LAKEWOOD — A pair of the sport’s preeminent stars lived up to their billing on Saturday at the 20th rendition of the Pro Motocross Championship’s Thunder Valley National.
Jett Lawrence won the 450 class by edging his brother, Hunter Lawrence. Hunter won the first moto while Jett took second, then the Australians flipped finishes in the second moto to give Jett the overall win.
And in the 250 class, rising star Haiden Deegan continued his early-season domination by claiming his third overall win in as many races. The 18-year-old phenom finished first in the opening moto and then second in the second moto to land atop the podium.
For Jett Lawrence, the defending 450 class series champion who won all 22 races in 2023, the victory at Thunder Valley was a bounce-back showing after crashing last week at Hangtown. That crash snapped his 24-race win streak and forced Jett to ride injured on Saturday as he was still dealing with a cut on his leg and a sore shoulder.
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“Going into the second moto, my legs were shot, so I had no legs at the start,” Jett Lawrence said. “I dug deep, and just told myself in my head, ‘Stay there, stay there.’ I was able to capitalize on a mistake by Hunter in one of the turns (late in the race).”
Professional motocross racers Jett Lawrence, left, and his brother, Hunter Lawrence check their starting gates before Moto #1, 450 class of the AMA Pro Motocross Thunder Valley National at Thunder Valley Park in Morrison, Colorado Saturday, June 08, 2024. Hunter Lawrence won Moto #1, Jett took Moto #2 and the Thunder Valley National overall. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Justin Cooper earned the holeshot in both 450 motos and led for much of those races before fading, finishing third in both and third overall.
In Deegan’s overall win in the 250 class, he passed Frenchman Tom Vialle with a lap to go in the first moto, then held on. In the second moto, Deegan took second to Chance Hymas while Vialle was fourth.
Deegan remains atop the 250 championship standings with a 23-point lead over Hymas, while Hunter Lawrence is first in the 450 championship standings. The older Lawrence brother (who won the 250 class circuit title last year) has 129 points, with Chase Sexton second at 123 points and Jett Lawrence third at 113 points.
The Pro Motocross Championship’s fourth 2024 stop is next Saturday at High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Penn.
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Local racer’s higher calling. While no Colorado rider qualified for the 250 or 450 motos, Elizabeth resident Brett Stralo was one local who competed in the 250 consolation race.
Stralo placed 18th, but for the U.S. Army veteran, his motivation for being at the track was about more than results.
The 36-year-old races for the Veteran Motocross Foundation, an organization that uses motocross to empower veterans. Stralo — whose service included two combat tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter mechanic — also started Warrior MX, which pays for veterans to come out and be part of his team on race day as a “mental health solution for combat vets.”
“My goal at this age is to make the fast 40, and to make the main (race),” Stralo said. “But every time I show up here and am able to get those (veterans) those wristbands and give them this experience, and introduce them to this community, it’s a win.”
Stralo says “throttle therapy” helped him re-adjust to civilian life, and that his ultimate goal is to help prevent veteran suicides. Saturday marked his sixth time competing as a pro at the Thunder Valley National.
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“When I got on a dirt bike, I found myself realizing that everything kind of disappeared,” Stralo said. “I started releasing endorphins, started be able to smile again, started feeling good. I started sleeping again.
“… There’s no noise other than the motor so you’re able to focus on what’s right in front of you. That’s all that matters in those moments. It’s like white noise, everything dissipates and you get a great mental clarity. This sport has been incredibly therapeutic for everything I had been through in nine years of military service, and I wanted to do something with it for other veterans.”
Colorado’s most notable pro racer, Eli Tomac, did not compete Saturday due to a thumb injury. The Cortez native won the 450 class circuit championship 2017-19 and 2022, and also won the circuit’s 250 class title in 2013.
Haiden Deegan (38) pumps his fist as he crosses the finish line during the second 250 Moto at AMA Pro Motocross Thunder Valley National at Thunder Valley Park in Lakewood, Colorado on June 8, 2024. Deegan finished second in the second Moto and first overall on the day. (Photo by Zachary Spindler-Krage/The Denver Post)
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Dogs like Bailey — the former Dog of the Week in The Denver Post’s Adventurist newsletter — will be in good company at the first Denver Dog Fair this weekend. (Provided by Barbara Ellis)
Denver Dog Fair
Saturday-Sunday. Woof! If the last few weeks have left you panting, why not surround yourself with unconditional love? The first Denver Dog Fair takes place on Nov. 22 and 23 with the promise of unending poochie goodness. There will be dog adoption booths, “celebrity” dogs, performances and tricks, a dog-fashion show, vendors, a dozen food trucks, kids’ bounce house, crafting, and more.
It takes place indoors at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets: $20, good for both days; 5 and under free. $5 per dog. Price includes all entertainment and activities (minus adoption fees and food/drink). denverdogfair.com
Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree
Friday. The annual Mile High Tree at Civic Center park has quickly become a modern classic in Denver, with its 110-foot-tall display of 60,000, color-changing LED lights. Its location next to the annual Christkindlmarket and across from the brightly decorated Denver City & County Building makes it a one-stop shop for free family holiday fun.
At the 24th Christkindlmarket you’ll find local vendors plus Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German biers and hot chocolate, Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, goulash, Nürnberger sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates. The tree’s light-and-music shows run from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly.
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The market and tree both open on Friday, Nov. 22, with the market running through Dec. 23. The market is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. denver.org/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree or christkindlmarketdenver.com
Charlie Fausette, 6, from Tampa, Fla., ice skates with her father Rob at Downtown Denver Rink in Denver on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Free ice skating downtown
Through Feb. 2, 2025. Whatever the weather, you can get a bit of holiday fun in by stopping by the popular Downtown Denver Rink. The rink, which basically bisects the 16th Street Mall’s Skyline Park (just outside the Daniels and Fisher Clocktower at 16th and Arapahoe streets), is a public rink where you can rent or bring your own skates.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Entry is free; skate rentals are $12 for adults and $9 for kids 12 and under. winterindenver.com/rink
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ready for photos at the Denver Christmas Show, this year moving to the National Western Complex. (Provided by Michelle Ellis)
A very merry Denver Christmas Show
Friday-Sunday. You don’t have to be in the market for gifts to get something out of the Denver Christmas Show at the National Western Complex. It’s a family-friendly affair, with Santa visits (and photos), daily storytime and hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus, live music, dancing, and more.
Of course, if you want to pick up some candy or chocolate, local gifts, or holiday decor, that will be right there too (with free gift wrapping), as well as plenty of other vendors. Tickets for the Friday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Nov. 24, event are $14 for 14-and-up, and free for 13-and-under. It runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver. denverchristmasshow.com
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Dallas Mavericks (8-7, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (8-5, fifth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Dallas seeks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Mavericks take on Denver.
The Nuggets are 4-5 in Western Conference games. Denver is fifth in the league with 46.2 rebounds led by Nikola Jokic averaging 13.7.
The Mavericks have gone 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 17.2 fast break points per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 4.6.
The Nuggets make 46.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Mavericks have allowed to their opponents (44.7%). The Mavericks average 115.6 points per game, 0.5 more than the 115.1 the Nuggets give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 47.9% and averaging 18.3 points for the Nuggets.
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Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 5.2 assists for the Mavericks.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 119.7 points, 45.4 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (calf), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Nikola Jokic: day to day (personal).
Mavericks: Dante Exum: out (wrist).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Pop music icon Billie Eilish had a very important request before performing a sold-out show at Denver’s Ball Arena on Tuesday night: She wanted to snuggle with some animals.
Two Front Range shelters were more than happy to bring some furry friends for a backstage meet-and-greet with Eilish and her team, Brighter Days Dog Rescue founder and director Becca Orin said.
Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary first got the request through the venue, and the Commerce City sanctuary teamed up with Brighter Days in Boulder to bring puppies, kittens and a pony to the arena.
Billie Eilish snuggles with a puppy and pony from Brighter Days Dog Rescue and Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary before performing at Ball Arena in Denver on Nov. 19, 2024. (Courtesy of Becca Orin)
Eilish, her mom and team were “amazing,” Orin said, and showered the animals with love – particularly Samson the pony, who was overjoyed by all of the attention and cookies.
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Brighter Days shared photos of the visit in a post on Facebook, with Eilish grinning cheek-to-cheek with a puppy and getting a nuzzle from Samson.
“This is not the first time we have brought animals to Ball Arena for the artists ahead of their performance, but this was the first time the artist was kind enough and generous enough to let us take pictures and give us permission to post them on social media,” Orin said.
Eilish is set to perform a second sold-out show at Ball Arena on Wednesday night as part of her Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour.
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