Chase Sexton on jett lawrence after becoming the first rider in six years to beat Tomac in a Supercross race at Daytona

 

Jett Lawrence has quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in motocross, securing impressive victories in both Pro Motocross and the SuperMotocross World Championship’s premier 450 division.

His rookie season in the outdoor series was flawless, and his dominance continued as he clinched the SuperMotocross title. Despite this, the 2024 season presented its own set of hurdles, including a notable absence of rival Eli Tomac due to an Achilles tendon injury.

Tomac, who would have been a formidable competitor, missed the opportunity to contest the 2024 Supercross

championship due to his injury, which occurred with just one round remaining in the previous season.

Without this setback, Tomac was poised to secure his third consecutive championship. Lawrence’s path, however, was not without its own challenges, including a recent fall and a disappointing finish off the podium in Supercross.

The much-anticipated clash between Lawrence and Tomac finally came to fruition at Daytona, a track where Tomac has long been dominant. Entering the weekend with a five-race winning streak and an impressive track record of consistent top finishes, Tomac was the clear favorite. Yet, Lawrence’s strategy was not to focus on his rival but to perfect his own performance.

Lawrence’s approach was marked by an emphasis on precision and concentration. After a less-than-ideal performance the previous week, he recalibrated his focus on executing every aspect of the race flawlessly. This focus paid off during Round 8 at Daytona, where Lawrence’s tactical prowess shone through.

In the race, Chase Sexton initially led, with Tomac closely trailing. Lawrence, however, made a decisive move on Lap 4, passing both Sexton and Tomac in a single corner. His calculated approach allowed him to quickly build a commanding lead, extending it to nearly 12 seconds by Lap 10.

Tomac, reflecting on the race, expressed frustration over missed opportunities, particularly his failure to execute a crucial quad jump.

Despite his efforts to close the gap, which included shaving valuable seconds off Lawrence’s lead in the final laps, Tomac ultimately finished second.

Lawrence’s victory at Daytona was not just a personal triumph but a statement of his readiness to face any challenge.

As the season progresses, the rivalry between Lawrence and Tomac remains a compelling narrative, with Daytona marking a significant moment in their competitive history.