Jett Lawrence, last year's SMX World Champion and this year's 450 Monster Energy Supercross Champion, is now back on the bike and just in time for the SMX Playoff rounds. During the Ironman National two weeks ago, Jason Weigandt was able to chat with Jett over Zoom to see how the returning SMX champion is feeling about his return to racing. You can watch the video interview below, and you'll notice Jett was in a great mood. He's definitely excited to get back to racing.
Remember, this interview was recorded on August 24th, during the Ironman National weekend, so Jett will have two more weeks after this update to improve, test and be ready for the Charlotte SMX Opener at ZMax Dragway. We'll see him on the bike, in person, this Friday.
Racer X: First of all, everybody wants to know. We saw you back on the bike last week. Are you riding? How's it feeling? What's the progress here?
Jett Lawrence: Yeah, it's been awesome being back on the bike, we had to start on the rut track for a few days and then went on to the outdoor track. I was feeling amazing on the rut track. Thought I was just back to normal, went out on the outdoor track and I didn't realize how hard that riding dirt bikes actually is! [Laughs] So, no, we're getting there. We're just trying to get the balance, and just trying to take our time. You know, my head and my eye speed are kind of two different levels right now. I'm thinking of what I need to do and then for my eyes everything is coming fast. I'm trying to go too fast for where I am right now, but it's fine. I'm just so glad to be back on the bike and have a regular schedule again. So, it's been nice to be back on the bike and riding this new '25 Honda. It's been awesome, you know, Hunter's been doing good on it. We're gonna do some testing and, yeah, hopefully come to SMX going crazy.
What's interesting is, yes, your schedule has to be based on returning for SMX. When you talk to the surgeon, doctors, physical therapists and all that, did they say that's a reasonable timeline or is this a bit of a rush just because of the racing schedule?
I mean, would I like more time for SMX? Of course I would, I mean, everyone wants more time, but we got dealt with the six weeks and thankfully after the six weeks, I was able to be back on the bike and surprisingly, it wasn't painful at all. We did a lot of therapy during those weeks, spent a lot of time out in California, with Doctor G and just kind of working it, getting a lot of PT done on it and getting that full range of movement back and it's kind of cut the healing down a lot. So, coming back on the bike, it wasn't as painful. And, yeah, I mean, we got how many more weeks? Now two weeks I think before SMX. So, I mean, this week was my first week back on an outdoor track. So, we're looking forward to it, makes it exciting for me. Gives it a good challenge. Hopefully (between now and then) I'm back to a little bit more like myself just before SMX. So, I can be a little bit more calm. But no, I'm just happy to get back out there, back to getting that adrenaline, those nerves on race day. I miss it! I kind of realized how much of an adrenaline junkie I am (laughs).
I asked riders this all the time when they're out injured. Most of them, guys at your level who have the goal to win the title, they don't want to watch [when they're injured]. They don't want to go through the pain of seeing a title that maybe they could have won, they can't compete for. So, what was it like for you this summer? Did you watch or did you just tune out?
If I didn't have my brother and Chance [Hymas] racing, I probably wouldn't have tuned in! [Laughs] But because of those guys, I watched, and I'm pretty sure after every time I watched, even if I did training before I watched, I went and did more training after! Because it just would get me so motivated and so pissed off that I would have to go do more training! I just had to get the anger out, of missing out because of a silly mistake on my behalf and it's cost me a lot of money, a lot of wins, a lot of fun races. And yeah, it sucks. You know, that's what we live for. So, yeah, a lot of times I would watch the race and then go do more training after because I was just pissed. [Laughs]
Hey, as far as having Hunter in the title fight, did you become a bit of a, like a pseudo coach? A little bit? If you were watching the races, would you then download with him Sunday, Monday or go to the track with him during the week?
Sadly, I would have loved to do that, but a lot of the time I was in California just getting my thumb therapy. I got to come back for the week of testing and got to kind of put my two cents in but Hunter already kinda knows what he needs to do. I mean, there's not a lot I can give to him, any extra that’s gonna make him go immensly faster, you know? So, it's just gonna take some more time. That extra speed, you know, Chase [Sexton] has that bit of extra speed right now. But I think this new bike will help it a lot. With the '24 [bike] we were struggling a lot with confidence and stuff like that, especially myself, too, with us trying to commit to some things. I think I have a little bit more of a dumber brain. [laughs] So, I just kind of go with it and just try to adapt where Hunter is more methodical with it.
So, I think this new bike helps, like as you can see as soon as he hopped on it, he ended up getting a win at Unadilla. Rode unbelievable there. Battled with Chase. So, I think the more races he spends on that bike, the better and better he'll go. So, it's good to see as a brother...but he's gonna make my life hell as well going back on the bike! But no, I'm glad I get to chase him now. You know, I've been kind of leading the past year or so. So, now that I'm going back riding again, I was complaining all this week. I'm like, “Gosh, damn it. He just rides away from me. What am I doing wrong? Like I feel like I'm going fast.” But no, I'm excited for him. I didn't give him too many tips. Gotta leave some in the back pocket maybe! [laughs]. Just kidding. He rides unbelievably well, so I was sure once he got a good flow, got a nice setting, he would do good.
Yeah, that's my last thing for you. You are going to get as close to 100 percent as you can. But I'm sure you're not going to know until we get to Charlotte, maybe when you're in the race, how good you're really going to feel. But last year Charlotte was a bit of a struggle for you, also. The standard that you set is very high. We expect you to win and battle up front every time you line up. Is there a part of you that is like, “This might be a building process” at least round one of SMX like last year?
I haven't thought it yet. My thinking process, I think is a little different from most. I always try and set my standard up high. I mean, I've been telling my dad and my staff that I wanna come back and I wanna win every single SMX! Is that gonna happen? If the stars align, maybe. But I mean, Chase is looking really good, and I could lose a lot. I may even lose the SMX [title]. But I am already gonna lose SMX if I come in already thinking that, you know? So I gotta make sure I think confidently. I've been working hard. I feel strong and fit. We just gotta get the bike side there again and hopefully we'll be good.
All right. Well, thanks for jumping in with us and you don't have to be upset not being at the races anymore because the next race we'll just have you on the bike.
Exactly. I'm finally gonna be on the bike at one of the races. You know, I was complaining about the flying. I didn't like the flying each weekend and all that stuff and all the delayed flights. Now I miss it a bit! [Laughs] Once you take some time away from it, then you miss it. So I'm excited to come back and see some fans and be with the team again on the weekends and just kinda get the elbows banging a bit, you know, and get that adrenaline rush again. Gosh, I miss it, I've been racing like grandmas in my cars on the freeway. They look at me and, “Oh, they blinked at me the right way, they wanna race.” So, I start racing! [Laughs] So I'm ready to be back.
