Battered but not broken after a tough weekend at Hangtown, Chance Hymas bounced back in style at Thunder Valley by taking the first 1-1 of his 250 career.
Dominating from the first practice sessions to the final moto, the Honda HRC rider silenced everyone — including Haiden Deegan, who had been untouchable since the championship opener.
“It was really a good day,” admitted the Honda HRC rider, the first to dethrone Haiden Deegan outdoors this season. “I had this weight on my shoulders for a while and couldn’t shake it off. This Saturday, I finally managed to do everything perfectly: Haiden was riding really well, and we pulled away from the rest in both motos. I started the day well, being the fastest in both practice sessions, then grabbed both holeshots and led every lap of each moto… That’s not as easy to do as it sounds. So yeah, it was a really special day for me.”
Chance’s kind of performance doesn’t just happen by chance — and he knows it. This double win was the result of an intensive week of training aimed at making up for the points lost at Hangtown, where he had to sit out the second moto due to health issues.
“Of course there’s pressure, but only if you let it get to you,” continues Chance Hymas. “I knew it was going to be a real battle all day. I stayed focused on my job from start to finish. Last week, I put my head down to improve the bike and work on my fitness. Coming into Thunder Valley this weekend, I felt really confident; I didn’t want to let any doubt creep in. I knew that if I did everything right, I could be up front and in the fight to win. That was my goal. Even if I hadn’t won but had still done everything properly, that would’ve been enough for me, honestly. But to come here and do exactly what I wanted, exactly how I wanted — that feels really good.”
While he delivered a near-flawless performance at Thunder Valley, the factory Honda rider remains grounded and critical of his riding. In both motos, Haiden Deegan managed to close the gap as the race wore on. Mechanical issues, however, halted the Star Racing Yamaha rider’s momentum in the first moto.
“I’ve got to admit, I wasn’t super happy with my riding mid-moto when Haiden was able to close in on me: I think I made some poor line choices while lapping riders. But on paper, pulling off a perfect day feels really good. My confidence is definitely sky-high right now, but I’m still quite far from being in the title fight; I need to keep going like this if I want to get back into contention.”
Beyond Chance’s personal performance, this double win also carries collective meaning. For several seasons now, Chance has witnessed Jett’s dominance and the success of Hunter and Jo at Honda HRC. With his Thunder Valley win, Chance Hymas now has three professional victories to his name — all achieved under the factory team’s banner. He’s claiming his share of the spotlight.
“It’s special to be able to contribute to Honda’s success,” says the winner of round three of the 250 outdoor series. “I’ve been part of the team for a while now: I was already there when Honda nearly swept everything in 2023, and obviously this year with Jett, Hunter, and even Jo dominating… it’s been frustrating at times for me. Yes, I love seeing my teammates succeed, but I also want to bring wins to the team. To finally be able to do that, and in this way, is really cool.”
Chance Hymas also shared his Thunder Valley double with Jett Lawrence, who claimed his third consecutive 450 win that weekend.
“Sharing this Thunder Valley win with Jett is special,” concludes Chance Hymas. “Jett is one of my best friends: I’m happy for him, he’s happy for me, and the whole team is fired up. It’s one big family and the vibe is amazing. We’re all really proud of each other and push each other to be our best. When one of us falls, the others help him get back up. Without the support of these guys, I definitely wouldn’t be here today.”
With this 1-1, Chance Hymas isn’t just reigniting his season — he’s establishing himself as a real contender for the final podium. One thing is clear: at Thunder Valley, he proved that he too can be the boss.
