News 21 Sep 2024

Back-to-back 450SMX titles for Jett Lawrence

The Honda rider sweeps the finale to repeat as champion.

Image: Octopi Media.

With an emphatic 1-1 sweep at the Las Vegas finale, Jett Lawrence repeated as 450SMX World Champion. Lawrence would tie on points with his brother Hunter, but Jett claimed the title due to the better result at the final round.

Lawrence had to catch and pass Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac in the first moto to take the win, and it put the pressure on his brother to perform in moto two. Hunter Lawrence needed to win with Jett getting third or worse to win the overall and secure the title. Hunter would follow Jett the whole moto but ended up P2 in the moto, the overall, and the championship.

The night was somewhat marred by Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton pulling out for the night after being landed on in the first moto. No information is available on the extent of Sexton’s injury at this time and further news will be posted at a later date.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac rounded out the podium on the night going 2-3 just behind Hunter. Tomac was just a tick off in both motos from having the speed to win, but ultimately landed on the podium at all three rounds of SMX in his first ever go at the series.

Fourth place on the night was Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger who went 4-4 and looked back to himself after some crashes at the beginning of SMX. Rounding out the top five was Star Racing’s Cooper Webb who went 6-5.

Behind them, it was Star Racing Yamaha’s Justin Cooper in sixth, Progressive Ecstar Suzuki’s Ken Roczen in seventh, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas’ Justin Barcia in eighth, Harri Kullas in ninth, and Maddparts.com Kawasaki’s Shane McElrath in 10th.

Jett Lawrence walks away with $1,000,000 at the end of the night while Hunter Lawrence added $500,000 to his bank account. Ultimately, it was an all-Lawrence brothers night in Las Vegas.

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