Lawrence Charges to Second Again at Anaheim 2 SX

Hunter Lawrence secures a second straight 450SX runner-up finish at Anaheim 2, closing the points gap in the title fight, while Chance Hymas suffers a shoulder injury in the 250SX West main.

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Hunter Lawrence is knocking on the door.

For the second straight round of the 2026 AMA Supercross season, the Australian pushed all the way to the wire in the premier 450SX class, delivering another gritty runner-up finish at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium and further cementing himself as a genuine title contender.

And if his late-race pace is anything to go by, that first win feels closer than ever.

Lawrence didn’t get the perfect start in the main event, exiting turn one inside the top three before getting shuffled back during an intense early fight with Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac and Jason Anderson. But as the race settled, the Honda HRC Progressive rider did what he’s quickly becoming known for — turning up the heat when it matters most.

Carving through Tomac and Anderson, Lawrence surged into second and began reeling in Sexton at the front. With just a few laps remaining, the gap visibly shrank, but traffic from lapped riders stalled his momentum at the worst possible moment. He crossed the line just over a second short of victory.

Close, painfully close, but another statement ride nonetheless.

The result marks Lawrence’s second consecutive P2 and continues a hot start to the season. Remarkably, just three rounds in, he has already doubled his career 450SX podium tally. More importantly, the consistency is paying off in the standings, where he now sits second overall — only eight points behind championship leader Tomac.

Momentum? Fully on his side.

Hymas’ promising night cut short

While Lawrence celebrated another podium, teammate Chance Hymas endured a far tougher evening in the 250SX West class.

The Idaho native looked sharp early, qualifying well and dominating his heat race with a holeshot-to-flag victory. But disaster struck almost immediately in the main event when he was taken down in the first turn chaos.

Instinctively bracing his fall, Hymas dislocated his left shoulder on impact — ending his race before it truly began.

He was treated trackside at the Alpinestars Medical Unit, where the shoulder was reset, before undergoing further evaluation. Early indications suggest he could miss the next few rounds, a frustrating setback just as his season was building momentum.

Team notes from Anaheim

Away from the racing, Honda HRC Progressive stayed active throughout the weekend. Hunter handled media duties, Jett Lawrence supported the squad while continuing injury recovery, and rally star Skyler Howes dropped by fresh off a strong Dakar showing. Team legends and fans packed the pits, giving Anaheim 2 a proper home-race feel for the red squad.

But once the gate dropped, the focus stayed simple: results.

And right now, Hunter Lawrence keeps delivering them.

Two races. Two seconds. One clear message.

He’s coming for that win.

Next stop: Houston.