With only one round left of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, it has been an exciting summer. Both classes have seen some great battles, often coming down to the final laps. The 250 class has seen three first-time winners in Ty Masterpool, Chance Hymas, and Levi Kitchen. Meanwhile the 450 class has only seen two different winners, Jett Lawrence and Chase Sexton, who are both no strangers to the winner's circle.
But there are two riders who many expected to see on the top spot of the box at least once this summer and so far, neither have been able to deliver. Both Hunter Lawrence and Tom Vialle are hoping to change that this weekend at Iron Man.
Hunter Lawrence, who started as a 450 rookie back in supercross, may not have come into the outdoor season expecting to win. But now, after winning three first motos and tying for the overall win only to lose out to the guy with the better second moto score, finishing the season without a win will feel like a letdown. As he told the press after Budds Creek where he again went 1-2 for second overall:
“I want this freaking win, man. I just wanna get one of these freaking wins and it's so close, like points-wise, we had enough, but it's the count back that's screwed me three times this year. Well, not screwed me, it's just racing, I wouldn’t say screwed me. I just gotta be better the second motos. So yeah, maybe we're gonna sandbag the first moto and then we’ll be good the second one.”
Lawrence started the outdoor season strong, winning the first moto at Thunder Valley, which was only his fifth ever moto on a 450. However, a crash while leading the first moto at RedBud had him feeling off for the next few races. But since the break after Washougal, he's regrouped and has won two more motos. Unfortunately, Chase Sexton has gone 2-1 and taken the overall both times. Lawrence has one more chance to get an overall his rookie season and people are speculating that IronMan might be his best shot if Sexton gets distracted by wrapping up his first ever 450 Pro Motocross Championship.
The story of a winless summer is completely different for Tom Vialle, who was a championship favorite coming in. Expectations were much higher for the two-time World Champion. In fact, back in January if someone would say that Vialle would win a title in 2024, no one would have batted an eye. However, it is unlikely anyone would believe that championship would be in supercross, not motocross.
Vialle has two moto wins and six overall podiums so far, and currently sits third overall in the championship, 14 points behind Levi Kitchen. A respectable season by almost anyone’s standards. That is, anyone besides Vialle, as he explained in the post-race press conference:
“That kind of pissed me off that I didn’t win any outdoors, that's pretty crazy. But, yeah, I had a few crashes, and I feel like I could have won a few races, but I just didn't make it happen. And we still got one more shot next weekend. But yeah, I kind of struggled at the beginning of the year with bike setup, and I feel like now the last few races I didn’t change much and, yeah, it's gonna be nice for next year. Hopefully, I can start with the same setting and be ready actually by the first outdoor race. That's kind of the goal. I'm pretty excited to race SMX. I feel great. Those races are always pretty fun I think.”
While everyone is starting to shift their focus to SMX, Vialle acknowledges keeping the momentum rolling for SMX is important, but he has another goal in mind.
“Both are important, keeping momentum for SMX of course, and like I said, I have one more chance to win a race next weekend. That’s going to be the goal.”
One more chance to put their names in the 2024 record books as race winners. For Lawrence winning in his rookie season would be a feather in his cap. But for Vialle it would mean finishing an otherwise mediocre (for him) season on a high note. So, the question is, will they make it happen?
