Winner Takes All in SMX World Championship Las Vegas

This is the final round in Las Vegas, "the city that never sleeps!" Three riders are contending for the SuperMotocross World Championship in the final round of year.

Rookie to the 450SMX class, Team Honda HRC Progressive, Australia's Hunter Lawrence is the championship leader by one point over the 2024 AMA 450MX Pro Motocross Champion, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Illinois' Chase Sexton. Last, nine points behind his brother and teammate and eight behind the #4 machine, is the 2023 inaugural SMX champ, # 1 of Jett Lawrence.

After his career-first 450 overall in his rookie season, Hunter leads the series ahead of the final round. The #96 was close, more often than not, to take his first overall this summer during the Pro Motocross Championship, but Sexton was just better in the 2nd motos down the stretch. Hunter's rides have been sneaky good this year, and things took a turn for the better ahead of last year's 250SMX series at the start of his first Supercross championship, the 250SX East campaign.

Hunter came in last season, winning those first two rounds, the Houston opener, and Tampa the following weekend. When I witnessed #96 out on the track for the first time that season, for that first qualifying session Saturday, I remember saying, "This is the best Hunter Lawrence we have seen, and he is different this year." His riding looked much more mature, and his style changed slightly over the off-season. Hunter has always had a good riding style and was in the mix plenty over the years, but something was different. Something changed. The mentality over the off-season clicked for him, and the improved riding style change turned him into the 250SX East Champion and went on to win the 250MX Pro Motocross Championship. He was in the lead of the 250SMX Championship going into the finale round at the LA Coliseum, but a back injury hindered him from racing. Last year was a BIG year moving forward for the #96.

Now, he missed the Main Event for his debut to the 450 class at the opening Supercross round at Anaheim 1 this January. "That Anaheim 1 race, I can promise you I wasn’t thinking about SMX in Vegas... It wasn’t ideal, but it was kind of a first turn crash, hit my head a bit. Just kept my head down, bum up, and kept working." Hunter said in yesterday's press conference. He then grabbed his first top 5 at round 6 in Glendale and first career 450SX podium a few rounds later in St Louis. Two podiums throughout the 2024 450SX campaign and ready to show "what he is made of" during the Pro Motocross Championship. Battling for wins with reigning champion, brother Jett, and Sexton. He never got that elusive overall win, but he was right there in the fight for the championship title, holding the red plate as the championship leader for a couple of rounds and taking the title down to the final round, where he finished 2nd ultimately.

Going into the first SMX Playoff 1 round in Charlotte, Hunter was right in the fight for the podium spot; in the first moto, finishing 3rd and 6th in the second moto prompted him to a 4th overall on the day. For SMX Playoff 2, last weekend boosted Hunter's confidence. Taking down multi-time champion in the 450 class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Eli Tomac and his younger brother Jett in an all-out fight on a gnarly and slick track during that first moto. It was one of the best races we have witnessed this year. On the other hand, in the second moto, after a bad start, he worked his way up through the field to a 3rd to take his career-first overall and the points leader ahead of this weekend. "No, I don't like to say I surprise myself because I like to believe in myself and always back myself that I belong up here, and I've worked hard enough, and I deserve to be able to win," Hunter said.

With all that being said, Hunter has continued to strive forward and is now in contention to take his first SMX World Championship here, in his first attempt on the 450 machine, in Las Vegas. "The trophy is sick, but I think, yeah, the bonus hitting is definitely a little better," Hunter expressed. Can Hunter take the $1 million?

Chase Sexton already has an impressive resume in the class, with a 450SX Supercross Championship and 450MX Pro Motocross Championship. He was in contention with Jett for last year's SMX World Championship title until the LA Finale, when a crash took him out of contention.

In his first year on the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team for Sexton, he clearly talked about the struggles with the machine for Supercross setup. Even after taking the second moto victory last weekend in Texas, Sexton kept the setup in mind. During the Pro Motocross Championship, Sexton's bike looked phenomenal, but they are still figuring out the Supercross portion, and he has been VERY vocal about it. "The first track was really fast, but they tricked us with the supercross suspension. Last weekend’s track was fun but a little edgy. This weekend’s track looks really good... I think it should be the best track of the playoffs." Chase says in the press conference.

Another topic, is when the #1 of Jett Lawrence is on the gate, does that hinder Sexton? Last year, during the Pro Motocross Championship, it was tough on him by not being able to get the better of Jett all summer. He was not in contention for the 450SX Championship earlier this year, finishing 3rd. Chase did win the 450MX Pro Motocross Championship this year, but is that because Jett wasn't on the gate after the Southwick due to injury? He did have another Lawrence brother to deal with all summer, but it isn't the same as the #1 machine.

Finally, the starts. Chase finally grabbed the start during the second moto last weekend in Texas and ran away with the win for a mere 13+ second gap. He would finish 2nd overall from a 4th in the first moto, where he had to battle from the back up to that position, and by the time he got to 4th, those top 3 were gone.

The mentality, the starts, and the bike are all discussion topics. Can he pull it all together to take down the Lawrence brothers for the $1 million prize and his first 450SMX title? "I kind of like it, actually. Obviously, they're brothers... but I think between all three of us, we race each other very fairly, really clean and respectable," says Sexton.

With all the topics discussed, it would be a massive deal for the #4 to get it done here in Vegas for himself and the team. "Yes or no. Either I'll win it, or I won't. It is what it is. It's racing... it's just the last round of the season, tight points, and yeah, I don't know, we're just paid to race and it's what we do," Chase says on winning the title.

Last but not least, the reigning 450SMX Champion, Jett Lawrence. The young phenom has taken the sport by storm. He won his first 450SX Supercross Championship this year, winning eight rounds in his first attempt, and last year's 450MX Pro Motocross Championship in his debut to the class, winning every single moto and undefeated.

Jett returned from a thumb injury at the start of the SMX Playoff 1 in Charlotte and won the overall. He not only won the overall but also took down the multi-time 450 champion, Eli Tomac, in a battle to the checkers. The injury and coming back so soon didn't hinder him.

Last weekend's Texas Playoff 2 round was tougher on Jett, who finished third overall and did not win a moto. He said he was not thrilled on the bike, and the track was challenging. He looked distraught after the race was complete. "We haven’t really changed much. For me, it’s just about logging more laps since I’m a little behind the other guys in that area," Jett explained. "I’m focusing on being more consistent and cutting down on mistakes. We’ve worked on starts and reaction time after last weekend, but nothing too crazy has changed. We’re just fine-tuning things and seeing how I can improve. Hopefully, it’s enough."

"For us (Hunter and himself), it doesn't really matter who wins out of either of us; it's just making sure one of us wins. It'll be a bit of a shame if none of us win, having two of us out there."

Can the #1 claim back his title, nine points down?

These three riders have something to prove. Who will play their cards right and come out on top at The Strip at The Las Vegas Motor Speedway? Who do you have your money on for the SuperMotocross World Championship in 2024?