JETT LAWRENCE WINS SMX PLAYOFF 1

Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence made a stunning return to racing at Playoff 1 of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Finals, fuelled by Monster Energy. Despite missing most of the Pro Motocross season, the defending SMX Champion demonstrated he hasn’t lost his edge with an exhilarating battle for the final moto win and overall victory at zMAX Dragway, Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The SuperMotocross Playoff 1 at zMAX Dragway offered perfect weather and a demanding track, setting the stage for top athletes to kick off their post-season quest for a share of the $5.5 million prize pool.

450SMX

In the 450SMX class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac excelled in the first moto on the high-speed, hybrid SuperMotocross track. Although he led much of the second moto, Tomac finished second after a fierce contest with Lawrence. SuperMotocross results are based on the combined scores of the two motos, earning Tomac second overall with (1-2) finishes. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton, the newly crowned AMA Pro Motocross champion, was competitive in both 20-minute plus one lap motos but finished third overall as the leaders pulled away late in the final moto. In the 250SMX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan put on a show with impressive come-from-behind performances in both motos, securing the 250SMX overall win with two convincing moto victories.

First place 450SMX Class (2-1) – Jett Lawrence
“I surprised myself more than you guys, I think. That race pace was a little different than practice. But that’s so cool. I remember back in 2023 I was saying I really wanted to battle Eli in outdoors, and this is as close as we get to outdoors, so it was a really cool thing to do. I could say a goal checked off, or a little check off the bucket list, you could say. I’m just super pumped to be up here again, and yeah, I’m back!” – Jett Lawrence, reflecting on his second moto win from the podium.

Second place 450SMX Class (1-2) – Eli Tomac
“I felt really good. It was close. The rhythm section got me. Jett was better in the sand, too, but I felt like I kind of could have survived that. But that rhythm section, as soon as I started missing my big quad, and then I wasn’t able to actually do the over-over so well, [I lost time], so [I’m] trying to learn from it. Either way it was a really fun day, [and I] felt really good on the motorcycle. That was so cool just to be having that flow again… [when asked why he stopped jumping the quad in the track’s rhythm lane] On the step-on step-off, the landing of it just got a little bit deep in the bottom of the transition. And then I wasn’t comfortable to go off the ramp and really gas it. So, I was too conservative, I was playing it safe, and it cost me.” – Eli Tomac

Third place 450SMX Class (4-3) – Chase Sexton
“We definitely have a lot to improve on. I felt a little bit like a re-run of Chicago last year, by trying super hard but I wasn’t really going that fast. So [I] gotta find some more comfort, but these guys are riding really well. They honestly just smoked me today, so gotta get better. We have two more rounds, the ones that really count, obviously this one is just single points, then double points and triple points, so just trying to improve and really capitalize in that last race.” – Chase Sexton, on his performance and future improvements for the SuperMotocross track.

250SMX

In the 250SMX Class, Haiden Deegan showcased his skill with impressive moto charges from mid-pack starts, winning both motos decisively to claim the overall 250SMX victory. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer led multiple laps in the first moto and remained competitive in the second, earning his first professional podium finish. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen created an early lead in the second moto but settled for second place as Deegan overtook him in the final moments.

First place 250SMX Class (1-1) – Haiden Deegan
“Yeah, we gotta go back to work this week. When I get back, we’re working. Because even though I went 1-1 today there’s a lot of errors that were made and I’m not happy about it… But it was nice to win the first one, that was a good goal to check off the list.” – Haiden Deegan, on his mid-pack starts and the need for further improvement.

Second place 250SMX Class (2-4) – Julien Beaumer
“Yeah, it’s very important leading those laps and getting good starts like that. It’s very important for confidence, and after that first moto I had a lot of confidence. I just made too many mistakes in those early laps [of the second moto], [then] got it going a little bit in the middle, and just [on] that last lap made another big mistake. But I was able to hold off Jo [Shimoda]; he’s riding great, and same with Haiden, they’re all riding great today, so I’m very excited to be up here and ready for Dallas.” – Julien Beaumer, discussing the importance of confidence following his first professional podium finish.

Third place 250SMX Class (5-2) – Levi Kitchen
“You never know. It’s racing. I actually didn’t know I was that great at the beginning. I felt like I couldn’t actually get away. But it was a decent race. I’m happy to kind of bounce back after the first one. It’s a little emotional getting a holeshot and getting a red flag [after the first start of the opening moto]. If there’s one [event at which] to be a tick off, it would definitely be this one. We’ve got double points and then triple points, so [I’m] looking forward to the next two.” – Levi Kitchen, reflecting on his performance and anticipation for the upcoming rounds.