Jett Lawrence’s 2022 has been nothing short of impeccable. Earlier this year, he picked up his first 250 Regional Supercross Championship a few rounds early in Foxborough, Massachusetts. After that, his focus shifted to defending his No. 1 plate in the AMA 250 Pro Motocross Championship. The opening stretch of the summer started out great until an engine failure at RedBud lost him the points lead to his brother Hunter Lawrence. It took Jett just one National to get the red plate back about an hour west of where he won the Supercross title in Southwick, Massachusetts. Afterward, Lawrence never looked back.
At Pala, where Lawrence won the outdoor title a year ago, he was in a great position to win this year’s title a Moto early. Just nine points were what he needed to clinch the Championship over Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda. Jett got those nine points and then some, as he went wire to wire, along with a holeshot, to clinch his second Motocross title in a row. Doing so in his final 250 National, as a jump to a 450 CRF is in his future next summer.
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Going Out with a Bang
With his 250 Class days now officially winding down, Lawrence is now the first back-to-back Champion in the class since former teammate Jeremy Martin in 2013-2014. Additionally, he entered the weekend already inside the top 10 for all-time 250/125 Class National wins at 13 wins. Names ahead of Lawrence include James Stewart (so good by the way), Ricky Carmichael, and Ryan Villopoto. Lawrence is also now tied for second all-time for 250 Motocross titles as well in just three full seasons of work. The lone three riders to ever beat him in the points are Dylan Ferrandis, JMart, and Shane McElrath. Not too shabby all things considered.
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Jett Lawrence: Hier to the HRC Throne
Now to the next order of business. It’s clear as day that Lawrence is going to be the face of Honda for the next decade if things go the way they should. As such, he is headed to the premier class next summer. That shouldn’t mean anything for Chase Sexton (for now), but that could spell the end for Ken Roczen with the Honda HRC team. He is effectively a free agent after Pala, and there is no word of any contract-related happenings on that front. As has been the case for months.
It doesn’t seem like Lawrence would jump up for Supercross, but would Honda weigh that as a real option? Whatever they end up doing, these are great problems to have, it speaks to how good Honda is right now in the States on all fronts. Lawrence is in a prime spot to be to Honda now what Jeremy McGrath was in the 90s. Hopefully for longer than the King as well.
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Main Image via Honda HRC
