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Hunter Lawrence Clinches Podium With CRF450R In AMA Pro Motocross Debut
Hunter Lawrence demonstrated the potential of Honda's 2025 CRF450R during its AMA Pro Motocross debut at Unadilla MX in Upstate New York. He secured a second-place overall finish with 1-2 moto results. Despite strong performances from Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda, both riders faced crashes that cut their races short.
Lawrence started strong, taking the lead early in the first moto after overtaking Aaron Plessinger. Although Chase Sexton briefly took the lead, Lawrence regained it and held on for the win. In the second moto, Lawrence recovered from a tenth-place start to finish second, securing his overall runner-up position.
Phoenix Racing Honda's Dylan Ferrandis also impressed, finishing fourth overall with 6-3 moto scores. Meanwhile, Hymas showcased his speed by topping qualifying and leading most of the first 250 moto before a crash ended his race prematurely. Shimoda also faced challenges, finishing fourth in the first moto but crashing in the second, resulting in a broken collarbone.
The first 250 moto saw Hymas quickly move from seventh to first place, building a significant lead before his crash. Shimoda worked his way up from tenth to fourth in the same race. In the second moto, Shimoda started strong but crashed while challenging for the lead, forcing him to withdraw due to injury.
All three active Team Honda HRC riders participated in Unadilla's Media Day on Friday despite track time being canceled due to rain. The team also had support from Outdoor Motor Sports, which set up a pop-up booth at the event. Hymas was notably fast during morning qualifying sessions, with Shimoda and Lawrence also posting competitive times.
SLR Honda introduced several riders making their AMA Pro Motocross debuts at Unadilla. Parker Ross and Jace Allred competed in the 250 class, finishing 24th and 28th overall respectively. Jaxon Pascal entered the 450 class but did not qualify for the motos.
Upcoming Events
The next challenge for Team Honda HRC is the penultimate round of AMA Pro Motocross at Budds Creek, Maryland. The team aims to build on their recent performances and secure more podium finishes as the season progresses.
"It was a pretty good day for a debut on the '25," said Hunter Lawrence. "We made some good changes throughout the day that absolutely helped out for the motos."
"That's not the way I thought my day was going to end," said Chance Hymas. "I'm sorry to the team for letting that one get away."
"It felt great to be up front and battling for the lead," said Jo Shimoda. "Unfortunately, I ended up with a broken collarbone."
Lars Lindstrom, Team Manager, praised the track crew's efforts: "The track crew did an incredible job after Friday's rain." He added that it was exciting to race with the new 2025 450 and highlighted Hunter Lawrence's impressive performance against Chase Sexton.
Results Overview
| Position | Rider | Moto Scores |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Chase Sexton (KTM) | |
| 2nd | Hunter Lawrence (Hon) | |
| 3rd | Aaron Plessinger (KTM) | |
| 4th | Dylan Ferrandis (Hon) | |
| ... | ||
Championship Standings
| Position | Name (Bike) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Chase Sexton (KTM) | 407 |
| 2nd | Hunter Lawrence (Hon) | 379 |
| ... | ||
The team remains optimistic about upcoming races despite recent setbacks. They aim to continue improving performance and achieving top results as they approach season’s end.
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