Hunter Lawrence may be the most improved rider of 2024. He started the year not even qualifying for the first round of Monster Energy AMA Supercross and ended the season tied in points for the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX). Losing the tie breaker to his brother Jett, who had two wins to his one, Hunter still had one hell of a year.
Hunter came into the final round of SMX with a one-point lead over Chase Sexton, in a winner take all situation between them and Jett. Even though 22 men lined up, only one would come home with the million dollars. One might think someone who essentially just lost a half a million dollars would be at least a little disappointed in how things played out, but Hunter Lawrence was perfectly content in the post-race press conference.
“I think I was really like one of the goals I set before the season started was, I wanted to be a contender every weekend," he said. "You know, that was one of the biggest things was, just be in the conversation every weekend and Supercross was a bit of a battle. I was figuring things out and going through some things and stuff and it wasn't as great and we got better towards the end of the season of Supercross and then obviously outdoors we come in pretty good and that's what I was kind of most happy about is just to kind of pick up the same kind of characteristics from my 250 career just being there every single weekend, being on the box, being in the conversation. So, I'm happy with that. And at the end of the day, I'm just trying to get better. Like I know I keep saying it, but like the second moto, that was a great moto. I'm not bummed on that at all. Like I left it all on the track. Neither of us made any mistakes and we just went, hell for leather the whole time and I didn't win, but that was the best version of me tonight and who knows what the version of Hunter will be in a year's time from now, but just keep knocking on the door and trying.”
Hunter also got reflective on what it is like for him and his brother to go up against the likes of Eli Tomac, whom they used to look up to as kids.
“It's pretty cool, not too long ago, we were not even racing pros yet and we were watching Eli at Daytona on TV, on ESPN," he commented. "So, it's cool to be at the top of the sport now. Growing up watching Ricky [Carmichael] Chad [Reed] and James [Stewart] from Australia and stuff, like, as kids, they could go around the inside of a corner and it would just be like, nothing but you're just like, 'Oh my gosh, dude, they're the best,' so, it's cool to be at that level. And you know, I'm guessing have that same effect on kids and stuff watching us. So, yeah, it is pretty cool and to be brothers doing it and stuff is definitely, it's pretty bad ass.”
This sport has seen its fair share of rivalries, from Jeff Stanton vs Jean-Michel Bayle, Ricky vs James, Ryan vs Ryan (Dungey and Villopoto), now with Hunter coming into his own on a 450 could we be entering the era of brother vs brother? Jett Lawrence spoke on what it is like to race when one of your biggest competitors shares your DNA.
“It's obviously the one really difficult thing because obviously we both love each other and we have a really, really good relationship, you know, and this sport is a very singular kind of person sport, you know, single results," Jett Lawrence said. "So, obviously when the helmet goes on, you gotta focus on business. I think we, Hunt and I ride each other very different compared to the other people, you know, like we don't wanna be anywhere near each other. Just in case if something happens or if someone gets sketchy. But I mean, then again, we're obviously really comfy next to each other because we know how we both ride. But it's gonna get difficult. There might be some quiet car, car rides home. But I think that's also more so from Dazzy ripping us the straights of what we messed up on that day. But no, it's gonna be exciting, I think for me, whether I'm first or second, I think if we're just both up there then obviously, for Dazz too, it doesn't matter if we're one and two, then he'll be happy.”
So, for the Lawrence camp the season could not have ended any better than going 1-2 in SMX. And as for next year, if Hunter’s learning curve on the 450 continues its steep upward climb, everyone, including little brother, better watch out.
