Australian motocross sensation Hunter Lawrence clinched his debut National Championship at the finale of the AMA Pro Motocross series held at Ironman Raceway.
Lawrence secured the title with a calculated 5-9 moto performance in the fiercely contested 250 class.
Starting the weekend with a 22-point lead, Lawrence navigated the final rounds to claim the Gary Jones Motocross Cup with a commendable fifth overall. The victory marked a significant achievement for both Lawrence and Team Honda HRC, as it added to the team’s unparalleled success in the 2023 season.
Team Honda HRC has been a force to be reckoned with this season, amassing an unprecedented number of five professional AMA titles. Having already dominated the AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross titles, the team’s success continued with Hunter Lawrence’s triumph. Notably, Lawrence’s brother and teammate, Jett Lawrence, who had earlier clinched the 450 championship, concluded an impeccable season in AMA Pro Motocross by sweeping all 11 races with 1-1 moto wins. This extraordinary feat is a first-time accomplishment for a rookie rider in the series.
Celebrating his 24th birthday earlier this month, Hunter Lawrence hails from Queensland, Australia. His journey began in Australia and Europe before transitioning to the Factory Connection team (formerly American Honda’s satellite team) in the U.S. In 2021 and 2022, he encountered both success and challenges due to injuries and setbacks. However, the current season saw Lawrence’s remarkable rise, as he secured the AMA Supercross 250 East Championship and boosted his overall-win count from one to an impressive eight, culminating in his 250 National Championship win.
Hunter Lawrence now joins an elite group of Red Riders who have clinched the AMA Pro Motocross laurels in the “small bike” class, with a lineage that includes notable names like Marty Smith, Johnny O’Mara, Ron Lechien, and more. This victory secured Honda’s third consecutive crown in the class and marked the brand’s 17th win in the category, leading the manufacturer list by a margin of two.
Overflowing with emotion, Hunter Lawrence expressed his gratitude after the race, stating, “It’s good, man—I’m so honored to thank the team, Five championships, and the year’s not done. It’s unreal. Everyone—Honda, Australia, all my crew—this is it; we did it, baby.”
Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Experiential Marketing at American Honda, shared his excitement about the team’s accomplishments: “Honestly, it’s becoming difficult to put this incredible season into words, but that doesn’t mean we’re not ecstatic about Team Honda HRC’s performance” said Wilson. “Everyone at Honda is absolutely thrilled for Hunter Lawrence earning his first AMA Pro Motocross Championship—the way that he has elevated his game this year is inspiring. We’re in awe at the accomplishments that the team has tallied this year. The fact that Hunter, Jett and Chase have all earned professional AMA titles in the same year speaks volumes about the level of our rider roster, the capabilities of our crew, and the competitiveness of the CRF Performance family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone involved.”
The accolades didn’t stop with the riders; Team Honda HRC took home the Team of the Year Award, while Honda secured the Manufacturer of the Year Award. In addition, Lars Lindstrom received the Team Manager of the Year Award, and Mechanic of the Year Awards for the 250 and 450 classes went to Cameron Camera and Christien Ducharme, mechanics for Hunter Lawrence and Jett Lawrence, respectively.
Following a well-deserved weekend break, the riders and crew will tackle the inaugural three-race SuperMotocross series, a thrilling fusion of supercross and motocross disciplines, to further solidify their extraordinary successes in the remarkable 2023 season.
