Ryan Nitzen | December 12, 2023
The Factory Honda HRC team officially welcomed its 2024 SuperMotocross race team at the American Honda headquarters in Torrance, California. The 450SMX squad is made up of last year’s SuperMotocross champ Jett Lawrence and his brother Hunter, who will be making his 450SX debut in 2024.
The Honda HRC SuperMotocross Team met the press recently, which included SMX Champion Jett Lawrence, the team’s newest 450SX rider Hunter Lawrence, and newcomer Jo Shimoda. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
By Ryan Nitzen
Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas are set to pilot the 250cc machines.
The Honda HRC team is fresh off a record-setting 2023 season that earned six professional AMA Championships.
Other Honda-supported teams were also presented, including Dylan Ferrandis with Phoenix Racing Honda and SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda, SLR Honda, JCR Honda, Turner Racing Honda, Honda Off-Road Factory Racing and RaceCo-USA Honda.
Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas (48), Jo Shimoda (30), Jett Lawrence (18) and Hunter Lawrence (96).
“We’ve had an incredibly rigorous off-season compared to normal, with a lot of different events and traveling,” said team manager Lars Lindstrom. “Now it feels like this was kind of the last thing on the agenda before Anaheim. Everyone worked extremely hard to make this event happen, but we planned well, and it went off without a hitch. I’m proud of the whole team and the riders for being troopers—especially Jett and Hunter after coming from the Honda Racing Thanks Day in Japan. Now it’s all about dialing in the bikes, getting trucks ready, and preparing for the first race. I’m super-excited for the season coming and really stoked to have these guys on the team right now.”
See the press release below for more info and photos.
MORE 2024 SX/MX NEWS
The following is a press release from American Honda…
Photos Courtesy of Honda
Torrance, CA (December 5, 2023) — During a special event [on December 5, 2023), American Honda presented its race plans for the fast-approaching 2024 racing season. Held in the new Collection Hall and meeting space at the manufacturer’s Torrance, California, campus, the event was attended by team sponsors and members of the media, and was highlighted by the factory Team Honda HRC lineup, including riders, managers and technicians. The factory squad is coming off a record-setting 2023 season that saw it take a record six professional AMA championships. In addition, an impressive list of Honda-supported teams was presented, including SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda, SLR Honda, JCR Honda, Turner Racing Honda, Honda Off-Road Factory Racing and Raceco-USA Honda. Also present was Phoenix Racing Honda, celebrating the recent signing of two-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion Dylan Ferrandis, to campaign the premier class in AMA Supercross.
Heading up Team Honda HRC is Jett Lawrence, who at 20 years old has already accumulated six AMA crowns, including three in 2023—the 250SX West title, the AMA Pro Motocross 450 championship and the inaugural SuperMotocross title. The 2024 season will be Jett’s first campaigning the premier class indoors. Joining Jett aboard another factory CRF450RWE is his brother Hunter Lawrence, who last season earned the 250SX East and AMA Pro Motocross 250 crowns. As previously announced, Jo Shimoda takes Hunter’s old spot aboard the team’s CRF250R, along with returning racer Chance Hymas. The four-rider lineup is among the strongest ever fielded by the squad, which is intent on carrying its success forward into the coming season.
That confidence is thanks also in part to the return of top members within the team and crew, including manager Lars Lindstrom and 450 and 250 crew chiefs Grant Hutcheson and Jordan Troxell, respectively. Christien Ducharme is Jett Lawrence’s mechanic, while Hunter’s technician is Cameron Camera. Ben Griffith and Thomas Harris will serve as mechanics for Shimoda and Hymas, respectively.
The 17-round 2024 AMA Supercross season commences on January 6 in Anaheim, California, followed by the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross series and the three-round SuperMotocross Championship.
Brandon Wilson: Manager of Racing and Experiential Marketing: “While it’s gratifying that we were able to get Team Honda HRC back on top where it belongs in 2023, this team’s proud legacy wasn’t built on a one-and-done philosophy; in fact, the recent success just makes us even more determined to keep it going in 2024. Fortunately, I think we have all the pieces needed to accomplish that: an incredibly talented rider roster, a capable crew, competitive machinery and valuable sponsors. And while of course the factory squad is the focus, I’m also very proud of the lineup of support teams we’re fielding in various disciplines. I can’t wait for the new season to get started.”
Lars Lindstrom: Team Manager: “We just finished our 2024 season introduction for Team Honda HRC and the support teams. We’ve had an incredibly rigorous off-season compared to normal, with a lot of different events and traveling. Now it feels like this was kind of the last thing on the agenda before Anaheim. Everyone worked extremely hard to make this event happen, but we planned well and it went off without a hitch. I’m really proud of the whole team, and the riders for being troopers—especially Jett and Hunter after coming from the Honda Racing Thanks Day in Japan. Now it’s all about dialing in the bikes, getting trucks ready and preparing for the first race. I’m super-excited for the season coming and really stoked to have these guys on the team right now. Our team atmosphere last year was great, and it’s even better now. I feel like we’re going to have an incredible vibe all year.”
American Honda 2024 Race Team Photo Gallery
