race recap
HUNTER LAWRENCE | GRIT-221 | 250MX
May 31, 2023 · Hunter Lawrence
HUNTER LAWRENCE | GRIT-221 | SX 250
With his brother departing to the 450cc classification, Honda's Hunter Lawrence would now be considered a title favorite for the 2023 250cc AMA Pro Motocross Championship. He had prepared for this moment after a storied Supercross run, and would come out swinging as practice came to fruition on Saturday morning. He would qualify third as lap-times were eventually totaled, leading to a solid gate choice for the opening segment of action...though his reaction time and navigation through the first few corners would be within positions that were less than desired. Located in tenth (amongst the first full lap of competition), he would move into seventh after a few laps, but couldn't seem to get around his championship rival (i.e. Justin Cooper) as they neared the halfway point. Lap after lap, he would seek to make a move on the Yamaha rider, prior to engaging in a phenomenal outside sweeping of the New York native (in the corners after the first turn) with just under twelve minutes to go on the clock! Now sixth, it would then be time to work his way around Ryder DiFrancesco, which was completed; and after a mistake from Tom Vialle, Lawrence would occupy the fourth-place position. This led to a narrative of two laps to go, when Hunter's relentless charge would lead into an infiltration of the top-three...locating Jo Shimoda and attacking the rear wheel of the Kawasaki rider with an unwavering tenacity. Funneling into the ruts near the finish-line, Hunter was really gaining ground on the number thirty; and then a sensational move would be made in a left-hander just after the aforementioned jump, where the number ninety-six engaged forward with phenomenal velocity while passing Shimoda on the outside! Now looking to overtake Vohland, Lawrence would do everything possible to try and move around the KTM rider...but he would run out of time; which categorized him in third, as final results were read. Lawrence's start for the second moto would be flawless, where he claimed the hole-shot and immediately attempted to break away from the field. The Australian would avoid the chaos behind him and proceed to hit his marks over the course of the fifteen-lap contest. Hunter's lead continued to heighten, while he maintained perfect balance amongst the ruts and grooves past the ten, twenty, and eventually thirty minute marks! Eventually crossing the line with a perfect race being conducted, the second moto victory was enough to propel Lawrence to the top of the overall standing(s).