Lawrence Scores First 450SX Win in Arlington Thriller

Hunter Lawrence earns his first 450SX victory in Arlington, extending his AMA Supercross points lead, while Jo Shimoda returns from injury with an impressive second-place finish in 250SX East.

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The Arlington, Texas, stop of the AMA Supercross season delivered one of the most emotional and dramatic nights yet for Honda HRC Progressive. From a long-awaited breakthrough in the premier class to a gritty comeback ride in 250SX East, the team left AT&T Stadium with momentum and a bit of controversy.

Hunter Lawrence Breaks Through in 450SX

After knocking on the door multiple times, Hunter Lawrence finally kicked it down.

The Australian didn’t get the cleanest start in the 450SX main event, exiting turn one in third, but he quickly settled in. A mistake by Cooper Webb on lap eight opened the door for Lawrence to move into second, setting up a tense battle with Ken Roczen at the front.

What followed was a high-pressure, three-rider fight for the lead. Lawrence stayed composed, made his move on Roczen just before the five-minute mark, and began inching away. The gap tightened late when riders behind him jumped under a red-cross flag, but Lawrence held firm to capture his first-ever 450SX victory—at the same venue where he earned his first 250SX win in 2022.

The win not only puts him in elite company among premier-class victors, it also extends his championship lead to four points. He even set the fastest lap of the main event, another career first.

Behind him, Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy finished seventh, with teammate Christian Craig claiming ninth, his best result of the season.

Shimoda’s Inspiring Return

If Lawrence’s win was historic, Jo Shimoda’s ride in 250SX East was nothing short of inspiring.

Just under three months removed from a serious neck injury and surgery, the reigning SMX 250 Champion lined up in Arlington and immediately made a statement, grabbing the holeshot in the main event aboard his CRF250RWE.

Shimoda led early before rolling key jumps under a red-cross situation. Meanwhile, Pierce Brown jumped with the red lights still illuminated and took over the lead. Despite relentless pressure from Shimoda for the remainder of the race, the pass stood, and Shimoda crossed the line in second.

Considering he had only recently been cleared to ride and qualified 15th earlier in the day—it was a remarkable performance that firmly places him in the title conversation.

Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park added a solid ninth-place finish in the class.

Red-Cross Controversy

While the results were strong, the night wasn’t without tension. Honda HRC Progressive formally disputed race direction’s decisions surrounding red-cross incidents in both the 450SX and 250SX main events. On Monday, the AMA confirmed there would be no penalties issued. The team has stated it is reviewing its options and may escalate the matter further.

Beyond the Track

Arlington also served as Military Appreciation Night, with special white camo graphics supplied by SKDA and TrueTimber, and veterans invited to Media Day. Swedish IndyCar driver Marcus Ericsson was on-site, showcasing his Andretti Global Honda IndyCar alongside the team rigs.

Between autograph sessions, media appearances, dealership activations from Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda, and standout performances on track, it was a landmark evening for Honda’s red riders.

Next up: Round 8 in Daytona Beach where Lawrence will aim to build on his historic first 450SX win and Shimoda continues his comeback charge.