Jett Lawrence Wins Denver Supercross and Lawrence Brothers Make History Finishing 1-2
Jo Shimoda Grabs Victory in 250SX Class with One Round Remaining in Season
Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence grabbed his eighth win in his rookie season at Round 16, inside Empower Field at Mile High. The victory extended Lawrence’s championship lead to 20 points with one round remaining in the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.
Empower Field at Mile High provided clear skies and great racing. The track’s planned sand section was eliminated; instead, the sand was mixed into the entire track to help retain moisture in the hardpack dirt. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence Holeshot and led the first half of the race; Hunter finished second, marking the first time in Supercross history that brothers finished 1-2 in the premier class. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson was close in third but was never in position to challenge for the lead. Second-in-points, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb, struggled with a left thumb injury and finished fifth; Webb lost eight more points to Jett Lawrence. In the final standard-format Western Regional 250SX Class race prior to the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown finale, Team Honda HRC’s Jo Shimoda took first place to become the fifth winner of the year in only nine races so far in the regional championship.
First place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“I was screaming in my helmet the first lap when it was [Hunter] and I out front. I was so pumped and he was riding awesome that one, and it’s so awesome to go 1-2 in the 450 class. I mean, it’s the top of the class, it’s an awesome feeling, awesome accomplishment for our family… super pumped and excited to go to the last round. Hopefully we can repeat it.” – Jett Lawrence
Second place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“It was a good night. Just more happy to get this for the team, honestly. They work so hard and we love those guys so much and this is the only way we can really, really repay them. And yeah, unreal, I think that was history for brothers going 1-2. So yeah, big night for Jett as well points-wise … [asked if he considered a strategy for helping his brother and possibly not pushing for the win] …the championship’s not about me right now, you know, it’s about Jett and Cooper. And the point of having a teammate is to, you know, help you out and stuff. You’ve seen over the past decade, so I was glad I was just able to help Jettson out for once. And yeah, it was cool, but just stoked for the team and yeah, I’ll get that win soon enough.” – Hunter Lawrence
Third place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“…just being on the podium feels good. It’s cool to do it here in Denver. This is a close one for me, I’ve got a lot of family here, so that’s awesome. But just in general, you know, I am a little bit better on these dry, hardpack tracks but it was still not enough for those two guys up front. But it was a good night, you know. Thanks to the whole team and I’m ready to get up there and hopefully get a better start so I can make it a little harder on these guys and maybe knock off a win at the end of the season. But yeah, trying my best and we’ll see how it goes next week.” – Jason Anderson
In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Jo Shimoda grabbed the Holeshot and led every lap to take the second Main Event win of his career. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen nabbed a top-three start, moved into second, and closed in on the lead on the final lap. His second place finish moved him into a tie for the title going into the final round – the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown. After a fifth-place start, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire was aggressive early and finished in third place, not far from Kitchen. Hampshire sits tied with Kitchen with one race remaining to determine the championship.
First place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“Honestly, I didn’t know where he was catching me so I kind of had no idea where to push a little bit farther. But, oh my God. I mean, switching teams from last year, we fought some struggles earlier. But we never gave up. And I know it’s late in the season, I get it, but I’m just stoked to win. Let’s go! Thanks to all the HRC guys, my mechanic Ben, trainer Nick, Jordan, my family back home, well, actually a couple of them is here, but thank you so much.” – Jo Shimoda, when asked if he was aware Levi Kitchen was getting close in the final laps.
Second place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“…the fans had to have enjoyed that one. And man, at the end of the race, it was like: we’re all strong and we’re all fit and we were all just sending it at the end. RJ got up close to me, it kind of lit a fire under my butt, and I had to go. And then I got to Jo. Man, if that would have been 20 minutes I would’ve been curious to see how that went. But yeah, it was a good race. Gotta give it up to the whole Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team, my mom and dad, all my family, and I want to just… I don’t know, man, Damian from Toyota Escondido, everybody keep him in your thoughts. He’s going through a pretty tough time… Thank you Denver, it’s a good night.” – Levi Kitchen
Third place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“We’re going to give the fans a show… It’s awesome, awesome to be in this position and be going for a championship. I’m honestly pretty frustrated with that main event. [I] had a decent start and then someone brought me high in that second turn and Levi got back around me. And then, yeah, I got hit so hard by – I got hit really hard in that opening lap, kinda threw me off a bit. Ran into a couple lappers but, man, those guys are riding good. I just didn’t have enough to make a pass or try to put it in… [I] got the red plate, both of us do headed into Salt Lake, and man, it’s going to be fun. Just a huge thanks to my whole Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing team and all the supporters. It’s going to be a fun one.” – RJ Hampshire, when asked about racing next weekend tied for the championship.
The 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Championship wraps up next Saturday, May 11th, inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.