Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence began the 2025 SMX World Championship™ Playoffs with a victory at Playoff 1. The event, held at zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was cut short by lightning, forcing officials to cancel the second motos for both classes due to ongoing storms and fading daylight. As a result, overall standings were based solely on the first moto.
Lawrence, the reigning two-time SMX World Champion and freshly crowned 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Champion, dominated the 450SMX Class by leading wire-to-wire in the lone 20-minute-plus-one-lap race. In the SMX Next division, which features rising amateur riders, qualifying had been completed earlier in the day. With racing halted, the class will now line up according to those results when competition resumes in St. Louis on September 12–13.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton secured second place overall, climbing from a mid-pack start to earn 22 championship points. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac overcame a late crash while running in second to salvage third.
In the 250SMX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan capitalized on his aggressive push for the moto win, which unexpectedly carried full event points after the cancellations. Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) grabbed the holeshot and built a big lead before surrendering it with two laps to go. He still held off teammate Levi Kitchen, though Kitchen’s cross-flag penalty dropped him to fourth. Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda rebounded from an early crash to round out the podium.
After Moto 1, riders reflected on the demanding conditions. Lawrence said he focused on consistency over risk, Sexton described the track as one of the sketchiest he’s ever ridden, and Tomac admitted impatience led to his fall. Meanwhile, Deegan dismissed complaints about the track, saying racers must adapt: “If we’ve got to race, we’ll race. If not, I’ll take the win.”
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