Image: Octopi Media.

Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence salvaged third position to continue his four-race podium streak in an off-night at Anaheim 2, admitting afterwards that he ‘just didn’t quite have the edge’ needed to contend for victory.

After qualifying fifth and earning third in his heat race, Lawrence made another average start during round four’s main event, positioned sixth after the first lap. He quickly made his way to fourth by the third lap.

The Australian then trailed MotoConcepts rider Vince Friese for the majority of the race, capitalizing on a late-race mistake in the whoops to move into third, however, not quite able to match the pace of leaders Christain Craig and Michael Mosiman.

“Just didn’t quite have the edge, wasn’t really firing on all cylinders from the get go,” Lawrence commented. “The boys were riding really well. In this class – in any class – you have to be at 100 percent, more or less, to be able to win. That was just kind of it really, didn’t really have it, you’re going to have those weekends here and there.

“To minimise what could have been worse, we will take it, looking forward to next weekend, we will go back to doing what we do throughout the week and come out swinging.”

Third at A2 marks Lawrence’s fourth-consecutive podium to open 2022 Monster Energy Supercross, current red plate-holder Craig the only other to have a perfect podium record so far in 250SX West, who Lawrence now trails by 11 points heading into round five this Saturday at Glendale.