Photo credits: Align Media
If we’ve thought that we’ve seen it all this season, IronMan National surely proved us all wrong. Like, who could have predicted such events to happen in one racing weekend, mixed with strange events, drama and controversy.
Jett starts too fast, falls behind and gets a fine
We didn’t have to wait long for the first dramatic moment of this weekend’s 450 class races.
The championship leader, Jett Lawrence released the clutch too fast and hit the gates. The gates fell forward, the other gates dropped and Jett launched himself over his fallen gate.
But how could that happen to basically the most “perfect” rider on the grid?
The rider next to him, Jeremy Hand almost started too quick, but stopped on time, and that triggered Jett’s reaction to start as well, just he didn’t stop on time and crashed into the gate. But looking at the accident, it could have been worse, as often the whole front wheel gets stuck under the gate and then it is harder to get it out, so lucky for Jett this time.
Jett’s championship rival Chase Sexton had a better start, started in top 5, however the holeshot was taken by Eli Tomac ahead of Jett’s brother Hunter Lawrence.
Chase crashed by the end of the first lap in a turn. Nothing too crazy, just dropped the bike. But that didn’t stop him. He continued with a faster pace, passing everyone ahead of him.
For a little while we enjoyed Hunter vs Eli battle, but Hunter eventually made it past Tomac next to the pit lane. Eli had no answers for him. Hunter then went on, made a nice gap and led most of the race. Most of the race, not till the end, we will get to that very soon.
Soon Jett Lawrence got behind Chase Sexton and then they went on a charge together, almost like teammates saying: Let’s see how many people we can both overtake. And they did, almost everyone. They got to 2nd and 3rd place. No one else was even close to their level.
And they were catching up to the race leader as well. But soon we got to the greatest battle of the race. Jett vs Chase.
Jett almost passed Chase at the end of the pit lane. Actually got in front of him on the start straight, but Chase had other plans. He rushed in front of Jett, blocked the inside. They almost touched and Jett almost crashed.
They continued. Jett wasn’t going to be satisfied with the 3rd placed. He attacked and attacked on multiple occasions. And many times they almost touched and Jett was on his limit more than once, almost crashing more times. But Chase defended his position, proving why he’s wearing the number one on his back and on the bike.
Jett then gave up, settling for 3rd place. But Chase wasn’t done just yet. He continued towards Hunter Lawrence, and was closing the gap every lap.
He closed to gap to a minimum. Hunter then made a mistake on the top of the hill, letting Chase near him and soon after this moment, Chase was 1st. He never looked back and won the race ahead of the Lawrence brothers.
And here’s where the controversy begins
Remember when we said that Jett started too early? Well because the gates dropped in the front, Jett started earlier than the rest of the field. Well yes, he didn’t get any advantage over other with his start, rather lost time. BUT, gates dropped in the front, he did start earlier and the AMA penalized him with 1 lap. Not 10 seconds or 10 positions. One LAP!
That means he didn’t finish 3rd, but 17th. So the third place belonged to R.J. Hampshire.
Some might say rules are rules. But since he didn’t gain any advantage, rather the opposite, one of the most controversial calls of the last decade was made.
And Jett had an answer for that.
Jett’s revenge
In the second race, again Eli Tomac and Hunter Lawrence rocketed themselves out of the gates to take the first two places.
But also Jett was there. And he was angry. He was going to remind the world of who he is.
Soon he passed Eli at the starting line, similar to what he did in the first race and soon after also passed Hunter with an insane scrub over a big jump.
He let everyone know who he is. He took the first and never looked back. Easily winning the second race.
Chase goes down
Chase Sexton was coming from behind. Didn’t have the best start, but eventually got to 2nd place after Hunter went off the track for a little.
But the something happened.
On the jump, just before the pit lane, Chases’ front wheel blocked, causing him to crash.
He picked up the bike, tried to go on, put the gas, but the wheel blocked again and he goes down again.
It looked like the wheel isn’t blocked when it’s set straight but it blocks when it turns. Weird in any way you can imagine.
Unfortunately that meant, that Chase had to retire from second race just when he was in a position to win the whole thing.
So 2nd and 3rd place belonged to Hunter Lawrence and Eli Tomac.
Hunter wins IronMan 2025
Chase and Jett both won one race, but had a horrible result in the other.
That helped Hunter Lawrence step on the top of the podium at 2025 IronMan, ahead of R.J. Hampshire and Eli Tomac.
That was also a big milestone for R.J. Hampshire as this was his first 450 podium of his career.
Deegan’s dominance
Jo Shimoda certainly had a momentum going from last round in Washougal and we were all wondering one question. Can he beat Haiden Deegan again?
Jo had a great start. Took the holeshot and never looked back. Haiden not so much, but as we have learned from this season, that doesn’t mean much for him, as he has proven many times he is a class above everyone else, with only a few guys who can literally fight with him.
He went to work.
Passing guys one by one. Jo had a nice gap ahead of Haiden, but that didn’t matter.
Deegan caught Shimoda.
For a little we were actually seeing a nice battle between the leaders, but eventually Deegan made a pass in the turn and took over the lead. Shimoda tried to fight back but found no answers. Deegan wins the first race.
What was very interesting from this race, was the new Tom Vialle. I say new, because he was different this time. More aggressive. Not what we were used to from before. He successfully defended himself in front of Levi Kitchen and after also a nice squeeze in pass on Jalek Swoll for 3rd.
There’s where Tom would also finish.
Haiden schools the field
In the second race, Haiden Deegan took the holeshot and that’s bad news for anyone trying to win the race.
Jo Shimoda was second and for the first few laps, it seemed like he might actually battle with Haiden.
But Haiden quickly proved us wrong. He ran away. Made a gap. Led from start to finish and won the race.
Tom Vialle was riding unbothered in third all race long.
2 more rounds ahead of the SMX finals
IronMan surely gave us many “wow” moments and unexpected twists. Enough to keep any motocross fan excited for the last two rounds before the SMX finals.
Already this weekend we are going to Unadilla in New Berlin.
Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan can already become champions. Can they make it happen?