Charlotte SMX 2024
Playoff #1 | Charlotte
The opening round of the SuperMotocross playoffs was at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s zMax Dragway for the second year in a row. Below you’ll find recaps of each class and the stats and data feed of info that was typed out live during the event.
Just 66 days after surgery on his left thumb, Jett Lawrence (2-1) won the opening round of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championships by tracking down Eli Tomac (1-2) in the second moto.
Tomac was another rider that had thumb surgery (with twice the recovery time) and came into the post -season as a question mark.
Tomac’s first moto win was a welcome surprise for the fans and the series. He missed the 2023 MX and SMX seasons. Of the 26 laps run in Charlotte, Tomac led all but 4; he led wire to wire for the moto 1 win and had to work around his teammate Justin Cooper in moto two.
Lawrence started third and worked his way into second on lap 4. He battled Tomac late in the moto and made his move on lap 11.
Chase Sexton (4-3) finished third overall and was overhead saying he battled his setup. He was in the mix but never engaged in battle with Tomac or J. Lawrence.
Sexton left Charlotte with a +4 advantage over J. Lawrence in the points.
It doesn’t seem to matter where Haiden Deegan (1-1) starts a moto right now because the competition can’t match his speed.
Deegan started moto 1 in 9th and moto two in 7th and was in the lead on laps 9 and 10, respectively.
Deegan didn’t lead the most laps. That honor went to Julien Beaumer (2-4), the biggest surprise of the day. Beaumer pulled both holeshots and led nine total laps (eight in moto 1 and one in moto two). He finished second overall, shocking given that his best individual race finish (moto or main event) was a 4th in moto 1 at Budds Creek, his only top five finish as a pro.
Levi Kitchen (5-2) finished third overall. He led eight laps in the second moto.
Deegan already left Charlotte with an eight point lead over Kitchen.
