Slaw
Is this the best version of Hunter Lawrence we’ve seen in Monster Energy AMA Supercross? While he has yet to grab that elusive first win, Hunter has gone 4-2-2 to begin the season and is knocking on the doorstep of his first career 450SX win. Just eight points back of Eli Tomac in the championship as the series heads to Houston on Saturday for round 4, Hunter is right in the mix of the title fight.
After Anaheim 2, he spoke to the media about battling with Eli, his hot start to the season and more.
Again, tonight, this was a beautiful performance. It seemed like this one might have been, dare I say, maybe even more intense than last week? How would you describe it?
Lawrence: It was cool. I think definitely an intense one. The track, a lot of the corners didn’t break down as fast as I thought they would or maybe what we all thought watching it during the day, how it was really rutty and stuff. It was a good day. I’m happy. Battle with Eli was really cool. I felt like when we were going into the whoops, when you were on the inside and I was like, just Hail Mary last start, throw it and see, thread the needle and it worked out. But yeah, it was a cool race. I was just little bit by little bit, reeling chase in towards the end and lap riders on the last few laps.
I had my set line on the track where I knew I was fast and I mean, probably all over the shop, not the conventional line choice, but it was working for me. And yeah, some of the lap has just got in the way and I wasn’t able to get around them on some one line sections.
You talked about that pass where you barely threaded the needle, but what I was really focused on was you taking Eli high in that next corner. One of the big things that just really clicked for me was almost like a timeout in basketball where you just changed the rhythm of the game. It seemed like Eli was going to move forward after that and maybe possibly go for the win, but it just seemed like you put an absolute stop to it and it changed everything. Was that a lot of your intent? Was that something I have to stop Tomac now or were you just trying to move forward?
Lawrence: Just trying to move forward, man. I was behind Chase and Jason, and I knew the first 10 minutes of these races is always such just a super intense, high pace. So, just trying to stay in the hunt. I know I have the legs to go the distance, so just trying to give myself the best shot to stay in it in the beginning and just move forward, honestly. It was pretty cool. I heard the crowd when me and Eli were going back and forth and it was cool. And then when he went on the inside and then in the whoops, I sucked my belly into trying to get up the left-hand side. And then we both ended up going after the finish line into that outside. It’s been some really good racing, honestly. And I could only imagine from a fan standpoint of view, it’s been fun.
Side by side action, that was so cool to see you and Eli. One thing I wanted to point out was this triple under the table here. Did you get a little whiplash one time? And then beyond that, battling side by side with Eli and then getting by him and beating him, how good does that feel after finishing second to him last weekend and then grade your season so far, four, two, two, not bad start.
Lawrence: Yeah, it’s been my best start to the season for Supercross, which is cool. It’s what I wanted to do. And gee, we still got so many races to go. But yeah, the one lap, I can’t quite remember what happened, but I think the front wheel was washing on the ride and it grabbed and hit me on the helmet on one of the laps. But I mean, there’s so much stuff that happens in a main event that is well outside your comfort zone, but you just somehow got to do it. That’s what I think the biggest difference is.
Yeah, but grading the season so far, really good?
Lawrence: Yeah, I’m happy with it. Normally when we leave California, it’s like get me back home so I can start building and progress again. And I think we’re in a good spot this year.
Once you were able to make the move on Eli, simply putting looking at the gap to chase and how the next couple laps played out in your mind, did you think the opportunity was real or did you realize early into that that getting to the win was potentially not possible?
Lawrence: No, I believed I could get there. I knew I had some good lines and was feeling good and I was just trying to up the intensity towards the closing stages. I’d looked up and there was like six minutes left and I was like, “All right, let’s empty the tank.” And I was just inching close. I would’ve loved to have seen how the last two laps unfolded had I not had the traffic with the two lap riders. But yeah, honestly the second lap, the first lap where I come through killed the chances a little bit. I think had I gotten just that smidge close that lap as I was each lap prior to that, I would’ve been interested to see how it unfolded.
You mentioned yesterday that you’re still working to get the bike exactly how you want it. After tonight, how does it feel? Is there still room for improvement?
Lawrence: Yeah. My biggest goal is just being able to show up on race day and every session on the track, not have to change anything and just be comfortable on it and consistent. I’m not looking for the perfect motorcycle, but just a consistent one.
Photos: octopi.media
