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Pro Motocross

Chatter Box: Jett Lawrence

Lawrence tackles his doubters.

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Jett Lawrence is on quite a roll currently, having won the 250SX East/West Showdown at the end of 2021 Monster Energy Supercross and now the opening round of 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross. Lawrence won at the last round of the outdoors in 2020 too! Everything is trending in the right direction for the young star, but he is not satisfied. It seems as though he is adamant that he must prove that he is not resting on his laurels and relying on his talent to get him results.

That was something that Lawrence made quite clear in the post-race press conference, following Fox Raceway, as there have obviously been whispers that he is just another talented kid who is not willing to put in the work. Those who watched the event will know that he referenced the same thing on the podium as well, interestingly. All of the Lawrence’s post-race comments can be found below.

MX Vice: Big day for you. You started off as the fastest in practice, which set the tone, and you backed it up. Do you just love Fox Raceway? Is it the track? Do you feel like this is a step to becoming a legit title contender and being there every week?

Jett Lawrence: My day went pretty smoothly in practice, like you said. I also said that anyone could do a fast lap, so it did not really mean too much. In the first moto I didn’t give myself very good hopes of a podium, but I ended up carving my way through into third and then [Maximus] Vohland had some bad luck with a bike malfunction. I ended up going to second and I could still see Jeremy [Martin] up there. I kind of put up a little bit of a charge, but I did not want to overdo it and make a silly mistake. I feel like before I would have sent it and ended up weeding myself. I kind of kept my same pace and closed the gap a little bit, but that was good to know where he is at and where I’m at.

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Going into the second moto I was just hoping to get a better start and at least be in the top ten, because I knew I could charge my way to the front after that first moto. Sure enough, I think I was eighth or something… I cannot remember. I made my way through into third and it took me a while to kind of figure out what the two Star boys were doing up front. They were both really on it and I could not get close enough at first to kind of read where their lines were. J-Mart ended up making a little mistake in one spot, so I was able to capitalise on that and get close enough to kind of watch what he was doing. He obviously has the most experience out of everyone in the class, so it is good to learn from him.

I ended up getting the pass done a few laps after that and then set my eyes straight on [Justin] Cooper. I caught him fairly quick after that. I think he might have made a mistake and then I got a pass done on the same lap that I got J-Mart, which was really good. Pala is a good track. It was really square-edged and technical today, so I feel like it kind of helped me a little bit. I just felt really good today and feel like had it been at any other track then it would have been the same. I felt really strong – I have been putting the work in and I am glad to see that it is paying off.

In that first moto, when you are as far back as you were, do you kind of look over ahead on the track and say like, “This is more or less a position I want to get up to?” Are you just taking it one rider at a time that entire time as you are going through the field?

I obviously look up a little bit, just to kind of judge if I am losing time or gaining time when going through some other riders and making passes. I try to stay fairly present and just kind of look like, “Okay then if I get this person then how much time do I make up or how much time do I lose.” It changes based on whatever the situation is. I’ll look up in certain spots and be like, “Okay the leaders are there.” I’ll put my head down, keep charging for another few laps and then I’ll check again. I try to stay fairly present – every now and then I will just look up to kind of check where the leaders are.

“I feel like most people mainly see me as a kid with talent, more like a James Stewart. I want to show that I don’t just ride my bike and not train. I put in the work.”

You said in this press conference and on the podium that you are trying to show people that you work hard – you are not just a kid with talent. Can you talk about that? Is that something that you are hearing? Why do you keep hitting that point?

I wanted to get the point out there, because I am so young. I am very lucky with my gift right now and how I can ride a bike. I feel like most people mainly see me as a kid with talent, more like a James Stewart. I want to show that I don’t just ride my bike and not train. I put in the work as you guys see and I have got a trainer, Johnny O’Mara. J-Mart will understand that he is a gnarly man – he still puts a whooping on us on a mountain bike. I just want people to know that I’m not a slouch. I do not go and ride my bike then show up to the weekend wishing for the best. I put the time in, and I make sure that I do so that I can get results like this on the weekend.

You were quite emotional with that victory at the end of the race there. I mean, you have had an outdoor overall before. Just explain that emotion to us and why it came out. Run us through what was going through your head at that point in time.

I think everything just hit me at once, like kind of all the hard work that I have been putting in and all of the training that we have been doing. This is what we work for mainly, to get good results and hopefully come away with red plate. It did not hit me until I hit the finish line, which is really cool. I have been working my butt off to try and get that. It is cool to finally have that and now Hunter [Lawrence] cannot give me crap at all about him having the red plate in supercross. I got him back there. No, it is just a good feeling and hopefully I can keep it for the rest of the season. I know J-Mart and the boys are going to make it hard for us this season. I am going to make sure that I stay on my toes and make sure I give it back to him.

Winning is obviously what you are there for, but to come from seventeenth at the end of lap one all of the way through to the podium in that first one… When you look back, was that just as important as that second moto victory?

That first moto was a good kind of sigh of relief. I came from way back and pulled them all in. I think I was sixteen seconds down on Vohland at one stage, so it kind of… Not took the pressure off but it kind of enlightened me a little bit that I was able to come back and catch all of them, even J-Mart. I knew that if I could get a get a good start in that second one then I could win it. Sure enough, I got a decent start and was able to do that. I feel like that first race was special, because it gave me that confidence going the second one that I could win If I got a decent start.

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People say that the red plate can get heavy all of the time. Coming from the race today, what are the things that you need to change or work on during the week to make sure that next weekend is just as much of a success as this one?

Nothing really. I have got to keep it the same. If you change something when you are doing good… I do not understand why you would. If something is not broken, then why would you try and fix it? I am just going to keep doing the same things that I have been doing these last few weeks and just stay on the ground. I am not going to get too big headed, I would say, and make sure it does not get too much weight on my shoulders with the red plate and that stuff. Hey, it is the same bike with some red backgrounds. It does not really matter much right now – it just matters at the end of the season if you still have it.

Interview: Press Conference | Lead Image: Align Media

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British MX Nationals

Thank you. It’s been a hell of a ride.

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Since buying back MX Vice in November 2019, it has been challenging. One of those crystal balls would have been handy for navigating some problematic situations. Who would have thought COVID-19 would be a thing?

Those who follow MX Vice know we started from nothing but an idea. A fan who loved the sport created a Facebook page, website, and social media presence that would become disruptive. It has made numerous talented media people who were allowed to run with it for over thirteen years. Being in the UK/Europe has always been difficult; I’ve always believed that if we were a US media company, we would have been embraced and appreciated for our work ethic and the content we produce. We always cast one eye over the US in Europe, and you can’t blame the top European riders for doing the same.

MX Vice has always tried to give people a voice, especially the riders who are not in the limelight and the teams that put so much into the sport. We love people’s passion and sacrifice to improve and challenge themselves. That, for me, was the natural pull, not the money but the passion and sacrifice. We all know we would not be in motocross if it were about the money. I always considered MX Vice the media version of Steve Dixon’s team in MXGP (which I have a huge amount of respect for), where we have always tried to challenge without the factory budgets.

We knew it would be tough this year with so many businesses and brands cutting marketing budgets and reducing costs; this was never going to be good for us. We have just had two incredible months of stats, with January and February bringing in over 1 million people to the website, which is quite bittersweet. As much as the funds are low, so is my energy and health. COVID impacted me more than I could ever envisaged. My health has deteriorated ever since I caught COVID; my immune system is not in a great place, and when I try and work to the standard I set myself, my body breaks on me, and it takes me days to recover. Ed Stratmann has been a revelation since he took the editorial reigns and has pushed MX Vice to new heights, which is incredible given the lack of resources he has had to work with and support from myself. I have been missing from the podcast show to reduce my time, as I am now self-employed and working for two companies to pay the bills.

Every journey ends, and that’s not what we want. Over the past 13 years, we have given it everything, leaving no stone unturned. We’re proud of how we have disrupted, challenged decisions, held organisations accountable, and illuminated incredible stories.

We will have an auction for signed shirts donated by riders, podcast equipment, and memorabilia to pay off the invoices of some contributors. If, however, you want to see MX Vice continue, you can donate here: https://ko-fi.com/mxvice or purchase a shirt or memorabilia. If we meet our target of £25,000, which is currently outstanding to run this year, then Ed and I will continue. However, we fully expect this won’t happen due to the large sum required.

It’s hard out there at the moment. Take care of your health and family, and never lose your passion for the most fantastic sport in the world.

Burf.

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Fox Feature

FOX Unveils Exciting New MX24 Mainline Refresh Graphics

Check it out.

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All eyes on you. Keep the conversation going with all-new MX24 graphics that looks to the future of racewear. 360 Volatile, 180 Interfere, this is racewear designed to elevate and amplify the next generation and those changing the sport, forever.

Visit the Fox Europe Website for more information.

MEDIA


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Monster Energy Supercross

Trio of Speedways Set to Host Second Year of SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs

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During tonight’s television broadcast of the DAYTONA Supercross, Round 8 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and SuperMotocross World Championship, lead analysts Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart revealed that zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final in September.


Words: Press Release | Lead Image: SMX


Last year’s landmark inaugural season saw two of the sport’s youngest and brightest stars cement their place in the history books. At just 17, Haiden Deegan earned Rookie of the Year and captured the 250cc World Championship while Australian sensation Jett Lawrence, at 20, became the first-ever 450cc World Champion in the premier class, also as a rookie.

Showing the world this was no fluke, both Deegan and Lawrence are off to impressive starts in their 2024 campaigns. Deegan just earned his first win of the season (and his career) this past weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and sits a mere seven points back in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship after two rounds. Lawrence, on the other hand is the current points leader in the very deep 450SX premier class and has two wins already in a year that has witnessed five different race winners in the first seven rounds.

SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff 1 will take place on Saturday, September 7 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. and Playoff 2 will take place on Saturday, September 14 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The SMX World Championship Final will take place on Saturday, September 21 at The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, marking a long-anticipated return to a city that has hosted many memorable final Championship rounds in Supercross’ rich history.

“Last year, we created a completely new off-road motorcycle racing playoff series that combined both disciplines of indoor stadium racing (Supercross) and outdoor motocross racing (Pro Motocross) that was fully embraced by the teams, athletes, industry and fans,” said Dave Prater, Vice President of Supercross, Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “Collectively, more than 110,000 fans from all over the world made their way here to attend the inaugural three round SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final and for the first time in the sport’s history witnessed the crowning of a true World Champion. The SuperMotocross World Championship is where the world comes to race.”

zMAX Dragway is situated adjacent to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. and its world famous four-lane dragstrip and dual grandstands provided the perfect backdrop to host last year’s first-ever SMX World Championship Playoff. The Charlotte area is a hotbed for fans of the sport and is an easy city to get to from most points in the Eastern region. Last year’s playoff became the “must see” event of the year and is a primary reason for our return. zMAX Dragway proved to be a world-class facility in every way where the SMX experience was fully brought to life with a full day of fan activities on Friday, an industry packed FanFest on Saturday and a multitude of prime camping options for every budget. The “Bellagio of Dragstrips” also provided the perfect amount of width and depth to create a truly unique, world-class SMX track that surprised the teams and caught many of the sport’s star athletes off guard which led to dramatic racing and unpredictable results.

“Last year, we transformed a four-lane drag strip into the ultimate off-road playground and fans were treated to a full day of action-packed racing at the opening round of the inaugural SMX World Championships,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Building on that experience, we’re excited to once again partner with Feld Motor Sports to bring together the top Supercross and Motocross riders from around the world at zMAX Dragway to put on a high-flying, white-knuckled show for the fans.”

Texas Motor Speedway, located in Fort Worth is easily accessible for fans traveling by car or plane with its central location and proximity to multiple international airports. The 1.5-mile quad-oval superspeedway sits on over 1400 acres of land and is one of the largest sports facilities in the country. Being a world-class venue, Texas Motor Speedway is no stranger to marquee events as they are a regular stop on the NASCAR Cup Series and provide all the modern amenities motorsports fans expect when purchasing an event ticket. Last week’s Supercross round (7) in Arlington, Texas broke attendance records and this Playoff round could prove to be an even bigger spectacle with a planned Friday FanFest, and fan camping options being made available.

“All of us at Texas Motor Speedway are thrilled to have been chosen to host Round 2 of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and we look forward to welcoming an entirely new and energetic group of race fans, from across the country and around the world, to our world-class facility,” said Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Faber. “Supercross and motocross fans in the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex have proven for years how much they love their sport so we look forward to proving to them how much we appreciate them coming to Texas Motor Speedway.”

Aptly named, The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is conveniently located just twenty minutes away from the world-famous Las Vegas strip and was a major deciding factor in bringing the SMX World Championship Final to Las Vegas.

“The Strip” is one of the most iconic dragstrips in the country and joins zMAX Dragway as being one of just two dragstrips in the nation to feature four-wide racing. This expansive footprint will allow our master track builders to get very imaginative in creating the final SMX World Championship track of the season. Situated right across the street from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Strip is home to more than 50 events a year and provides an intimate viewing experience from the grandstands and suites while also offering fans the ability to “line the fence”, similar to what is done at a Pro Motocross event.

“The pinnacle of two-wheel racing is making its return to Las Vegas, and we’re thrilled to crown the ultimate champion at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, surrounded by the passionate fans of Supercross and Motocross,” said Chris Powell, Las Vegas Motor Speedway President. “In recent years, Las Vegas has emerged as the ultimate sports hub, making it fitting to include the SuperMotocross World Championship Final on the list of prestigious events hosted here.”

The SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and Final will feature the best athletes in the world as the top 20 in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points are automatically seeded into the playoff rounds. As in other sport playoffs, athletes will be competing for the sport’s ultimate World Championship title, and the prestige that comes from overcoming adversity through a 28-round, dual-discipline (indoor and outdoor) season, plus two SMX Playoffs and a Final.

The SMX World Championship is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world and as such pays out more total prize money than any off-road motorcycle racing series on the planet.

All 17 rounds of the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final will go on pre-sale, Tuesday, April 2, followed by public on-sale Tuesday, April 9. Friday FanFest, Saturday FanFest and camping options for each round and venue will be announced later in the season.

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