As the AMA Pro Motocross series cleared its midway point with the traditional Independence Day Weekend race at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan, Team Honda HRC sophomore rider Chance Hymas seized the occasion to notch the first overall victory of his career in the 250 division, with a masterful moto 2 win following a fourth-place finish in moto 1. Following him across the finish line in moto 2 (and taking his second overall podium in a row) was Jo Shimoda, whose 5-2 tally was good for third overall. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence showed impressive speed in the 450 class, leading most of moto 1 before a late crash dropped him to second. In the second moto, the Australian rode to a fourth-place finish, good enough to keep his unblemished premier-class podium streak alive.
For the fourth time this season, Lawrence took the holeshot in the first 450 moto, and he rode strong at the front until there were less than two laps remaining, when he suffered a hard fall on a rough descent. The Australian recovered in time to finish second. Lawrence was fifth off the start in moto 2 and completed lap 1 in seventh, but he went to work and was into the top five by lap 6. He took over fourth a lap later, and that’s where he would spend the remainder of the race—sufficient for an overall podium.
The first 250 moto saw Hymas start third and get around two riders on lap 1 to take over the lead. He built up a lead of over 5 seconds, but his line selections eventually led to a loss of flow and riding tight. He held on to finish the moto in fourth. Meanwhile, Shimoda spent most of the moto recovering after being knocked down in turn 1, as he climbed from eighth on lap 1 to fifth at the finish. Hymas started off moto 2 with a holeshot, and he stayed at front for the duration, initially establishing a comfortable margin but eventually having to fend off the advances of his teammate, who had started third.
Chance Hymas 48
“In the first moto, I got out in front and tried to build a big gap, but I was making bad choices and fighting the bike; with my riding style, I can’t ride like that for 35 minutes. I watched some video, executed a really good start in the second moto and tried to ride as loose as I could–honestly, I just believed I could do it. I put a big gap, but Jo reeled me in and I had to pick up the pace. I didn’t even know I had the overall win until I came in. I was like, ‘Man, last time that I went 4-1 (Thunder Valley), I barely got second! It’s really good to do it on Fourth of July Weekend. RedBud is kind of a bucket-list win for a lot of Americans, so to get my first one here is pretty special.”
