Jett to miss rest of Pro Motocross season with skier's thumb

Jett Lawrence’s Pro Motocross title defence is over, with the young Australian set to miss the remainder of the series following a practice crash.

The incident occurred earlier this week, days after he claimed another overall victory at Southwick. According to Honda Racing US, he injured the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb, and will “undergo a procedure” to repair it today.

Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac have both missed portions of 2024 with the same injury, which HRC manger Lars Lindstrom described as “rare”.

“We’re fully behind Jett and will support him through his recovery,” said Lindstrom. “It’s pretty crazy that three of the championship’s top riders have now been sidelined with the same injury, especially one that’s typically pretty rare.”

UCL ruptures of the thumb are also known as “skier’s thumb”, because skiers often experience it when they fall on their hands while still gripping a ski pole.

Hand injuries generally can’t be ignored, as they can result in permanent damage the longer they are left untreated.

Lawrence will have surgery at the Steadman Clinic in Colorado, with the goal of returning for the SuperMotocross opening round on September 7 in North Carolina.

It was also announced today that Lawrence will join his brother, Hunter, and Kyle Webster as Australian representatives for the Motocross des Nations (MXON) at Matterley Basin on October 6.

The six-time AMA champion is also set for an Australian homecoming in November, when he and Hunter will headline the revived AUS-X Open event at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

Lawrence's career to date has put him in the same conversation as many of the sport's great. He has six AMA titles to his name, plus the inaugural SuperMotocross title, and last year became only the third rider in history to achieve a perfect Pro Motocross season.