Image: Octopi Media.

In his first race back from injury, Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence went right back to winning as he claimed victory at the first round of the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs. Lawrence battled Eli Tomac for the win, ultimately snagging the all-important second moto victory.

Tomac aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine looked to be the Tomac of old as he holeshot and walked away with victory in the first moto. He once again got into the lead in the second moto and led much of the way with Lawrence right in his shadow.

Lawrence found a few spots where he was faster and picked the rollers before the sand sweeper to strike for the lead. Tomac stuck with him, but Lawrence did enough to hold on and win going 2-1 to Tomac’s 1-2.

The final step of the podium would go to points leader Chase Sexton aboard his Red Bull KTM. Sexton went 4-3 and was right with Tomac and Lawrence through much of the second moto but lamented post-race that he wasn’t comfortable with his setup and has some work to do.

Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence and Progressive Ecstar Suzuki’s Ken Roczen rounded out the top five, respectively. Both riders had strong days but were perhaps just a tick off of the pace laid down by Jett and Tomac out front.

Behind them, it was Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper in sixth, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart in seventh, Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger in eighth, Twisted Tea Suzuki’s Colt Nichols in ninth, and Star Racing’s Cooper Webb rounding out the top 10.

Thanks to both Jett Lawrence and Eli Tomac missing time with injuries, Sexton still leads the championship having entered with a points advantage based on seeding. Sexton sits four points up on Jett Lawrence, five points up on Hunter Lawrence, and 12 points up on Eli Tomac as the series heads to the second round next weekend in Texas.

Detailed Results