Jett Lawrence Completes Hat Trick Of SMX Championships

Jett Lawrence captured another 450 Class SMX championship Saturday night. (SMX photo)

LAS VEGAS – Team Honda HRC Progressive's Jett Lawrence grabbed his third consecutive SMX World Championship with a dramatic overall victory Saturday night at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

After winning the first moto, Lawrence delivered a nail-biting charge late in the second moto to reach second place; his (1-2) moto scores combined to win the night’s racing, the $100,000 race win bonus, and more significantly the million-dollar championship payout.

“[It’s conflicting] emotions of obviously wanting to win this, and get this, but then I also hate to see [older brother Hunter not get the win] – today he deserved that. He executed two really good starts despite battling with a cold right now, and [I’m] bummed to see him sad about it, because he worked really hard; we both worked hard,” Lawrence said. “But I’m happy. Halfway through [the second moto] I honestly had some doubts that I could even catch those guys. [Hunter and Eli Tomac] were riding really, really well. But I had to dig deep and just try to send it. It was either sending it or crashing at that point.

“I was able to catch up to Eli. I had a few good laps and was able to make a quick pass when I had the chance. I’m happy for the team, with going 1-2 for Honda, but right now my mind’s thinking about multiple things … because, obviously, this could be [Hunter’s] first 450 championship. But I wanted it really badly as well; it’s a lot of money,” Lawrence added. “It’s difficult, because you want to see your brother do well, so it’s difficult competing against him.”

Hunter Lawrence, who entered the race with enough points that a victory would bring him his first 450SMX title, toughed out a win in the second moto despite entering the event under the weather.

Hunter’s third-place finish in the opening moto netted him second overall at the Vegas race as well as in the championship, which brought him a $500,000 championship runner-up bonus.

That didn’t ease the sting of defeat, though.

“I’m gutted,” lamented Hunter Lawrence. “I did everything I could in that one, felt like I just gave it 110 percent every time I went on the track. … Just came up short.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Tomac battled up front in both motos and finished the night with (2-3) moto scores. Tomac wrapped up his season with a third-place result in the moto, the event, and the championship, which came with a $250,000 bonus.

Meanwhile, Team Honda HRC Progressive's Jo Shimoda captured the 250SMX Class Championship to complete a sweep for the organization.

Needing only a second place overall from the event, Shimoda succeeded despite aggressive tactics from his competitors. Shimoda finished the second moto with enough points to capture the event win, and with it the 250SMX Class title and its $500,000 win bonus.

The first 250SMX moto delivered excellent racing, but almost nothing in motorsports could match the excitement delivered in the second moto.

Sitting second in championship points, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan lined up to the inside of Shimoda for the final 250SMX moto of the year. The two bumped just off the gate, and by the third corner Deegan appeared to slow to take Shimoda wide.

Neither rider went down, but Shimoda lost two positions. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker had the holeshot and the early lead, and as the riders were positioned as they crossed the green flag, Hammaker would have the points needed to take the night’s win and the championship.

That was the math if every rider stayed where they were, but the race exploded with aggressive passes, take-out moves, and frantic moto math to sort out the championship standings.

Six minutes into the race, Deegan made his way past Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen to take over second place. From there Deegan appeared to alter his pace to mix up the front runners’ positions.

A half minute later, Deegan moved past Hammaker, which included contact on a high-speed section. Shimoda, still in fourth at that moment, needed a third-place finish in the moto to secure the title from Deegan. Kitchen then dropped out with what appeared to be a bike problem.

At the moto’s midpoint, Shimoda reached second place and Deegan slowed to allow Hammaker to tighten back up to them. Over the next laps, Deegan instigated contact against Shimoda no less than three times, and the third impact put both riders on the ground.

Shimoda quickly remounted in second place while Deegan walked away from his bike with what was later diagnosed as a broken collarbone. The games up front allowed Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle to catch Shimoda and pass him with less than two laps remaining.

With Hammaker leading, Vialle holding second, and Shimoda in third, the title would go to Shimoda with the night’s overall going to Hammaker. But Shimoda put on a final burst and passed Vialle in the final corner to earn second in the moto, an overall victory for the night, and the class title.

Shimoda became the first Japanese rider to win an SMX championship.

The 2026 Supercross and Pro Motocross regular-season race schedules will be announced Sept. 30, with presale tickets available at that point.