Ryan Nitzen | June 17, 2023
The stage is set for round four of the Pro Motocross Championship at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania. The “Motocross Country Club” looks much different today as pre-race rain created deep and rutted conditions for the day’s racing.
After four exciting motos, it’s another Lawrence sweep with Jett and Hunter claiming their overall wins.
450MX
450 Moto 1
After two tumultuous qualifying sessions, Jett Lawrence took off with the early lead in the first 450 race. He’d lead the first few with ease and extended his gap to three seconds by the end of lap one. But disaster struck when Jett washed the front end of his Honda at the bottom of the steep hills. He gave up the lead and fell to third before charging back to the front. Lawrence duked it out with Ken Roczen for the lead in the final stages of the race and ultimately took the checkered flag.
Even with a fall, Jett Lawrence still took the win in moto one. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Ken Roczen returned to action at High Point and did so in a huge way. The Suzuki rider started second and took over the lead once Lawrence hit the deck. With the lead, Roczen became the only other 450 rider besides Lawrence to lead laps this summer. The two fought it out for the top spot late in the race but Roczen eventually tipped over with two laps to go. He struggled to start the Suzuki and eventually crossed the line in seventh.
Roczen fell from second with two laps left and struggled to get the bike started.
Garrett Marchbanks benefited from Roczen’s crash as the 450 newcomer ran in third for most of the race. Once Roczen fell, Marchbanks bumped to second and took his first career 450 podium.
Roczen’s fall allowed Marchbanks to sneak into second.
Cooper Webb battled inside the top five during moto one and had his hands full with last week’s standout, Ty Masterpool. Webb also passed Roczen late in the race to secure the final spot on the box.
Webb took third.
450 Moto 2
Ken Roczen looked to right his mistakes in the second 450 moto. He took a big holeshot in race two and led the first 10 laps while Lawrence struggled outside the podium spots. Eventually, Roczen gave up the lead to Lawrence but the 94 still held on for second. His 7-2 scores earned him second overall.
Roczen led the first 10 laps of moto two.
Jett Lawrence started in fifth and took a few laps to really warm up to his fork change after the first moto. He also found himself stuck behind Plessinger after the KTM rider fell in a rut early in the race. But once Jett got going it was trouble for the rest of the field. He put on a charge with 15 minutes left in the race and cut the gap from nine seconds. With five minutes left on the clock he made his way around Roczen and went on to another 1-1 sweep.
450 Overall Podium.
Dylan Ferrandis charged hard in the second moto to pass Adam Cianciarulo late in the race. Ferrandis landed third in the moto but fourth overall.
Adam Cianciarulo ran a strong pace in both motos. He was as high as second in the second moto but dropped to fourth as the race wore on. Two consistent fourths earned him third overall.
A consistent 4-4 gave Cianciarulo third overall.
450MX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1-1 |
| 2. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
7-2 |
| 3. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
4-4 |
| 4. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
6-3 |
| 5. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
3-6 |
| 6. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
2-8 |
| 7. |
Ty Masterpool |
(Kaw) |
5-7 |
| 8. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
8-5 |
| 9. |
Grant Harlan |
(Yam) |
11-9 |
| 10. |
Derek Drake |
(Kaw) |
9-12 |
250MX
250 Moto 1
The 250MX class is full of action and today was no different. The difficult track conditions made things interesting as RJ Hampshire took off with the early lead in race one. Hampshire held the top spot for most of the race but slid out in the transition of a hill and found himself back to second. He then turned things up to catch the leader and made a last lap pass to reclaim the moto win.
Hampshire fell but remounted to take the win.
Haiden Deegan rode a solid second and took over the lead once Hampshire fell. Deegan led laps 8-14 with ease while Hampshire charged back from his crash. The two fought it out late in the race after Deegan also tipped over behind a downed lapper. Hampshire managed to get Deegan on the last lap as the rookie got stuck in a rut and settled for second.
Haiden Deegan led most of the first 250 moto but finished second.
Hunter Lawrence found himself nearly last off the start after he got stuck behind a downed Jo Shimoda. It was an another all-out race for Lawrence as he picked his way through the field while navigating the rutted course. He clawed his way up and passed for third with only two laps left. Another first moto, another third for Lawrence.
250 Moto 2
More chaos in the second 250 moto as Hampshire crashed with his Husqvarna teammate Hawkins off the start. Lawrence momentarily got stuck in the carnage but got out in the top 10, ahead of Hampshire and Deegan who also went down. Lawrence again went to work and found himself in the lead by the half-way point. He’d claim another win in the second moto, going 3-1 for the overall win. Update – after the race, Lawrence was docked seven points for jumping on a red cross flag. He retains the overall win but is docked the points of two positions along with two additional points.
250 Overall Podium.
Tom Vialle finally showed what he’s capable of with a second place finish in moto two. The former MX2 star used his world-championship experience on the tough course and passed into second while setting some of the fastest laps of the race. This is a great rebound for the French rider after missing the second moto last weekend. 11-2 gave Vialle fifth overall.
Tom Vialle took second in moto two.
Jo Shimoda rode his heart out for third in the second moto. The Kawasaki rider had his share of issues early on but made consistent passes for the entire moto. He found himself closing on second late in the race and managed to make a pass on Levi Kitchen for third on the final lap. 7-3 put Shimoda fourth overall.
Jo Shimoda made a last-lap pass to take third.
Trouble for Hampshire as his crash on the start put him nearly last on lap one. He battled back to seventh and used 1-7 scores to take second overall.
Haiden Deegan also crashed in turn one but charged hard the rest of the race to take sixth. 2-6 earned him the final spot on the overall podium.
250MX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
3-1 |
| 2. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
1-7 |
| 3. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
2-6 |
| 4. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
7-3 |
| 5. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
11-2 |
| 6. |
Chance Hymas |
(Hon) |
8-5 |
| 7. |
Ryder Difrancesco |
(Kaw) |
5-8 |
| 8. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Hus) |
4-11 |
| 9. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Yam) |
12-4 |
| 10. |
Max Vohland |
(KTM) |
6-12 |
Qualifying
450MX
Ken Roczen is back! We learned earlier this week that Kenny was in for High Point and he certanly returned to the series in style. He set the fastest time of the day in the first qualifying session when the track was the smoothest. Jett Lawrence uncharacteristically fell in both sessions but still managed to set the second best time of the day. Garrett Marchbanks nabbed third in overall times.
Ken Roczen logged the fastest lap in his first race back. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Jett Lawrence had his issues in qualifying but still snuck in for second.
Garrett Marchbanks grabbed third in the 450 qualifying.
Dylan Ferrandis clocked fourth.
Adam Cianciarulo rounded out the top five.
450MX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
2:21.066 |
| 2. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
2:23.675 |
| 3. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
2:24.214 |
| 4. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
2:24.537 |
| 5. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
2:24.858 |
| 6. |
Ty Masterpool |
(Kaw) |
2:25.663 |
| 7. |
Derek Drake |
(Suz) |
2:25.764 |
| 8. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
2:26.264 |
| 9. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
2:28.969 |
| 10. |
Jerry Robin |
(Yam) |
2:30.106 |
250MX
The rookie, Haiden Deegan put himself on the top of the charts in the 250MX division with the fastest lap of the day. Deegan took advantage of the track conditions in the first A session to set the best qualifying time. Privateer Matti Jorgensen is making his pro debut today and put in a heater during the B session to take second. Bike problems struck Hunter Lawrence in bike problems in Q1 but he still got in with the third best time. Justin Cooper hit the deck hard but still clocked sixth. He took a handlebar to the throat and will not line up for the first moto.
Hunter Lawrence eyes up the conditions. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
250MX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
2:20.801 |
| 2. |
Matti Jorgensen |
(KTM) |
2:21.018 |
| 3. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
2:21.734 |
| 4. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
2:22.014 |
| 5. |
Steve Roman |
(Yam) |
2:22.521 |
| 6. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
2:22.545 |
| 7. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
2:23.451 |
| 8. |
Chance Hymas |
(Hon) |
2:23.553 |
| 9. |
Maxwell Sanford |
(Hon) |
2:23.638 |
| 10. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
2:23.723 |
