\nSecond consecutive runner-up finish for the Australian
\nChance Hymas dislocates shoulder in 250SX West
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For the second week in a row, Hunter Lawrence challenged for an AMA Supercross 450 main-event win, this time at the series\u2019 third round, back at Anaheim, California\u2019s Angel Stadium. The Honda HRC Progressive rider ultimately finished a hard-fought second, but his late-race speed suggests that earning his first win is only a matter of time. Lawrence also narrowed the gap in the points battle, as the Australian now sits just eight points out of the lead\u2014two fewer than last week. Meanwhile, Chance Hymas won his heat race but was taken out in the first turn of the 250SX West main, suffering a shoulder dislocation that put him out of the race.<\/p>\n
The 450 main saw Lawrence exit turn 1 in third place, and he quickly moved up a spot. He was pushed back to third, then fourth by Chase Sexton and Eli Tomac, respectively, but a signature second-half charge carried him past Tomac and Jason Anderson. Running in second, Lawrence closed the distance to the leading Sexton. His progress was slowed by a couple of lapped riders, and he eventually finished just over a second behind.<\/p>\n
Hymas\u2019 250SX main event was over almost as quickly as it started, as another rider took him down in turn 1. The Idaho native put his hand out to break his fall, causing a dislocation of his left shoulder that put him out of the race.<\/p>\n
NOTES<\/p>\n
\nHunter Lawrence took part in Friday\u2019s media-day activities at Anaheim 2, including one-on-one interviews and two 10-minute on-track riding sessions. Honda HRC Progressive Team Manager Lars Lindstrom also participated in a separate media scrum that was organized by Feld ahead of race day.
\nThe premiere for 100 hours with Jo Shimoda, a Gypsy Tales film shot while Shimoda was traveling back home in Japan following his 2025 SMX title, was held Friday evening at Laguna Beach\u2019s South Coast Theater. Honda HRC Progressive team members were in attendance to support their rider, who was on hand while still recovering from injury.
\nFactory Monster Energy Honda HRC rally racer Skyler Howes was present in the pits after finishing fourth overall at this year\u2019s Dakar Rally, where he also earned his career-first stage win.
\nLegendary off-road racer Johnny Campbell, an 11-time Baja 1000 winner, stopped by the team\u2019s tent to visit with the team during FanFest.
\nCarson, California, Powerhouse dealership SoCal Honda Powersports activated a pop-up booth in Honda HRC Progressive\u2019s Anaheim 2 pits, featuring a CRF450R and CRF110F. Dealership staff used the opportunity to connect directly with fans and customers.
\nFor the series\u2019 final California round of the year, Jett Lawrence\u2014still recovering from injury\u2014supported the team by attending the autograph session alongside teammates Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas.
\nHymas placed sixth in 250SX combined qualifying. Other Red Riders included SLR Honda racers Justin Rodbell and Matti Jorgensen in 18th and 30th, respectively; Next Level riders Hunter Schlosser and Colby Copp in 22nd and 40th; Western Honda Racing\u2019s Ty Freehill in 32nd and Lasting Impressions\u2019 Ronnie Orres in 35th. (Freehill\u2019s official result was due to a crash that occurred while he was riding in 10th position, and which unfortunately resulted in a broken right wrist.)
\nHunter Lawrence qualified 10th in the 450SX Class, with other Red Riders including Quad Lock Honda Racing teammates Joey Savatgy, Shane McElrath and Christian Craig in fifth, 15th and 16th, respectively. MCR\u2019s Ryan Breece qualified in 30th, and McGinley Clinic\u2019s Zack Williams was 35th.
\nHymas managed the perfect race in 250SX West heat 1, grabbing the holeshot and leading from start to finish. Along the way, he resisted pressure from Levi Kitchen before Kitchen fell.
\nIn 450 heat race 1, Lawrence started third and held the position for the majority of the race, successfully fending off pressure from Ken Roczen. A late crash by Aaron Plessinger moved the Honda HRC Progressive rider up to a second-place finish.
\nIn just the three races run so far this season, Hunter has already doubled his tally of career 450SX podium finishes, from two to four.
\nHunter participated in the Feld-organized podium-finisher media scrums following the 450 main event.
\nAfter his 250SX West main-event crash, Hymas headed straight to the Alpinestars Medical Unit, where his dislocated shoulder was put back in place. Hymas underwent an MRI in Southern California on Sunday, and although results had not been confirmed at the time of publication, it seems unlikely that Chance will be able to participate in the next three races.
\nThanks to his consistent efforts, Hunter now sits second in the 450SX standings, eight points behind the leading Eli Tomac. Chance\u2019s unfortunate Anaheim 2 DNF puts him seventh in the 250SX West points.
\nNext up for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 4 this Saturday in Houston.
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Hunter Lawrence
\u201cIt was a good day\u2014the battle with Eli [Tomac] was cool! I was behind Chase [Sexton] and Jason [Anderson], and I know that the first 10 minutes of these races are always such a super-intense, high pace, so I was just trying to stay in the hunt. I know I have the legs to go the distance, so I was just trying to give myself the best shot, stay in it in the beginning and move forward. I believed that I could get there, I knew I had some good lines and was feeling good. I was trying to up the intensity towards the closing stage, and I looked up and there was like six minutes left; I was like, \u2018Alright, let\u2019s empty the tank.\u2019 I would\u2019ve liked to see how the last two laps unfolded had there not been traffic with the two lapped riders. It\u2019s been my best start of the season for Supercross, which is what I wanted to do. We\u2019ve still got so many races to go. It\u2019s been some really good racing.\u201d <\/p>\n
Lars Lindstrom \u2013 Team Manager
\u201cIt was a bittersweet night for the team, after a great start to the season. It\u2019s always extra frustrating when the riders are injured by something that wasn\u2019t within their control, but that\u2019s how it goes in racing sometimes. We are hoping that Chance\u2019s shoulder injury is non-surgical, and that he\u2019ll be able to get back to racing ASAP. Hunter has been absolutely lights-out, surpassing everyone\u2019s expectations, and we couldn\u2019t be prouder and happier for him. Our main goal is to make sure that we\u2019re able to help him get the most out of the bike and himself to get that first supercross win, and to get the best result possible, every single weekend.\u201d <\/p>\n