Hunter Lawrence wins first AMA Pro Motocross 450 class title; brother Jett second
Hunter Lawrence clinched his first AMA Pro Motocross 450 class championship, edging brother Jett in a title fight decided at the final round.
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What Happened
Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence claimed his first career title in the premier 450MX class of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The 27-year-old Australian and his 23-year-old brother Jett, also Australian, both riding Honda CRF450RWE machines, spent the season trading the overall lead and entered the final round separated by just one point. Hunter took the championship with six victories and nine podiums across the 11 rounds, while Jett finished second — securing the top two spots for the Lawrence brothers for the second straight year.
Championship gets underway in California
Hunter Lawrence secures his first 450 class title
16championships
Extended Honda's record in the premier class.
- Hunter Lawrence (born August 1, 1999, Australia): 2026 450MX Champion, 450SX 2nd; 2025 450MX 2nd, SuperMotocross 2nd; 2024 450SX 9th, 450MX 2nd, SuperMotocross 2nd; 2023 250SX East Champion, 250MX Champion; 2022 250SX West 2nd, 250MX 3rd; 2021 250SX West 2nd, 250MX 3rd; 2020 250MX 13th.
- Jett Lawrence (born August 7, 2003, Australia): 2026 450MX 2nd; 2025 450MX Champion, SuperMotocross Champion; 2024 450SX Champion, SuperMotocross Champion; 2023 250SX West Champion, 450MX Champion, SuperMotocross Champion; 2022 250SX East Champion, 250MX Champion; 2021 250SX East 3rd, 250MX Champion; 2020 250SX West 10th, 250MX 4th.
“I don’t even know where to start. On the first lap of Moto 1, after I got caught up in another rider’s crash and dropped back through the field, I thought, ‘This is just my luck…’ In Moto 2, I knew all I had to do was finish right behind Jett. To be honest, I think most of the battle had already been decided in Moto 1. Jett fought incredibly hard despite his leg injury. It wasn’t a typical day for the Lawrence brothers, but we got it done. I want to thank everyone on the team who supported me, my brother and family, and everyone who cheers us on. A huge thank you to everyone who prayed for us and sent their blessings. Thank you, America. We’re living the American dream, and there’s nowhere else in the world where we could make this happen.”
“Finishing second in the championship is a new feeling for me. I gave it everything, but I just wasn’t at my best today. I hurt my leg several times during practice and Moto 1, which was really disappointing. I gave it everything I had in Moto 2 as well, but I’d reached my limit. Hunter has been incredible this year. This was his year. I did everything I could to catch him, but I couldn’t quite get there. Considering all the challenges we’ve overcome, I’m not too disappointed. I’m still pretty happy. Congratulations, Hunter!”
Why this matters
The win gives Honda a record-extending 16th premier-class Pro Motocross crown and puts the Lawrence brothers atop the series standings for the second straight year. For a newcomer, the 450 class is the top division of outdoor motocross, so Hunter now holds the sport's biggest individual title on the Pro Motocross circuit. The one-point margin entering the finale shows how closely matched the siblings were all season.
Terms in This Story
- AMA
- American Motorcyclist Association, the U.S. sanctioning body for motorcycle racing.
- 450 class
- The premier displacement class in Pro Motocross, referring to 450cc motorcycles.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.