HUNTER LAWRENCE - GRIT 240 450SX

GRIT-240 | 450 SX

Throughout the course of events on Saturday, Honda's Hunter Lawrence seemed more than prepared to conquer the goal of being established inside the top-ten. Though the task would be difficult and rather strenuous, the rider from Australia appeared thorough in every facet of the course while garnering notable lap-times. The latter whoop section when approaching the finish line take-off was extremely slick, but he managed to press forward with a pace that rivaled the likes of his brother, Jett Lawrence, and Jason Anderson as well...which equated to a standing within heat two being clinched prior to the thirty-second board going sideways. Unleashing a plethora of RPM as his tires spun from the grate, he would do enough to reside around the second-place position as the green flag was thrown. The track was manicured to perfection, and with the 450SX division going first for this particular itinerary, all in the field could cut and carve with agility regardless of which aspect of the track they were on. On each occasion when he launched the finish line double, he would look to his left to see that of Aaron Plessinger ahead...constantly in pursuit of his rear wheel, but mindful of securing a strong gate choice to the main event, most importantly. Around that time, (i.e. halfway) he could sense that Eli Tomac (whom he'd battled and defended third-place from in the early going) was approaching rather quickly...but Lawrence was willing to combat the charge once more of the Yamaha rider with all of his might. He would do so, but the Colorado native had too much in store, to be nullified for this occasion; therefore as Tomac moved into third, the number ninety-six would slide to fourth. However, he simultaneously kept Cooper Webb and Justin Barcia at bay...through the checkered flag, which categorized the rookie 450cc athlete in fourth; giving him confidence, for the main event that followed. The action for the finalé was electric, with numerous championship contenders quarreling at the front of the field, as he took an opening standing of seventh, while looking for furthered pathways around various outsides. Sweeping through the left-handed bowl turn after the finish line, he would nearly clip the tuff-block cover with his outside foot-peg when leaning his Honda chassis to the left...all the while making passes on Vince Friese, and inserting a position from the crash of Aaron Plessinger. But Cooper Webb, who was ahead until lap six, appeared to stand his ground. The two were inseparable when speeding to the halfway point, with the this outdoor-(esque) circuit beginning to take it's toll on the longevity of specific racers in the field. And that appeared to be the case with Webb, as the rider aboard the number two Yamaha would descend under the pressure of Lawrence (who trailed his brother Jett) and the Honda tandem would work their way into the fourth and fifth place positions, as the halfway point came to fruition. As the tenth through fifteenth minutes came to fruition, (Hunter) Lawrence was holding on, and possessed a sense of fortitude that could spot slick surfaces and sharp edges from what appeared to be a mile away...which was a critical component at these points in the moto. Sensing that Dylan Ferrandis was remaining relevant in the sections behind him, Lawrence couldn't let off the gas, even with the checkered flag nearing while residing fifth...luckily he evaded both Ferrandis and Webb through the final portions of the moto - solidifying his claim for fifth, which was an impressive accolade for the number ninety-six!

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