Monster Energy Supercross
Relieved Jett Lawrence on his win at A1
Aussie speaks on a tough night.
Despite having issues navigating the sketchy surface at A1, Jett Lawrence still did enough to secure victory at the season opener, as he flexed his muscles and laid down a marker to his adversaries. The gifted Aussie shared his thoughts from A1 in the post-race press conference.
Words: Press Conference | Lead Image: Align Media
Question: You were really happy across the finish line jump, I know said you have a love-hate relationship with Anaheim, but how was the day in total and just the hype around the opening round again? It’s been a while since you’ve been here. Just kind of take me through the entire day, the energy in the building, the energy in the pits and then being able to get the job done in that main event when it mattered?
Jett Lawrence: Yeah I’m always nervous coming into the first round because I think you don’t know where everyone’s at and that stuff. The big thing today was always kind of like how the track’s going to form up for the main.
After practice, I was really kind of trying to survive and trying to not die so it kind of changed from like “hey we’re going to come in hopefully do good in that stuff” but then like once the first practice went out first few laps “I’m like okay let’s just try and keep it on two wheels and try and survive today”. The joke all day was like I just want to see Sunday.
There’s always a lot of hype around Anaheim 1 at the first round so it’s just built up so big and so obviously we had quite a bit of nerves and had a bit of a rough one in the heat race at the start with slipping. But just made sure I just kind of really focused on the main and ended up just doing what I needed to do and just kind of made it through the safest way possible and just did my laps.
Question: In qualifying you had a couple of falls. Did you feel discouraged at any point throughout the night?
JL: No, those crashes never really kind of wrecked my confidence so I know when I make a small mistake I kind of know most of the time I know what I did wrong there so it’s alright just don’t do that again. So today I was almost expecting a few crashes with how the track was so fast without even realising so I mean I was expecting a couple. But I’m just thankful I was able to walk out of here in one piece.
Question: When you come in with so many eyes on you and so much expectation as the title favourite, when you manage your day like today and come out with the victory, is it a sense of relief at all just to deliver at the opening round, especially at Anaheim 1, it’s a big one?
JL: I definitely feel like I felt the pressure a lot, but I mean the biggest mistake would be to just show it the whole day. I think that’s why I was pretty smart, I just kind of took it how it was. I mean, to be honest, I would have been happy with the second or a third, I was just mainly going for a podium today because I just want to make it out safe because the track was so sketchy.
I mean yes and no, the pressure was there a bit, but not much for me. I just kind of focused on what I was doing. I just knew tonight with the main event and how the track was forming, it was just like whoever’s going to make the least amount of mistakes is going to kind of just get, bit by bit, either a gap or just kind of close the gap to where you’re at.
Question: Feld did something really cool this year by having some 250 guys in opening ceremonies, which I think you guys deserve. The crowd loves it, what did you think?
JL: Yeah that was a really cool opportunity that I think Lucas helped a lot on with getting the 250 guys to do the opening ceremony. It kind of feels weird that the 40 450 guys are dope, but then you have some of the best 250 riders in supercross that don’t get anything. I think it’s a great opportunity for the 250 guys to get more known and that stuff kind of to make it similar because yeah we might not be on as big a bike as a 450, but we’re still doing the same stuff out there and a lot of the same rhythms.
I think it helps our sport to kind of grow a little bit more for the 250 guys and to get more known and know the riders a lot more so I’m pumped we get to do that and hopefully it kind of brings up all the 250 guys a little bit more.
Question: Your bike looks awesome, seems like it sounds a little different from last year. Is it any different than last year? Is it any faster or stronger? I know the stock model stayed the same from 22 to 23, but your bike looked pretty fast up there. How was it for you and what changes did you guys make from last supercross to this supercross?
JL: Yeah I think one of the major ones is that we switched from a Vortex ECU to a GET ECU and it was kind of like late in December that we changed and decided to go with them. And they’ve been awesome.
It’s kind of like this is the first time we’ve been start mapping that stuff with them so I mean so far it’s been really good with them. Hopefully we keep it going with the good starts, but that’s probably the main thing and we might put a little bit extra Go Go juice in it (laughs), but it’s mainly the GET ECU that we’ve changed. Besides that the bike’s fairly the same, I mean even when testing the suspension, we’ve kind of just looped all the way back around to the same setting so I mean the bike is handling great and the motor feels awesome. I’m just feeling right at home on the Honda this year.
Question: You’re still young, I’d imagine you might still be growing, are you any heavier than you were last year or any taller or are you the same size and weight because to me you look a little bit bigger on the bike, but maybe it’s just riding technique?
JL: I don’t think so, a lot of people said I’ve gotten taller, but I think it’s just kind of you think that because you haven’t seen me in a while. I mean all off-season I haven’t posted much so I mean when you don’t see a kid for a while you come back and they look massive so I think I’m almost a little lighter than last year. I might have put a bit of extra muscle on hopefully, just praying (laughs), but besides that I think I’m still fairly the same.
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Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team’s Justin Barcia has provided an update on his condition following his savage crash in the SMX finale at the LA Coliseum. In a brutal blow, Barcia has revealed he’s suffered a few broken ribs, has a badly broken collarbone and a beat up lung. Here’s his post below.
We wish him all the best for his recovery.
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With the SMX Playoffs coming to a conclusion at the Los Angeles Coliseum last weekend for the finale, statistics maestro Paul Pearcy has provided MX Vice with some brilliant numbers to tuck into from what was a fascinating round of action. Enjoy
450 SMX SEASON END
- Jett Lawrence
- 1st in Qualifying: 1; Z Max
- Moto Wins: 3; 1 at Chicagoland, 2 at LA (50% win rate)
- Moto Podiums: 5; (83% podium rate)
- Overall Wins: 2; Chicagoland, 1-1 at LA (66% win rate)
- Overall Podiums: 2; (66% podium rate)
- Laps Led: 42; 21 at Chicagoland, 21 at LA (44% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 2.33
- Moto Finishes: 2.35
- Overalls: 2nd (Tied with Roczen for best in class)
- First Lap Position: 4th
Total Points: 163
- Ken Roczen
- 1st in Qualifying: 1; Chicagoland
- Moto Wins: 1; Race 2 at Chicagoland (16% win rate)
- Moto Podiums: 6; (100% podium rate)
- Overall Podiums: 3; (100% podium rate)
- Laps Led: 15; 10 at Z Max, 3 at Chicagoland, 2 at LA (15% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 3.33
- Moto Finishes: 2.33 (Best in Class)
- Overalls: 2nd (Tied with Lawrence for best in class)
- First Lap Position: 3.67
Total Points: 146
- Chase Sexton
- 1st in Qualifying: 1; LA
- Moto Wins: 2; 1-1 at Z Max (33% win rate)
- Moto Podiums: 5; (83% podium rate)
- Overall Win: 1; Z Max (33% win rate)
- Overall Podiums: 2; (66% podium rate)
- Laps Led: 32; (33% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 2nd (Best in Class)
- Moto Finishes: 5th
- Overalls: 4.67
- First Lap Position: 2.67
Total Points: 126
- Cooper Webb
- Moto Podiums: 1; Race 2 at LA (16% podium rate)
- Overall Podiums: 1; LA (33% podium rate)
Averages
- Qualifying: 7.33
- Moto Finishes: 6.33
- Overalls: 6th
- First Lap Positiion: 7.5
Total Points: 120
- Aaron Plessinger
Averages
- Qualifying: 8.33
- Moto Finishes: 7.66
- Overalls: 7.33
- First Lap Position: 9.67
Total Points: 104
- Adam Cianciarulo
- Laps Led: 1; Race 1 at LA (1% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 5.67
- Moto Finishes: 10.83
- Overalls: 11th
- First Lap Position: 9.83
Total Points: 96
- Garrett Marchbanks
Averages
- Qualifying: 8th
- Moto Finishes: 8.83
- Overalls: 8.67
- First Lap Position: 13.33
Total Points: 92
- Jason Anderson
- Laps Led: 4; Race 1 at LA (4% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 5th
- Moto Finishes: 8.83
- Overalls: 8.33
- First Lap Position: 8.16
Total Points: 91
- Colt Nichols
Averages
- Qualifying: 10.67
- Moto Finishes: 9.17
- Overalls: 8.33
- First Lap Position: 12.67
Total Points: 90
- Ty Masterpool
Averages
- Qualifying: 10th
- Moto Finishes: 10.5
- Overalls: 10th
- First Lap Position: 6.83
Total Points: 84
- Fredrik Noren
Averages
- Qualifying: 20th
- Moto Finishes: 11.83
- Overalls: 11.33
- First Lap Position: 13th
Total Points: 79
- Phillip Nicoletti
Averages
- Qualifying: 19.67
- Moto Finishes: 10.83
- Overalls: 10th
- First Lap Position: 10.67
Total Points: 76
- Dylan Ferrandis
Averages
- Qualifying: 7th
- Moto Finishes: 10.33
- Overalls: 10.67
- First Lap Position: 5.8
Total Points: 71
- Justin Barcia
- Laps Led: 1; Race 1 at LA (1% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 8.67
- Moto Finishes: 12th
- Overalls: 12th
- First Lap Position: 3.4
Total Points: 59
- Grant Harlan
Averages
- Qualifying: 23rd
- Moto Finishes: 16.16
- Overalls: 16th
- First Lap Position: 14.16
Total Points: 44
- Shane McElrath
Averages
- Qualifying: 16th
- Moto Finishes: 16.33
- Overalls: 16.67
- First Lap Position: 15.5
Total Points: 40
- Kyle Chisholm
Averages
- Qualifying: 25th
- Moto Finishes: 17th
- Overalls: 17th
- First Lap Position: 17th
Total Points: 40
- Justin Hill
Averages
- Qualifying: 18.67
- Moto Finishes: 17.33
- Overalls: 17.67
- First Lap Position: 16.5
Total Points: 31
- Dean Wilson
Averages
- Qualifying: 14.67
- Moto Finishes: 16.67
- Overalls: 17.67
- First Lap Position: 15th
Total Points: 31
- Josh Hill
Averages
- Qualifying: 24th
- Moto Finishes: 18.33
- Overalls: 19th
- First Lap Position: 18.33
Total Points: 25
- Jerry Robin
Averages
- Qualifying: 14.33
- Moto Finishes: 18.16
- Overalls: 19th
- First Lap Position: 18.16
Total Points: 22
- Jermy Hand
Averages
- Qualifying: 18.33
- Moto Finishes: 17.75
- Overalls: 18th
- First Lap Position: 19.25
Total Points: 18
- Eli Tomac
Total Points: 13
- Kevin Moranz
Averages
- Qualifying: 22.67
- Moto Finishes: 20th
- Overalls: 21st
- First Lap Position: 18.67
Total Points: 4
250SMX
1.Haiden Deegan
- Race Wins: 1; Race 1 at Z Max
- Race Podiums: 4; (66% podium rate)
- Overall Wins: 1; LA
- Overall Podiums: 3; (On the podium at all 3 rounds)
- Laps Led: 13; 6 at Z Max, 7 at Chicagoland (13% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 10th
- Moto Scores: 3.165 (Average of 3rd in moto 1 is best in class)
- Overalls: 2.33
- First Lap Position: 3.67 (Best in Class)
Total Points: 157
- Jo Shimoda
- Race Wins: 1; Race 2 at Z Max
- Race Podiums: 3; (50% podium rate)
- Overall Wins: 1; Z Max
- Overall Podiums: 3; ( On the podium at all 3 rounds)
- Laps Led: 14; 7 at Z MAX, 7 at Chicagoland (14% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 5.67
- Moto Scores: 2.83 ( Average of 2.33 in moto 2 is best in class)
- Overalls: 1.67 (Best in Class)
- First Lap Position: 5th
Total Points: 152
- RJ Hampshire
- 1st in Qualifying: 1; Chicagoland
- Race Podiums: 1; (16% podium rate)
- Overall Podiums: 1; LA
Averages
- Qualifying: 4.67
- Moto Scores: 7.5
- Overalls: 7th
- First Lap Position: 8.16
Total Points: 122
- Levi Kitchen
- Race Wins: 1; Race 2 at LA
- Race Podiums: 2; (33% podium rate)
- Laps Led: 29; 11 at Z Max, 18 at LA (Most in Class, 30% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 7.67
- Moto Scores: 7th
- Overalls: 6.67
- First Lap Position: 6.67
Total Points: 114
- Jordon Smith
- Race Wins: 1; Race 1 at LA
- Laps Led: 8; at LA (8% of total Laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 9.67
- Moto Scores: 6.83
- Overalls: 5.67
- First Lap Position: 10.5
Total Points: 110
- Justin Cooper
- 1st in Qualifying: 1; LA
- Race Podiums: 1; (16% podium rate)
- Laps Led: 1; at Chicagoland (1% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 4.33
- Moto Scores: 8.5
- Overalls: 8.33
- First Lap Position: 7.83
Total Points: 101
- Maximus Vohland
Averages
- Qualifying: 7.67
- Moto Scores: 8.5
- Overalls: 8.67
- First Lap Position: 11th
Total Points: 98
- Tom Vialle
- Race Podiums: 3; ( 50% podium rate)
- Overall Podiums: 1; (33% podium rate)
- Laps Led: 20; 10 at Z Max, 10 at LA
Averages
- Qualifying: 8th
- Moto Scores: 7.83
- Overalls: 8.67
- First Lap Position: 6.5
Total Points:90
- Hunter Lawrence
- Race Wins: 2; 1-1 in Chicagoland
- Overall Wins: 1; Chicagoland
- Laps Led: 9; all in Chicagoland ( 9% of total laps)
Averages
- Qualifying: 6.67
- Moto Scores: 4.5
- Overalls: 4.5
- First Lap Position: 7.75
Total Points: 89
- Jalek Swoll
Averages
- Qualifying: 8.33
- Moto Scores: 9.33
- Overalls: 9.67
- First Lap Position: 10.5
Total Points: 88
- Pierce Brown
Averages
- Qualifying: 5.33
- Moto Scores: 9.335
- Overalls: 9.33
- First Lap Position: 10.67
Total Points: 86
- Ryder DiFrancesco
- Race Podiums: 1; Race 2 at Z Max (16% of total Races)
Averages
- Qualifying: 13.33
- Moto Finishes: 10.33
- Overalls: 9.67
- First Lap Position: 10.5
Total Points: 72
- Dilan Schwartz:
Averages
- Qualifying: 12.33
- Moto Finishes: 12.33
- Overalls: 13.33
- First Lap Position: 10.83
Total Points: 61
- Talon Hawkins
Averages
- Qualifying: 14.33
- Moto Finishes: 14.5
- Overalls:15
- First Lap Position: 14.16
Total Points: 58
- Seth Hammaker
- 1st in Qualifying: 1; Z Max
Averages
- Qualifying: 1.5
- Moto Finishes: 7.75
- Overalls: 6.5
- First Lap Position:5.25
Total Points: 49
- Cullin Park
Averages
- Qualifying: 19.67
- Moto Finishes: 15.83
- Overalls:16
- First Lap Position: 13.5
Total Points: 41
- Caden Braswell
Averages
- Qualifying: 21.33
- Moto Finishes: 17.5
- Overalls:17.67
- First Lap Position: 17.5
Total Points:29
- Mitchell Oldenburg
Averages
- Qualifying: 17th
- Moto Finishes: 13.5
- Overalls:13th
- First Lap Position: 8th
Total Points:27
- Coty Schock
Averages
- Qualifying: 23.67
- Moto Finishes: 17.25
- Overalls: 17.5
- First Lap Position:12.5
Total Points:25
- Preston Kilroy
Averages
- Qualifying: 18.67
- Moto Finishes:16.5
- Overalls: 17th
- First Lap Position: 16.5
Total Points:25
- Max Anstie
Averages
- Qualifying: 14th
- Moto Finishes: 16.5
- Overalls: 16th
- First Lap Position: 18th
Total Points: 14
- Jett Lawrence
- Austin Forkner
Averages
- Qualifying: 9th
- Moto Finishes: 12.5
- Overalls: 13th
- First Lap Position: 14.5
Total Points: 9
- Derek Kelley
Averages
- Qualifying: 19.67
- Moto Finishes: 18.5
- Overalls: 19th
- First Lap Position: 18th
Total Points: 9
- Carson Mumford
Averages
- Qualifying: 16th
- Moto Finishes: 19.5
- Overalls: 20th
- First Lap Position: 22nd
Total Points: 7
- Hunter Yoder
Averages
- Qualifying: 22nd
- Moto Finishes: 20.16
- Overalls: 21st
- First Lap Position: 19.16
Total Points:6
- Chris Blose
Averages
- Qualifying: 23rd
- Moto Finishes: 20th
- Overalls:20th
- First Lap Position: 19.5
Total Points: 6
- Luke Neese
Averages
- Qualifying: 22.33
- Moto Finishes: 20.65
- Overalls: 21.33
- First Lap Position: 17.83
Total Points: 4
- Chance Hymas
- Joshua Varize
Averages
- Qualifying: 18th
- Moto Finishes: 20th
- Overalls: 21st
- First Lap Position: 21st
Total Points: 2
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