Monster Energy-Backed Jason Lawrence (YoT) Leads A1 Monster SX

Lawrence was the fastest Lites racer on the track and proved that in the main, coming from 13th place after the first turn to lead by lap 4

CORONA, Calif., (Jan. 7, 2008) –  Monster Energy-backed Jason Lawrence (Yamaha of Troy), the defending Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship, Western Region Lites class runner up, was in it at the Anaheim (Calif.) opener this past Saturday, putting up the best times in the Lites class despite some dicey condition brought on by unusually stormy weather.

Lawrence put down, by far, the fastest practice time then went on to holeshot and win the second heat race – doing so by nearly 14 seconds over Brett Metcalfe.

"I got the track wired early was pumped coming into the main,” said Lawrence.

In the main Lawrence got out of the gate well, but managed somehow to drift sideways a bit in the wet and loose soil – taking him off his desired line to the apex of the first turn. Once there, Lawrence got caught up in the pack and came into the first rhythm section in 13th place.

“Sucked,” was the one word answer Lawrence gave on his start.

Still, the California transplant had pretty much the entire stadium keeping an eye on him as he put the hammer down on his YZ250F and started picking off riders one after another.

“My YZ was haulin’,” said Lawrence. “The guys at Yamaha of Troy did a killer job getting it ready. All I did was pretty much pin the throttle and steer.”

By lap four Lawrence had caught and passed everybody, including both Pro Circuit racers, eventual winner Ryan Dungey and then race leader Dan Reardon to take the overall lead. The crowd was going nuts during his run at the front. Lawrence then led through lap seven of the 15- lap contest before running into some lappers, which allowed Dungey to triple past Lawrence.

In no time Lawrence was able to reel in Dungey pretty easily and was poised to take the lead back from the Suzuki rider before he
(Lawrence) threw it away in a spin out crash on the face of the finish line jump right before lap eight.

“I blew it,” said Lawrence, who was able to re-mount his bike and race back to the podium (2nd o/a). “My Yamaha was the fastest bike out there and I should have won. Period. But my goal is the championship and this just gets me more fired up and ready to go for Phoenix. I know I’ve got the fastest bike and I plan on proving it.”

Next up for Monster Energy Supercross is the Phoenix round at Chase Field (Jan. 12).