Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence was back on the top step of the podium with a strong overall win at the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff 2 inside Chicagoland Speedway. Lawrence’s victory came via 1-2 moto scores in the event’s two-race format.
And the big story was Lawrence leading race two but Roczen still had the pressure on the Aussie with Sexton not able to keep pace despite the confidence in his new bike set-up last weekend, sixteen seconds back so amazingly, Lawrence waved Fans suspected a mechanical issue, but Lawrence explained later it was an attempt to help Roczen finish ahead of Sexton in the overall results; it was a strategy to gain maximum points on series-leader Sexton! What a cold, calculated rider!
Jett said: “The boys in the booth are going to like this! Big brain moves mid-moto, I was starting to think of points and that stuff and I rememebered Kenny got third in the first one. So I’m like, it’s scored like MXoN points, if he (Kenny) gets 4 points 3-1 and Chase gets 5 with a 2-3 I still get the overall in the end (and Chase drops to third) and it’s also a little baby gift for Kenny for the new born! It was a big brain move for me, I surprised myself, when Kenny was in front of me the last two laps I was doing the maths to make sure I was right and thankfully I was!”
The move worked, costing Chase points and Jett is now only two points behind his rival in the championship with Roczen eight further back with triple points at the final round available next weekend.
Roczen said: “I kept the pressure on him the whole moto, we would yo-yo. I don’t think he had to let me by if I wasn’t so close. This is what I have been working so hard for, this one is for my son. I wasn’t that happy for the first moto we made a change for the second one and that’s how we could go so fast. I enjoyed this so much. “
Sexton said: “Today just wasn’t my day. I was just slow and wasn’t riding good, I was trying my butt off but just didn’t have it. Next weekend is my birthday so hopefully we can do something special. Happy to be going back to supercross, looking forward to next weekend.
Get the highlights and results from a great night of SMX racing in Chicago:
450SMX Playoff 2 Results
1. Jett Lawrence, Australia, Honda (1-2)
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (3-1)
3. Chase Sexton, LaMoille, IL., Honda (2-3)
4. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (5-4)
5. Dylan Ferrandis, Bedarrides, France, Yamaha (6-5)
6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (4-10)
7. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (8-7)
8. Phillip Nicoletti, Bethal, N.Y., Yamaha (7-9)
9. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (13-6)
10. Colt Nichols, Muskogee, OK, Kawasaki (12-8)
450SMX Class Championship Standings
1. Chase Sexton, LaMoille, IL., Honda (90)
2. Jett Lawrence, Australia, Honda (88)
3. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla. Suzuki (80)
4. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (74)
5. Dylan Ferrandis, Bedarrides, France, Yamaha (71)
6. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (60)
7. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (59)
8. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (58)
9. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha (44)
10. Adam Cianciarulo, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki (42)
250 SMX Playoff 2 Results
1. Hunter Lawrence, Australia, Honda (1-1)
2. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki (2-2)
3. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (3-3)
4. RJ Hampshire, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Husqvarna (5-4)
5. Maximus Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM (8-5)
6. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha (10-8)
7. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki (9-9)
8. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha (6-12)
9. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Kawasaki (12-7)
10. Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Husqvarna (7-13)
250SMX Class Championship Standings
1. Hunter Lawrence, Australia, Honda (89)
2. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki (86)
3. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (82)
4. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha (63)
5. RJ Hampshire, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Husqvarna (62)
6. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha (62)
7. Maximus Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM (59)
8. Tom Vialle, France, KTM (54)
9. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Kawasaki (54)
10. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki (49)
