Moto | Pro Motocross Championship Highlights: Fox Raceway II National

Eli Tomac and Jett Lawrence Emerge as Champions of 50th Anniversary Season.

The 50th Anniversary season of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is done and the dust has officially settled leaving Eli Tomac and Jett Lawrence standing as the season champions.

After one of the most memorable seasons in history during the 50th Anniversary of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the 12th and final round lived up to expectations in Southern California. Champions were crowned at the PristineAuction.com Fox Raceway II National, amidst the hottest temperatures and the most challenging race conditions of the 2022 campaign. Fittingly, the riders who headlined the season across both the 450 Class and 250 Class shined brightest for a finale befitting the exceptional racing on display all summer long.

450 Class

Photo: Align Media

The closest championship fight in premier class history came down to the very end as Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Eli Tomac and Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton squared off one last time. Each moto saw the best out of these two title combatants, however, Tomac’s years of championship-winning experience ultimately proved to be the difference maker in a showdown that saw Sexton endure multiple missteps that left him seven points shy of his maiden title. Tomac’s fourth 450 Class triumph put the finishing touch on a landmark season for the veteran in which he won both the Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship crowns and became an ESPN ESPY Award winner.

“I just think of this whole season in its entirety," said Tomac post race. “It’s been the most enjoyable season of my career, by far, starting with supercross and now motocross. This summer was incredible battling with Chase [Sexton]. He’s the future of this division. We pushed ourselves to the limits [all summer] and even raised the bar.”

250 Class

What a difference a year makes for Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence. After sweating out his maiden championship at the final round last season, the Australian returned to his most successful track in firm control of the title fight and easily completed a successful title defense. After he wrapped up his second straight championship early, Lawrence showed the same mettle that has allowed him to dominate the summer in the final moto to emerge with an exclamation point victory and remain undefeated at Fox Raceway.

Photo: Align Media

“It was a lot better today than last year [trying to wrap up the title]," said Lawrence post race. “I just wanted to use the least amount of energy possible today. I got into second as soon as I could [in Moto 2] and tried to catch Jo [Shimoda], but it didn’t happen, so I just decided to settle into second.”

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (1-1 // 50)
2. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (2-2 // 44)
3. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (4-3 // 38)
4. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha (3-4 // 38)
5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS (5-6 // 31)
6. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (7-7 // 28)
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (6-8 // 28)
8. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (10-5 // 27)
9. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (8-13 // 21)
10. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Husqvarna (13-9 // 20)

450 Class Championship Standings (Round 12 of 12)

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha – 546
2. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 539
3. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 440
4. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda – 394
5. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha – 373
6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 359
7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 322
8. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS – 303
9. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 222
10. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., Husqvarna – 213

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

1. Jett Lawrence, Australia, Honda (1-2 // 47)
2. Jo Shimoda, Japan, Kawasaki (4-1 // 43)
3. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (3-3 // 40)
4. Hunter Lawrence, Australia, Honda (2-5 // 38)
5. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (7-4 // 32)
6. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki (6-7 // 29)
7. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (5-9 // 28)
8. Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM (12-6 // 24)
9. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (14-8 // 20)
10. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., Suzuki (10-12 // 20)

250 Class Championship Standings (Round 12 of 12)

1. Jett Lawrence, Australia, Honda – 525
2. Jo Shimoda, Japan, Kawasaki – 480
3. Hunter Lawrence, Australia, Honda – 468
4. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 415
5. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna – 346
6. Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM – 303
7. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 256
8. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha – 251
9. Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., GASGAS – 208
10. Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS – 198