Round eight of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship produced challenges for 250MX red plate-holder Hunter Lawrence at Washougal, but the Australian was left positive that third overall was ‘not a terrible day for a bad day’.

After being involved in a start-straight incident in the second race at RedBud, also suffering further misfortune with a mechanical failure in moto one at Southwick, Lawrence rebounded Spring Creek to take victory and reclaim the points lead.

On Saturday, the number 96 qualified second fastest behind Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), but completed the first lap P6 after a quick gate drop in moto one.

Lawrence worked his way forward throughout the encounter to finish second, before a crash among the shadows in moto two impacted his charge, remounting to complete the round with a 2-4 scorecard.

“Tough day, for sure,” Lawrence reflected. “Second moto, I was in a good enough spot to do the job, just pushed the front in a pretty tricky section of little bumps and little stuff you can’t see much.

“Put a charge on to get back to the boys, and when I got back I just freakin’… I was just so tired. I did what I could. All things considered, the two DNFs, not a terrible day for a bad day. But yeah, all good, onto the next three.”

With Lawrence’s primary title rival Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) going 1-1 at Washougal, the gap between the pair is three points in favor of the Team Honda HRC rider entering the second Pro Motocross season break.