Consistency and the race two victory has resulted in Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence winning his first main event of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross season at Glendale’s first of the Triple Crown rounds.

After getting out front early on the opening lap, Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Christian Craig sprinted off and eventually won the first 10-minute final of the night by 14.294s.

Behind him, top-qualifier Lawrence took some time to get by Vince Friese (Smartop Bullfrog Spas MCR Honda) – riding a ‘wide’ bike as always – and took control of the runner-up position in the end, while the latter was able to hold on for third ahead of Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha).

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Shimoda had passed Friese into podium position the middle stages, before Friese countered, only for Shimoda to then go down and recover for fifth after edging Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna).

A solid effort saw Derek Kelley (AEO Powersports KTM) take seventh, from Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) as he also fell while challenging for a podium, Carson Brown (AEO Powersports KTM) and Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas) despite falling in the first turn.

Main event two of the 250s might have belonged to Lawrence, but the focus was on an incident between Friese and red plate-holder Craig on the opening lap that took both riders down in spectacular fashion.

Lawrence came under pressure late from Mosiman, but managed to hold on by 1.384s, ahead of Mosiman and Shimoda, while Craig remounted and charged his way back to position four. He made a pass on the final lap by Swoll, from Marchbanks, Thrasher, Robbie Wageman (Team Solitaire Nuclear Blast Yamaha), Brown and Friese.

The final main saw Craig get his redemption, again getting out front early to take a commanding win by 6.093s, but it wasn’t enough to deny Lawrence of the overall. The second race incident meant Craig had to settle for runner-up on the night, with Lawrence taking full advantage to claim his second-career 250SX win.

That final outing saw Shimoda third ahead of Friese and Thrasher the top five, with Marchbanks, Swoll, Brown, Kelley and Wageman next in line. Mosiman crashed out of fourth midway, only to get back aboard and finish in 15th.

Overall, Lawrence won by a single point over Craig – both maintaining their perfect podium results – and Shimoda scored his first top-three finish of the series. Entering Anaheim 3 next Saturday, Craig now holds a eight-point lead over Lawrence.

Detailed results