Ryan Nitzen | September 14, 2024
It’s go time in Texas for round two of the SuperMotocross playoffs. Round two marks a double points payout, so the pressure is on for all the riders to perform on a true hybrid-style track on the infield of Texas Motor Speedway. Let’s get into the action.
Welcome to Texas Motor Speedway! Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Texas Notes
- Round 2 of the 2024 SMX Playoffs
- Heat will certainly play a factor later in the day
- Chase Sexton still leads the overall points
- Supermini World All Stars are set to race tonight
- Justin Barcia and Jason Anderson return to action
- Honda HRC sporting one-off graphics for Brain Tumor Foundation
- Chance Hymas is out for today after suffering a bone bruise to his already-injured ACL
- Jalek Swoll is out for round two after suffering a concussion in Charlotte
One of the shortest start straights we’ve seen all year.
Race Day
450SMX Moto 1
What a race. The first 450 main event was a barn burner between the top three with Hunter Lawrence taking the win. He led early on over his brother Jett but a big mistake in the rhythm section saw Hunter lose the lead to Jett in the midway portion of the race. Hunter regained the lead back from Jett once Jett stalled the bike. From there Hunter held off a hard-charging Eli Tomac to take the opening win.
Hunter Lawrence held off Eli Tomac in the late stages of race one. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Tomac battled his way back from over six-seconds down to finish second. The number-three fought his way into a three-way battle for the lead but came up just a hair short of the win. He still held the spot a few bike lengths over Jett Lawrence.
The brother’s Lawrence traded spots in the first moto.
Jett Lawrence (1) and Eli Tomac (3) battle for second.
450SMX Moto 2
Chase Sexton dominated moto number two and proved that with a start he is still a threat for race wins. The KTM rider took over the lead in the early laps after passing Dylan Ferrandis and took off with a string of consecutive hot laps. Sexton carried the red plate to his best finish of the playoffs and crossed the line nearly 10 seconds clear of the next rider. 4-1 results give him second overall, but he does drop to second in the SMX points.
Dylan Ferrandis grabbed the holeshot in race two.
Sexton stalks Ferrandis in the early stages of moto two.
Jett Lawrence fought his way to second place in race two. The reigning number-one started outside the top five but clicked off a number of passes in the mid-section of the race. After passing Cooper Webb, he found himself second with eight minutes left in the race. Sexton’s gap proved insurmountable in the latter stages and Lawrence cruised it in for second on the slippery track. 3-2 earned him third overall.
Sexton cruised to the win, nearly 10 seconds up on second place.
Hunter Lawrence crossed the line third, but took the overall win in the process. He also started outside the top five but followed Jett through the pack into podium territory. Once around Cooper Webb, Lawrence found himself in contention for the overall win. He finished third in the race, just one spot behind his brother Jett. Hunter now leads the SMX points by one over Sexton going into the season finale.
Hunter (96) and Jett (1) battle over second and third.
Eli Tomac (3) and Star Racing Yamaha teammate Cooper Webb (2) finished just off the podium.
450 Podium.
450SMX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1-3 |
| 2. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
4-1 |
| 3. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
3-2 |
| 4. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
2-5 |
| 5. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
5-4 |
| 6. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
6-6 |
| 7. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
9-7 |
| 8. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
8-8 |
| 9. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Hon) |
7-9 |
| 10. |
Colt Nichols |
(Suz) |
13-10 |
250SMX Moto 1
Haiden Deegan now is three for three as he swept the first moto of the 250SMX. The Star Racing Yamaha rider opted for the scoop tire and it paid off as he claimed the holeshot over the rest of the competition. Deegan led the entire main and only relinquished the top spot momentarily on the opening lap.
Deegan chose the scoop tire to get up front early in moto one.
Deegan rode away from the field.
Jo Shimoda continued his podium run as he scored second in the opening race. He took the lead from Deegan for a few turns on lap one but settled back behind Deegan as the race wore on. Shimoda held off a charging Tom Vialle in the final laps and secured second at the line.
Shimoda looked good for second.
Tom Vialle crossed the finish third. The East Coast Supercross champ started fifth and clicked his way through the pack. Vialle got close to Shimoda near the end but didn’t seal the pass at the finish.
Vialle fought his way up to third.
250SMX Moto 2
Haiden Deegan swept the day with another big win in moto two. The current points leader made it look easy with another wire-to-wire victory, leading all 18 laps of the second moto. He further extended his points lead with the double points paying round and is now perfect in the post-season playoffs.
Deegan made things look easy with another 1-1 sweep.
Tom Vialle earned a better position in race two with a second place result. The Red Bull KTM rider worked his way through the field and passed his way into the top three once RJ Hampshire hit the deck right in front of him. He closed on Deegan’s lead in the final laps but it was too little too late for the Frenchman. With 3-2 results, Vialle flip flopped spots with Shimoda and takes second on the day.
Vialle bumped it up for second and second overall.
Jo Shimoda landed on the podium once again, this time one spot back in third. The Honda rider rode great all day and passed his way into podium territory around Levi Kitchen late in the race. This makes two podiums in a row for Shimoda, who is freshly recovered from a broken collarbone.
Shimoda flip-flopped results with Vialle.
250 Podium.
250SMX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
1-1 |
| 2. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
3-2 |
| 3. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Hon) |
2-3 |
| 4. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Kaw) |
7-4 |
| 5. |
Julien Beaumer |
(KTM) |
5-6 |
| 6. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
4-9 |
| 7. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
9-5 |
| 8. |
Cameron Mcadoo |
(Kaw) |
8-7 |
| 9. |
Nick Romano |
(Yam) |
13-8 |
| 10. |
Max Anstie |
(Yam) |
11-10 |
Everything’s bigger in Texas. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
QUALIFYING
450SMX
Jett Lawrence topped the time charts with the fastest lap of the day. He and brother, Hunter Lawrence, were the only two riders in the 1:13 second range with Hunter seven-tenths back in second place. Eli Tomac looked fast for third with Chase Sexton and Justin Cooper rounding out the top five.
Jett Lawrence starts the day with the fastest qualifying time. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Hunter Lawrence was the only other rider in the 1:13 range.
Tomac looked good for third.
Sexton is still in the mix. He was fourth.
Justin Cooper rounded out the top five.
450SMX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1:13.201 |
| 2. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1:13.923 |
| 3. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
1:14.440 |
| 4. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
1:14.957 |
| 5. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
1:15.350 |
| 6. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
1:15.453 |
| 7. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
1:15.753 |
| 8. |
Colt Nichols |
(Suz) |
1:16.021 |
| 9. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(Hus) |
1:16.026 |
| 10. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Kaw) |
1:16.077 |
250SMX
Haiden Deegan was the fastest rider in both 250 sessions here in Texas. The track worked in as the day wore on and times got faster in session two after being slick and muddy earlier in the day. Deegan’s 1:14.596 proved to be the fourth fastest time of the entire day and was a half-second faster than second place Jo Shimoda. Ty Masterpool clocked third, just a tenth back from Shimoda.
Deegan clocked the fastest 250 time. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Masterpool rounded out the box.
Jett Reynolds (99) and Cameron Mcadoo (63) battle for the LCQ win.
250SMX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
1:14.596 |
| 2. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Hon) |
1:15.198 |
| 3. |
Ty Masterpool |
(Kaw) |
1:15.243 |
| 4. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
1:15.260 |
| 5. |
Julien Beaumer |
(KTM) |
1:15.287 |
| 6. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
1:15.367 |
| 7. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Kaw) |
1:15.682 |
| 8. |
Nate Thrasher |
(Yam) |
1:15.836 |
| 9. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
1:15.892 |
| 10. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Kaw) |
1:15.929 |
