Honda HRC has now confirmed that Hunter Lawrence is headed to the 450 class full-time in 2024, starting in Monster Energy Supercross and continuing through the Pro Motocross and SMX campaigns. We'll get a sneak peak of Hunter on the bike at the upcoming Paris Supercross. Hunter and his brother Jett will form the 450 program for Honda, with Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas handling 250 duties. Honda's press release for Hunter's 450 move is below.
Honda Confirms Hunter Lawrence to Campaign CRF450RWE in 2024
Reigning 250SX East and Pro Motocross 250 Champion will move up to Premier Class
TORRANCE, Calif. – Team Honda HRC confirmed today that Hunter Lawrence will move up to the 450 class for the 2024 season, competing in the AMA Supercross, AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross series. The 24-year-old Australian, who last season earned crowns in the 250SX East Region and 250 outdoor series, will campaign the factory Honda CRF450RWE alongside his brother, Jett Lawrence.
A native of Landsborough, Queensland, Australia, Hunter raced Down Under and in Europe before signing with American Honda’s Factory Connection satellite squad for the 2019 season. He was promoted to Team Honda HRC for 2021, and after his first two years with Honda’s factory squad saw him finish second and third in the indoor and outdoor series, respectively, he delivered championships in both series in 2023.
“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in my 250 career, but it’s exciting to move up to the premier class for 2024,” Hunter Lawrence said. “I feel like my style is well-suited for the CRF450RWE, and off-season testing has been going well so far. I enjoyed battling with Jett in the 250 class before he moved up, and I’m looking forward to doing that again now that we’re both on the big bike. I’ve got a great team around me, and I can’t wait to get back in action at Anaheim 1.”
“It’s a pleasure to move Hunter up to the CRF450RWE,” added Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Experiential Marketing at American Honda. “Since joining our team three years ago, he has consistently made a positive impact, in terms of results but also for the constructive, optimistic influence that he invariably brings. Last season saw him earn the 250 titles that we all knew he was capable of, but he’s also a very good 450 rider. We look forward to him adding to his success now that he’s in the premier class.”
- Birth Date: August 1, 1999
- 2013: 2nd in FIM 85 Junior World Championship
- 2015: 3rd in FIM 125 Junior World Championship; Australian 125 and 250 Junior Motocross Champion
- 2017: 9th in 2017 FIM MX2 final standings; MX2 winner at Motocross of Nations (Team Australia)
- 2018: 3rd in FIM MX2 final standings; 2nd in MX2 at Motocross of Nations (Team Australia)
- 2019: 10th in AMA Pro Motocross 250 final standings
- 2020: 13th in AMA Pro Motocross 250 final standings
- 2021: 2nd in AMA Supercross 250SX West Region final standings; 3rdin AMA Pro Motocross 250 final standings
- 2022: 2nd in AMA Supercross 250SX West Region final standings; 3rdin AMA Pro Motocross 250 final standings; 2nd in MX2 at Motocross of Nations (Team Australia)
- 2023: AMA Pro Motocross 250 National Champion; AMA Supercross 250SX East Region Champion; 9th in SuperMotocross 250 final standings; 2nd in MX2 at Motocross of Nations (Team Australia)
