The second round of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship at Rancho Cordova’s Hangtown Classic became as much a battle against the elements as it was against fellow competitors. With a weekend heatwave pushing temperatures into the triple digits, the Michael’s Reno Powersports Hangtown Motocross Classic Presented by Seven MX presented an extreme test of endurance that separated the contenders from the pretenders.

When the dust settled on the scorching California track, two riders stood tall above the rest: Jett Lawrence in the 450 Class and Haiden Deegan in the 250 Class, both extending their early-season dominance with commanding performances that showcased why they’re considered the sport’s rising superstars.t

Jett Lawrence’s path to victory at Hangtown wasn’t without drama. After a third-place finish in the opening moto behind a charging Eli Tomac, the Australian Honda rider knew he needed to make a statement in the final race of the day – the hottest and most challenging conditions the riders would face.

His strategy was simple but effective: get the holeshot and sprint early to build an insurmountable gap. “I wanted to get the start and then sprint in the opening laps to get a gap that I could manage the rest of the way,” Lawrence explained after his wire-to-wire victory in the shortened second moto.

The plan worked to perfection. Lawrence grabbed the early lead and methodically built his advantage, eventually cruising to a 10.9-second victory over Justin Cooper while managing the brutal conditions that left many riders struggling to maintain their pace.

Lawrence’s 3-1 performance gave him his second consecutive overall victory to start the season, improving his remarkable career record to 17 wins in 18 starts. The only blemish on that record? Last year’s Hangtown race, making this victory particularly sweet for the defending champion.

“The main obstacle today was the heat, and I did what I wanted to do,” Lawrence said, understating what was clearly a masterful display of race management under extreme conditions.

While Lawrence celebrated, the championship battle took several interesting turns. Eli Tomac, who looked poised for a podium finish after winning the opening moto, saw his hopes dashed by a first-turn incident and a subsequent crash in the second moto that left him in ninth place and off the overall podium.

That misfortune opened the door for Aaron Plessinger, who capitalized with a consistent 2-3 performance to claim the runner-up spot and move into second place in the championship standings. The KTM rider now trails Lawrence by just 16 points, with Tomac falling to third, 17 points behind the leader.

“On days like today, as sweet as it is to be on the podium, being out there on that last lap, you don’t want to be out there,” Plessinger admitted, highlighting the brutal nature of racing in such extreme heat. “It takes a lot of heart. I was hurting, but I knew I needed to make the passes I did.”

If Lawrence’s performance was impressive, Haiden Deegan’s was nothing short of heroic. The defending 250 Class champion battled through illness in addition to the extreme heat, yet still managed to sweep both motos for his second consecutive 1-1 performance to start the season.

“I woke up pretty sick today and my throat is pretty shot right now. I could barely swallow in the second moto,” Deegan revealed after his victory. “But this sport is pretty much all mental and I’m willing to push through it and do what it takes.”

Deegan’s mental toughness was on full display as he methodically worked his way to the front in both motos. In the opener, he battled through a three-rider fight for the lead before taking control at the halfway point and building to a 6.9-second victory. The second moto was even more dominant, with Deegan taking the lead early and stretching his advantage to 9.1 seconds over Jo Shimoda.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider’s perfect start to the season has doubled his championship lead to 12 points over the consistent Shimoda, who has finished second in all four motos this season.

While the champions dominated, several other storylines emerged from the heat. Justin Cooper’s third-place overall finish marked the third podium of his 450 Class career, showing the progression that has many believing he’s ready to challenge for wins soon.

In the 250 Class, Levi Kitchen bounced back from a disappointing 16th-place finish at the season opener to claim his 10th career podium with a 3-3 performance. The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider’s consistency in the brutal conditions earned him valuable championship points and renewed confidence.

“I just had to get my butt in gear,” Kitchen said. “I fought hard today. I can still get better, but things have been tough for me lately. All in all, it was a big bounce back from last weekend.”

The extreme conditions at Hangtown served as an early-season reminder that Pro Motocross success requires more than just speed – it demands mental toughness, physical conditioning, and the ability to adapt when conditions turn challenging.

With the championship heading to Colorado’s Thunder Valley next weekend, riders will face a different but equally demanding test as they tackle the mile-high altitude. For Lawrence and Deegan, the challenge will be maintaining their momentum while their competitors search for ways to close the gap.

The heat may have been the story at Hangtown, but the performances of Lawrence and Deegan in those conditions might just be the defining moments that set the tone for their respective championship campaigns. Sometimes, the measure of a champion isn’t just how they perform when everything goes right, but how they rise to the occasion when the conditions are at their most brutal.

Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc