Jett Lawrence Locks Up First Supercross Title, Eli Tomac Fails to Clinch

Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA — April 23, 2022

Gillette Stadium has been a location that has witnessed the crowing of a number of champions as the home of the New England Patriots. Tonight is may see additional champions crowned as both the 250SX East and the 450SX classes could produce a finish that wraps up the title for each of their points leaders.

Eli Tomac can clinch the 450SX Class title this week if he finishes ahead of last week’s winner Jason Anderson or at least one position behind Anderson if Anderson finishes fourth or worse. Tomac was very honest in his approach to tonight’s race, “If the opportunity for the win is there, I’ll take it. But, I am not going to take any unnecessary chances, we will wait until next week in Denver.”

The Eastern Regional 250SX Class title can also be earned this weekend by Jett Lawrence with an 18^th-place finish or better.

250SX East Heat One

Jett Lawrence(18) played it very conservatively at the start riding out of the gate in mid-pack. Pierce Brown(44) took the early lead and began to ride away. Lawrence was ninth at the end of the first lap, two laps later he had moved into the fourth position.

Jordon Smith(90) and Enzo Lopes(80) ran second and third. Lawrence kept working as the laps wound down and passed both riders to move into second. Brow held on for the Heat win, with Smith finishing third.

250SX East Heat Two

A big crash in the first turn of the second Heat caught a bunch of the top riders in the 250SX class. RJ Hampshire(24), Mitchell Oldenburg(54), and Austin Forkner(33) hit the dirt in the pile-up.

Kyle Chisholm(11) rode away from the field at the front, the 34-year-old rider has never won a race. Competing in the 450SX Class last week he posted an 8th place finish in the main event.

Chisholm went down at the midpoint of the Heat and was passed by Joshua Varize(38). Up quickly Chisholm held unto second, but Forkner had recovered from his bad start and was closing on the frontrunners.

On the last lap, Chisholm caught and passed Varize. Forkner tried to follow in the same corner and he collided with Varize sending both down in a hard crash. Forkner recovered to finish fifth and Varize in sixth. RJ Hampshire finished 12th and will have to ride his way into the main event via the Last Chance Qualifier(LCQ).

Hampshire made easy work of the LCQ, going to the front early and leading wire to wire. He will be faced with a poor starting position gate selection. Not that it is likely to matter, only a DNF due to an injury or mechanical failure is going to sideline Lawrence from a clinching position in the Main Event.

250SX East Main Event

Jett Lawrence got caught in a jumble of riders on the opening corner. Being patient and not forcing the issue he started in 11th. Picking off riders one at a time he moved towards the front of the pack, but it was evident he was not going to put himself in a position that could result in an issue that might cost him the title.

At the midpoint Pierce Brown led, RJ Hampshire ran second, Austin Forkner sat third, and Lawrence was comfortably in fourth with a 15-second advantage over his closest pursuer.

At the front, Hampshire tried to pass Brown. Their wheels touched and Hampshire went down. Brown, looking for his first main event win, stayed upright and rode away. Forkner, in second, began to close on the leader. Lawrence in third held a 25-second advantage over fourth-place Mitchell Oldenburg

Forkner passed Brown and then Lawrence also moved past. That’s the way they finished with Jett Lawrence wrapping up the 2022 250SX East Division Championship. His first Supercross title.

250SX East Main Event Results

250SX East Points Standings

Clinched Championship

450SX Heat One

Defending champion, Cooper Webb(1), grabbed the holeshot but it was Marvin Musquin taking the top spot away in the next corner. Jason Anderson(21) settled into third, but he was able to work his way around Webb at the halfway point of the race and began to close on Musquin.

Anderson passed the leader and almost immediately went down when he missed the preferred grove in the next corner. Musquin then cruised to the win, Anderson was able to remount the bike and hold onto second ahead of Webb in third.

450SX Heat Two

450SX Main Event

450SX Points Standings