2024 Birmingham Supercross Photo Gallery

2024 Birmingham Supercross Recap

Forty years after the last event, Monster Energy Supercross returned to the Deep South taking Round 9 of the 2024 season to Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL.

The possible mudder in the forecast failed to materialize though rain fell nearly halfway through the 450 Main with little effect on the dirt or race outcome. If you need a visual as to why Jett Lawrence continues to succeed merely look at the start.

Like one of those action movie scenes when everything crumbles around the primary protagonist only to emerge unscathed from the dust, debris and rubble, Lawrence fired the afterburners in the first turn propelling his way into first as a wave of dirt bikes converged. He narrowly missed the Holeshot to Chase Sexton but it didn't matter.

Cooper Webb gave chase - no not Sexton - trying to catch up, while avoiding the 30 second girl to put the young Australian Maverick in his place as the two banged bars in their Heat race. But Webb never got much more than three, OK, maybe two and half seconds close to Lawrence's rear fender. The Monster Girl (they still called that?) who held the 30 second board, for some reason, remained on the track when the pack came around and was nearly punted off. She somehow avoided catastrophe though tripped and flailed to the ground as she scurried out of the way with the board in hand.

Lawrence won his fourth and became the first back-to-back winner in the premier class. Webb easily grabbed second with Ken Roczen, keeping his Championship hopes alive, in third, 12 seconds behind Webb. Webb falls 13 points back of Lawrence who, at this point, now looks like what most expected of him this season as a rookie, after an undefeated 450 rookie campaign in Motocross last year.

"That was a very difficult track, it could cost you. I felt like Old Jett would have thrown it away like (I did) in Arlington," Lawrence said. "Had to be very patient and not just push this track. It could bite you."

Lawrence said he was the same young rider as he was before but simply had a mental change since throwing away a win a few weeks ago after battling hard and crashing twice, the second time on the last lap. The rest of the title contenders have eight rounds to undergo their own mental change or at least get a bike that goes just as fast.

Sexton finished fourth and though looked good all day had little in the tank to fight for a podium. He falls 20 points back of Lawrence. Eli Tomac got buried at the start, at one point in 14th but he only managed a seventh-place after getting passed by Jason Anderson for sixth on the last lap. Justin Cooper had his best outing of the season in fifth and hung around a podium spot in third for a while before Roczen blew by in a tight corner with about eight minutes remaining.

In the 250 East class, Tom Vialle followed up his first career win at Daytona with another win. This time even more impressive as the two-time MXGP MX2 (250 class) Champion sailed past Jeremy Martin, who grabbed the Holeshot, and led the rest of the way. The win gives Vialle the Red Plate thanks in part to Max Anstie's bike giving up the ghost with about five minutes left. Anstie was just inside the Top 10 when the engine died thus likely would have handed the points lead over anyway but his Championship hopes took a dive in the nine-round regional series.

Cameron Mcadoo took second for the third straight round and sits just a point back from Vialle. Seth Hammaker needed the LCQ after an intense crash at the start (see photos) of his Heat race with Haiden Deegan. He looked no worse for the wear though, getting third in the Main. Pierce Brown ended his streak of fifth-place finishes to start the season and took fourth, retaining his hold on third-place in the standings. Martin finished fifth.

Danger Boy Deegan failed to enter his danger zone after needing the LCQ, thanks to that crash with Hammaker, getting hung up on the first turn in the Main, went off track and resumed outside the Top 10. He inched up to finish ninth but because Anstie fell so far down the standings moves up a spot into fourth in the standings. Anstie's DNF gave him one point for the evening and drops him from first to eighth, 21 points out from first.

Supercross heads to Indianapolis for Round 10 on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.