WHAT. A. RACE.
Everything you could dream of from a supercross race, really. The track was one of the best layouts we have seen all year. The whoops were steep and hairy. The rhythms were HUGE and challenging. And the finish line was built for massive turndowns.
Oh yeah – and everyone’s favorite racer finally won on the big bike. Coming into the weekend, the narrative was almost deafening. Hunter Lawrence hasn’t won in the 450s in 25 starts. Nabbing nearly every podium through the first six rounds of 2026, while finishing no worse than 4 th – he still hadn’t claimed a 450 Main Event checkered. Not only that, but no rider in the HISTORY of the sport has ever gone on to win a title without a win in the first seven rounds.
Kind of wild to think that the current red plate holder hadn’t made his way to the top step of the podium after 6 rounds. Even more wild because of just how fast and consistent he’s been all season – not to mention his starts are ALWAYS dialed. This is a long winded way of saying, the kid was due. And historically, he needed it for any shot at the title.
Suffice it to say, things weren’t looking great in timed qualifying. Hunter looked uncomfortable all day in practice and barely snuck into the top 10 out of qualifying. Somehow, all of that discomfort vanished once the racing started. Hunter got out to a great start and pulled away quickly to grab a heat win. In the other heat. Roczen did what Roczen does, and cruised to a victory.
Then, THE MAIN EVENT was one for the ages. Roczen again got a killer start with Webb and Lawrence right behind. Webb made a quick move on Roczen to take the lead, but in typical Roczen fashion, he struck back quickly and established the lead. Eli was BURIED after the first turn, but magically ended up in fourth by the end of the first lap. The stage was set for a classic.
At around lap 6, Webb missed the on off rhythm and Lawrence RIPPED around the outside, to decisively snag 2 nd place. They would settle into this order for the next several laps. With a kind of Jello effect – no one gaining position but getting closer and further apart. Huntah had a few opportunities to pass Kenny in the same section that he got Webb, but with an inside line advantage, Kenny was able to shut the door. As the race wound down, and the pressure from Coop + Tomac mounted, Lawrence knew he had to make moves.
Closing on Kenny before the finish, he hammered the triple triple into the corner and with outside position and some big cajones hit the big triple triple quad rhythm to lock up the number one spot. Just moments later, the full court press that was mounting from Webb + Eli came to a crescendo for Kenny.
Webb put an aggressive move on him in the same spot Hunter passed him laps before – opening the door for Eli and one of the smoother two for ones you’ll ever see. Sneaking up the inside of Kenny in the big rhythm, then running Coop high in the very next corner. It was a true thing of beauty. With Webb off the track, Kenny was able to get back past Webb, if only for a bit (Webb
would eventually get him back).
Though Hunter checked out quickly once in the lead, there were only a few seconds between him and Eli once Tomac made his way into second. But in typical Lawrence brother fashion – it felt like he was just managing a lead more than giving away time. And that ended up being the case. As Hunter continued to nail all of the sketchy big rhythms lap after lap and made his way to his first career 450 SX win.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more impressive, well earned first win than this one. All
of the top dawgs. Straights up legends of the sport that he passed and check out on. And frankly, he made it look pretty effortless. Then, to no one’s surprise, the post race reaction was nothing more than business as usual. There aren’t many people who would have a high stakes win, a career first at that, and just say they were happy to tick a box and keep it moving.
Heading into Daytona with a tight four way points battle at the top, the rest of this
season is setting up to be an all timer.