Image: Octopi Media.

Despite the requirement to finish only top 20 in order to become the 2023 250SX East champion, Hunter Lawrence was far from complacent as he finalized the title in the best way possible with a win at the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross visit to Nashville.

The Nissan Stadium round marked the ninth 250SX East race of the year and the seventh that ended with the 23-year-old Team Honda HRC rider at the front.

Lawrence settled into second behind Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) off the start, but a mistake for Smith sent his Yamaha YZ250F off the track and promoted Lawrence to the lead.

The young Australian was never challenged from then on, ultimately winning the race by 3.857s over Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) and finalizing his title as the champion on the Eastern region.

Smith was 1.448s back from Shimoda at the checkers, while his teammate Haiden Deegan was an almost equal distance behind as he finished one spot off the podium.

Max Anstie (Fire Power Honda) came home fifth ahead of Jeremy Martin (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha), Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM), Chris Blose (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Henry Miller (Ti-Lube Honda Racing), and Cullin Park (Phoenix Racing Honda) in the top 10.

The Eastern division of the 250SX class will conclude its season at the year’s second East/West Showdown at Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium on May 13.

Detailed results