On a magical weekend during which Honda commemorated its 50th anniversary in motocross and unveiled the 2023 CRF Performance family, Team Honda HRC riders were literally perfect at Fox Raceway’s opening round of AMA Pro Motocross (which was celebrating its own 50th anniversary), sweeping the top two positions in both 450 motos and both 250 motos. For much of the day, the teammates were each other’s only real rivals at the Pala, California, track, but in the end it was Chase Sexton and Jett Lawrence winning the two classes to take early points leads, while Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence each notched a pair of impressive second-place results.

The Red Riders enjoyed strong starts in their motos, with Sexton and Roczen trading holeshots in 450 and Jett Lawrence second early on in both 250 races. Hunter Lawrence had the most overtaking work to do, including a moto 2 charge from seventh to second, highlighted by a dramatic last-lap pass on Jo Shimoda that kept the team’s impeccable results tally intact. Sexton had to make passes on Roczen in both 450 motos, whereas Jett ran relatively comfortably at the front in the 250 races. Both Sexton and Jett had relatively narrow winning margins over their teammates (averaging 10.3 seconds and 6.1 seconds respectively), whereas in the 450 motos, the gaps from Roczen to the first non-Honda riders averaged a notable 32 seconds!

The special day meant different things to the four riders: For Sexton, it was a statement performance that showed he is ready to run at the front of the premier class; for Roczen, it was a successful return to racing after he withdrew from Supercross in early March to rebuild his health; for Jett, it was a commanding beginning to his defense of the Gary Jones Cup that is held by the reigning 250 champ; and for Hunter, it was evidence that he is a legitimate threat to challenge his brother for that trophy. For anyone who witnessed the exhibition, it had the makings of motocross lore that will likely be recounted for another 50 years.

450 Overall Results

1. Chase Sexton (Hon)
2. Ken Roczen (Hon)
3. Christian Craig (Yam)
4. Eli Tomac (Yam)
5. Ryan Dungey (KTM)
6. Jason Anderson (Kaw)
7. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)
8. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
9. Justin Barcia (Gas)
10. Shane McElrath (Hus)

—

1. Bryson Gardner (Hon)
2. Matthew Curler (Hon)
3. Josh Mosiman (Hon)
4. Jacob Runkles (Hon)
5. Bryce Hammond (Hon)

450 Championship Points (after 1 of 12 rounds)

1. Chase Sexton: 50
2. Ken Roczen: 44
3. Christian Craig: 40
4. Eli Tomac: 32
5. Ryan Dungey: 32
6. Jason Anderson: 31
7. Antonio Cairoli: 26
8. Aaron Plessinger: 26
9. Justin Barcia: 25
10. Shane McElrath: 24

250 Overall Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Hon)
2. Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
3. Jo Shimoda (Kaw)
4. RJ Hampshire (Hus)
5. Michael Mosiman (Gas)
6. Austin Forkner (Kaw)
7. Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
8. Levi Kitchen (Yam)
9. Pierce Brown (Gas)
10. Stilez Robertson (Hus)

—

1. Lance Kobusch (Hon)
2. Noah Viney (Hon)
3. Gavin Brough (Hon)

250 Championship Points (after 1 of 12 rounds)

1. Jett Lawrence: 50
2. Ken Roczen: 44
3. Jo Shimoda: 38
4. RJ Hampshire: 32
5. Michael Mosiman: 30
6. Austin Forkner: 30
7. Seth Hammaker: 29
8. Levi Ktichen: 29
9. Pierce Brown: 28
10. Stilez Robertson: 21