Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1131259
VOLUME 56 ISSUE 24 JUNE 18, 2019 P63 196 HUNTER LAWRENCE 2ND (1-3) 250MX Hunter Lawrence has shown a few flashes of brilliance early in the outdoor series, but he finally put two motos together at High Point, winning moto one and grabbing second overall. "Honestly, it's just the pace," Lawrence said. "You get more and more comfortable up at the front. The first moto, no doubt, I would've used more energy than normal—than AC [Adam Cianciarulo] or someone—just because when you're out front for the first time, you're feeling the adrenaline, and you just use more energy. It's just getting more comfortable with being out in front, and repetition with the starts and getting good starts." Lawrence is seventh in points, 75 points behind leader Cianciarulo. 23 CHASE SEXTON 3RD (4-2) 250MX Chase Sexton, grabbed his first overall podium of 2019 at High Point, even giving Cianciarulo fits for most of the second moto. "I finally got a good start; it's been a while," Sexton said. "It was good to get up front, and behind Adam [Cianciarulo]. I was doing everything I could to try and pass him, but he was riding good, too, so it was just trying to wait for a mistake, but he didn't make any. That made it tough on me. The lappers were pretty bad out there, and they got the best of both of us, but overall, it was a good race." 39 COLT NICHOLS 5TH (5-5) 250MX Colt Nichols has never been considered an "outdoor guy," but he's definitely putting in the effort and improving a lot. He led the first four laps of the second moto with Adam Cianciarulo, Chase Sexton and Hunter Lawrence all hot on his heels, but he still ended up disappointed at the end of the day with a 5-5. "I've never led laps at an outdoor, aside from a little bit at Hangtown," Nichols said. "We're making progress, so I can't complain about that. That was an awesome start. I've been starting really well. But I'm also a little frustrated, because when you're leading a moto, and you're up there in the pack, and you end up getting passed by a few guys, it's of course frustrating. That's why we race. We all want to win. And I'm going to use that as fire and try it again in seven days. That's about all we can do." and newly signed TLD/Red Bull KTM pilot Cameron McAdoo. Nichols got the start in moto two over Cianciarulo, Sexton and Lawrence, and he put up a good fight out front. After five laps, the top four were split by just about three seconds, but fifth place was over 15 seconds behind them. Cianciarulo found his way around Nichols be- fore too long, while Lawrence struggled to pass Sexton for third. Then Sexton went by Nich- ols, and Lawrence continued to struggle to move forward, and rible; I spun off the gate, and I was so far back coming into the first corner. I knew that was the time to make it happen; to try to get by everybody while everybody was bunched up, and somehow I threaded the needle and was able to get to the outsides and go around some people, which really saved my whole moto." Lawrence took the win in the opening moto over Cianciarulo, Ferrandis, Chase Sexton, Nich- ols, Cooper, Michael Mosiman (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) the race was essentially over. Lawrence eventually did find his way past, but by that point, the leaders were too far gone. Cian- ciarulo took the moto and overall win over Sexton, Lawrence, Fer- randis, Nichols, RJ Hampshire, McAdoo, Mosiman and Cooper. Cianciarulo took the overall with a 2-1 score, while Lawrence was second with a solid 1-3 day. "It's crazy," Cianciarulo said of his fourth win in a row. "Four in a row! It's crazy! I just would've never thought." Sexton rounded out the po-