Hunter Lawrence Wins SMX World Championship Playoff 2 Thriller
Jo Shimoda Takes 250SMX Overall in Wild Racing in St. Louis
Team Honda HRC Progressive ‘s Hunter Lawrence earned the overall win at Playoff 2 of the SMX World Championship™ inside the Dome at America’s Center. Both 450SMX Class motos delivered intense action down to the final corner, and Hunter’s (1-3) moto finishes netted him the event win and the double-points payout in St. Louis. The victory puts Hunter just 6 points down in the championship with only the Final, which pays triple points, remaining on the 2025 calendar.
The Dome at America’s Center delivered excitement, drama and close finishes at Playoff 2 of the SMX World Championship. The two-moto postseason race structure kept the St. Louis race fans on their feet.
Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence put in an inspiring charge in the first moto to come from 21st place to fourth; he was just a tick of the stopwatch away from second place as three riders crossed the checkered nearly in unison. Lawrence was part of another close, three-rider finish in the second moto but this time taking the win and retaining the championship points lead. Jett’s (4-1) motos were good for second overall on the night. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac was part of both close finishes and took home third overall with (3-2) moto scores. Tomac sits 16 points down in the championship going into the Las Vegas Final next weekend. The 250SMX Class was equally dramatic and exciting; Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda’s (2-2) moto scores earned him the St. Louis victory in spite of being severely under the weather.
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX
“Great night. [I’m] happy, though it’s weird, it’s like a coincidence, like we’re in the second round over and over. But it’s nice, you know we’re trying to build a house so, fellas, if that bonus could hit Monday that would be wonderful. A little money always helps, so yeah we’d like some nice things and they cost money [laughs]. So, big thanks to the team, everyone that’s helped out, yeah, [I’m] stoked, what a good night.” – Hunter Lawrence, joking around on the podium when it was pointed out that he also won Playoff 2 in 2024 with (1-3) moto scores.
Jett Lawrence – 2nd Place – 450SMX
“[Leading the second moto] I was pretty calm, and then in the sand section there was a lapper on the inside. And it’s just as bad following in the sand because it just goes everywhere, it blinds you, so you just like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna go outside.’ And there was another lapper there, and he was cruising; he was [heeding] the blue flags and getting out of the way. So, I got screwed in that. The two seconds I had [over Tomac] shrunk really quickly. And then that last, like lap or two, was hectic. I was gassing it, I was sliding out in certain spots, and it was a wild last two laps. But we’re happy to turn it around; I definitely wasn’t going to suck on the start then like I did the first one, so I was glad to execute a good start and I’m happy with P2 especially how the first [moto] went.” – Jett Lawrence
Eli Tomac – 3rd Place – 450SMX
“That was some good racing there, just good, fun racing. Of course I would like to finish up top. I did what I could. I felt like I rode better that moto, busted out some good lines, but once again not quite enough. So, we’ll keep pushing. Yes, I’m down 16 [points], which is a little unfortunate, but it is what it is now. We’re in the mix, we’re in the hunt, so we’ll take it to Vegas. Thank you to Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing for the day and yeah, it was good.” – Eli Tomac
In 250SMX Class racing, Jo Shimoda earned the overall with (2-2) moto finishes. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker also used consistency to his advantage, taking second overall via (3-3) moto scores. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher took the final spot on the podium with (6-4) moto results.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan, the defending SMX250 Class Champion and points leader going into St. Louis, had a dramatic collision with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen on the opening lap of the second moto. Deegan recovered to 14th place despite a damaged front brake lever. Deegan’s (1-14) motos earned him sixth overall; it dropped him 10 points back in the title hunt with one round remaining. A win in Vegas would gain 9 points over second place, so a win by Deegan in Vegas would not guarantee a third SMX World Championship.
Jo Shimoda – 1st Place – 250SMX
“All I can say is we’ve been working so hard all year. I just want to finish good, and I don’t want to give anything away. I think that was probably the toughest moto I ever felt, actually. Today, we had just enough. Any more laps, I mean – I got really sketchy [on the] last lap. But I’m proud of everyone, I’m proud of my team, the bike was dialed, and I’m excited for next weekend. Hopefully… I’m done with [this interview] [laughs].” – Jo Shimoda, feeling completely run-down on the podium due to an illness.
Seth Hammaker – 2nd Place – 250SMX
“Yeah, I set myself up [well] going into the third and final SMX [World Championship] race in Las Vegas next weekend, so I’m super pumped about that. It was just two solid [motos] tonight, nothing spectacular but I just put myself in good positions and didn’t panic, just rode what the track gave me. I felt better this week and I think that showed. I tried to put a push on Jo, there, like half-way to three-quarters of the way through that [moto], but I just was getting a little sketchy and the track was really tearing down. I decided to play it smart, and Jo rode a great race, so congrats to him. Like I said, overall, a pretty good day and thankfully back on the podium. We’re gonna give it everything we’ve got next weekend in Las Vegas, so I’m really excited. Shout out to Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, my whole family, everybody watching; it means a lot, so see you in Vegas next week.” – Seth Hammaker
Nate Thrasher – 3rd Place – 250SMX
“There through outdoors I was really struggling with bike set-up, and at those last two rounds we really found something. We really changed a lot with the rear end – it was pushing me a little bit too far forward. And then coming into SMX [postseason] at the practice track I’ve been ripping the whole time. Last weekend I actually rode really good, I was quite a bit faster than the guys in front of me, I just wasn’t aggressive enough… It’s just tough to pass on these tracks and I feel like Supercross is a little bit more ‘me,’ and so I just came in here tonight – that first race I think I was 13th or 14th [at the start] – and man, I just was aggressive early. I made a lot of passes and got up into sixth. And in that [second moto] I was a little smoked from that first [moto], just didn’t quite have the pace I had in that first one, but we were able to salvage a fourth. Going into Vegas I’m going to give it all that I’ve got. I’m normally pretty good on the speedways [SX and SMX layouts], in the past, so maybe go out there and win it and get top three in points.” – Nate Thrasher, when asked about his inconsistency on the podium.
On Saturday, the SMX Next World All-Stars were back on the line for the SMX Next Class’ Final. Paying double points, the single-race format saw Yamaha’s Ryder Malinoski win the Main Event wire-to-wire. Kayden Minear recovered from an eighth place start to earn second place and enough points to earn the SMX Next World All-Stars Championship. Yamaha’s Kade Johnson put together consistent laps to capture the final podium spot in front of the St. Louis fans.
Kayden Minear – SMX Next World All-Stars Champion
“I felt good out there all weekend. The bike is performing unbelievably. Shout out to the whole team. Shout out to my trainer, Swanie [Gareth Swanepoel], Wil [Hahn], Ms. Jeannie Carmichael at home. We’ve been putting in so much effort and so much overtime, so I’m happy it pays off.” – Kayden Minear, on the podium after receiving the SMX Next World All Star Championship #1 plate
