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On his way to the podium, Jett Lawrence crashed multiple times in the Spring Creek National and he believes he knows why.
"I think I just need to kind of suck it up during the week and just go," Jett said after crashing hard in the second moto and finishing fifth. "I need time during the week because being familiar with your bike and being with it I think is a big thing."
Jett's crash came on Lap 11 while he commanded a seven-second lead over his brother, Hunter Lawrence.
Jett was in position to score the overall victory via Pro Motocross' tiebreaking procedure. When riders have identical points production, the better finish in the second moto is awarded the position. Instead, he finished third overall with results of second in Moto 1 and fifth in Moto 2.
The crash was atypical enough that Hunter didn't realize it had happened, and when he crossed under the checkered flag six laps later, he believed Jett had already won the race.
"During the week, I'm not riding as much," Jett continued. "I'm trying to save my ankle as much as I can. ... I'm not riding much during the week. I think after a little bit it was okay, but now it's starting to like just when we're changing settings. I'm just not knowing the bike as well. And then when I get to the race weekend, the first qualifying, you're trying to send it on a track that you haven't rode till the previous year. You're trying to ride yourself in but also get a good lap in."
The Cost of a Crash
More important than failing to log one more overall win, the crash cost Jett 11 points and stripped him of the red plate.
Jett said during the post-race media session that he is not concerned about points with four rounds remaining, but in a contest as tight as the Motocross championship has become in 2026, his current 10-point deficit could make the difference between defending his title and losing it for the first time in his career.
"I'm not worried about the points," Jett said. "I was six back, or three back, at Southwick and then I left with red plate. Obviously, I lost it again. It'll take its toll and whatever happens, happens. I mean, I'm either going to win it or I'm not. And that's kind of pretty simple and I'm going to try my best to win the races and get the points back."
For the record, Jett was three points behind Hunter entering Southwick. He left there with only a one-point advantage. Three points can be made up in a single moto. Ten points is much more difficult considering Hunter has finished second or better in six of the first seven Nationals this year.
"I think [the problem is] that new style I've created with my foot and kind of being sometimes a little forward," Jett said. "I'm like most of my weight's there instead of just my head. It just put that little bit too much weight and it pressured the front into that soft stuff and there was enough just to kind of carve it and then flick me over.
"I was okay. I got very lucky out of that thankfully. And then I looked like I got hit by a shotgun because the bike got me and got the back of my knee and it collapsed me. So not ideal. It was a bummer. I got to just kind of be thankful I'm okay after a rough weekend."
Unfortunately, the bike pinned him to the ground when the handlebar was jammed inside his boot.
Fortunately, the impact was to his left foot instead of the injured right foot.
Unintended Consequences
For Jett, it's been the law of unintended consequence.
The need to protect his foot has caused Jett to ride once during the middle of the week instead of what has typically been twice. The pain in his foot has also kept him from cycling, which takes away some overall fitness.
"I think that's why today, especially, why I crashed a lot because I can't really get in the positions I want to," Jett said. "I'm not ready for them as much because obviously during the week when I ride, I'm not pushing hard because we just need to get some ride time and obviously be careful with my foot and just make it to the weekend.
"That's the biggest thing, just make it to the weekend. And I think that's just kind of just a little bit each week's has kind of taken its toll on me a little bit. I just need to kind of get back and try and do a little bit close to the regular schedule I normally do."
