Advancing his already highly successful career aboard a Honda CRF450R into the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship, Jett Lawrence set the mark to beat in the 450SMX division as qualifying took place for the first post-season event in Charlotte while Seth Hammaker topped a competitive 250SMX timesheet.

Lawrence’s 1:13.332s time in the second round of qualifying marked an improvment of 6s over his 1:19.298s lap from earlier in the day.

When the top 450SMX riders took to the track for the first time of the day, it was Lawrence’s Team Honda HRC teammate Chase Sexton who led the way, with Lawrence mired in 10th following a slow start that included a rear tire change.

Lawrence was ultimately the only rider to dip under 1:14s, with Sexton coming closest at 1:14.039s on his best lap of qualifying.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) returned to competition with the third-fastest lap, coming within 1.082s of Lawrence. Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki, Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM), Colt Nichols (RWR Madd Parts Kawasaki), and Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) filled the rest of the top 10.

Brief LCQ races followed the regular timed qualifying sessions to finalize the starting lineups for the first SuperMotocross gate drops later on in the day. Phil Nicoletti (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) was victorious in the 450SMX contest, beating Kevin Moranz to the checkered flag by 3.745s.

The final transfer position went to Jerry Robin in third after Jeremy Hand fell and went on to finish fourth.

After Frenchman Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM) set the mark to beat in the day’s first seeded 250SMX qualifying outing with a 1:16.281s lap at the unique Concord, North Carolina venue, Seth Hammaker delivered Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki the fastest qualifying lap in the class with a rapid 1:15.052 lap in the second session later on.

Reigning Monster Energy Supercross and Pro Motocross Championship titlist in the class Hunter Lawrence landed second, just 0.066s off Hammaker’s pace.

Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas), Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Vialle and Maximus Vohland of Red Bull KTM, Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Austin Forkner (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), and Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) rounded out the top 10, with Forkner coming from the unseeded session having not qualified directly for the main events.

Forkner comfortably won the LCQ by a margin of 13.84s over Cullin Park (Phoenix Racing Honda), while Hunter Yoder (Partzilla PRMX Racing) avoided a late-race challenge from Luke Neese (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) to safely transfer as well.

Early crashes for Joshua Varize and Derek Kelley of AEO Powersports KTM plus Coty Schock of Phoenix Racing Honda will keep these riders out of competition for the rest of the Charlotte event with DNQ results.

Detailed results