So, while the media and fans see concern for the 12th place finish of Jett Lawrence last weekend at A1, you don’t need to panic too much. The Aussie, who did put down his worst ever 450 supercross performance, is in good company when it comes to round one blues by defending champions.

Way, way back in 1977, "Jammin" Jimmy Weinert finished with a DNS for his first round title defence, while nine years later, legendary Jeff Ward failed to finish the main with a DNF and a year after that, another AMA legend, Ricky Johnson came home in 21st place.

In 1997, on a Suzuki for the first time, defending champion, Jeremy McGrath scored a 15th place and five years after that, Ricky Carmichael (making his first race for Honda) smashed himself in the face in the whoops and finished 20th. RC was the first of this group to end the season as the champion, with Ward finishing fourth, and RJ and McGrath finishing second in the title race.

In 2005, at the Perfect Storm, Aussie Chad Reed, who was also the defending champion got stuck in the mud (you could say) and finished with a 16th place and then a few months later, second in the end of season points, while in 2013, Ryan Villopoto came home in 16th, but like RC in 2002, he won the titles at the end of the year.

In 2021, Eli Tomac, who won the title in 2020 finished in 13th place and couldn’t score enough points by season end to regain his championship. So, the question is, can Lawrence join RC and RV as the only riders from this group to regain his composure and capture back to back titles?