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00:00Rebs are out.
00:03Gates down.
00:08Prado drives it in deep.
00:10They're side by side.
00:11He went off the track to try to get Jet.
00:15Jet to the lead again, but Prado is second.
00:17Yeah, I guess it shows you what that confidence does with Jorge.
00:20He tried to get in there, but that right-handed, he couldn't stop.
00:22Jet Lawrence is out front.
00:24Eli Tomat got a better start.
00:25Looks like Hunter Lawrence slots up in their third place.
00:27All right, here it is for these guys.
00:30We wanted to see.
00:31Now Hunter putting pressure on Prado.
00:33Yeah, you can already see the gap that Jet's already able to get.
00:37It's going to be important for Eli to see if he can go past Hunter Lawrence up the inside.
00:41He makes the move.
00:42James, he's got it.
00:43Can he seal the deal?
00:45Hunter's fighting back.
00:46Yeah, he's got to try to block.
00:47Nice pass by Eli now.
00:49He's got to get around to number seven.
00:51He's going to be tough, but Eli knows he had the pace in the first moto.
00:55He believes he had the pace.
00:56Now he's got to get up there and run with these guys.
00:57They made some work on the track.
00:59He made some of these lines that he easily, inside and outside.
01:04Hey, they both have a lot to prove.
01:05It's not just Tomek that wants Lawrence.
01:07Much better.
01:09Jorge Prado today.
01:10Can he keep the 18 in sight?
01:13This is as highly anticipated a battle as Tomek versus Lawrence.
01:17What does Prado have to offer?
01:18We're going to find out.
01:19Yeah, in a way, Jorge's been riding all day long.
01:22We're kind of overlooking the fact that, you know, maybe Eli needs to get around them.
01:26But, man, Jorge's been riding really good.
01:28He's got some pace.
01:28So, can he get that pace going early this moto, this second moto, and keep Jett Lawrence in sight?
01:33We're going to find out.
01:34Yeah, this is a scenario everyone wanted to see.
01:38Jett with another hole shot, but these two have clear racetrack.
01:42Hunter riding well in fourth.
01:45Parsha fifth.
01:46And they are in full set mode of this first lap.
01:53Yeah, I mean, some of this track is starting to change up a lot.
01:56And I feel like with these guys, they just got to keep Jett within three, four seconds.
02:00Even if he's able to break them here in the beginning, if you can keep it in,
02:04because that beginning part of that first moto, Jett got that huge lead and didn't stabilize.
02:09You know, you heard Hunter talk about, you know, it was just an opening couple lapses.
02:12Man, I know that hurt Daddy Tomac right there, that overjump in there.
02:16But that lead stabilized, and those guys were able to hold that gap.
02:20But if he can get it, they keep stretching, it's going to race going to be over.
02:23So, it looks like Jorge's in a better position this moto for sure.
02:26Okay, so, James, how does Eli play it in third?
02:29Is he as desperate to pass Prado if he sees Prado keeping Jett in sight?
02:35How does he play?
02:35No, I think if Jorge keeps Jett in sight, like you said, Eli would just sit back.
02:41As long as he doesn't get that pressure from Hunter Lawrence,
02:43what he doesn't want is the A-team getting away from him.
02:46And it looks like Jorge right now actually has a really good pace, actually.
02:49He's kind of closing back in on Jett.
02:50So, yeah, Eli, let him play, you know, pick and roll style.
02:53Let Jorge go after him.
02:55Jorge hasn't had any experience against Jett Lawrence, so let him go for it.
02:59Looks good.
03:01I want to show you this start.
03:04Prado just wasn't going to let Jett Lawrence have it.
03:06Yeah, and you wonder, Jorge, he actually had to jump, but Jett was on the inside,
03:11and this is that right-handed first corner.
03:13The reason he goes out so far is because he can't stop.
03:15You know, he's got to slide and slide that bike before he has to turn.
03:19So you can tell by his attitude, Jorge wanted to be up front.
03:24That was the most aggressive I've seen him off the start.
03:25So, look, it started from practice, been fast.
03:29Now you're starting to see that two-time champion that we've seen out here.
03:34So you can continue that.
03:35Well, remember back to the opening round of the championship
03:37where they didn't run that scoop tire, which is usually better for starts,
03:41and the word for the team was not ready to hole shot yet.
03:45I think we've seen a different style off the start today.
03:47Yeah, no, you're seeing a whole different rider out here today.
03:50Just like we saw in Tom Bial in that 250 class,
03:53once these guys get a sense of any kind of confidence,
03:55and I felt like where Jorge, yeah, he might be struggling on a bike, new tracks,
03:59but it really just comes down to he believes,
04:01and whether he finishes this off is a good sign of what we're seeing from the Kawasaki.
04:06And that first moto, Jet Lawrence already had a seven-second lead by this point.
04:09So Jorge has found his form, and I do believe if he stays here,
04:14we're going to have a race here.
04:16And we're going to go back to the question we've asked.
04:18It feels like 100 times.
04:20This 1.3-second gap, is that right where Lawrence wants to go?
04:25Or are they seriously applying pressure?
04:28It's been this way so many times.
04:31Now it's time to play the game with Prado.
04:33Yeah, I would say on this racetrack, that 1.3, this isn't where you want.
04:39I mean, we saw that.
04:40That's not enough.
04:40No, just because how quickly Southwick is.
04:43And you've got to think, it's going to be a difficult race.
04:45It's going to be tough.
04:46All three of these guys are in shape.
04:48But once you get in those lap traffic,
04:49there's a lot of places on this racetrack where you get stuck behind them.
04:52So that's a little too close for comfort.
04:55Interesting.
04:56That's your old buddy Chad Reed there, who, he lives at Club MX.
05:00That's where Prado's been riding for the last week.
05:02And we saw Chad down at the starting line,
05:04talking to Prado before the Modos sent it to Will.
05:07Chad, you've been at Club MX.
05:12Jorge Prado's been at Club MX.
05:13There's been a lot going on there this weekend.
05:15Wow, have we seen some serious improvement.
05:18Are you officially working together?
05:20Give us the update on that.
05:21And what are you seeing in Jorge today?
05:23You know, I think Jorge's results and inoculates speak for themselves.
05:28And I don't think that that's a representative of who he has been up until this point.
05:32So, yeah, I mean, I guess when you really look at the big picture,
05:37I've been to so many of those things that he's going through.
05:38You know, a new country, a new team, new people.
05:42If I can help, I would love to.
05:45You know, like you think about your 43-year-old self
05:48and you wish that, you know, at 24 years old,
05:51you had somebody with knowledge that would help.
05:53And I'm just that passionate, crazy guy that loves coming to the races
05:59and I have a wife at home that's just equally as passionate
06:02that allows me to do it.
06:03So he's made big progress this week and that's flowed over to this weekend.
06:07So for me as a friend, as a, you know, as a Club MX guidance guy,
06:14it's a real pleasure to see him take a step.
06:16And all that experience that you were talking about, all those laps,
06:19not only have helped Jorge, but they've also got you into the AMA Hall of Fame.
06:24So congratulations on that.
06:25How does that feel to be in that situation?
06:27You know, that's a, it's not something that you achieve, right?
06:30Like, it's not a thing you chased as a kid.
06:32It's just something that after years and years of committed,
06:36being passionate, you know, racing the best guys in the world.
06:40Those are the, you know, the things that come your way
06:43and it just makes me beyond, I can't even put it into words,
06:46how, like, proud I am, you know?
06:48I feel like my friends, my old competitors are all in there.
06:52I just raced too long.
06:54So now this was the first year that I was eligible.
06:57And so I really am appreciative of what the AMA does
07:00and I feel really honored.
07:02Very well deserved.
07:03Thank you for your time, Chad.
07:04We appreciate it.
07:06Yeah, congratulations, Chad.
07:08I mean, I know when he's get up there, it is a special feeling.
07:11And what he was talking about with Jorge, you know,
07:13just helping him out, you would think,
07:15in most sports they're talking about coaching, you know,
07:17working on your basketball game, your jump shot.
07:19I don't think Jorge needs any help on his technique
07:21or how he rides a motorcycle.
07:22But what Chad did say right there was that experience
07:25as Eli almost goes down.
07:27It's the experience of, like, just having somebody that, like,
07:30look, man, if you just stayed a course, I've been there through this.
07:33Like, look, I've experienced this.
07:35I've moved to a different country.
07:36Like, I've struggled like this, and I think that's what Jorge needs.
07:39And maybe that's the signs of life that we see in him today.
07:42Maybe he got that help from Chad, JT.
07:44Yeah, yeah, and I don't claim to have the answers.
07:47I mean, it could be the help of Chad.
07:48I mean, it could be Eli yelling at Jorge Prado
07:50because when Chad wasn't riding very well, I'll tell you what happened.
07:53Eli went in and gave him an earful and told him who he was,
07:57and he needed to remember that.
07:58So maybe there's a little bit of that going on.
08:00But regardless, the team testing, Jorge believing in himself,
08:03I'll tell you one thing.
08:04You can pull the pictures off the telephone poles.
08:06You can take his picture off of the milk jugs.
08:08Jorge Prado is no longer missing.
08:11He has arrived.
08:11He has held Tomac back,
08:13and he's only three seconds behind the lead right now,
08:15and I cannot express how different he looks on the motorcycle
08:18than the eight motos prior.
08:20Yeah, I agree.
08:21And to take it further,
08:22I don't think Jorge's been at these first four races.
08:25We've been seeing George out there riding.
08:26Jorge's back, so it's the first time he showed up all year long.
08:30It's good to see, but, you know, really, it does come off.
08:34We've got a red flag.
08:34Oh, wait.
08:35We've got a roll is jumped.
08:37Red cross flag.
08:38Meanwhile, back to this battle.
08:40This is Justin Cooper and Justin Barsha.
08:42That's eighth and ninth behind Webb.
08:44Closest fight on the track right now.
08:47Look at Jake Cooper on the outside on Barsha.
08:49Oh, that's a brave move right there.
08:51You know, Justin, he's just coming back from injuries,
08:53so normally that pass wouldn't be able to be made,
08:55but, man, I know Justin Cooper is,
08:59he's obviously, he's got a lot of speed,
09:01and this might be a frustrating day to him
09:03because every time we've seen him,
09:04he's been moving his way up,
09:06but these stars have killed him,
09:07and that's not normal like Justin Cooper.
09:09At least one moto, he gets a good start,
09:10so another bad start for Justin Cooper
09:14and making his way up,
09:15and he's going to have to go out this teammate next.
09:16Yep, they battled in moto one.
09:18Cooper Webb, Justin Cooper,
09:20seventh and eighth.
09:22Oh, hold on to that, Cooper Webb.
09:25Yeah, that's a tough one.
09:27Then it looks like Justin Cooper
09:28goes off the racetracks as well.
09:31Look at Jake Coop, though.
09:33He's hanging it out.
09:34No, he's looked really aggressive,
09:38and for whatever reason,
09:39it seems like the guys who's coming up to the pack,
09:41whether it was Joe Shimoda, Tom Biao,
09:43man, they have this riding style
09:44that you look at,
09:45it's like, man,
09:46they look really comfortable and aggressive,
09:48and Justin Cooper is another one
09:50where I've seen him today.
09:51It looks like he's hanging it out a lot more
09:52and he's got some pace,
09:53so you just wonder if he was up front
09:55what that would do.
09:57Well, you can learn more about these two.
10:00Check out Yamaha's Beyond the Gate.
10:02That is on the At Yamaha Motor USA
10:04YouTube channel every week,
10:06and you get the inside look
10:08at Yamaha's factory-supported teams.
10:10Again, that's At Yamaha Motor USA
10:12YouTube channel.
10:14New shows weekly,
10:15including Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb,
10:18who probably battled like this a lot
10:20during the week
10:21at that star racing facility there.
10:24Yeah, you can see Justin Cooper
10:26dropping back,
10:27and I do feel like, yeah,
10:28Cooper's made that mistake
10:30and Justin was able to close up,
10:31and I wouldn't say it's necessarily
10:32Cooper picking up the pace,
10:34but just rather where Justin Cooper
10:35knows where he's going to be able
10:36to pass him at.
10:37So if Justin's been really strong
10:40on this side of the racetrack,
10:41once it opens up,
10:42getting closer to the finish line,
10:44so maybe there's an opportunity
10:45to make some passes.
10:46We just saw the last lap.
10:48He was able to get around
10:48Justin Barsha.
10:50We'll see what happens.
10:52So Hunter Lawrence
10:54has caught Tomac here.
10:55They continue to have to roll this jump
10:57with the red cross flag out.
10:59So right now,
11:00here's how the overall
11:01would break down.
11:03It would be Chet Lawrence,
11:05Tomac, and Hunter.
11:07One, two, three.
11:08But if Hunter passes Tomac,
11:09that could actually put Prado
11:11on the overall podium today.
11:13And Hunter's putting in
11:15quite a charge.
11:16Yeah, I'm not going to lie,
11:17I'm a little, like,
11:19questioning what's going on
11:20with Eli.
11:21I mean, you know,
11:22he was right there,
11:23and you asked me earlier,
11:24was he sitting behind Jorge
11:25because Jorge was keeping him,
11:27but now he's 10 seconds back,
11:28and a couple laps later,
11:29you know,
11:30he doesn't even look the same.
11:32So you wonder if it's,
11:35he just realized Jett's
11:36on a different level,
11:37and that might be demoralizing,
11:39or maybe something else happened,
11:40or maybe he hurt himself,
11:42but this is not the Eli
11:43that we expected to see,
11:45especially after listening
11:45to him on that podium.
11:46He knew what he needed to do,
11:48and he was able to somewhat do that.
11:49But it's a big, um,
11:52big statement here
11:53by Jett Lawrence,
11:54depending on what's going
11:55to Eli at this moment.
11:57Yeah, we thought Eli
11:57might beast mode it here
11:58and get stronger late in the race,
12:00but instead he's going
12:01the other direction,
12:02and Hunter Lawrence,
12:03he's not going anywhere,
12:05keeping the heat on
12:05the number three.
12:06Meanwhile,
12:08Jett has opened up
12:09an 8.6 second gap
12:10on Prado,
12:12but I would imagine
12:13if you're Prado,
12:14that's not demoralizing
12:15in the same way
12:15of at least
12:16this is a massive improvement.
12:18No, and truthfully,
12:19the only rider
12:20that's probably,
12:21you know,
12:22it's hurting
12:22and being demoralized
12:23right now,
12:24and again,
12:24Eli's been here,
12:26done that,
12:26so no offense,
12:27it is Eli
12:28because I feel like
12:29Hunter Lawrence,
12:30this is a good feeling
12:30for him.
12:31If he's able to get around
12:32Eli Tomac here
12:32at Southwick,
12:33that's a benefit.
12:34Jorge,
12:34it's a benefit,
12:35and of course,
12:36Jett Lawrence
12:37is a benefit,
12:37so all three of these guys
12:39are right here,
12:39but all of them
12:40are feeling
12:40completely different.
12:42Just feel like
12:43that number three,
12:43there must be
12:44something going on
12:44because,
12:45you know,
12:46I don't care
12:47beast mode or not,
12:48for him to run down
12:49Jett Lawrence,
12:50like if he's been
12:50saving that up,
12:51that would be probably
12:52his best ride ever
12:53in his whole career.
12:54I don't think
12:54Eli's that confidence
12:56to be able to give
12:56that guy this much gap
12:58to be able to pull him down.
12:59Now actually getting
12:59Prado back in sight,
13:00but here comes
13:01the 96 of Hunter.
13:03He's on the inside
13:04and makes the move.
13:08That was,
13:08like I said,
13:09you can tell by
13:10his body language
13:11and even right now
13:12with Eli,
13:13there's definitely
13:14something going on
13:14and I,
13:16yeah,
13:16he looks tired,
13:17but I have a hard time
13:19believing that
13:19he's actually tired
13:20at this moment,
13:21so difficult position.
13:23Now,
13:23by the way,
13:24over that jump,
13:24that red cross flag,
13:25that's why they're
13:25not clearing that jump.
13:26That is a wheels
13:27on the ground flag.
13:28You can't clear the jumps,
13:30so they momentarily
13:31pause the charge
13:33and then it's back
13:34up to speed
13:35for Hunter.
13:37Could be a Lawrence
13:38one-two again
13:39because now Prado
13:41is in his sights.
13:42Yeah,
13:42and if you look
13:43at the overall,
13:43like you said,
13:44it moves Jorge
13:45up to third position
13:47and the way he rode
13:49that first moto,
13:49this is well-deserved
13:50if he's somehow
13:51able to finish him off
13:52and hold on
13:53to this position.
13:55Now,
13:55I think if Hunter
13:57gets Prado,
13:58that could put Tomac
13:59maybe back up
14:00on the podium
14:01depending on how
14:02this all shakes out.
14:04Man,
14:07the 96 looks good.
14:08Yeah,
14:08no,
14:09he looks good.
14:09I mean,
14:09even that first moto,
14:10he looked good.
14:11He was just,
14:12unfortunately,
14:13his brother got out
14:14too quickly,
14:14but it just seems like
14:15these HRC Honda,
14:17these guys done figured
14:18out the way
14:19to really rod this racetrack
14:21by jumping around
14:22and even Jorge,
14:22he looks good,
14:23but to me,
14:24it looks like Hunter's
14:25bike's not moving
14:26around that much.
14:26He's able to jump
14:27just far enough,
14:28being really patient
14:29in certain parts
14:30and it's just saving
14:31a lot of energy
14:31and the same thing
14:32that happened
14:33in the first moto,
14:34Hunter was in a position
14:35to save some energy
14:36as well because
14:36Jet was so far in front.
14:38Hunter had a good gap
14:39on third place,
14:40so maybe these two
14:41are probably the most
14:42fresh guys out here
14:43and they went one
14:44and two that first moto.
14:46And saving some energy
14:47again because Jet Lawrence
14:48has opened it up
14:49to 12 seconds.
14:50So I'd assume
14:51that goes to your point
14:52of, yeah,
14:52this is not the day
14:53to manage the 1.3
14:54second gap,
14:55not on this track.
14:56He's opening it up
14:57at an alarming rate again.
14:58No,
14:59and he is
14:59and now he has
15:00that gap
15:01and just what we saw
15:02with Hayden Deegan
15:03and even Jet
15:04in that beginning part
15:04of that first moto,
15:06now he's able
15:06to really patient
15:07and take all the risk
15:08out if there's
15:09some rough parts
15:10in his racetrack.
15:12He'll just go
15:12a little bit slower here.
15:13He can pick his way
15:14around this racetrack
15:14to where he's saving energy
15:16and, man,
15:18these two motos
15:20have been by far
15:21the most dominant motos
15:22that he's had
15:22probably in his 450 career.
15:24He came out here
15:25with a point
15:25and to have Eli Tomac
15:27in third place,
15:29Jorge Roden
15:29as good as he is.
15:30I mean,
15:30to pull the gap
15:31on this field,
15:33I don't even know
15:34what to say,
15:34but this is dominant.
15:36And the domination
15:38train continues for him,
15:39so we refocus on this.
15:42Prado versus Hunter Lawrence
15:43for a second,
15:44and there you see the gap.
15:47JT.
15:48Well,
15:48just listening to James there,
15:50you know,
15:50talking about dominance
15:51and it just feels like
15:52Jets back to 100%,
15:54and I think we were fooled
15:55a little bit
15:55because he came out,
15:56he won right away,
15:57and we're like,
15:57man,
15:57he looks really good,
15:58but this is just
16:00the next year that he has.
16:01And, you know,
16:02there are a lot of Tomac fans
16:03in this world,
16:04me being one of them,
16:05but you just watch
16:06Jet ride right now,
16:07and he's starting
16:08to pull away,
16:09and he's gaining
16:09more confidence
16:11as the rounds go on,
16:12and just wonder,
16:13is there a way
16:14for anybody
16:15to find a way
16:16to win here?
16:16Because I just think
16:18he's going to get better
16:19from here,
16:19and that's a very scary
16:20thing for 39 other guys.
16:22JT,
16:23to that point there,
16:24are we seeing
16:25Jet in his best light here?
16:27I was talking
16:28to his trainer,
16:29Johnny O'Baron,
16:29asking that question earlier,
16:31and he said,
16:31yes,
16:32as an athlete,
16:33he's like,
16:33bike, bike aside,
16:34we're in a great place,
16:35but we're always working,
16:36we're always going to
16:37continue working,
16:38but he said,
16:38as an athlete,
16:39yes,
16:40I believe that you
16:40are seeing the best version
16:42of Jet Lawrence,
16:42and we're seeing the same
16:43sort of healthy version
16:45of him that we did see
16:46prior to the ACL injury.
16:48Scary thought
16:50for everyone
16:50if he's getting better
16:51halfway through this moto.
16:53Very minor
16:54that monster energy
16:55available now.
16:57And let's see
16:58if Prado can prevent
16:59the Lawrence brothers
17:001-2.
17:02He certainly watched
17:03them quite a bit
17:04from afar,
17:05racing MXGP.
17:06Now it's going to be
17:07one-on-one,
17:08and he goes down.
17:09Oh,
17:09that's a bummer.
17:10That lap rider was in front,
17:11and it looks like
17:12Jorge loses the front,
17:14and man,
17:15this is the worst position
17:16because that bike
17:16has gotten really heavy
17:18at this time of the day,
17:19but they had a pretty gamut.
17:21About 10 seconds,
17:2212 seconds on air,
17:22and...
17:24Oh,
17:25and that's going to cost them
17:26the moto and overall podium.
17:29Should slide Tomek
17:30back up there
17:31with the Lawrences.
17:32JT.
17:33Hi,
17:33and one of the things
17:34for those who haven't
17:35ever been in this position
17:36of racing a crash
17:37late in a moto like this,
17:38and James,
17:39you and I both have done
17:40this so many times
17:41in the course of our life,
17:42it's the things
17:43you don't think about
17:43because as he's
17:44going around the track,
17:45you know,
17:45he's averaging 30,
17:4640 miles an hour.
17:47You have this constant breeze.
17:49There's wind always on you,
17:50cooling you down.
17:51When you stop
17:52and you're standing there
17:53and you're trying to pick up
17:54a 250-pound motorcycle,
17:56you don't get any breeze anymore,
17:57and your body temperature
17:58immediately shoots up,
18:00and that's the hardest part
18:01is to get cooled down,
18:02get your body,
18:03and your heart rate
18:04back down
18:05to be manageable again.
18:06So you see him shaking his head,
18:08it's frustration,
18:09and it's also,
18:10his body temperature
18:11is skyrocketing
18:11in that moment.
18:13Yeah, I mean,
18:14I agree.
18:15It's, I mean,
18:16and it's weird how it hits you.
18:17It's like an instant stop,
18:19and for sure,
18:21Jorge,
18:21how's good he's been rotting?
18:23I don't care
18:23if he pulls off
18:24the racetrack at this point.
18:25I mean,
18:25it's been a successful day
18:26for him,
18:26and I think
18:27he just continued going,
18:28but definitely gonna be hard
18:30to recover after that
18:31with all that heat.
18:32I'll tell you
18:34who's recovered here,
18:35James Stewart.
18:37Eli Tomac's back.
18:38Started a close pack in
18:40on Hunter Lawrence,
18:41and he was 3 tenths
18:42of a second faster
18:43the last time around.
18:44I don't know
18:44what happened there
18:45for a few laps,
18:47but he's going fast again.
18:48Yeah, I bet,
18:49like, maybe the mechanics
18:50or Eli saw something,
18:52but this was really
18:53pride kicking in
18:54because, you know,
18:55Eli's goal is not to
18:56beat Hunter Lawrence
18:57and get second place.
18:58His goal is to run
18:59with Jet Lawrence,
19:00so, you know,
19:01I don't feel like
19:01he was
19:02sitting back
19:03and just like,
19:04all right,
19:04I'm gonna just make my way
19:05and just get second.
19:06There was probably
19:06some little bit
19:07of frustration going on
19:09watching Jet Lawrence
19:10pull away from him
19:11and for whatever reason
19:12he couldn't do anything
19:13with Jorge Prada,
19:14so now he starts
19:15dropping back,
19:16and that's not the Eli
19:17that we've seen
19:18for the last few years,
19:19so I'm sure this is
19:20a little bit of pride
19:21kicking in.
19:22Realize that this championship
19:23is still far from over,
19:25and, you know,
19:26we don't want to see
19:26those signs of where
19:27he goes missing
19:28at this point,
19:29so long race.
19:31He's got a long time
19:32to see if he can
19:34work on Hunter Lawrence,
19:35but there's just
19:35certain areas
19:36that watching Eli Rod
19:38and even with Hunter
19:39that I see with Jet.
19:40Jet's just really
19:41attacking this racetrack,
19:42how he's just jumping
19:43out a little bit farther.
19:44It really makes the race
19:45a lot easier
19:46for Jet Lawrence,
19:47and unfortunate
19:48for these guys,
19:49they can't see that
19:50until they go back
19:51and watch the race tomorrow,
19:52but they'll see
19:52where Jet's really
19:53making his time up.
19:55If you look overall
19:55as fast as lap time,
19:57and I mean,
19:57Jorge with Eli,
19:59they're within a second,
20:00so it's not like
20:01he's going three,
20:01four seconds faster,
20:02but over time,
20:04jumping far
20:05and really picking
20:05his racetrack out
20:06has really gotten Jet
20:07that gap,
20:07and that's going to be
20:08frustrating for all
20:09those other guys.
20:10This battle here
20:11is Plessinger
20:12and Hampshire
20:13running fourth
20:14and fifth.
20:15These guys ride
20:16and train together
20:17during the week,
20:18so it's probably
20:19a familiar situation
20:20for them also
20:21to be season best
20:23for RJ already
20:25in fifth.
20:26He's had a lot
20:26of sixth-place finishes
20:27this year.
20:28He's fifth,
20:29but he wants fourth.
20:31Good to get him
20:32in this mix.
20:33Remember,
20:33we have the story
20:34that it's been
20:34the same top five
20:36overall in every race
20:38this year.
20:39Brado is currently
20:40fifth overall,
20:41so he's going to break
20:42that as Justin Cooper
20:43as that's a bad
20:44starts today.
20:45RJ Hampshire
20:46showing he can
20:47roll with that group.
20:48Yeah,
20:48RJ's been looking
20:49really good all day long.
20:51I mean,
20:51to me,
20:51he's another guy
20:52that's been charging,
20:53and ever since he got
20:54on his 450,
20:55we were talking
20:56about him earlier,
20:56so maybe I'll just
20:58calm down a little bit
20:58because we were
20:59talking about him
20:59and he fell over,
21:00but I talked to him
21:02in between the race,
21:03and he said he was
21:03just more comfortable,
21:05and he made some changes
21:06on the motorcycle.
21:07He felt better,
21:08and you can start
21:08to see it,
21:09and like you mentioned,
21:10he gets used to riding
21:12with Aaron Plessinger,
21:13so at some point,
21:13you just want to go get,
21:15I would say,
21:15his teammate or riding
21:16competitor,
21:18and he knows,
21:19hey, Aaron's this close
21:21to him,
21:21maybe I'll go to get him,
21:22but I believe our day
21:23and the Husqvarna team
21:25has stepped it up,
21:26and it's good
21:26to see him out here.
21:27Maybe you can break
21:27that out and spell
21:28that top five.
21:31Yeah,
21:32surprised to see
21:32Justin Cooper
21:33as the one
21:34who might not be able
21:35to keep that end
21:36of the bargain going
21:37as far as the same five
21:38being top five
21:39at every race
21:39because he was so fast
21:40this morning,
21:42but a rare day
21:43of two bad starts,
21:44so he's fired at seventh
21:45even with the crash.
21:47Prado is sixth
21:47ahead of him,
21:49and then just ahead
21:50of that,
21:51these two.
21:55And what do you see
21:57in here?
21:57How much gas is left
21:59in the figurative tank?
22:01Well,
22:02I would say Aaron
22:04the lights on
22:05at this point.
22:06The lights on
22:07because if he's on E.
22:08Yeah,
22:08when you saw him
22:09land off that job,
22:10he almost hit his head
22:11on the crossfire pad,
22:12so I know there's
22:14some breaking bumps
22:14out here,
22:15but that body's
22:15starting to feel,
22:16and again,
22:17that's kind of,
22:18that's expected
22:19here at Southwick.
22:19He's still fighting.
22:21He's going to have
22:21some motivation
22:21fighting against
22:22his teammate
22:23and R.J.,
22:24but yeah,
22:25the gaslight's on
22:26for sure.
22:27Meanwhile,
22:28Anderson,
22:29Jason Anderson,
22:29who will talk to
22:30between motos,
22:31he has pulled out
22:32of his moto,
22:32dealing with the stomach
22:33issue,
22:34growing up in the races,
22:35tried,
22:36not going to be able
22:37to finish this one,
22:37made it 20 minutes.
22:39Plessinger's still digging.
22:42Actually,
22:42open it back up.
22:44Yeah,
22:44as quickly as we're
22:45sitting here
22:46talking about Aaron
22:46and how quickly
22:48R.J.
22:48got to him.
22:49You know,
22:49you look at that gap,
22:50and it's been like
22:51that all day long.
22:52Guys,
22:52once they close in him,
22:53that gap just
22:54stretches out,
22:54so yeah,
22:56it seems like
22:56if Aaron would just
22:57jump out another
22:5810 feet,
22:59it would make that
23:00racetrack so much
23:01easier.
23:01It would be a lot
23:02smoother,
23:02and that momentum
23:03will carry up,
23:03but again,
23:05you know,
23:06not picking on him
23:06because look,
23:07I've been in that
23:07same spot,
23:08just hindsight,
23:10you can kind of
23:10see it from this
23:11point of view,
23:12and it makes
23:12life easier
23:13for these guys.
23:16JT.
23:17Well,
23:17for AP here,
23:18James,
23:18you know,
23:19I watch him ride here,
23:20it's not like
23:20he's doing poorly,
23:21he's in fourth place,
23:22but I think AP's
23:24the classic example
23:24of a guy who
23:25really didn't
23:25grow up in the sand.
23:26Oh,
23:27JT,
23:28maybe the lack
23:29of experience
23:29showing there,
23:30we're cursing
23:31everyone with
23:32the announcer's curse
23:32today.
23:33Yeah,
23:33no,
23:34that wasn't JT,
23:34but I can tell
23:35when you saw
23:36when AP fell,
23:37he slid down,
23:38it was like
23:38he was in slow motion
23:39at that point,
23:40that body and
23:41that sudden heat
23:42that hits you,
23:43it's tough,
23:44JT.
23:45Yeah,
23:46and the point
23:46I was going to make
23:47before I jinxed him
23:48there was,
23:49he just looks like
23:50a guy who is
23:50incredibly good,
23:51but is not a
23:52naturally gifted
23:53sand rider.
23:54Like,
23:54he's just fighting
23:54the motorcycle,
23:55he's fighting
23:56the race,
23:56because you think
23:57about a race like
23:58High Point,
23:58you think about
23:59Colorado,
24:00he was working
24:01with the racetrack,
24:02he looked so
24:02comfortable,
24:03and this is the
24:04exact episode of that,
24:05and now he's got
24:05Jorge Prior to
24:06contend with.
24:08Yep,
24:08they're all
24:08passing him now,
24:10as that humidity
24:11catches up,
24:12and you can see
24:13the aggression
24:13is gone,
24:14and here comes
24:14Justin Cooper.
24:16Yeah,
24:16I mean,
24:16and when we talk
24:18about that heat
24:18and that
24:19Kawasaki signs
24:20the Supercross,
24:21this is what
24:21they're talking
24:22about,
24:22how that body
24:23reacts when the
24:24heat and all
24:25that stuff gets
24:26close to him,
24:26because I'm sure
24:26Aaron at this point
24:27started to feel
24:28lightheaded,
24:29like, you know,
24:30things that hit him,
24:30and, you know,
24:31that fall really
24:32just kind of
24:33caused that,
24:34because he was
24:34already on the
24:35limit,
24:36as all these guys is,
24:37but when you stop,
24:38you got to pick
24:38that bike up,
24:39it's really hard for him,
24:40but it shows you
24:42how dedicated
24:42all these athletes are,
24:43because he'll recover,
24:44and he'll still
24:45stay out here
24:45for this moto,
24:46and, man,
24:48that's just tough.
24:48So we'll review
24:51some of these
24:52errors here,
24:53that's what's
24:53allowing Jacob
24:54to move toward
24:55the front,
24:55here's Prado's
24:56troubles,
24:57this is the
24:59first moto
24:59battling with
25:00Tomac,
25:01over the bars,
25:03yeah,
25:03it loses that front,
25:04I actually believe
25:05his front end
25:05went over that
25:06one,
25:06and then here
25:09moto two,
25:11running second,
25:11yeah,
25:15it looked like
25:15he actually
25:16might have ran
25:16into that lap
25:17rotter,
25:18or he was trying
25:18to get out
25:18of that rut
25:19that was built,
25:19but either way,
25:21two costly mistakes,
25:22because, I mean,
25:23he was rotting
25:23really good,
25:24but still,
25:25still two crashes,
25:27got the fight
25:28on really tough
25:29conditions,
25:30I mean,
25:31if you hear
25:31Kawasaki,
25:31you see how
25:32Jorge jumped out
25:33that distance,
25:35that's where
25:35I was mentioning
25:35with Aaron
25:36and those guys,
25:37and even Jorge
25:38came up shorter,
25:38so if he jumped
25:39out another half a foot,
25:40it would be a lot
25:41smoother,
25:41but what it really
25:42helps him,
25:43one,
25:43it's a lot smoother
25:44because you are
25:44jumping,
25:45but it carries
25:45your momentum up,
25:46so you don't have
25:47to pick that speed
25:48back up
25:48and fight that
25:49next corner,
25:50so it makes
25:51that whole section
25:51a lot easier,
25:52like I said,
25:53a lot easier
25:53on this side of things,
25:55just the difference
25:55between what you're
25:56seeing from these guys
25:57and Jet Lawrence,
25:58and I think
25:58that's where
25:58that gap really
25:59comes from,
26:00that 15-second lead
26:01this guy's got
26:02over these guys.
26:03Prado getting
26:04through lap traffic
26:05while dealing
26:05with the pressure
26:06of Justin Cooper,
26:07they just got around
26:08Josh Tote,
26:09who we mentioned
26:10earlier,
26:10is the Rocky Mountain
26:12ATV MC Privateer
26:13of the week,
26:13gets extra $2,000,
26:15Tote the local,
26:16but he's an off-road
26:17racer,
26:17won the big GMCC
26:18at Snowshoe Mountain
26:19last week,
26:20but wanted to come out
26:20and race his local
26:21motocross,
26:22qualified,
26:23Tote is in 27th,
26:25they also just got
26:26around Joey Crown,
26:27was once a big-time
26:29prospect for Kawasaki
26:30as an amateur,
26:31was into retirement,
26:32he's coming back
26:32to race here
26:33and next week
26:33at Redbud,
26:35Crown now a lap down,
26:36and through that,
26:37Prado is having
26:38to negotiate
26:39those riders,
26:40Justin Cooper
26:41just not giving up,
26:43bottom boxes
26:43the leader,
26:44Jett Lawrence
26:45who has lap traffic,
26:46more of it
26:47to deal with.
26:49Yeah,
26:50I mean,
26:50all these guys
26:51out here surviving,
26:52the one guy
26:53that looks like
26:53he's having fun,
26:54I would say two guys,
26:55both Lawrence,
26:56Hunter and Jett,
26:58I mean,
26:58Hunter was able
26:59to get around,
27:00I mean,
27:00pull away from Eli,
27:01Tomac,
27:01actually passed him
27:02earlier,
27:02now getting
27:03a five-second gap
27:04on him
27:05and Jett looks like
27:06he's having
27:06a Saturday cruise
27:07out here.
27:09It's a big day
27:10for all these guys.
27:13No cruise
27:13for Jacob though,
27:15he is powering
27:16down to try
27:17to get Prado.
27:20And he's currently
27:21tied for sixth
27:22overall with
27:24Hampshire,
27:25Hampshire has the edge
27:26so this would move
27:27him to sixth
27:28if he could make
27:29this pass,
27:29but I don't know
27:29if it has anything
27:30to do with that.
27:31You just see
27:32someone in front
27:32of him
27:32and just wants
27:34to make moves.
27:35Yeah,
27:35he wants to make
27:35moves and then,
27:37you know,
27:37sometimes you can
27:38you can fill it out
27:39and you got a guy
27:40in front of you,
27:40but I would say
27:41Jacob hasn't raced
27:42this,
27:43you know,
27:44he's been racing
27:44George,
27:45not Jorge,
27:45so for him,
27:47I again,
27:48I still say
27:49this is a good win
27:49for Monster Ninja
27:51Kawasaki
27:51and stuff like that
27:52and Jacob,
27:53it's going to be
27:54a good day
27:55the way he rode,
27:56but really just
27:58difficult position
27:59for him to be
27:59in given all
28:00that track position
28:00up those first few
28:01laps.
28:02Yeah,
28:03not the typical
28:04good starts for him,
28:04but there he is
28:05right there
28:07on Prado's rear wheel
28:09now.
28:10This is for fifth.
28:11Hampshire's fourth.
28:14Plessis goes behind
28:14him because he crashed.
28:18Yeah,
28:18Jacob knows,
28:19like,
28:19all right,
28:20if I can get
28:21Jorge now,
28:22I might be able
28:22to pull away from him
28:24because I don't think
28:24Jorge have too much fight.
28:25There you go.
28:26No fight.
28:27So Jacob makes
28:28a pass
28:29into fifth.
28:32And he's still
28:33going to miss
28:34that top five
28:35overall.
28:35It'll still be fifth
28:38for Prado that's
28:39going to break
28:40that string
28:40with the same
28:42five.
28:43To Lawrence's,
28:44Tomac,
28:45Plessinger,
28:45and Justin Cooper,
28:46they've been top five
28:47in every race this year.
28:48It's going to be fourth
28:52overall now for Cooper.
28:54Wow,
28:54that changed
28:55in a hurry.
28:55Yeah.
28:57A couple guys go down.
28:58There you see
28:59on the left side,
28:59that's the overall.
29:01Lawrence,
29:01Lawrence,
29:01Tomac.
29:04Justin Cooper now tied
29:05with Prado,
29:05but the tiebreaker
29:06is that pass,
29:07second moto.
29:08Yes,
29:09overall,
29:09I mean,
29:10kind of where he's been
29:11at all year long.
29:13Yep,
29:13good start,
29:14bad start.
29:16Now here's something
29:17incredible,
29:18James.
29:18I don't know
29:19if it's good news
29:19that you want to hear,
29:20but if Jet Lawrence
29:21holds on to win this
29:22overall,
29:23I mean,
29:23it's 20th career win.
29:25It's going to tie you
29:26for eight all time
29:27in this 450 class.
29:30It's happening
29:30in a hurry.
29:31Yeah,
29:31I feel like we had
29:32such a good flow
29:33going today.
29:34Okay.
29:34It's just kind of
29:35something.
29:35Yeah,
29:36I mean,
29:36but look,
29:37something changed.
29:38Hey,
29:39you know what?
29:40I mean,
29:40when the guy wins,
29:41what,
29:41it'd be 20 out of 21.
29:43Yes.
29:43What he does,
29:44I mean,
29:44eventually,
29:44the record was coming down,
29:46so,
29:47man,
29:47I'm just,
29:48I'm just impressed
29:49watching the kid ride,
29:50and I would say,
29:51again,
29:51this is probably
29:52the most dominant
29:53ride that he's had
29:54his whole career
29:55by far the best,
29:56and just like we
29:57talk about in Supercross,
29:59going to somebody
30:00else's favorite track,
30:01I believe he showed
30:02up here meeting
30:03business life,
30:04and he gave him
30:06boys business
30:06so far today
30:07if he can keep it going.
30:08one other story
30:11I want to tell,
30:11they're lapping,
30:12let's see,
30:13214 to the Lawrence's
30:14right now,
30:15towback at 218,
30:16qualifying,
30:17they were running
30:18201 was the fast time
30:21for Justin Cooper,
30:22just talk about that.
30:23Yeah,
30:25I mean,
30:25this track breaks down,
30:26and we saw
30:27the advantage
30:28that you can get
30:29from being the,
30:30you know,
30:31the beef practice,
30:31like we like to say,
30:32these guys have an opportunity
30:33to get out on the track
30:34and how smooth it is,
30:35but,
30:35yeah,
30:35a lot of that goes
30:36for the track
30:37super rough,
30:38and this is the only
30:38racetrack you'll go to
30:39all year long
30:40that you'll see
30:41the differences
30:41in lap times,
30:42and one,
30:44the track has gotten
30:45a lot rougher,
30:47that's one,
30:48but all tracks do that,
30:49they all start off smooth,
30:51but I really think
30:52it comes down to
30:52just the fitness
30:53and just how hard it is
30:55to race this racetrack,
30:56and not only you're
30:57dealing with all the bumps,
30:58but you're dealing
30:59with the bike moving
31:00quite a bit
31:01because it is so hard
31:02packed and,
31:02you know,
31:03slippery,
31:04so just a lot
31:05of mental power,
31:06I think that's
31:07the lap times,
31:07Jay.
31:08Yeah,
31:09Justin Cooper,
31:1019 seconds slower
31:11than he was in qualifying,
31:12that's not him,
31:12and that's the track.
31:13This battle,
31:14now you've got
31:15Plessiger and Webb
31:16with Prado in sight,
31:17but Webb versus
31:18Plessiger is big.
31:20Justin Cooper,
31:21Webb and Plessiger
31:22are one, two, three
31:23in the SMX combined
31:25playoff rankings.
31:27Webb's ahead of them,
31:28but they keep
31:29closing the gap.
31:31Yeah,
31:31and I believe
31:32this would change
31:33that fourth place
31:34overall position
31:35because they're all
31:36tied at this point.
31:36Oh, that's right,
31:37they can take points
31:38away from Prado.
31:40Plessiger on the inside,
31:41look at Webb,
31:42hey,
31:43this is Cooper Webb,
31:44so, again,
31:45the last guy,
31:46just like Supercross,
31:47the last guy you want
31:47to have to deal with
31:48at the end of the race,
31:49and, you know,
31:50I'm sure Aaron's
31:51going to look back,
31:51see that number two,
31:52but, man,
31:53here we go again,
31:54so,
31:55Cooper Webb
31:55charging,
31:57lap and a half
31:58to go at Southwick,
31:59makes the pass.
32:01Yeah,
32:01and he sees
32:02the number 70
32:02in front,
32:03you know Cooper's
32:04going to try
32:04to go out to him,
32:05and,
32:05where was this
32:07Cooper Webb
32:09all day,
32:09now really
32:10these last two laps
32:12has uncorked it,
32:13but he was good,
32:14but this is great.
32:15But this is Cooper Webb,
32:16though,
32:16like exactly him,
32:17he's like,
32:18where was this guy,
32:20and all of a sudden,
32:20we've been talking
32:21about how good
32:21Jorge's been riding
32:22all day long,
32:23and that number two,
32:24pesky old number two
32:25just comes through
32:26with a dab vibe,
32:27coming through,
32:28like I'm going to give you
32:28guys out to business,
32:29but it shows you man
32:30that Cooper's a champion,
32:31and it doesn't matter
32:32what position it is,
32:33he always goes out there
32:34and he races to compete,
32:36I love it.
32:39White flag should be
32:40coming out here,
32:41there's the gap,
32:42actually as they battled
32:43each other,
32:43Prado answered the call,
32:45pulled back away,
32:47just a tad.
32:52Yeah,
32:52Cooper knows he's got
32:53a lap and a half
32:55to kind of get him back,
32:57if he can kind of keep
32:58Jorge in sight,
32:59keep this gap,
33:00then I believe
33:00he'll really go after
33:01him that last lap
33:03for sure.
33:07White flag now out
33:09for the Lawrence's
33:10up front.
33:12Oh,
33:13Webb's still working.
33:20The foot came off
33:21right there.
33:22It's hanging on his bike.
33:24Something hanging.
33:25Yeah,
33:26on the bottom there.
33:27Yeah,
33:27even the bike's
33:28got the tongue
33:28got the chain,
33:29right?
33:31Okay,
33:32so there's
33:32Jet Lawrence.
33:34He looks fun.
33:35Yeah,
33:36and you saw
33:37over our drone shot
33:38right there
33:38where Jet jumped
33:39out.
33:41You know,
33:42again,
33:42man,
33:42I think
33:43just shows you
33:44how focused
33:45and talented
33:47this kid is.
33:47Just all these
33:48little bit of jumps
33:49and hopping around
33:50this racetrack.
33:51I mean,
33:51that just takes
33:52dedication and talent,
33:53but also,
33:54you know,
33:54studying this racetrack
33:55and kind of knowing
33:56these positions
33:58and really kind of
33:59changing that up.
34:01I mean,
34:02this is poetry in motion.
34:04We just saw Cooper Webb
34:04go through that same
34:05section,
34:05and it looked like
34:06Cooper was in a whole
34:07different zip code,
34:07and this guy's just
34:09cruising last lap
34:10on the way
34:11at another 1-1.
34:13Dominant.
34:14Dominant.
34:15You say maybe
34:15his best ride ever?
34:17Yeah.
34:17Like you said.
34:18Yeah,
34:18just some of the
34:19circumstances,
34:20and, you know,
34:21you can look at it
34:23and be like,
34:23all right,
34:23all of a sudden,
34:24is he going,
34:25does he got a lot
34:26more speed than these guys?
34:27Well,
34:27when you look at lap times,
34:28say it's the same speed
34:30that he has over these guys
34:31all year long,
34:32but just the way,
34:33the reason I say
34:34this is more of a dominant
34:35is because we know
34:36there are certain tracks
34:38hanged out,
34:39you know,
34:39Southwick,
34:39where Eli Tomac
34:40is his biggest threat
34:41coming into this,
34:43and it just seems like
34:44when,
34:44just like,
34:45hey,
34:45Deacon had a 250 class,
34:46when anybody has,
34:47he goes to a place
34:48where they think
34:48they might have a chance,
34:49this dude just shows up,
34:51and the way he did it today
34:53by being super quick
34:54in the beginning part
34:55of the race
34:55is really impressive
34:56because that's not
34:57normally how he does it,
34:59but just over time,
35:00like,
35:01you just watch this guy
35:02build up.
35:02They were close to him,
35:03and all of a sudden
35:04it gets up to 10 seconds.
35:06I mean,
35:06it's 20 seconds,
35:0732 seconds over
35:08Eli Tomac on Southwick,
35:09second moto,
35:10and he looks like
35:11he's on the Sunday cruise,
35:11so if you're asking me,
35:12this is by far
35:13his dominant ride
35:14and the most complete
35:16I've seen this guy ride
35:17on his 450 career.
35:19Well,
35:19that's impressive
35:20if you are that impressed,
35:21but the numbers don't lie.
35:23Big gaps
35:23in both motos.
35:25Jet Lawrence,
35:271-1 on Southwick.
35:31Absolute domination
35:32for the number 18
35:33and the cherry
35:35on the sundae.
35:37Lawrence's and Honda
35:39going to go 1-2
35:40in both motos.
35:42Yeah,
35:43good route by Hunter
35:44making those passes
35:45after getting passed early.
35:48Got to be impressed
35:49with the HRC Honda guys
35:51and Eli Tomac.
35:53I think this is going to be
35:54a little head scratcher
35:55for him.
35:55I'm curious
35:59of what happened.
36:00Yep,
36:01ends up being
36:01a distant third,
36:03had that one little surge
36:04get back to Hunter
36:05at one point,
36:05but he's going to be
36:0612 seconds behind him
36:08at the end.
36:09The never-ending charge
36:10for Cooper Webb
36:11will get you back
36:13in touch with that.
36:14Prado is up the road
36:16now about 6 seconds.
36:17There you see them
36:18still battling.
36:20Checkered flag is waving.
36:23Racers are racers, man.
36:25Yeah.
36:26No matter what position
36:27it is,
36:27they're going for it
36:28right down to the wire.
36:29Yeah,
36:29and again,
36:30we've been talking
36:31about it all day,
36:32but I do want to give
36:32more a shout-out, man.
36:35I mean,
36:35I know I've been
36:36in that position.
36:37I actually came
36:37to this track in 05,
36:39and because of what
36:40happened in the first
36:40three rounds,
36:41I couldn't even finish
36:42this race because
36:42I was so demoralized,
36:43though, not being able
36:44to win,
36:45and it was such a change
36:45for me.
36:46So for him to be out
36:47here fighting,
36:47especially what we saw
36:48a couple weekends ago,
36:50shout-out to him,
36:50the whole Kawasaki team.
36:52I know a lot of those
36:52guys over there.
36:53They put the effort
36:54into it no matter
36:55what the results say,
36:56and I'm just happy
36:57to see this whole team
36:58just have some success
37:00with them.
37:01So good job, Jorge.
37:02Absolutely a sign of life
37:05there for Prado,
37:06who is fast in qualifying
37:07and in both modes.