450 Words: Honda ’25 CRF450R Debut

Ahead of the ninth round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at the historic Unadilla MX facility, Honda HRC announced some big news regarding the new generation 450 motocross model. Starting today, Hunter Lawrence—second in the 450 Class standings—will make the switch from the 2024 CRF450R model to the 2025 CRF450R model. This change will run through the remainder of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX)—the final three rounds of Pro Motocross then all three SMX Playoff rounds.

The jump to the next year model is not something we see often, although it is legal through a homologation system with the AMA. Grant Langston did it once while aboard a Yamaha and most recently Ryan Villopoto raced the 2012 KX450 model in the 2011. So, down only 28 points with three rounds remaining in the championship, why make the switch now? What made Hunter Lawrence decide to jump to the all-new machine?

Well, big picture is this will help the team come the 2025 SMX season when he has actual race gate drops aboard the bike. Testing for both him and Jett for 2025 as they both hope to be championship contenders next summer? Sounds like a great way to get ahead, but is it worth the risk these last few rounds? According to the older Lawrence brother, he felt the stock machine is a great starting platform. Plus, testing on it has gone pretty well so far.

“I think the easiest decision was riding the production bike at the farm and just loving it and how much potential the stock bike had was the biggest, ultimate telling tale of what our game plan was, whether it was SMX or here,” Lawrence told us Friday. “And man, the stock bike is unreal, you know. I was doing some motos on it and my lap times and speed on the stock bike were the same as my current factory bike we had. So, you know, that alone, it's just a huge confidence booster. And you're like, ‘Okay, what a base to then build on.’ So, yeah, it's exciting. Hopefully the weather clears up, like, be good to see it stretch its legs a little bit on some dry course. But, she's a beast in the mud as well.”