Ryan Nitzen | September 7, 2024
The Playoffs are a go! Welcome to round one of the SuperMotocross Playoffs from zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina. The stage is set for an exciting start of the three-round showdown. Today, Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan took top honors and kicked off their championship hopes
Welcome to the SMX Playoffs. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Charlotte Notes
- Round 1 of the 2024 SMX Playoffs
- Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan are sporting the number one plates
- Justin Barcia and Jason Anderson are out for today’s racing after crashing on Friday
- Split lane starts the hybrid track design
- 65cc racers take to the track for round one of SMX
- Carson Mumford won the 250 LCQ
- Jerry Robin won the 450 LCQ
450 SMX
Moto 1
Eli Tomac absolutely domianted the first moto of 450 racing. The Star Racing Yamaha rider made it to the holeshot line first thanks to his choice of the scoop tire and took off with the early lead. He opened up a multi-second lead in the first few laps. No one could touch ET3 as he swept the first race of SMX.
Tomac dominated the opening 450 moto.
Jett Lawrence held on for second. After starting up front, the defending champ settled into a pace and lost a spot to brother Hunter. Once Jett found his flow, he battled back to second and held off both Hunter and Chase Sexton to claim second.
Jett Lawrence held on for second.
Hunter Lawrence crossed third behind Jett. The two traded spots early in the race with Hunter eventually slipping back one spot. Still, he kept Sexton at bay and grabbed the final spot on the box.
Hunter Lawrence claimed the final spot on the box.
Moto 2
Jett Lawrence is back! The Honda HRC rider started second and stalked Eli Tomac for nearly the entire second moto before making a pass with just three minutes left. His bold pass around the outside of Tomac gave him the lead and the overall win for the day. This is Lawrence’s first race back from injury and it showed with a big overall win.
Jett Lawrence took the overall win with the second moto.
Eli Tomac claimed a close second behind Lawrence. The Yamaha racer looked like the Tomac of old as he sprinted around teammate Justin Cooper and made out with the early lead. He battled with Lawrence late in the race but ultimately took second, going 1-2 for second on the day.
Tomac led most of moto two and battled with Jett.
Chase Sexton crossed the line third in race two. The Pro Motocross champion stayed close to the font but never made his way into a position to pass. He enjoyed an overall podium thanks to 4-3 scores.
Chase Sexton landed on the podium in race two.
450 Podium.
450SMX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
2-1 |
| 2. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
1-2 |
| 3. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
4-3 |
| 4. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
3-6 |
| 5. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
5-5 |
| 6. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
7-4 |
| 7. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
8-7 |
| 8. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
6-11 |
| 9. |
Colt Nichols |
(Suz) |
10-10 |
| 10. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
14-8 |
250 SMX
Moto 1
Haiden Deegan is the man to beat in the playoffs. After a red flag restart he came around outside the top five but had his eyes set on the leaders. Deegan unlocked a huge quad line in the long rhythm lane which allowed him to close in on both RJ Hampshire and early leader Julien Beaumer. Deegan made passes on both riders and claimed the win in the first race of the day.
Deegan charged from the back to win race one.
Beaumer held on for second after leading almost all of the first race. The Red Bull KTM rider certainly had his break out ride of 2024 in Charlotte and looked his best as he crossed the line second behind Deegan.
Beaumer led early and later took second.
Jo Shimoda landed third in race one. This is the first time we’ve seen Shimoda since a broken collarbone at Unadilla forced him into surgery just four weeks ago. The Honda HRC rider looked up to par and grabbed the final spot on the podium to start the day.
Moto 2
Haiden Deegan once again climbed his way through the pack to win the second 250 moto. His starts did him no favors but the huge quad line helped him pick off a succession of riders in the early laps. He hunted down early leader, Levi Kitchen, who missed a big double and allowed Deegan to make an easy pass for the lead. Once out front Deegan cruised to a 1-1 sweep and took the overall win.
Deegan again in race two.
Kitchen landed crossed second in race two. The Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider started up front early in race one but didn’t have the same luck after the red flag restart. He bounced back in moto two and led most of the race before a mistake gave Deegan the top spot. 5-2 finishes put him third on the day.
Levi Kitchen held on for second.
Max Anstie claimed third in the second moto. The Star Racing Yamaha rider finally got a good start and stayed up front with the leaders. An 11th in the first race dropped him in the overall rankings, he took seventh.
Julien Beaumer took fourth in race two but still held on for second overall in 250SMX. This is his first overall podium this year.
250 Podium.
250SMX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
1-1 |
| 2. |
Julien Beaumer |
(KTM) |
2-4 |
| 3. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Kaw) |
5-2 |
| 4. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Hon) |
3-5 |
| 5. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
4-7 |
| 6. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
6-6 |
| 7. |
Max Anstie |
(Yam) |
11-3 |
| 8. |
Cameron Mcadoo |
(Kaw) |
7-10 |
| 9. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
10-8 |
| 10. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Kaw) |
9-9 |
QUALIFYING
450MX
Justin Cooper came out as the top rider in the 450SMX qualifying session. A last-minute heater saw him post a lap 0.1 seconds quicker than second place, Jett Lawrence. Lawrence’s time stayed on top for most of the morning before taking second. Chase Sexton’s lap held up for third ahead of Eli Tomac and Hunter Lawrence.
Justin Cooper landed the fastest 450SMX qualifying time.
Jett Lawrence clocked second.
Chase Sexton hit the deck in the sand but still held on for third.
Tomac’s time earned him fourth.
Hunter Lawrence rounded out the top five.
450SMX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
1:39.574 |
| 2. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1:39.655 |
| 3. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
1:39.780 |
| 4. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
1:40.374 |
| 5. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1:40.737 |
| 6. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
1:40.934 |
| 7. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
1:40.972 |
| 8. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
1:41.118 |
| 9. |
Colt Nichols |
(Suz) |
1:42.150 |
| 10. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
1:42.259 |
250SMX
RJ Hampshire grabbed the top time in the 250 division after an exciting end to their qualifying session. Remember, Hampshire won the 250SX West Supercross title earlier this year and was the only 250 rider in the 1:41 range. Haiden Deegan held the fastest lap for most of the session but came in second, about a half-second back from Hampshire. Julien Beaumer landed third overall.
RJ Hampshire set the pace in the 250 division.
Haiden Deegan looked good for second.
250SMX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
R.J. Hampshire |
(Hus) |
1:41.618 |
| 2. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
1:42.102 |
| 3. |
Julien Beaumer |
(KTM) |
1:42.132 |
| 4. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Kaw) |
1:42.325 |
| 5. |
Ty Masterpool |
(Kaw) |
1:43.068 |
| 6. |
Carson Mumford |
(Hon) |
1:43.083 |
| 7. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
1:43.089 |
| 8. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
1:43.156 |
| 9. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Hon) |
1:43.215 |
| 10. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Tri) |
1:43.276 |
