2023 RedBud Motocross Photo Gallery

2023 RedBud Motocross Recap

America's race kicked off the 4th of July weekend with Round 5 of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship Series at RedBud MX on Saturday in Buchanan, MI.

The depleted 450 field filled up some as Chase Sexton and Jason Anderson returned but Cooper Webb stayed on the sidelines after a practice crash last week. It didn't matter, like the previous four rounds Jett Lawrence swept the day remaining undefeated and now has the fastest start ever when moving to a different class (250 to 450).

Lawrence (1-1) grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot for both Motos and checked out though this time not nearly as punishing as past races. Dylan Ferrandis (3-2) and Sexton (2-3) kept it close at times, as did privateer Ty Masterpool for a bit, but no one had the extra gear to make a run and attempt a pass.

Sexton, out since Round 2 because of a concussion and coming down with mono, looked ready to race finishing second in Moto 1 and a well fought battle with Ferrandis in Moto 2 left him in third giving him third overall. Regardless, he was not pleased with his result for his "home race."

"It's definitely nice to be back," he said. "(But) not a good performance. Kind of embarrassing."

Ferrandis, the 2021 450 class Champion, crossed the checkers a mere five seconds behind Lawrence in Moto 2 and at one point was following just two seconds or so behind and appeared ready to move upfront but Lawrence kept it pinned and never felt the threat. Masterpool tailed Lawrence in Moto 1 for about 10 minutes then Ferrandis somehow sneaked into third from fifth. A bit later, while fending off Adam Cianciarulo for fourth, Cianciarulo slid out in Masterpool's path just after passing him, causing Masterpool to ride over Cianciarulo's bike leading to an acrobatic flip over the handlebars. Masterpool recovered and finished sixth with a smoking bike which might have resulted in the mechanical ending his Moto 2 early. Anderson took fifth overall on a (5-7) day.

Lawrence leads Ferrandis by 57 points in the standings and with sixth rounds left certainly can clinch the title at least one round early as long as he remains on two-wheels something his brother learned on Saturday.

2023 Motocross 450 Class Standings after Round 5

Jett Lawrence - 250
Dylan Ferrandis - 193
Aaron Plessinger - 174
Adam Cianciarulo - 149
Cooper Webb - 147

250 Class

In the 250 class, Hunter Lawrence, undefeated in terms of overalls this season, completely ran away in the first race finally winning his first Moto 1 of the season but a pileup at the start of Moto 2 not only claimed his chance at a sweep but ended his season-long undefeated streak. What looked like a possible season impacting injury with Lawrence grasping his right arm while walking off the track unaided, turned out to be a banged up right arm and some ribs. Lawrence should not miss any time and holds on to first-place in the standings.

As a result, rookie Haiden Deegan claimed his first career overall on a (2-3) day and Levi Kitchen (7-1) took the checkers in Moto 2 for his first race win of the season and a second-place overall. Lawrence (1-40) finished ninth overall allowing Deegan to close within 11 points of first-place giving some much needed excitement in the 250 class as Lawrence was also starting to run away from the field. Justin Cooper took third overall on a (4-4) day, Tom Vialle (2-9) took fourth overall while RJ Hampshire (3-7) finished fifth overall and remains in third-place in the standings.