Jett Lawrence to Undergo Surgery, Miss SMX Postseason

The reigning three-time SMX World Champion will not defend his title, instead will undergo a follow-up procedure on his ankle. American Honda confirmed today that Jett Lawrence will miss all three rounds of the upcoming SMX World Championship Playoffs to address the severe pain that he continues to experience in his right ankle that was originally injured last December while training. He was able to compete in the full Pro Motocross Championship. While he was extremely competitive—winning four rounds and finishing second to teammate Hunter Lawrence in the final standings—Jett fought through varying degrees of pain and discomfort throughout the entire series, but he experienced a renewed level of intense pain and instability when he aggravated the injury during the opening moto at Ironman Raceway. Jett is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday, September 9, at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. After speaking with the doctor, he felt it was best to address the pain and discomfort he’s experiencing in the ankle. Steadman Clinic specialists will continue to treat Lawrence as he recovers from this latest surgery. “I’ve made the decision with my team to sit out the SMX series to get my ankle back to 100% for the longevity of my career,” Jett said. “I suffered through the summer and did everything I could to win the outdoor championship, but my ankle hasn’t felt right since the start of the season, and it’s even worse now after Ironman. I want to do everything I can to get back to being me. The most important thing is that I get back to being pain-free as I work towards next year. I appreciate the patience of my team, family and fans as I do everything I can to make that happen!”