2024 Southwick Motocross Photo Gallery

2024 Southwick Motocross Recap

Sandy Southwick mustered up one of the toughest tracks of the year and while the outcome was nary a difference from all (most of) the other rounds, this one added to one of the more exciting in recent memory.

The Wick, the Wick 338, Moto-X 338, Southwick - what you call it doesn't change what it is. All describe the past and present location for Round 5 of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship in Southwick, MA. The only sand pit on the circuit gives riders a pause between hardpack, soft pack and the occasional loam (when lucky) through the majority of the season. And those who have it, have it, it doesn't matter where they ride.

In the 450 class, Jett Lawrence grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot and checked out. He had a three second lead before the first lap was complete but Hunter Lawrence and Chase Sexton kept him within range thereafter until the final minutes when both dialed back and settled for second and third, respectively.

It was Moto 2 where the real action came, when, again, Jett Lawrence grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot but did not check out. With brother Hunter in tow, Sexton found some afterburners missing the last few rounds and blew by Hunter for second after a minute and got right on Jett's fender. But two minutes later Hunter slipped back into second as Sexton's speed diminished and, surprisingly, at the 25 minute mark, Hunter was looking at Jett in his rearview.

The Brothers Lawrence played follow the leader for 15 minutes as Jett's Moto win streak might end at four. With about eight minutes left, Lawrence found his lines and speed to make the pass on Hunter and a sweep for the day was back in the cards. Then Sexton returned.

About five minutes to go, Sexton made a brilliant pass of Hunter Lawrence taking the outside line on a corner and two minutes later caught and passed Jett. Blink and you missed it because Jett got the lead right back then a fallen lapped rider held up Sexton throwing a wrench into Sexton's effort. But this one wasn't over. A minute later Sexton found another gear along with some aggressive riding to make a second pass on Jett for the lead and this one stuck. He pulled away as Hunter tried his best to pass Jett for second on the final lap to no avail.

Sexton showed the fragility of Jett, even if minor, beating him arguably straight up for the first time. Lawrence still got the overall on a (1-2) day, Sexton second overall on a (3-1) day and Hunter (2-3) in third who barely clings to the Red Plate for another round by three points over Jett and Sexton. Justin Cooper (5-6) took forth overall, also where he sits in the standings while Dylan Ferrandis had his best outing of the year since the opener in fifth overall on a (7-5) day.

"I felt super good at the beginning (of Moto 2)," Sexton said. "I got by Hunter than he got back around me, and I lost touch a little bit. I had to reset and got my flow back and set sail. I didn't expect to catch them that fast but I felt good. Got a good flow going on the track."

Jett, who still nurses injuries from his Hangtown get off, said his legs have been getting more shot lately and said he packed it in and let Chase go because he was riding so strong.

In the 250 class, Haiden Deegan continued the pummeling of his peers with another overall and full send riding that puts him on the ragged edge. Moto 1 was a cakewalk as Deegan grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot and checked out. He won by 15 seconds and no one had anything for him. Levi Kitchen, Chance Hymas and Tom Vialle mixed it up for the podium spots with Vialle proving the victor for second and Hymas third.

In Moto 2, Kitchen grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot and looked real good until the Red Flag waved after two minutes when Julien Beaumer went down. The complete restart of Moto 2 had little effect on Kitchen who again grabbed the holeshot but this time Deegan was in second and it didn't last long. A near legendary (not yet, but close - smile face emoji) full send scrub over a jump stretched to the limit propelled Deegan into the lead. But this one wasn't over yet.

Vialle passed Kitchen after three minutes and caught up to Deegan three minutes later until dialing it back or maybe Deegan pushed ahead. Whatever the case, at the 23 minute mark, Deegan tipped over in a berm sending Vialle off the track but into the lead! Deegan had some trouble getting back on the bike and fell to sixth, this put Jo Shimoda into second and Kitchen third halfway. Deegan eventually caught and passed Kitchen just under halfway through and hung around in third about 10 seconds behind Vialle with Shimoda five seconds from the lead. Shimoda and Deegan then began a small charge to the front with about five minutes remaining making a small dent in Vialle's lead who held firm. With time expired and three laps remaining, the three riders were suddenly within a second of each other and Shimoda pulled into the lead with two and half laps left. On the final lap, with Deegan's bike emitting some smoke and his mechanic showing him a pit board message to lay off the clutch, Vialle caught up to Shimoda only to skid across the track and hit the sand. Shimoda flew home, Deegan popped into second and claimed the overall.

Sorry for the ridiculously long paragraph.

Deegan, who finished sixth overall at Southwick last year including a 10th in Moto 2 said, "I think I proved you guys wrong with the sand theory."

Deegan has won four of five rounds (taking second on the tiebreaker at High Point) and holds a commanding 42 point lead over Hymas who finished fourth overall on a season worst (3-5) day. Vialle (2-3), 43 points from first, took second overall and Shimoda took third overall on his (9-1) day. Veterans Jordon Smith (7-4) and Joey Savatgy (5-6) had their best outing so far tying in points and taking fifth and sixth, respectively. Round 4's hero Ty Masterpool finished eighth overall on a (6-8) day.

Update:Smith was docked three points for failing a sound test in Moto 2 though final results still list him in fifth.