Image: Octopi Media.

Tasked with making several passes in moto one and fending off a hard-charging Chase Sexton in moto two, Jett Lawrence made a relatively trying day look easy on the way to winning his 19th and 20th consecutive Pro Motocross Championship races in 450MX at the 2023 Budds Creek National.

Perhaps brought on by a switch away from the scoop tire in the moments between the sight lap and the gate drop, Lawrence and his Team Honda HRC-prepared machine exited the first turn barely within the top 10

Facing an uphill battle to extend his win streak to a 19th race, the young Australian was clearly motivated to reach the front as he rapidly picked off the riders in front of him, working closer and closer to Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) who grabbed the holeshot and led early and Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) who chased from second.

Lawrence masterfully passed every rider necessary to take control of the race en route to closing out the victory by a margin of 4.377s over Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki).

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) held third to claim the moto’s final podium position ahead of Plessinger who dropped back from second and Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) who found the top five in the second weekend of his return to competition.

Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha), Cianciarulo, Ty Masterpool (HBI Racing Kawasaki), Sexton, and Phil Nicoletti (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) completed the top 10.

A perfectly timed launch from the gate set up a much more ideal opening stanza of the second 450MX moto for Lawrence relative to the first.

Lining up to wrap up the day having won all 19 motos of the Pro Motocross season thus far, Lawrence went on to lead all 17 laps, though he faced pressure from Sexton at two distinct points.

On the fifth lap, Sexton was within 2s of the lead but tipped over and lost several seconds-worth of track position while adding to his fall total on the day after a few mistakes in morning practice and the first moto.

An 8.237s lead for Lawrence was reduced to 7.109s, 4.694s, and 2.296s as the final lap approached, during which Lawrence knew Sexton was fast approaching.

Sexton, the reigning 450SX champion in Monster Energy Supercross, turned his fastest lap of the race after passing the white flag and came just 0.771s short of breaking the now-20-race win streak for his rookie teammate.

Lawrence will take home a 10th overall victory trophy of the year while Plessinger and Anderson earned the other two overall podium positions with 4-3 and 2-5 moto scores, respectively.

Plessinger in third was chased to the checkered flag by Barcia in the second moto, with the GasGas rider placing fifth overall with 5-4 finishes in the motos.

Anderson completed the top five in moto two ahead of Cianciarulo, Masterpool, Marchbanks, Ferrandis, and Freddie Noren (Twisted Tea HEP Suzuki) in the top 10.

With the 450MX championship already wrapped up a week prior to the Budds Creek event, focus in the premier class will be on whether Lawrence can close out a perfect season.

Detailed results