the top 10.

Detailed results