Jett Lawrence, the 21-year-old Australian SuperMotocross champion, has been a transformative figure in the sport, blending high-octane racing with a newfound cultural presence. However, as of May 18, 2025, the young rider finds himself at the center of a storm that threatens to overshadow his recent achievements. From a legal battle with a former agent to a resurfaced video allegedly showing him using racial slurs as a child, Lawrence’s off-track drama has sparked heated debates within the motocross community and beyond.

Lawrence’s meteoric rise in SuperMotocross has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2023, he became the third rider in history to win every moto in an AMA Pro Motocross season and the first rookie since Jeremy McGrath in 1993 to claim the premier class title in AMA Supercross. He followed this with a historic 2024 season, securing the SuperMotocross World Championship with a $1 million prize and sharing the podium with his brother Hunter in a first-ever sibling 1-2 finish. His appearance at the 2025 Met Gala on May 5, alongside racing icon Lewis Hamilton, signaled his intent to elevate SuperMotocross’s cultural footprint, with his stylish aubergine jacquard suit making headlines.

But Lawrence’s journey hasn’t been without turbulence. Earlier this year, he suffered a torn ACL during the Glendale Triple Crown in February, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2025 Supercross season. He’s been eyeing a return for the Pro Motocross season, with Round 1 scheduled for May 24 at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Meanwhile, his brother Hunter also faced setbacks, missing the 2025 Supercross season due to torn ligaments from a crash in Tampa. Despite these injuries, Jett’s focus remained on reclaiming his SuperMotocross title, a goal he reiterated during sponsor obligations in Indianapolis in March.

The drama took a darker turn in January 2025, when Jett and Hunter Lawrence filed a lawsuit against their former agent, Lucas Mirtl. The brothers allege that Mirtl misappropriated over $600,000, including proceeds from apparel sales and their Lawrence Factory Fan Zone VIP area. The lawsuit claims that Alpinestars, a sponsor, deducted $240,000 from the brothers’ sponsorship payment after Mirtl failed to settle a bill for replica jerseys purchased by fans. The split with Mirtl, announced earlier that month, was a public unraveling of a long-standing professional relationship, with the Lawrence brothers seeking to reclaim their financial losses and protect their brand.

The most recent and explosive controversy emerged just days ago, on May 16, 2025, when posts on X revealed that Mirtl had released a video allegedly showing a young Jett Lawrence using racial slurs. The footage, which appears to be from Lawrence’s childhood, has ignited a firestorm. Some fans, like a user posting on May 17, found the video “arguably the funniest thing in moto,” arguing that Lawrence was “a legit kid” at the time and dismissing calls for punishment as “woke” overreactions. Others, however, see the video as a damaging stain on Lawrence’s reputation, especially given his growing public profile and role as a representative of SuperMotocross on global stages like the Met Gala.

This controversy raises questions about accountability and the scrutiny faced by young athletes in the digital age. Lawrence, now 21, is being judged for actions allegedly taken as a child, long before he became a public figure. The timing of the video’s release—shortly after the lawsuit against Mirtl—suggests it may be a retaliatory move, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative. Neither Lawrence nor his team has issued an official statement on the video as of May 18, leaving fans and the media to speculate on the fallout.

The motocross community is no stranger to controversy, but Lawrence’s situation is uniquely high-profile. His achievements, paired with his youth and cultural ambitions, make him a lightning rod for both admiration and criticism. As he prepares for his return to racing, the question remains: can Jett Lawrence navigate this drama and maintain his trajectory as a trailblazer in SuperMotocross, or will these off-track challenges derail his momentum?

For now, Lawrence’s fans await his response—and his performance on the track—hoping the young star can steer through this controversy with the same skill he’s shown on the dirt.