Ryan Nitzen | July 1, 2023
Its time for Red Budddddd! The 50th running of the Red Bud National is going down today and there’s no better place to be on Fourth of July weekend. A bunch of names are back this weekend in including Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson, and more.
After today’s action it’s Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan standing atop their podiums.
450 Moto 1
Red Bud looks to be another episode of the Jett Lawrence show. The points leader took another holeshot and proceeded to lay the hurt down on the rest of the field. Jett’s best lap time was a second-and-a-half faster than anyone else and he took the win by nearly 18 seconds. This is his ninth win in nine starts.
Another wire-to-wire moto for Jett Lawrence.
Chase Sexton took second in his first race back. He started slow but picked up the pace and found his way around Cianciarulo, Ferrandis, and Masterpool. By the time Sexton got into second, Lawrence was already gone. He settled for second at the checkers.
Sexton skies the leap.
Dylan Ferrandis snuck through for third.
Dylan Ferrandis rounded out the podium in third. He battled with Sexton, Cianciarulo, and Masterpool for most of the race but struggled to get around the Kawasaki privateer. Cianciarulo and Masterpool tangled late in the race and both hit the deck with a minute left on the clock. This allowed Ferrandis to sneak by for third.
Adam Cianciarulo showed speed but fell late in the race.
Again, Ty Masterpool gave the factory riders fits.
450 Moto 2
Nothing to see here, just more Jett Lawrence dominance. The number-18 grabbed yet another holeshot and claimed another wire-to-wire win. Dylan Ferrandis got close for a time, but Jett upped the pace and dropped the former 450MX champ with ease. Lawrence continues his perfect streak and makes it 10 for 10.
Smooth sailing for Jett with another 1-1.
Dylan Ferrandis held on for second. He put in some strong laps and closed the gap to Lawrence but it wasn’t enough to make a pass. By the end of the race, Sexton put himself right on the back of Ferrandis but the Frenchman put up a fight to hold the position. His 3-2 gave him second overall on the fay.
Ferrandis held on for second in moto two.
Chase Sexton was on a charge all race. He pushed up into second early on but tipped over in the challenging downhill ruts. Once remounted, he battled back up to third and closed in on Ferrandis late in the moto. Ferrandis held off the Honda rider with Sexton going 2-3 for third.
Sexton took third overall in his first race back.
Aaron Plessinger kept it consistent with a pair of fourths for fourth overall. Jason Anderson went 5-7 for fifth in his first race back this summer.
4-4 for Plessinger earned him fourth overall.
450MX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1-1 |
| 2. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
3-2 |
| 3. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
2-3 |
| 4. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
4-4 |
| 5. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
5-7 |
| 6. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
9-5 |
| 7. |
Fredrik Noren |
(Suz) |
7-8 |
| 8. |
Phillip Nicoletti |
(Yam) |
10-9 |
| 9. |
Jose Butron |
(GG) |
11-10 |
| 10. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
31-6 |
250 Moto 1
Moto was all about Hunter Lawrence. The sole Honda 250 rider grabbed the holeshot and absolutely checked out. He led every lap of race one and took the win by 13 seconds over second place. This is the first time Hunter’s led laps in the first moto and the first moto one win this season.
Clean sweep for Hunter Lawrence in race one.
Haiden Deegan put in a strong ride for second. The rookie started just behind Lawrence but slowly lost touch as the race wore on. Deegan found himself secured in second and sits in a good spot for the day’s overall.
Deegan rode strong for second.
RJ Hampshire nabbed the final spot on the podium. The Husqvarna rider spent the majority of the race coming through traffic and fighting his way towards the front. He struggled to find a flow in the early parts of the race but still found his way around the Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders to take third.
First race back for Seth Hammaker (35). He ran up front and took fifth.
The battle for the top five stayed close with Justin Cooper, Jo Shimoda, and Seth Hammaker. Justin Cooper was docked seven points for jumping on a red cross flag and Shimoda was also dicked a spot for gaining while off the track.
250 Moto 2
What a wild way to end the day in the 250 class. Haiden Deegan grabbed the holeshot while moto one winner Hunter Lawrence crashed in the first turn. Lawrence walked off the track and was evaluated by the medical team and credited with a DNF.
Deegan and Kitchen fight for the holeshot while Lawrence (96) gets squeezed.
Up front it was the Star Racing Yamaha team mates Deegan and Levi Kitchen trading spots. Kitchen eventually took over the top spot, checking out and leading every lap of the moto. He took the win, his first of the year and landed second overall with 7-1 finishes.
Levi Kitchen led every lap of the second 250 moto.
Deegan stayed consistent in second for most of the race but was overtaken by Tom Vialle late in the moto. With 2-3 scores Deegan claimed the overall, earning his first overall win of his career. He’s also the only other overall winner aside from Hunter Lawrence this season. Deegan is second in points, 11 down from Lawrence.
The entire Deegan camp was all smiles.
Justin Cooper used a pair of fourths to take the final spot on the box. Vialle’s 9-2 gave him fourth overall with Hampshire going 3-7 for fifth. Despite a DNF in moto two, Hunter Lawrence still finished ninth overall.
250 Podium.
250MX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
2-3 |
| 2. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Yam) |
7-1 |
| 3. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
4-4 |
| 4. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
9-2 |
| 5. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
3-7 |
| 6. |
Max Vohland |
(KTM) |
6-6 |
| 7. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
8-5 |
| 8. |
Seth Hammaker |
(Kaw) |
5-10 |
| 9. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1-40 |
| 10. |
Daxton Bennick |
(Yam) |
12-11 |
QUALIFYING
450MX
Even with the return of some heavy hitters, Jett Lawrence is still the man to beat in the 450 class. His time from the first qualifying session held up to be around two seconds faster than his closest competitors. Chase Sexton and Jason Anderson, both making their returns to the series, clocked the second and third best times. Note that Cooper Webb is not racing today due to a mid-week crash.
Jett Lawrence is still the man to beat. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Chase Sexton is back this weekend! He clocked second in qualifying.
Jason Anderson is also making his return. He was third.
450MX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
2:04.713 |
| 2. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
2:06.145 |
| 3. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
2:07.867 |
| 4. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
2:07.898 |
| 5. |
Ty Masterpool |
(Kaw) |
2:08.001 |
| 6. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
2:08.222 |
| 7. |
Derek Drake |
(Suz) |
2:08.465 |
| 8. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
2:08.960 |
| 9. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
2:09.073 |
| 10. |
Brandon Scharer |
(KTM) |
2:09.997 |
250MX
Daxton Bennick is making his professional debut and did so in style as he set the best time early in the 250B practice with a 2:06 lap time. Justin Cooper is also making his return after a wild crash at High Point. He clocked the second best time behind team mate Bennick. Points leader, Hunter Lawrence was third, just 0.2 seconds off Cooper’s time.
Daxton Bennick is making his pro debut today with the Star Racing Yamaha team. He had the best 250 time.
Justin Cooper is back after his crash at High Point. He logged second.
Hunter Lawrence was third just behind Cooper.
250MX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Daxton Bennick |
(Yam) |
2:06.880 |
| 2. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
2:07.484 |
| 3. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
2:07.693 |
| 4. |
Max Vohland |
(KTM) |
2:08.297 |
| 5. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
2:08.348 |
| 6. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
2:08.388 |
| 7. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
2:08.826 |
| 8. |
Seth Hammaker |
(Kaw) |
2:08.967 |
| 9. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
2:09.496 |
| 10. |
Ryder DiFrancesco |
(Kaw) |
2:09.940 |
Pics From The Pits
Jason Anderson is back for the first time this season. Also how good are these graphics from DCOR Visuals?!
Up close with the Kawi’s.
Coatings and data points. Drool.
Webb’s bike sits idle as a mid-week practice crash left him banged up.
The KTM’s are more patriotic this year than we’ve seen before.
Another look. New number font this week too.
Dungey comeback?
Justin Cooper is back after a big crash during qualifying at High Point. His bike is giving us major MXON vibes.
Haiden Deegan’s Star Racing Yamaha YZ250F.
Grip! Grip tape and Steg Pegs with a cool carbon mount.
Up close with the Star graphics. These are also done by DCOR.
Daxton Bennick is getting his feet wet in the pro ranks today.
‘Merica!
