Jett Lawrence Reclaims 450MX Lead at Unadilla MX Round 9

Jett Lawrence has reclaimed the 450MX championship lead following a dramatic Round 9 of the AMA Pro Motocross series at Unadilla MX in Upstate New York. The Honda HRC Progressive rider secured the overall victory, capitalizing on a challenging second moto for his brother and former points leader, Hunter Lawrence. This pivotal event has significantly reshaped the 450MX title chase with only two rounds remaining.

450MX Championship Battle Intensifies

The 450MX class saw intense competition between the Lawrence brothers. Hunter Lawrence initially took the Moto 1 win, his tenth of the season, after leading from lap two. Jett Lawrence, after an early fall, battled back from sixth to finish second in the first moto, passing Jorge Prado on the final lap.

Moto 2 proved decisive when Jett Lawrence pressured and passed Hunter for the lead. Later in the race, Hunter crashed on the notoriously steep "Wall" section of the track. Despite remounting, crash damage to his CRF450RWE forced him to withdraw from the moto, resulting in an eighth-place overall finish for the round.

Jett Lawrence went on to win Moto 2, securing the overall victory with 2-1 moto scores. This outcome created a 22-point swing in the championship standings, with Jett Lawrence now holding a 10-point lead over Hunter Lawrence as the series approaches its conclusion.

Strong Performances in 250MX and WMX

In the 250MX class, Honda HRC Progressive's Chance Hymas earned his third consecutive overall podium finish. Hymas achieved a third-place overall result at Unadilla with 4-2 moto scores, demonstrating consistent performance. He currently sits fifth in the 250MX standings, just five points shy of fourth place and 20 points behind third.

The Women's Motocross Championship (WMX) also returned to action at Unadilla. Charli Cannon of Quad Lock Honda secured second overall with 2-2 moto finishes, while SLR Honda's Mayla Herrick rounded out the podium in third overall with 4-3 scores. Cannon is now second in the WMX title chase, 20 points behind the leader, Lachlan Turner.

Unadilla Highlights and What's Next

Jett Lawrence's overall win at Unadilla marks his third consecutive premier-class victory at the track, maintaining his undefeated record there. Honda now holds the most premier-class overall wins at Unadilla with 11, surpassing Kawasaki. Prior to the main races, Jett Lawrence topped both 450 qualifying sessions with identical best lap times of 2:12.122, with Hunter Lawrence posting the second-fastest time. Chance Hymas qualified seventh in the 250MX class.

The event also featured the introduction of SMX Friday Live Presented by Honda on the SuperMotocross YouTube channel, providing coverage of press-day activities and the first WMX moto. Local dealership Binghamton Honda engaged with fans at the Honda HRC Progressive pits, showcasing current models.

The AMA Pro Motocross series will continue with its penultimate round this Saturday at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The final rounds will determine the 450MX and 250MX champions, with the points battles remaining tight for Jett Lawrence Unadilla MX and other contenders.

The Unadilla MX round proved to be a pivotal moment for Honda HRC Progressive, with Jett Lawrence seizing control of the 450MX championship and Chance Hymas maintaining his podium streak in the 250MX class. As the series heads into its final two rounds, all eyes will be on Budds Creek to see how these intense title fights conclude.