Cycle News Staff | March 2, 2024
Jett Lawrence, simply put, dominated this year’s running of the Daytona Supercross. The Honda HRC Team rounded the first turn just inside the top 10 but crossed the finish line 14 laps later in first place, 5.889 seconds ahead of the “King of Daytona” Eli Tomac.
Lawrence’s third win of the season was impressive. After the start, the SuperMotocross Champion picked off one rider at a time as if they were just a nuisance. Before the end of the first lap, Lawrence had slipped past earlier heat-race winner Ken Roczen for third and then set after the leader, defending Supercross Champion Chase Sexton and second-placed, seven-time Daytona winner Tomac. By lap five, Lawrence had disposed of both of them with little drama and then set sail, leading the remaining nine laps to capture his first 450cc Daytona win in his first attempt. Impressive, indeed.
Lawrence’s win came on a track that Tomac described as treacherous. Rain earlier in the day left the long Daytona layout soft and horribly rutty for the evening’s program. But that didn’t seem to bother Lawrence, as he hardly put a knobby wrong on a track that made you pay big for even the tiniest of mistakes. Lawrence also passed Tomac earlier in the night to win his heat race.
Tomac was going for an unprecedented eighth win at the historic track, and things started well for the Yamaha rider. He settled into second place behind early leader Chase Sexton on the number-one Red Bull KTM. While Tomac studied to find a way past Sexton, there was nothing he couldn’t do about the fast-approaching Lawrence, and after a few laps, it was a three-rider battle for the lead. In almost one fell swoop, Lawrence passed them both and rode off into the distance, leaving Tomac to continue his struggles with Sexton. It wasn’t until just a few laps from the end that Tomac finally got around Sexton to take second place at the finish. Sexton held on to finish third, approximately four seconds behind the Yamaha pilot.
The three top riders were all alone at the finish. The next-closest rider in fourth was more than 20 seconds back, that rider Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb, who had his six-year string of Daytona podiums come to an end. Webb battled his way around Roczen (Progressive Insurance/ECSTAR Suzuki) to nab fourth, while Webb’s teammate Justin Cooper took sixth, less than a second behind Roczen.
Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) had a solid ride in seventh (his best placing of the year), while Dylan Farrandis (Phoenix Racing Honda), Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Liqui Moly Beta Racings completed the top 10, which was a first for the Italian manufacturer, Beta.
Justin Barcia had a quiet night finishing 11th after starting in 18th, and Adam Cianciarulo returned from injury and placed 12th. Aaron Plessinger (18th) and Hunter Lawrence (21st) were both victims of the unforgiving track.
Lawrence’s lead in the championship has grown to 10 points over Webb, 160-150. Sexton is third with 147, and Tomac is right there in fourth with 144. Roczen is fifth with 133, Aaron Plessinger is sixth with 132, and Anderson is seventh with 131.
The 250SX East class saw a first-time winner. Former 250MX World Champion Tom Vialle finally nabbed his first win since coming to America. Like Lawrence’s win, Vialle’s was also impressive. The Frenchman seemed to relish in the harsh conditions and went from third to first to take the victory.
After the first lap, Vialle had two Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Team riders ahead of him, Seth Hammaker and fast-starter Cameron McAdoo. Vialle made quick work of Hammaker before latching on to McAdoo’s rear fender for several laps, eventually pressuring McAdoo into a mistake and slipping past and into the lead on the fifth lap. The following six laps were all Vialle’s, as he skillfully mastered the muddy and rutted-out track to a 4.5-second margin of victory over McAdoo, who had a little over three seconds over his teammate, Hammaker, making it two green bikes on the Daytona podium.
“It was nice to grab the win after having my first podium last week and now my first victory here in Daytona,” Vialle said. “The track was tough, but I actually feel good. I didn’t have a great start, but I passed a lot of guys and it feels so good – it’s amazing to win.”
Fourth place went to Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Haiden Deegan, who had his chance to win. Deegan was quick out of the gate and was pressuring McAdoo for the early lead before a series of small bobbles dropped him back. Deegan, who had a big crash in the qualifiers, seemed uncomfortable on the tricky Daytona track. Still, fourth place was a good finish but was 14 seconds behind the winner.
Pierce Brown, on the TLD/Red Bull GasGas, was fifth, just two seconds behind Deegan.
On the Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha, Privateer Coty Schock was sixth, while Triumph’s Jalek Swoll barely held off points lead Max Anstie for seventh.
Anstie had a tough race after getting a bad start and completing the first lap in 11th.
However, the Firepower Honda Rider, Anstie, still holds on to the red plate but by a slim margin. Anstie leads McAdoo and Brown by just one point, and Vialle and Deegan are just another two points back. Right there, just one point back from Vialle and Deegan is Schock. Only four points separate the top six riders in the championship.
Kit Palmer
2024 DAYTONA 450SX MAIN RESULTS
1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
14 Laps |
2. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
+05.889 |
3. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
+09.734 |
4. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
+32.404 |
5. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
+35.227 |
6. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
+36.214 |
7. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
+48.370 |
8. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Hon) |
+49.213 |
9. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
+1:36.072 |
10. |
Benny Bloss |
(Bet) |
13 Laps |
2024 DAYTONA 250SX EAST MAIN RESULTS
1. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
11 Laps |
2. |
Cameron McAdoo |
(Kaw) |
+04.997 |
3. |
Seth Hammaker |
(Kaw) |
+08.674 |
4. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
+14.224 |
5. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
+16.318 |
6. |
Coty Schock |
(Yam) |
+46.589 |
7. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Tri) |
+53.864 |
8. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
+53.954 |
9. |
Marshal Weltin |
(Yam) |
+1:11.353 |
10. |
Daxton Bennick |
(Yam) |
+1:20.568 |
2024 Daytona Supercross Qualifying
Qualifying for the 2024 Daytona Supercross is complete, and the talk of the day so far is the weather and the technical track. Rain has kept things rather wet, making for a very soft and rutted Daytona track that racers say is simply brutal. Rain had been on and off all day, and it again picked up as the riders started out for their second and final qualifying sessions. The 250SX East class got both of their sessions in before AMA officials opted to shut things down for the rest of the afternoon in order to prevent any more damage to the track, which had deteriorated quickly.
The 450SX class only got one timed session in, so their results from Q1 stood towards their final overall time, and Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb was the beneficiary. Webb edged out Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton by less than a 10th of a second and is this year’s Daytona top qualifier. Approximately a half-second behind Sexton is seven-time Daytona winner Eli Tomac on the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha.
Ken Roczen (Suzuki) and Jett Lawrence (Honda) round out the top five.
In the 250SX East class (round three), rookie Daxton Bennick of the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha Team got a big boost of confidence after topping the field in qualifying on his first trip to Daytona as a Pro. Bennick echoed just about everyone’s thoughts regarding the track conditions, “It’s brutal,” he said.
Bennick’s quickest time came in Q1 when track conditions were at its best and it held through Q2, despite Pierce Brown, on the TLD/Red Bull GasGas, setting the quickest time in the wet and trecherous second outing.
In the combined overall qualifying results, Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki), Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM), Brown and Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) rounded out the top five. Jeremy Martin, who is back in action, points leader Max Anstie, Chance Hymas, Coty Schock and Jalek Swoll completed the top 10.
Haiden Deegan had a big crash but says he’s okay and will be good for the show.
Never in recent years has the Supercross Championship been so tight at the top of the leaderboard by the time the Daytona Supercross rolls around, which is round eight of this year’s series. Just 13 points separate the top five riders: Lawrence, Webb, Aaron Plessinger, Sexton and Tomac, and only another six points separate the next two riders, Jason Anderson and Roczen.
Tomac has to be considered the favorite to take the win tonight when you take into account his history at the track and after his statement ride last week in Texas. He’s got the momentum right now. But Jett Lawrence is Jett Lawrence, and Webb has finished on the podium at Daytona for the last six years.
Of note, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo is back, able to ride again after suffering a finger injury early in the season. He qualified 11th.
The 250SX East Championship is tight, as well, but they’re only on their third round. Anstie leads Brown by four points, and Bennick and Schock are just another two points back.
2024 Daytona Supercross 450SX QUALIFYING
1. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
1:26.854 |
2. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
1:26.914 |
3. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
1:27.423 |
4. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
1:27.489 |
5. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1:28.006 |
6. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
1:28.428 |
7. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
1:28.548 |
8. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
1:28.655 |
9. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
1:28.830 |
10. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1:28.885 |
2024 Daytona Supercross 250SX EAST QUALIFYING
1. |
Daxton Bennick |
(Yam) |
1:29.666 |
2. |
Cameron McAdoo |
(Kaw) |
1:29.778 |
3. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
1:30.124 |
4. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
1:30.467 |
5. |
Seth Hammaker |
(Kaw |
1:30.564 |
6. |
Jeremy Martin |
(Yam) |
1:31.627 |
7. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
1:31.721 |
8. |
Chance Hymas |
(Hon) |
1:31.778 |
9. |
Coty Schock |
(Yam) |
1:31.780 |
10. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Tri) |
1:32.626 |
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