Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence kicked off the postseason with a victory at Playoff 1 of the 2025 SMX World Championship™. The two-moto format of the postseason was interrupted by lightening near the zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both classes scored their overall results based solely on their first moto finishes due to the second motos being called because of continued lightening in the area and diminishing daylight. Jett Lawrence, the defending two-time SMX World Champion and recently-crowned 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Champion, led from start to finish in the single 20-mintue plus one lap 450SMX Class moto.
The SMX Next class, comprised of up-and-coming amateur athletes, completed their qualifying earlier in the day and were ready to compete in their one-moto format. Due to the event being called early, the young racers will now line up according to their Concord qualifying results – on Friday, September 12th in St. Louis at The Dome at America’s Center. The class will then compete on Saturday in St. Louis as planned for the SMX Next World Championship race.
Earning second place overall at Charlotte was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton; he gained 22 points toward the ultimate championship title after coming in seeded in sixth position. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac recovered from a late-race crash while running in second position to nab the final spot on the podium. In the 250SMX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan benefitted from his strong drive to win; he pushed for the moto victory, not then knowing it would pay full event points after the second motos being called.
“It’s getting to the point where it’s just close to the limit, because right now you can’t really push the track at all. It can catch you really quickly if you compress the suspension too hard, and [if you] clip those ruts, especially. So, you’re just trying to play it smart and run the risk versus reward [balance]. So [I was] just really trying to get a flow and keep my laps as consistent as possible.” – Jett Lawrence, following Moto 1.
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