・ Honda HRC Progressive riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence join Kyle Webster for the win
・ Jo Shimoda delivers a strong performance in his 450 debut, representing Team Japan
Honda HRC Progressive closed out an unforgettable season on Sunday, with a dominant showing at the Motocross of Nations, held this year on U.S. soil at western Indiana’s Ironman Raceway. The squad’s 450 riders—brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence—joined Honda Australia’s Kyle Webster to successfully defend Australia’s MXoN title, one year after the same trio earned the country its historic first-ever victory in the prestigious race. Meanwhile, Jo Shimoda, who normally races a 250 for Honda HRC Progressive, led Team Japan to an 11th-place finish aboard a CRF450RWE.
Informally described as the “Olympics of Motocross,” the annual event features three-rider national teams from around the world facing off for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles. This year saw Jett competing in the MXGP class, with Hunter in Open and Webster in MX2, each aboard factory CRF machinery prepared by the Honda HRC Progressive crew. Shimoda campaigned the Open division in his 450 race debut.
The Motocross of Nations format features three motos, each of which includes two classes. Jett set the pace early by winning the opening moto and backing it up with a third-place finish in moto 3, earning individual MXGP honors and helping secure the overall win for Team Australia. Hunter dominated the Open class with a perfect 1-1 score despite a couple of tip-overs, solidifying Australia’s championship effort.
Webster overcame a pair of first-turn pileups to charge from the back in both of his motos, tallying 15-13 results for fifth overall in the MX2 category. With the Lawrences taking all three moto wins between them (and each team’s worst result thrown out), Australia’s 19-point total was comfortably ahead of runner-up Team USA’s 33-point score.
Shimoda impressed as well, running near the front of the field all weekend. After taking the moto 2 holeshot, he went on to finish second in that race, then followed it with a sixth place in the final race, delivering consistent results against the world’s best and capping a successful 2025 season.
As in past years, Honda’s international footprint was unmistakable. Factory Honda HRC MXGP riders Tim Gajser (Team Slovenia) and Ruben Fernandez (Team Spain) both delivered solid rides aboard their CRF450RWE machines, while Brazilian standout Bernardo Tiburcio and Japan’s Yuki Okura also raced under the Honda banner. The combined effort—spanning American Honda, Honda Australia, Honda Europe and HRC in Japan—once again highlighted the brand’s unity and strength on the world stage.
“I’m really proud of Jett, Hunter, Jo, and Kyle as well,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Advertising at American Honda. “Hunter and Jett leading Australia to win back-to-back is incredible, and Kyle’s strong rides after first-lap mishaps showed the heart that it takes to win an event like this. Having this kind of success for the entire team—all on Honda machinery—is something extremely special. Then when we look at Jo coming out on a 450 after only five rides, and competing against and beating some of the best riders in the world like he did, was also really impressive. It’s a great way to end the year, and it’s a race that everyone will remember for a long time. Congrats to all the countries that competed in this special event, and a big thank-you to all the staff and sponsors that helped make this possible.”
Team USA, made up of three riders aboard Yamaha and Husqvarna machinery, finished a commendable second overall in their home race.
