2024 AMA Supercross season kicks off at Anaheim

By Team TMX on 9th Jan 24

News Supercross AMA Supercross

Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence made history at the opening round of the AMA Supercross championship’s 50th anniversary season, becoming the first rookie to win in his premier-class indoor debut. The 20-year-old Aussie grabbed the holeshot in the Main Event and then controlled the race from the front, leading every lap while eking out a seven-second advantage. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson secured the second spot while defending champ Chase Sexton took third in his first race on the Red Bull KTM.

Heat winners Cooper Webb (Star Racing Yamaha) and Ken Roczen (HEP Suzuki) both hit the dirt in the points-payer – K-Roc getting caught up in a first-lap collision that took down several riders and Webb getting drilled into the dirt after getting a jump wrong. Cooper would regroup to finish sixth, while Roczen came through the pack to secure 10th – one spot behind Eli Tomac – as the chequered flag was unfurled.

“It’s an unreal thing to grasp, winning my first 450 Supercross,” said Jett afterwards. “With how many years the sport has been around, you’d think someone has done it before, so I’m grateful and happy to do it for Honda; it’s an awesome feeling getting into the history books for them. The season’s off to a great start, and hopefully, we can keep doing the same throughout the season.”

Current MXGP world champion Jorge Prado also made his 450SX debut at Anaheim. The recently turned 23-year-old Spaniard will compete in several rounds of the series to see if it’s something that he’d like to fully commit to moving forward. The Red Bull GASGAS rider transferred directly to the Main Event from his heat race and made a strong start before riding at a measured pace to eventually end up in the 13th spot.

“First-ever Supercross race is done, and what an experience,” enthused Jorge. “It’s so different from what I am used to, and it was just a day of building. I felt good in practice every time, and then the night show the track was so different. I’m used to riding the test tracks with a harder base and different whoops, so every time I tried to go through these, they were so different, which made it difficult and unpredictable.

“I didn’t find a good flow in the Main Event, but got a good start. I think next week we will move in the right direction, especially with having one race under my belt, and P13 is not a bad start.”

British interest at the event came in the form of the SR75 Suzuki squad who made a last-minute decision to tick competing at A1 off the bucket list with three-time Arenacross champion Thomas Ramette taking care of the on-track honours. The Frenchman qualified from Group C to secure a spot in the night show and put in two spirited rides but failed to make the Main Event. He was in good company though as Honda HRC's Hunter Lawrence also failed to transfer through the LCQ after finishing fifth in the all-or-nothing sprint. 

2024 AMA Supercross Championship

450SX

Round One, Anaheim Result

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