Max Anstie Grabs First Supercross Win in 250SX East West Showdown

East Rutherford, N.J., (April 23, 2023) – In the season’s first of two East/West Showdowns, Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie took his career-first win over the top racers from both regional divisions.

In an unprecedented weather delay, thunderclouds approaching MetLife Stadium required the racers on the starting line of the 250SX Class East/West Showdown to evacuate the starting area. The riders, along with every spectator in the stadium, retreated to cover for what turned out to be a 1.5 hour delay to the racing as the clouds dumped rain on the track.

The East/West Showdown was a thrilling race that was worth the wait of the weather delay. Max Anstie grabbed the holeshot on the rain-drenched track. Red Bull KTM’s Max Vohland was in second with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire right behind. The Lawrence brothers were up front and after one muddy lap Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence ran in fourth and Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence held fifth. The race made history as the first showdown of brothers who each led their division, but those brothers sat outside the top three at the start of the race.

Almost three minutes into the race, which was shortened to 12-minutes plus one lap, Jett Lawrence took advantage of a Hampshire mistake and took over third place. Three minutes later Jett Lawrence was pressuring Vohland for second as Anstie stretched out his lead to over six seconds. Hampshire applied pressure to take over third, but Jett Lawrence broke free from him again and got around Vohland for second place. Four and a half minutes remained on the race clock.

Hampshire was quickly around Vohland and chasing after Jett Lawrence. Hunter Lawrence soon pressured Vohland for the spot as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan closed on them both. With just over two minutes left, Anstie held a nine second lead while Deegan crashed trying to cut under Hunter Lawrence.

In the closing minutes Jett Lawrence put in an amazing drive. He erased Anstie’s lead down to .9 seconds as they headed out on the final lap. Jett lost touch tossing his goggles but with a final surge pulled alongside Anstie in their last pass through the whoops. Anstie had the inside line in the next corner and accelerated back into the lead heading into the final corner.

Hampshire was still close to Jett Lawrence and charged hard to that last corner. Hampshire tried to scrub speed and duck underneath but slid out in a dramatic splash. The crash tripped Jett and his bike over onto Hampshire’s bike. Jett was quick to pull his bike free and accelerate away just as his brother entered the corner.

At the end Anstie took his first-ever Supercross win, Jett Lawrence got going in time to hold onto second place, and Hunter Lawrence crossed just behind his brother in third.

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250SX East/West Showdown Results

1. Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda (East)
2. Jett Lawrence, Zephyrhills, Fla., Honda (West)
3. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (East)
4. Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM (West)
5. Enzo Lopes, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha (West)
6. Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (East)
7. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., Kawasaki (West)
8. Cullin Park, Clermont, Fla., Honda (East)
9. Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki (East)
10. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki (East)

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

1. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (198)
2. Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (149)
3. Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda (148)
4. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (120)
5. Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Yamaha (120)
6. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki (117)
7. Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha (111)
8. Cullin Park, Clermont, Fla., Honda (96)
9. Tom Vialle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (95)
10. Coty Schock, Dover, Del., Honda (83)

Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

1. Jett Lawrence, Zephyrhills, Fla., Honda (176)
2. RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna (137)
3. Enzo Lopes, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha (118)
4. Levi Kitchen, Havana, Fla., Yamaha (112)
5. Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM (104)
6. Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (101)
7. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Honda (99)
8. Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (98)
9. Cole Thompson, Brigden, Ont., Yamaha (73)
10. Derek Kelley, Riverside, Calif., KTM (70)