Continuing an incredible year for Team Honda HRC, Jett Lawrence posted yet another a 1-1 moto score at legendary Unadilla MX aboard his CRF450RWE, a showing that earned him the overall win and clinched the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross 450 Championship with two rounds remaining in the series. The Australian, who just celebrated his 20th birthday a few days ago, has been absolutely dominant during his rookie season in the 450 class, winning every moto so far.
The theme of perfection also applies to Team Honda HRC, which earlier this year swept all three AMA Supercross titles, with Jett Lawrence taking the 250SX West Region crown, brother Hunter Lawrence earning the 250SX East Region trophy and Chase Sexton collecting the premier 450SX laurels. Sexton was second overall in the 450 class at Unadilla, and Hunter Lawrence (who currently leads the AMA Pro Motocross 250 points chase) earned the 250 overall win aboard his CRF250R.
This all comes during a season in which Honda marks the 50th anniversary of its first production motocross bike, the CR250M Elsinore, aboard which Gary Jones rode to Honda’s first AMA Motocross 250 Championship in 1973. Other Red Riders to have taken the title in the class (which has since switched to 450cc four-stroke machinery) include Donnie Hansen, David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Jeff Stanton, Jean-Michel Bayle, Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael. Although Honda last earned the 450 outdoor title in 2004, the brand is tied with Kawasaki for the class’s championship record, with 14 number-one plates over the years.
A native of Landsborough, in Queensland, Australia, Jett has ridden for Team Honda HRC since 2021, a year after he turned pro with the Honda-supported Factory Connection squad. He earned the AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship in 2021 and 2022 as well as the 2022 250SX East title and the 2023 250SX West crown.
“It’s an unreal opportunity,” Jett Lawrence said after the Unadilla race. “Like Hunter said when he won his championship, I haven’t even dreamed of this, because we never thought it was possible to be where we are today. To do it like this, being undefeated so far, it’s very emotional for me, with all the hard times we’ve gone through and the hard work. That whole [second moto], I was keeping it together and just pushing, pushing, pushing. Then as soon as I went over the finish line, the emotions came out. I’ve got to send a huge thank-you to my mechanic, Christien Ducharme; we’re like family now. My manager, Lucas [Mirtl], is awesome, and my family — everyone who has been behind me. HRC Honda took a risk with taking us in after 2020, and I’m glad I’m able to repay the favor.”
“We knew when Jett moved to the 450 class that he would be a force to reckon with, but I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted the level of success and consistency that he has already exhibited,” added Brandon Wilson, manager of sports and experiential at American Honda. “This year has just been incredible for the entire team, but Jett’s performance in particular has been one for the record books. We’re so happy that he has put Honda and the CRF450RWE on top, and we look forward to seeing him continue to earn the success that he’s clearly capable of achieving.”
Jett Lawrence and the rest of Team Honda HRC will finish out the AMA Pro Motocross series over the next two weekends, after which they’ll take a weekend off and then campaign the first-ever AMA SuperMotocross Championship.
