Lawrence Wins West Lites Championship

Kit Palmer | April 26, 2008

Jason Lawrence wrapped up the 2008 Lites West Supercross Championship after finishing a conservative second place at the final race of the series at Seattle’s Qwest Field. Lawrence put his Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy YZ250F into fourth place off the start of the 15-lap main and avoided a huge pile-up in the second turn that involved at least half the field. Lawrence took his time, got around Justin Brayton and Robert Kiniry and had control of second place by the fifth lap. The only rider he couldn’t get was the only rider who could’ve taken the title away from Lawrence, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, who went into the race six points behind Lawrence.

Dungey did what he had to do and ran off with the win, finishing about nine seconds ahead of Lawrence for the win. But Lawrence did what he had to do, too, and second place was more than enough for him to collect his first title.

Third place went to another Yamaha pilot, Broc Hepler on the factory-backed YZ250F. Hepler took the checkered flag about two seconds behind Lawrence. Fourth went to Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe. Motosport/Extreme Kawasaki’s Tommy Hahn rounded out the top five overall.

Stroupe finished out the series in third.