JLaw Smashes Hand – Can’t Run Toronto Main
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Defending 2008 WSX Lites class champion and 450 class rookie Jason “JLaw” Lawrence (Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing) took a rock to the hand during practice at this past weekend’s Toronto SX, then managed to gut out a six-lap SX class qualifier to make the main with a 6th place finish before opting out of the night’s final 20-lap contest due to a severely bloodied and swollen hand.
“I caught a rock on my knuckle in the second practice and it busted my hand open - swelled up like crazy,” said Lawrence, who’s finished 2nd and 5th in his first two 450 class appearances. “I didn’t want to push it in the main by not being able to hold onto the bars.”
All signs pointed towards another spectacular Lawrence showing in the SX class as, in the first qualifying practice session (with two good hands), Lawrence put up the second-fastest lap time – just a click behind Chad Reed (54.170 to 54.111) and a full half second ahead of James Stewart (54.737).
But about midway through the second practice Lawrence would take the rock and he had to pull off. Lawrence’s injury then showed in his heat race when he nearly pulled the holeshot, but didn’t have enough strength and mobility in his injured hand to pull the clutch in near the end of the start turn and ended up giving up a bunch of spots to the rest of the pack.
“It was so bad out there that when I came by the mechanic’s area I saw all of them - including my mechanic – wearing goggles,” said Lawrence laughing. “By the time the heat was over, between then and when I was supposed to show up for the main, I couldn’t even make a fist with my (injured) hand.
“Wasn’t worth risking it.”
Lawrence’s Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing teammate, Nick Wey, had an unreal battle with his former Mach 1/Yamaha teammate Heath Voss to make the main (2nd in LCQ), then ended up 15th in the SX main.
Next up on the Monster Supercross Series is this weekend’s contest in Jacksonville, Fla.
Generous sponsors of the Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing team include: Yamaha, JLaw Racing, One Industries, 2XL, AP Design, Spy Optic, MSR and Grenade Gloves.
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