2025 Thunder Valley Motocross Photo Gallery

2025 Thunder Valley Motocross Recap

Pleasant skies and cooler temperatures resulted in some fun racing for Round 3 of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship series on Saturday at Thunder Vallery Motocross Park in Lakewood, CO.

The "home race" for Eli Tomac might not have gone exactly as planned in the 450 class but a couple of streaks ended in the 250 class and perhaps the arrival of a new Championship contender.

Enjoying the race photos?

Check out the latest dirt bike parts, gear & accessories!

CONTINUE SHOPPING

In the 450 class, Jett Lawrence quickly took the lead from his brother Hunter Lawrence, who jumped out first to take the $600,000 Holeshot. Jett mostly checked out before crossing the checkers but not before a robust challenge from Aaron Plessinger.

Plessinger, Tomac and Hunter Lawrence all hovered up front for a good portion of the race as Tomac tried getting around Lawrence for third - lap after lap - while Plessinger hung out in second. But near the 17 minute mark, Lawrence hunted down Plessinger and made the pass for second, now trailing his brother Jett and closing in.

The four separated themselves from the rest of the field, the trailing three looking to capitalize on another's mistake and find the better line. With about five minutes on the clock, Plessinger took second back from Lawrence and he wasn't done. Looking for his 450 class Moto win, the "Cowboy" as he's called, lassoed Jett Lawrence. Indeed, ever so briefly, Plessinger took the lead but the wiggly Lawrence wrestled the lead back and held on for the victory. Tomac cruised to third when Hunter Lawrence crashed on the last lap.

In Moto 2, Coty Schock grabbed the $600,000 Holeshot just ahead of Cooper Webb and the two battled a bit for the lead with Schock holding court. Webb eventually fell to Hunter Lawrence who got up front with Justin Cooper after Schock made a mistake in a rut that curbed his flow. Cooper now in the lead, Lawrence second, Jett Lawrence third, Plessinger fourth and Tomac moving forward from an eighth-place start, now sixth, five minutes into the race. Tomac made the pass on Plessinger near the 19 minute mark for fourth and then Hunter Lawrence for third.

With about 13 minutes left, Jett Lawrence caught Cooper for the lead and two minutes later Tomac passed for second and the end result? Like their showdown in the opening round. Lawrence (1-1) held on for the sweep and Tomac (3-2) took second for second overall.

"It was like a combination of working hard but being patient. Justin was riding well as well as Eli," Lawrence said. "I was able to capitalize on a few mistakes on the guys out in front of me. Just trying to not make any mistakes. This track bites pretty quick, we had a few close moments."

Plessinger (2-5) rounded out the podium, Cooper (5-3) took fourth and Hunter Lawrence fifth on a (4-4) day.

Schock (11-20) crashed later in the second race and finished 20th for 15th overall, Webb (7-6) took sixth on the tiebreaker over RJ Hampshire (6-7) racing his first year in the 450 class. Jorge Prado, who won the 2023 and 2024 MXGP (450) Motocross World Championship overseas, continues to struggle in his first year stateside finishing 13th on (8-39) day.

Tomac moves back into second after finishing off the podium at Hangtown dropped him to third. Plessinger moves from second to third, two points back of Tomac, who now faces a 25 point gap to Lawrence.

250 Class

The 250 class didn't exactly undergo a changing of the guard but the reigning Champion can no longer boast about an undefeated season and may not walk a repeat title home.

In fact, he was throttled by Chance Hymas who didn't just win but proved - by far - the better rider on this day.

Hymas took both $600,000 Holeshots and checked out in each race. Not much more to say other than what Hymas said postrace.

"Today was a perfect day for me. Led every single lap in both Motos, Holeshot both Motos, won both Motos," he said. "It's a dream come true. So happy getting that monkey off my back and finally get a day like this."

His victory ended any chance of a perfect season from the rider behind the #1 plate who opened the season with four straight Moto wins. He finished a lucky second on a (2-2) day as his bike started smoking in Moto 1 requiring the nearly one-time 40 second gap over Garrett Marchbanks to hold on to the runner-up position. A minor crash in Moto 2 had no effect on position.

Levi Kitchen (8-3) made the pass on Jo Shimoda (9-4) on the second to last lap in Moto 2 for third and third overall. Shimoda's streak of finishing second for every Moto to start the season also came to an end. He finished fifth overall to Tim Vialle's (6-5) fourth overall.

Update: A broken transponder in Moto 2 did not register Garrett Marchbank's (3-8) eighth-place finish. Once corrected he finished fourth overall which also adjusted the points standings.

With the win, Hymas moves into third in the standings helping to erase his Moto 2 DNS a week earlier at Hangtown because of the heat and an earlier bought with food poisoning. Shimoda retains his hold on second but now 25 points from the top spot but a 24 point gap on Hymas.

Motocross heads east for Round 4 on Saturday at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, PA.