Image: Octopi Media.

250MX red plate-holder Jett Lawrence defied the odds to win the overall despite battling sickness in round two of the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, as Jason Anderson broke through in 450MX at Hangtown today.

Moto one in 250MX saw Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas) charge to his first-career race win outdoors, taking control from early leader Justin Cooper just prior to the halfway mark and sprinting ahead from there.

Mosiman’s eventual winning margin was 3.444s, with Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper managing to hold onto second ahead of fast-finishing Lawrence brothers, Jett and Hunter. The latter had been as high as P3 earlier, only to go down and drop back to sixth, before clawing his way back to fourth, but unable to make his way by Jett for position.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Shimoda pushed from outside of the top 10 to earn fifth, followed by Kitchen, Max Vohland (Red Bull KTM), Hammaker, Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) after fighting for the podium early on and going down in the closing laps, while Nick Romano (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) was the top 10.

A notable non-finisher was Mosiman’s teammate Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas), crashing out of contention on lap seven while circulating in 14th position.

Perseverance was key for Jett Lawrence in moto two, taking advantage of an early error from Cooper – who once again took the holeshot – to get into the lead and he was able to hold on.

A charge from Shimoda amounted to little when we went down with five minutes remaining, enabling Lawrence despite being under the weather today to hold on for victory both in the race and overall. Cooper and Hunter Lawrence tried to apply pressure with a few laps to go, but weren’t quite able to get there before time was up and the checkered flag flew.

In the end, it was Jett Lawrence who won the second moto 2.246s ahead of Hunter as he made a clutch move on Cooper, with Shimoda remounting for P4. Fifth marked an improvement by Vohland, as Kitchen was again sixth, trailed by Stilez Robertson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Hammaker, Romano and Brown.

There was heartbreak for Mosiman after being forced out early, as was Swoll, while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate RJ Hampshire was a non-starter after falling in the opening moto and finishing 16th in that one.

The overall belonged to Jett Lawrence for the second week in a row ahead of Cooper in a significant step forward, with Hunter Lawrence third. Jett now has an 11-point lead in the standings over brother Hunter heading into Thunder Valley next weekend.

Image: Octopi Media.

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Anderson captured the first outdoor victory of his career at Hangtown, splitting 450MX wins with Eli Tomac.

It appeared that the opening premier class moto was going to belong to Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC), but it was top-qualifier Anderson who pressed on to make his move with five laps remaining and that’s where he would remain.

Sexton jumped out front for the holeshot and controlled things, however, Anderson was relentless in his pursuit, but still only won by 0.390s once he made his move. Almost 30 seconds further back was Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) in a continuation of his podium form, directly ahead of Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Eli Tomac and Christian Craig inside the top five.

Sixth and seventh were Red Bull KTM duo Ryan Dungey and Tony Cairoli, who is now expected to continue beyond this weekend, while Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha), Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) – despite an awkward fall in the opening laps – and Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) were the top 10.

On return to competition, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy claimed 11th position in the first encounter of this afternoon.

Another tight one in the second 450MX moto was won by Tomac after he was able to hold Sexton at bay on the final lap, with Anderson’s third enough to clinch victory for the round.

The final moto of the round saw Cairoli power to a popular holeshot, with Roczen in tow and quickly taking over at the head of the pack. That was until Sexton went by on lap five, later followed by Tomac and the race was on in the midway stages.

As he does, Tomac kept charging and hit the lead with eight minutes remaining, while at a similar moment, Anderson passed Roczen for P3 and that put him into position for the overall. Sexton didn’t give up, however, finishing 1.288s behind Tomac at the end, with Anderson third.

Next in line was Roczen, while the ever-consistent Craig claimed fifth. Cairoli turned the tables on Dungey this time around for sixth and seventh, followed by Plessinger, Savatgy and Fredrik Noren (BBMX KTM).

The round win belonged to Anderson ahead of Sexton, who maintains the red plates, with Tomac third. In the standings, Sexton leads by 12 points over Roczen, with Anderson a further six back in third heading to Colorado next Saturday.

Detailed results