CARLSBAD, Calif., (April 7, 2009) - The always exciting supercross racer Jason "JLaw" Lawrence (Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing) pulled a move this past weekend at the Jacksonville (Fla.) Supercross that people pretty much summed up with one word: "Cool."
In his bid to gain a top qualifying position in timed pro Lites practice, Tyler Wharton (MDK Motorsports) lost a motor. And the situation became more bleak when the rookie pro racer was told (in no uncertain terms) 'That's it - we're done' by team officials.
Overhearing the depressing conversation between Wharton and his mechanic, Lawrence stepped in and said "You wanna ride my bike?" Lawrence was of course referring to his Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing Yamaha YZ250F that was prepped, polished, in the truck and ready to return to action for the Seattle Supercross in two weeks.
"That's not something you see happen too often in our sport," said Wharton. "I was pumped when he asked me. Definitely something everybody at Jacksonville was impressed with. The pits were buzzing about it all night."
With some quick graphics work to get the numbers switched around (Lawrence's #1 plate as the defending WSX Lites champ to Wharton's #96 plate), Wharton debuted Lawrence's YZ in the second practice session, made a couple suspension adjustments, then blasted to a near-podium 4th place finish in the first Lites heat race.
"Tyler was riding it better than I have this year," joked Lawrence, who at the same time was putting up the fourth-fastest timed pro qualifying practice in the 450 class. "That was cool of the MDK team to let him ride it."
In the Lites main Wharton ran into some trouble early, but managed to get back going again and worked his way up to the top 15 - and was charging - before colliding with another rider and breaking the foot peg off of JLaw's bike. Game over.
"Dude, he was killing it," said Lawrence. "It was Tyler's first time ever riding a Yamaha, he almost pulled the holeshot in his heat race and had the fourth-fastest lap time."
Lawrence had a similar night to that of Tyler Wharton. After finishing an impressive 2nd behind eventual Jacksonville winner James Stewart in the second SX heat race, Lawrence pulled a great start in the main and was charging up to 4th when he collided with Brock Hepler. Another mishap later would bend - or bend worse - Lawrence's front brake rotor and he'd be done for the night.
"I got a couple weeks to get used to my 250 again before we hit Seattle," said Lawrence. "My goal is to ride it like I've been riding the 450."
With all the 'good karma' points he racked up loaning his race bike out to Tyler Wharton it's a wonder that Lawrence missed his flight back to LA on Sunday. The real reason? "I had to go see Nico Izzi in the hospital," said Lawrence of the fallen Lites racer.
Next up on the Monster Supercross Series is Seattle, April 18th.
Generous sponsors of the Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing team include: JLaw Racing, Yamaha, One Industries, AP Design, Spy Optic, MSR, Grenade Gloves and 2XL.
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