It’s been a hard-fought 2026 Pro Motocross campaign for Hunter Lawrence, but the Australian held his nerve through a dramatic season finale at Ironman to clinch the 450MX championship. In this Debrief feature, the 27-year-old reflects on the final round, his relief in clinching the title and what it means to come out on top after a season-long battle with his brother Jett Lawrence.

Image: Octopi Media.

Clinching the title

Yeah, I mean, gee, it doesn’t even feel like I battled for a title today. It was obviously the 10 other rounds. I look back at Budds Creek and go, ‘man, I’m glad I did what I did there to come in with the points lead.’ First lap, first moto, I’m like, ‘Yep, see you later championship.’ And then I come around the first lap and Cam had ‘P18 Jett’ on the pit board, so I had to suck my tears up and, alright, put my boots on and get back into it. Yeah, just a wild day. I mean, that riding was terrible. Yeah, you never – all the championships, or whenever you win a championship, it’s never what you imagine, right? When you think you’re going to win it this way or whatever, they’re never how you imagine or how you draw it up in your mind.

Sketchy moments

I think you’re being generous when you said a couple moments. I think there was way more than a couple. Like I said, today was our worst performance of the year by a long shot. I mean, I just felt terrible. I mean, the crash in the first one kind of hurt my wrist, so the second moto was tough to hold on. But yeah, not a great day in the office performance-wise.

Image: Octopi Media.

The team behind-the-scenes

Yeah, it’s so, so important. Like, I feel like you’re only as good as the people around you as well. Who you hang with influences who you become. I feel like, you know, the old saying, one bad apple, you know, and we always try to have a positive, can-do attitude and just be the best version of ourselves. And I feel like that just runs through the team and the people we have around us, which is incredible. You know, we love who we work with. We care about them as family. We see their families, the sacrifice they make, as the same as the sacrifices we make, you know. So, it’s cool, and we’re blessed, and we’re so grateful for everyone that’s around us.

Even more meaningful after Supercross

Yeah, it is. It is. I’m ready to race Kenny [Roczen] again, I’ve got to get one back. I know he’s not here, but yes, it feels good. But I didn’t race him in summer, so I still need one back – I still have sleepless nights about that one. So, we’ll see you in SMX, Kenny.

Knowing that Jett hurt his ankle in practice

I didn’t realise he hurt it in practice. It was after the first moto I obviously figured that out. But, I mean, we’re close and stuff, but you try to obviously poker face as much as you can because you never know what happens. You know, I was sick in the beginning of the week. Felt pretty shitty the whole week, but I carried it like I was fine and I was going to be sweet, just because you never know what happens, right? I mean, yeah, I was extremely nervous in my head, going, great, like the most important race, another one of the year, and I’ve been sick. Like, my energy levels are not going to be what they need to be and stuff. The guy I’m going up against, I mean, you know, the modern-day GOAT in our sport – so, it’s tricky.

Image: Octopi Media.

Validation of winning a 450 title

I don’t know… I think, I mean, what I think of it is what I think of it, right? But I think it’s what other people think, if that does validate me or not. Some people have told me after Supercross it doesn’t validate or change my career or what I am if I had have won or didn’t, and what my career stands for. So, I think it has. I mean, it’s a huge accolade. I’ve seen Jett get enough, so it’s nice to get one off on him. And, you know, in 250s, we were kind of closer, and then I’m like, ah, he’s getting away on the 450 titles. So, I mean, it’s good. The guy’s freaking good. So, to be able to be in a position to come in with the red plate for the last round and contend for this – I think no one’s done that except Chase Sexton in 2023 going into SMX, you know. But a regular season, I don’t think anyone’s led Jett going into the last round.

The moment after the podium with Jett

I mean, yeah, we were both laughing about how much we sucked today. Like, we were terrible. It’s more of a relief, honestly. More than enjoyment and excitement, it’s like a relief because every Saturday, you can barely eat on race day. Your stomach cramps up, you feel crap. Like, Saturday is the worst-feeling day of the week. So, it’s like that mental stress, that stress on your body – or not necessarily mental stress, but the fatigue and stress your body takes over the year – it’s more of like a sigh of relief after the race initially.