The Lawrence family’s journey to the top of the motocross world was like an all-out, full-throttle race where they had to hit every jump perfectly just to keep the wheels spinning. Darren and Emma Lawrence sold nearly everything they owned, fully committing to the sport as their sons, Hunter and Jett, pursued professional motocross careers in Europe. Every meal, every expense was like lining up at the starting gate—there had to be a plan to avoid running out of gas before the checkered flag.
Hunter, the older brother, was like the team’s lead rider, feeling the pressure to score points for the family until the next event. But last weekend at the SuperMotocross championship in Las Vegas, that gamble paid off in the biggest way possible. Hunter and Jett became the first brothers to ever finish 1-2 in any motocross championship, cementing their place in history.
“Our results are like a tribute to our parents and the sacrifices they’ve made,” said Hunter Lawrence. “We know they’re proud of us, but we don’t take any of what they’ve done lightly.”
Motocross has seen its share of sibling duos rip up the tracks. The Grossi brothers, Bobby and Billy, were the first siblings to each win motocross or supercross events. Gary and Dewayne Jones once claimed first and second at the same event, while the Vohland and Martin brothers all found their own success in the 250cc class. But the Lawrence brothers from Australia have lapped them all.
Hunter, older by four years, was the trailblazer. He headed to Europe to carve out his place on the professional circuit while Jett was still dabbling in other sports like soccer, BMX racing, and even hip-hop dancing. But when the family finally made the jump across the Atlantic, they were ready to go full throttle in the American motocross scene.
Hunter’s U.S. career started with a rough ride, plagued by crashes and injuries through his first two seasons. But he got back up, taking home titles in the 250cc motocross and supercross classes, before finishing second to Chase Sexton in the 2024 motocross season. During that time, Jett was sidelined with a thumb injury, forced to sit out while his brother battled it out on the track.
“I didn’t like watching Hunter race at all because I was stressed out,” Jett said. “But it was awesome to see him take home some wins.”
Jett, after an early-career collarbone break, launched into a championship-winning run that put him in elite company. He racked up consecutive 250cc motocross and supercross titles before moving up to the 450cc class. His debut in the big leagues was nothing short of legendary, joining Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart as the only riders to sweep every race in a motocross season, going 22 for 22. Jett capped it off with the 2023 SuperMotocross title in Las Vegas, becoming the first rookie to sweep both the motocross and supercross titles in what’s now known as the “Jett Sweep.”
This past summer, Jett’s thumb injury sidelined him from the motocross championship, but he came back just in time to win a second straight SuperMotocross title. Who finished second? His brother, of course.
In a nail-biting finish, the brothers ended tied in points for the SuperMotocross championship, with Jett claiming the crown based on overall wins. Jett took home $1 million, while Hunter grabbed $500,000 for coming in second. Together, they now have 10 championships under their belts, more than any other sibling pair in the sport’s history.
“To see two brothers climbing to the top of any sport at the same time is incredibly rare,” said MX Sports Pro Racing President Davey Coombs. “They push each other, train together, and have been on this wild ride around the world as a family.”
That family unity is what makes the Lawrence story so special. When Kawasaki showed interest in signing Hunter, the parents made it clear that the brothers were a package deal, ensuring they’d never be split up. From Australia to Europe and now Dade City, Florida, the family has stuck together through every turn.
Jett and Hunter might be the stars on the track, but their younger brother Tate often steals the spotlight. Tate, who has autism, doesn’t care much for motocross—he’s more into cars—but he’s been the life of the party at every stop along the way.
“Everyone agrees he’s the favorite Lawrence,” Hunter said.
Right now, the Lawrence brothers are riding high at the top of the sport, and it feels great to be a Lawrence.
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