00:00...of Monster Energy AMA Supercross in the SMX World Championship.
00:04Ready to go for Heat 2 of the 250s, and there is the most recent winner in the Premier Class.
00:10Hunter Lawrence, the 26-year-old Australian.
00:13That elusive win is elusive no more.
00:16It is not. James, you talked about it at the top of the show,
00:20and what that win meant to him, and would he be able to, will he be able to back it
00:25up here tonight?
00:26Gonna find out. You heard Eli say he wanted to watch him.
00:29Let's see if he can get a start like Eli Tomac got.
00:32That tight right-hander, first corner, Heat 2, 450s.
00:37Malcolm Stewart got a great start. Here comes Hunter Lawrence.
00:40And Joey Savace in the mix as well.
00:43Great start by Hunter Lawrence and Malcolm, and I'm gonna have to be quiet if Malcolm takes over this lead,
00:49because we've got to have this border crowd go wild.
00:51Here he is. What a switchback from Lawrence.
00:53Wow, you talk about an audible, man.
00:55And I'm gonna tell you what, watching.
01:01Malcolm was nice to him, but that's what you expect at this level, in the 450 level.
01:07You know, they ain't gonna do what they...
01:11We pause for the roar of the crowd.
01:14Yeah, I mean, going epic, like you said, James, your brother, contending, getting into this lead.
01:19They are loving it.
01:21I brought the kids, Uncle Mal, last time we were here.
01:24That was Tampa. Let's see what you can do.
01:25Good to see him out here.
01:26Talked to him early.
01:27He said his shoulder's feeling a lot better.
01:29In the last couple weekends, you've been seeing the ride.
01:32These guys going back and forth.
01:35What an epic battle on the first lap of this race.
01:37Here comes Malcolm.
01:46Back and forth for the lead of this race on the opening lap between Hunter Lawrence and Malcolm Stewart.
01:54I'm gonna go ahead and say it, Ricky.
01:55Great job at this track design.
01:57We always wonder how we're raced.
01:59Well, there you go.
02:00These guys have been passing every corner here.
02:02I appreciate that.
02:04You know, it's tough.
02:04It looks one way on paper, and then you get it in real time, like, oh, no.
02:09It wasn't what I really drawed up or hoped that it would be, and it has become fantastic.
02:14Again, not overly complicated because just this dirt breaks away.
02:19It makes it hard enough, but it's racy, and that's what I'm so stoked on.
02:24You talk about what last weekend was able to do for Hunter Lawrence.
02:28An error on him has always been the opening lap speed.
02:31And these heat races, after having that time off in between practice, you would think that maybe Hunter would struggle.
02:37But, man, I've seen a different router these last two weekends.
02:40And after last weekend, for him to come out and make those passes, he is aggressive, and that's just all
02:45confidence on the 96.
02:46I think from the beginning of the season, you know, when he knew that's where he needed to get better,
02:51the beginning of those races, the first 10 minutes, he has slowly gotten better, basically after week two, I would
02:57say.
02:58And he looks really comfortable on his motorcycle tonight.
03:01No Chase Sexton here, but Garrett Marchbanks is as he fights with Christian Craig.
03:06They go virtually side-by-side there.
03:08They're fighting over fourth place at the moment behind Joey Savace, ahead of Colt Nichols.
03:14Yeah, good to see Garrett up here.
03:16He had a tough start to the season, actually didn't make the main event, and then kind of struggled.
03:20But obviously with his teammate, they're just working on the motorcycle, getting better.
03:24And Garrett's a rookie.
03:25Good to see him back out here.
03:26Yeah, I hate to see the news from Chase Sexton.
03:29Hopefully he will be back sooner than later.
03:31The sport is a better place with him in there.
03:34He's had a rough season.
03:35But how about this guy, Joey Savace, man?
03:39I mean, the last three weeks on this quad lock Honda, he has been bringing it.
03:44I mean, he is like another guy.
03:46It reminds me of the days when he was on the 250 contending for championships.
03:50Prior to tonight, just a few hours ago, I spoke to team owner Yurif Khonski.
03:55He said he is so proud and pleased with this guy and his ability to grow and lead.
04:02He's listening.
04:03He's learning.
04:03He's growing.
04:04And he's taken a leadership role within the team and is flourishing.
04:08He also acknowledged some extra assistance from Honda.
04:11Yeah, he got a, whoa, Malcolm just makes a slight mistake and isn't able to get through that rhythm lane.
04:19And that allows Joe to get by and make the move.
04:22But this is an impressive ride, not only for Malcolm, but Joey as well.
04:26Because Joey's more of a precise, not necessarily a bulldog on the motorcycle.
04:31So for him to show this speed and look that aggressive is very impressive.
04:36I mean, you just go back to what he was able to do last weekend, having all those guys and
04:40get around Eli Tomac in that heat race.
04:44And even though he had the trouble in the main event, he's still real good.
04:46But I'm with you.
04:47I was joking around with Lee earlier.
04:49I call him Joey Versace.
04:50How good he's been looking.
04:52I love it.
04:53He's looking that stylish.
04:54He was third quickest in qualifying on this quad lock Honda.
04:59And things this 2026 season is going so well for him.
05:02James, you talk about it a lot.
05:04I hear you mention it about confidence, what a certain ride does for these athletes.
05:11And I feel like, you know, talking about that confidence, Joey now is believing in himself.
05:16He's having these good rides.
05:18He's running up front.
05:19He's getting better starts.
05:20And I think, again, it's just his confidence.
05:23No, I agree.
05:24And just like the guy up in front, sometimes you have those injuries and it wears on you.
05:29But now you're starting to see it and a guy that can survive through that, like Joey and Hunter Lawrence,
05:34it just makes them so much better riders.
05:36As we're watching Christian Craig and Colt Nichols battling sixth and seventh back here.
05:41This is a great ride for Colt Nichols.
05:44You know, we haven't seen a whole lot of him up here.
05:47And this is a past champion.
05:49Okay, divisional, 250 divisional champion.
05:51So to see him up here finally battling, it's great to see.
05:55Look at that.
05:56Check out that graphic on the left of your screen.
05:58Christian Craig and his speed through the whoops.
06:01It has always been his specialty and his strength.
06:04And it has not left him.
06:05Quick look there.
06:07Justin Hill is fighting to try and get by Tristan Lane to make it in and get that final transfer
06:11position.
06:12Here is Justin.
06:13And that's the gap that he's got to make up.
06:16Yeah, but having the rider in front of Tristan might help him out.
06:20And there's, you don't want to do any more extra laps on here on this racetrack.
06:24Oh, you're exactly right.
06:25Justin can get him and he needs to do it while Tristan's stuck behind Lane right here.
06:30Or actually that's Vince Freeze right ahead.
06:32Yeah, Vince Freeze.
06:33So Tristan's gone up the position.
06:38JT.
06:39Just watching Justin Hill.
06:40Ricky, you mentioned 250 divisional champs.
06:42So think about this class.
06:43Justin Hill, you're 2017 divisional champ.
06:46Colt Nichols, you're 21.
06:48Christian Craig, 22.
06:49Hunter Lawrence, 23.
06:51And Joey Savace almost won himself.
06:53So basically to succeed in this class, you better bring a divisional championship with you.
06:58Well, and that's a great point.
06:59And I think, you know, a lot of people say maybe they don't win a 250 championship.
07:04And they're getting antsy.
07:05They want to go to that premier level.
07:07And I hear it quite a bit.
07:08James and Lee is like, I'll be better on the 450.
07:12Be better on the 450.
07:13But like Jason Thomas just told us, a lot of these guys in the 450 are multi-time 250 champs
07:21and have won championships.
07:23Whoa, hold on to it.
07:25Anxious moment there for Malcolm Stewart.
07:26Here comes Justin Cooper.
07:28Yeah, a lot of mistakes from a lot of these guys in that sand section.
07:31It looks like Malcolm's struggling a little bit.
07:35Kind of keeping focused.
07:36Joey was able to get around.
07:37I mean, he pulled away.
07:37Hey, as Justin goes up the inside.
07:40Wow.
07:40I'm going to have to talk to brother between races here.
07:43Tell him, hey.
07:44Send him a friendly text.
07:45Yeah, we got to represent Pocah a little bit better than this, but we'll be fine.
07:49Justin Cooper set the fastest lap of the race, RC, so no surprise to see him surging forward
07:55on this final lap.
07:56That was a really impressive pass.
07:59Nice heat win for the man who won the main event last week in Arlington.
08:04Hunter Lawrence continues his winning streak.
08:10And we go back to that fight for the ninth and final position.
08:17Let's see if this is for a transfer.
08:18Let's see if Justin can get it.
08:19Power down.
08:20Nope.
08:21He's going to go to Vince Friese.
08:23Oh.
08:23So, Justin Hill will see you in the last chance qualifier.
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