Hunter Lawrence has finally done it. The Australian has claimed his first AMA Pro Motocross 450 National Championship after a dramatic final round at Ironman Raceway.
After coming agonisingly close to premier-class championship glory on several occasions, Hunter Lawrence has finally reached the top of the mountain, securing the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross 450 title at Ironman Raceway on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Honda HRC Progressive rider entered the final round with just one point separating him from defending champion and younger brother Jett Lawrence, setting up a winner-takes-all style showdown between the two CRF450RWE-mounted teammates.
Hunter had enjoyed an outstanding outdoor season after finishing second in the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship. He opened the Pro Motocross series with a perfect 1-1 overall victory at Pala, California, and went on to claim six overall wins across the 11-round championship.
The Lawrence brothers dominated the season, combining for 20 of the 22 available moto victories and trading the championship lead six times.
But the final round delivered plenty of drama.
Hunter launched strongly in the opening moto, only to be caught up in Haiden Deegan’s first-lap crash and sent tumbling down the field. Jett also suffered a setback, aggravating his already injured ankle early in the race.
Hunter refused to give up, fighting his way back to eighth, while Jett battled through the pain to finish 11th. That result gave Hunter a crucial advantage heading into the final moto.
The brothers then spent much of Moto 2 battling for third, with Jett eventually taking the position and sixth overall. Hunter finished fourth, enough for fourth overall on the day and, more importantly, the championship.
After years of chasing the elusive premier-class title, the emotion was obvious as Hunter celebrated on the podium.
“I don’t even know where to start,” Hunter laughed. “The first lap in the first moto, I was like, ‘Here we go again.’ In the second moto, I just knew I had to finish right behind Jett; most of my work was done in the first moto.
“He’s been a trooper with that foot; he tweaked it in the first turn of the first lap and had instant pain. It was a pretty uncharacteristic day for the Lawrences, but we got it done.
“Thanks to the whole team for being behind me, thanks to my brother and family, thanks to everyone that supports us, everyone who’s here cheering for us, coming by and asking if they can pray for us and bless us. Thank you America; we’re living the American dream, and we couldn’t do it anywhere else but here.”
For Jett, who has won the championship twice previously, it was an unusual feeling to finish second, but he was quick to acknowledge his brother’s achievement.
“Hunter rode unreal this year. He was the main guy; I did my best to try and get him, but I just couldn’t get it done,” Jett said.
“Maybe I should’ve put some laxative in his coffee this morning!”
Jokes aside, Jett admitted his injured ankle made the final round particularly difficult.
“I put my heart into it, but today was just an off day. I tweaked my foot so many times in practice and in that first race, so it was a bummer. I tried my best in that second one, but I was just finished.
“It was a good season, and I can’t be too bummed with everything I’ve gone through. I’m still very happy – congrats to Hunter!”
The championship also delivered another significant milestone for Honda. Hunter’s title gives Honda HRC Progressive back-to-back 1-2 finishes in the 450 championship, with Jett finishing runner-up this year.
It is also Honda’s 16th premier-class AMA Pro Motocross Riders Championship, extending its record in the category.
Honda enjoyed a strong campaign in the 250 class as well, with Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda both claiming overall victories during the season. Hymas finished fourth in the championship, while Shimoda was leading the series before an injury at Round 6 ended his title campaign.
Honda also secured the AMA Pro Motocross Manufacturers Championship.
For Hunter, however, the focus is simply on finally achieving the championship he has chased for so long.
After coming so close in the past, the Australian can now officially call himself an AMA Pro Motocross 450 National Champion.
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