ANAHEIM, Calif. —Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence became the first athlete to win his first 450SX class main event with a decisive victory at the opening round of the 17-round Monster Energy Supercross season.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson earned second place in front of a packed Angel Stadium.
Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton earned the final podium spot in the first race of the year that marks the 50th anniversary season of AMA Supercross. Each Supercross race also pays points toward the 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship.
“It’s an unreal thing to kinda grasp,” Lawrence said. “Really because you just think with how many years this sport’s been around you’d have thought someone has done it before. But it’s cool that it took that many years for someone to do it. I’m definitely grateful and I’m happy to do it for Honda and Red Bull.
“They’ve been behind me for a very long time now so it’s good to give back in that type of way and get up in the history books for them.”
Anderson survived a battle with Cooper Webb to finish second.
“I definitely didn’t want him [Cooper Webb] to pass me [for second]. So I think we kind of slowed our pace down trying to have that battle for a second and let Jett get that little three-second gap,” Anderson explained. “But at the same time I [made a few] mistakes and stuff like that, and Cooper was able to get on me and be able to get close enough to make that pass. But I think me, Coop, and Jett, for a good 15 minutes of that moto were pretty even. It was tough to make time.”
In the opening round of the Western Regional 250SX Class RJ Hampshire racked up first place points and the early-season lead. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith battled up to a second place. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen brought home the third place spot for his new team.
“I know how fast it can change and how up and down it is,” Hampshire said. “Stay level headed and take next weekend the same as we took this weekend. Stay in the fight, give myself a chance. If the win’s there, awesome, if not, take what the night gives me. …[I’m just trying to] enjoy this. Especially enjoy an Anaheim 1 victory, which was massive.”