JETT LAWRENCE | GRIT-221 | 450MX

JETT LAWRENCE | GRIT-221 | 450MX

Jett Lawrence was flawless for the duration of events in Pala, California on Saturday, after creating a number of stellar lap times in practice and eyeing the platform of moto number one as on opportunity to declare dominance. And as the gate(s) fell to the ground at Fox Raceway, it was Jett who released his clutch at just the right time while out-powering the rest of the field into the opening two corners. Chase Sexton would undoubtedly be considered his biggest threat, but throughout the first few laps of the moto, no-one could suspect that this was Lawrence's first time leading an AMA Outdoor National in the 450cc class. The true rhythm and effortless style he portrayed was something like we'd never seen before; hopping amongst the rocky soil atop the far side hill and down the makeshift tabletop as if he were on a pogo stick. He truly was using the springs of his suspension as recoil(s) to propel him from one side of the racing surface to the next, and creating an unthinkable amount of speed into the forthcoming sections all the while. Minute by minute, his gap would continue to extend (though once at a marginal distance, he managed the race from the lead position). He would be roughly ten seconds ahead of Dylan Ferrandis (who was second) with a little over ten minutes remaining on the clock, which allowed him ample room to survey the course for what was to come in the next round of racing. And throughout the final twelve minutes, Lawrence continued to race with a sense of wisdom that was far beyond his years (in regard to 450cc competition). It had been quite sometime since fans of the sport had seen something of this magnitude, and as he eventually powered through the finish line to take the checkered flag, his ten-second gap over Chase Sexton would be worthy of immense applause when walking to the podium. For the following moto, the glare from the sun would hinder the vision of many in the field as they sped toward turn number one...but for not for that of Jett Lawrence. The number eighteen would again position his Honda in front of the rest of the field, though this time Chase Sexton was directly behind him. And in the laps that followed, the Australian rider would navigate his way through substantial grooves that littered the raceway, piecing together pathways through hills, chicanes, and different jumping sections with fluidity... all the while being pressured by the number twenty-three! The gap seemed to remain under three-seconds (between the two teammates) but Lawrence wasn't going to fold. They would move past the halfway point, and three-quarter mark of the moto, and with only one (true) mistake being made by Lawrence (in the right-handed corner before the steepest uphill on the track), with less than two laps to go! Though he quickly rebounded and would continue surging forward to the finish line...stamping his dominance atop the leaderboard, with a one-one performance!

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