June 9th 2024.
The Thunder Valley National was buzzing with excitement on Saturday as some of the biggest names in motocross took to the track. The 20th edition of the Pro Motocross Championship saw two of the sport's top stars live up to their billing and put on a show for the fans.
In the 450 class, Jett Lawrence and his brother Hunter battled it out for the top spot. Hunter took the first moto while Jett came in second, but in the second moto, the brothers switched places, giving Jett the overall win. Meanwhile, in the 250 class, rising star Haiden Deegan continued his domination with his third consecutive overall win. The 18-year-old phenom took first place in the opening moto and second in the second moto, securing his spot on the podium.
For Jett Lawrence, the defending 450 class champion, this win was a bounce-back performance after a crash at Hangtown last week. The crash ended his 24-race win streak and left him dealing with a cut on his leg and a sore shoulder. Despite these injuries, Jett dug deep and pushed through the pain to secure the victory.
"I had no legs at the start of the second moto," Jett said. "But I pushed through and told myself to stay focused. I was able to capitalize on a mistake by Hunter and take the lead."
In the 250 class, Justin Cooper took the holeshot in both motos but struggled to maintain his lead, finishing in third place in both races. Deegan, on the other hand, showed his skill and determination by passing Frenchman Tom Vialle in the final lap of the first moto and holding onto his lead. He then took second place in the second moto, securing his overall win.
With this win, Deegan remains at the top of the 250 championship standings, with a 23-point lead over Chance Hymas. In the 450 class, Hunter Lawrence currently holds the top spot with 129 points, followed by Chase Sexton with 123 points and Jett Lawrence with 113 points.
Next week, the Pro Motocross Championship heads to High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Penn for its fourth stop of the 2024 season. But for one local racer, his presence at Thunder Valley was about more than just competing.
Elizabeth resident Brett Stralo, a U.S. Army veteran, raced for the Veteran Motocross Foundation, an organization that uses motocross to empower veterans. Stralo, who served two combat tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter mechanic, also started Warrior MX, a program that brings veterans to the track on race day as a form of "throttle therapy" to help with their mental health.
"My goal is to make the fast 40 and make the main," Stralo said. "But even if I don't, every time I get to give these veterans this experience and introduce them to the motocross community, it's a win."
Stralo's own experience with motocross helped him re-adjust to civilian life and cope with the challenges of returning from combat. His ultimate goal is to prevent veteran suicides and use motocross as a form of therapy for other veterans.
Unfortunately, one of Colorado's most notable pro racers, Eli Tomac, was unable to compete on Saturday due to a thumb injury. But the Cortez native has had a successful career, winning the 450 class championship in 2017-2019 and 2022, as well as the 250 class title in 2013.
The day was filled with thrilling races and heartwarming moments, proving once again that motocross is more than just a sport, it's a community that supports and uplifts its members. Sign up for the Sports Omelette to stay up to date with all the latest news and analysis on Denver's teams.
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