• 4-1 moto tally nets 250-class victory for the Idaho native
• Second consecutive podium overall result for Jo Shimoda
• Hunter Lawrence extends perfect overall-podium streak in 450 class

As the AMA Pro Motocross series cleared its midway point with the traditional Independence Day Weekend race at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan, Team Honda HRC sophomore rider Chance Hymas seized the occasion to notch the first overall victory of his career in the 250 division, with a masterful moto 2 win following a fourth-place finish in moto 1. Following him across the finish line in moto 2 (and taking his second overall podium in a row) was Jo Shimoda, whose 5-2 tally was good for third overall. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence showed impressive speed in the 450 class, leading most of moto 1 before a late crash dropped him to second. In the second moto, the Australian rode to a fourth-place finish, good enough to keep his unblemished premier-class podium streak alive.

For the fourth time this season, Lawrence took the holeshot in the first 450 moto, and he rode strong at the front until there were less than two laps remaining, when he suffered a hard fall on a rough descent. The Australian recovered in time to finish second. Lawrence was fifth off the start in moto 2 and completed lap 1 in seventh, but he went to work and was into the top five by lap 6. He took over fourth a lap later, and that’s where he would spend the remainder of the race—sufficient for an overall podium.

The first 250 moto saw Hymas start third and get around two riders on lap 1 to take over the lead. He built up a lead of over 5 seconds, but his line selections eventually led to a loss of flow and riding tight. He held on to finish the moto in fourth. Meanwhile, Shimoda spent most of the moto recovering after being knocked down in turn 1, as he climbed from eighth on lap 1 to fifth at the finish. Hymas started off moto 2 with a holeshot, and he stayed at front for the duration, initially establishing a comfortable margin but eventually having to fend off the advances of his teammate, who had started third.

NOTES

• On Tuesday after Southwick, Jett Lawrence had a small practice crash in Florida that unfortunately resulted in a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left thumb, as well as a bone chip. Lawrence underwent surgery on Thursday, July 4, and will miss the remainder of the AMA Pro Motocross series. Jett nonetheless attended RedBud to meet fans and support his team. He is expected to return for the September 7 SuperMotocross opener in Concord, North Carolina.
• Jo Shimoda spent the week between Southwick and RedBud staying and training in Michigan with Nick Wey.
• Cameron Camera, mechanic for Hunter Lawrence, aggravated a back injury during his flight to the race. The pain was serious enough that he wasn’t able to make his transfer in Chicago, so he was taken to the local emergency room, where he spent the night. Christien Ducharme, who normally wrenches for Jett Lawrence, switched to Hunter’s bike for the weekend.
• RedBud was a Scouting Moto Combine round, giving amateur riders the opportunity to race on the same track as the pros on Friday, and also to receive guidance and instruction from a number of industry personalities. Mobile X Fire Power Honda rider Jake Cannon notched an 11th-place result aboard his CRF250R.
• Friday was also amateur day at RedBud, and Team Honda HRC Parts Coordinator Todd Flickinger–a native of the area–competed aboard a CRF450R.
• In honor of Independence Day Weekend, longtime Team Honda HRC sponsor Throttle Jockey prepared special graphics featuring a bald eagle on the radiator shrouds, in the same style as the Woody Woodpecker graphics the team ran in the early 2000s. Throttle Jockey is based in nearby Kokomo, Indiana, and co-owner Matt Davis was on hand to see their work in action.
• Also on display in the Team Honda HRC pits on Friday were a pair of restored CR250R Ezra Lusk-replica motocrossers owned by Marysville, Ohio, resident Joel Smith. One featured Jurassic Park graphics, as Lusk ran at RedBud in 2001, as a part of a Universal Studios sponsorship. The other was a replica of Lusk’s 1998 race bike.
• Indiana dealership Kendallville Powersports staffed a popup activation booth in the Team Honda HRC pits at RedBud, where they displayed a CRF50F, a Grom and a 2025 CRF450R.
• For the second week in a row, Team Honda HRC housed two extra riders in its pit footprint on race day, as Swedish MXGP rider Alvin Ostlund and Japanese rider Takumu Yokosawa were competing.
• Also campaigning the AMA Pro Motocross series for the second week in a row was Australian Kyle Webster, riding for MobileX Fire Power Honda. Webster finished an impressive eighth overall in the 450 class and even led briefly in moto 2.
• As usual, Phoenix Racing Honda was on hand, fielding Dylan Ferrandis. The Frenchman notched an impressive fifth in the second 450 moto after being knocked down in moto 1.
• Speaking of Kyle Webster, it was announced on July 4 that he and the Lawrence brothers will race for Team Australia at the 2024 Motocross of Nations. The all-Honda lineup looks to be very competitive at the event in the UK this October.
• Team Honda HRC was well-fed at RedBud, as longtime friends of the team Jamie Irvine and Jay Winter were on hand to prepare breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
• The morning qualifying sessions saw Hunter Lawrence tally the third-best time in the premier class, while Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda were second and fifth, respectively, in the 250 division. Also impressive were Webster and Ferrandis, who were seventh and eight, respectively, in the 450 class.
• Chance Hymas turned the fastest lap times in both 250 motos.
• Once again, Hunter Lawrence stretched his status as the only rider this season to have finished on the overall 450 podium at every round.
• In taking this weekend’s 250 overall victory, Chance Hymas joined other Red Riders to have scored RedBud support-class wins, including Ron Lechien, Micky Dymond (twice), Guy Cooper, George Holland, Steve Lamson (twice), Trey Canard and Jeremy Martin.
• Chance Hymas was penalized five points for jumping on a red-cross flag in moto 1. “I could kind of see it as I was coming into the corner,” Hymas said, “but what confused me is it wasn’t on the lip of the jump–that threw me off. Honestly, I should’ve just rolled it, just for precaution.”
• Although he lost the red plate at RedBud, Hunter Lawrence is still in a strong position in the 450 title chase. With five rounds remaining, he sits seven points behind Chase Sexton, in second. Although Jett Lawrence is out for the remainder of the series, he sits fourth in points for the time being. In the 250 ranks, Chance Hymas is also second, 42 behind Haiden Deegan, with Shimoda in fourth.
• Next up for AMA Pro Motocross is the Spring Creek National in Minnesota, where Team Honda HRC will again be represented by three riders. Last year saw Jett and Hunter Lawrence sweep the 450 and 250 overall wins in Millville. Before heading to this race, the Lawrence brothers and some other team members will be in Indiana attending Honda’s press launch for the 2025 CRF450R.

Hunter Lawrence 96 “I knew coming in it would be tough to beat Chase; it’s his home race, and I knew he’d be on it. I was close in the first one until I was upside down, but I’m thankful to not be hurt; it happened so fast, but that’s the nature of the beast. The lappers were tough this weekend; I’d get held up a bit, and then Chase would get held up a bit.”

Jo Shimoda 30 “I got taken out in the first corner in moto 1; it was pretty hectic after that, and I just didn’t have enough pace. I enjoyed the day though. I’m not from America, but I enjoy this crowd; when you’re racing for 30 minutes in this heat, to have that energy around makes a big difference. To get it done and be on the podium is so special. I think there are still a little more improvements to make, and I can ride a little faster. We’re trying hard.”

Chance Hymas 48 “In the first moto, I got out in front and tried to build a big gap, but I was making bad choices and fighting the bike; with my riding style, I can’t ride like that for 35 minutes. I watched some video, executed a really good start in the second moto and tried to ride as loose as I could–honestly, I just believed I could do it. I put a big gap, but Jo reeled me in and I had to pick up the pace. I didn’t even know I had the overall win until I came in. I was like, ‘Man, last time that I went 4-1 (Thunder Valley), I barely got second! It’s really good to do it on Fourth of July Weekend. RedBud is kind of a bucket-list win for a lot of Americans, so to get my first one here is pretty special.”

Lars Lindstrom Team Manager “We have a new perspective coming into the rest of the motocross series without Jett lining up, but the goal is still the same, which is obviously to win this championship. The way that we’ll do that is to not change anything and keep the same feeling as normal on race weekends. Hunter was riding awesome and doing everything he needed to do in the first moto until the track beat him in one of the most difficult sections. After that, he definitely didn’t have the same intensity, and the bike changes we made for the second moto didn’t help either. Everyone on the team and at Honda is so happy and proud of chance for getting his first win. His first-lap intensity and overall speed is so impressive to watch, and it was great to see him back it up the second moto with the win and overall. What made it even sweeter was seeing both of our CRF250Rs racing for the second-moto win, and both Chance and Jo being on the overall podium of our series’ greatest track, with the best crowd of the summer.”