The Pro Motocross Championship returned to racing action this past weekend after a week off, hitting the iconic sand track at The Wick 338 for round five of the 2024 season. Jett Lawrence, defending champion in the 450 Class, relied on consistent finishes (1-2) to secure his fourth win of the season for Team Honda HRC.
In the 250 Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan continued his dominance with another 1-2 finish, extending his points lead and earning his fourth victory of the summer.
Jett Lawrence got off to a familiar start in the premier class, grabbing the MotoSport.com Holeshot alongside his brother Hunter Lawrence, both mounted on Team Honda HRC machines. Right behind them was Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Chase Sexton.
Jett Lawrence quickly established a lead, building a 2.5-second advantage by the end of the opening lap. He continued to pull away throughout the moto, eventually stretching the gap to nearly 10 seconds over his brother. Sexton held strong in third, with a comfortable lead over the rest of the pack.
Jett Lawrence maintained his pace through the final stages, securing a wire-to-wire victory with a 6.4-second margin over Hunter Lawrence. Sexton finished a distant third.
The second moto saw another Lawrence holeshot, with Jett again leading Hunter out of the first turn. Sexton wasted no time, however, making a quick pass on Hunter for second and then setting his sights on the leader.
Chase Sexton (3-1) earned a Moto 2 victory to secure a runner-up finish at Southwick. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
While Sexton initially challenged Jett for the lead, his momentum stalled, allowing Hunter to close in and reclaim second place. The Lawrence brothers battled it out, with Hunter briefly taking the lead before Jett fought back to regain control.
The final ten minutes brought the drama. Hunter went off-track momentarily, allowing Jett to pressure him. Jett capitalized on the opportunity, making the pass and distancing himself. However, Sexton wasn't done yet. He put on a late charge, closing the gap on Jett and initiating a fight for the lead with less than two minutes remaining.
Sexton battled hard, even briefly taking the lead before Jett Lawrence clawed his way back. The intense duel continued until the very end, with Sexton ultimately securing the moto win by a narrow margin just before the checkered flag.
Jett Lawrence's consistent finishes (1-2) proved to be the key factor, giving him his fourth win of the season and 15th of his career. This win ties him with Jeremy McGrath for 10th on the all-time 450 Class wins list.
Sexton's impressive second-moto victory earned him the runner-up spot for the day (3-1), while Hunter Lawrence maintained his podium streak with a third-place finish (2-3), extending it to five consecutive races.
Hunter Lawrence (2-3) captured his fifth straight overall podium result to hang on to the red plate. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Hunter Lawrence's podium finish allows him to retain the championship points lead, but just barely. He sits three points ahead of Jett Lawrence and Sexton, who are now tied for second.
Haiden Deegan (1-2) continued his hot start to the season with a fourth victory in five rounds. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
The 250 Class saw similar dominance from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan. He grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot in both motos and led wire-to-wire in the first moto, securing a 15.3-second victory over Tom Vialle of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Tom Vialle (2-3) had a victory within reach but settled for a runner-up finish. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
The second moto was a bit more dramatic. While Deegan initially took the lead again, a red flag forced a restart. After the restart, Deegan battled back from a sixth-place start to reclaim a spot on the podium, ultimately finishing second behind Jo Shimoda of Team Honda HRC.
Jo Shimoda (9-1) became the newest addition to the overall podium following a Moto 2 victory. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Despite the second-moto hiccup, Deegan's 1-2 finishes were enough to secure his fourth win of the season, extending his points lead in the 250 Class championship to 42 points.
The Pro Motocross Championship takes a break for Independence Day weekend before returning to action on July 6th for the Bob The Cooler RedBud National in Buchanan, Michigan. Get your tickets at www.MOTO.events.
