Image: Octopi Media.

For the sixth time in 2024, Jett Lawrence lit the candles in the 450SX main event as he took an impressive win in Nashville. Starting with Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen, and Cooper Webb, Lawrence was able to get around Tomac for the lead around halfway and takeoff with a nearly 10 second gap by the time the checkered flag waved.

The win came at a pivotal point in the championship as Lawrence was coming off three straight races where he lost significant points to championship rival Cooper Webb. Webb, aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine, followed teammate Eli Tomac home in third place on the night as the two Star Racing boys completed the podium behind Lawrence.

Much of the drama in the main event surrounded Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton and Progressive Ecstar Suzuki’s Ken Roczen both crashing out violently. Fortunately, reports are that both riders are okay and Sexton is just banged up in his upper body while Roczen has brusing in his left knee and lower leg. For Sexton though, it likely ended his bid at repeating as champion in 2024 and he was rightfully very disappointed.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson and Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas’ Justin Barcia brought home quiet fourth and fifth place finishes on the night, respectively. Anderson kept Webb honest for a while in third place, but the Yamaha man was eventually able to establish enough of a gap to hold on for the podium spot.

All three Star Racing Yamaha’s ended up inside the top six as Justin Cooper rode another solid race to finish up in sixth. Behind him, it was Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence in seventh, Liqui Moly Beta Racing’s Benny Bloss in eighth, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart in ninth, and MotoConcepts Racing Honda’s Vince Friese rounding out the top 10.

Lawrence now leads the points by five over Webb as it is down to just the two of them for this title. With three races left to go, the series resumes next week in Philadelphia for round 15.