HUNTER LAWRENCE | GRIT-220 | 250SX

HUNTER LAWRENCE | GRIT-220 | SX 250

Both championships of the 250cc coast(s) were clenched by the time round seventeen rolled around, seemingly designating a "winner take all" format for those who participated in the East/West Showdown in Salt Lake City, Utah. And Honda's Hunter Lawrence was ready for it, anticipating that every other rider on the line would be aspiring to climb as high on the leaderboard as possible...willing to do whatever was necessary in order to clench their ultimate destiny. Nevertheless, he was one of the first to leap onto the track for practice, mimicking moto's of his own while throwing caution to the wind over the "SX" triple. Nearly moving the chassis to a perpendicular manner to the track beneath him, his whipping skills aboard the Factory HRC Honda 250F were spectacular; and weren't necessarily confined to that of practice, as his opening sequences in the East coast divisional round were rather prolific. Tripling through multiple rhythm sections on the track, the series champion (i.e. Lawrence) would have a knack for staying a few feet lower than many of his counterparts when departing from various jump faces; which led to marginal gaps being amplified to significant distances between he and his adversaries like Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda. Their lines were beginning to converge when nearing the finish line, but the ability to plant and pivot from the subtle cushion on the outer edge of the final right-hander on the track would allow Lawrence to stay clear of being overtaken as the checkered flag neared. However, he couldn't seem to nullify the gap that had been created by Yamaha's Haiden Deegan, as the rookie was riding extremely well at the front of the pack and demanded the respect of all veterans in the classification. Eventually residing second, there was little time to waste prior to beginning the finalé of the evening. Instantly, the likes of his brother (Jett) and Husqvarna's RJ Hampshire were found racing at the front of the pack...where Hunter was hovering around a mid-pack residency. However, he and Enzo Lopes would immediately come together in the earliest of moments (amid a berm(ed) corner), which cause Hunter to descend well outside the top ten when taking the green flag! From that point and onward, it was a battle between he and Haiden Deegan as the two would pace one another through the field; foregoing disastrous ruts, and problematic grooves, in order to advance further on the leaderboard! Into the top ten they would go, and quickly, as Lawrence would navigate behind the number 238 machine with tremendous expertise. He too would pass Deegan for seventh, by the time the twelfth circuit would end; which then had him hounding Britain's Max Anstie for the final leg of the moto. He truly would attack the track until the final lap of action, making a pass on the number sixty-three with only seconds to go! This would propel him into sixth, to complete the East/West Showdown with a respectable showing...prior to moving into the outdoor season.

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