Are the Lawrence Brothers the Best Brother Combo in Motocross History?

Vurb Roundtable is back! That’s right, this classic Vurbmoto feature has returned with some amazing questions and answers from yours truly, Bird Dog and some crappy answers from Troy Dog. Chicago Dog has joined the pack this week as well.

AM kid to look forward to heading into Spring Nats?

Slaw: Hmm. This is tough, but I’ll go Preston Boespflug. Big year for the Washington native. He’s moved to KTM and this is probably a make or break year if he’s going to land a pro deal with KTM or another brand. BIG year for Boespflug.

Bird Dog: Tiger, Tiger Wood, ya’ll!! Hopefully at least someone got that reference. This kid is the next bad ass Aussi to come through the ranks and I’m not sure enough people have taken notice. He rode the wheels off his supermini at the Vurb Classic last year and looked about two sizes too big. He’ll be stepping up to big bike and I think he’s a kid who could make an impact early on.

I also haven’t heard a peep from Evan Ferry. His social media has been silent and, outside of his recent signing with Oakley, he’s been somewhat off the radar. I have a hunch on what he’s up to, but I’ll save that for another day and time.

Troy Dog: I’m a huge advocate of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s new hire Casey Cochran. He’s been overshadowed a lot of his amateur career and in my opinion Husky is filled with a bunch of genius for this hiring. The kid has been great since he was watching Paw Patrol at Matt Walker’s Moto X Compound back in the day. I think he’s going to really shock some people when he turns pro in the next couple of years. He’s going to do great things in the sport.

Chicago Dog: Red Dawn aka Drew Adams! He’s throwing that Kawi around like a man on a mission. I expect another year of big things from him. And let’s be honest, at the rate PC Kawi riders are going down, he could get the call from Mitch sooner than later.

Are the Lawrence bros the best bro combo ever?

Slaw: While we’ve had a ton of good bro duos over the years, this comes down to the Lawrences vs the Stewarts. And it’s tight. FOR NOW, and Hunter and Jett have years to change this, I’m going Stewarts. James changed the fing game, man. And Malcolm won a 250SX title and is a legit 450 factory dude. Again, this could change as Jett and Hunter have many years and probably titles ahead of them. For now, James and Mookie.

Bird Dog: No! At least not yet. James Stewart changed the game and Mookie has successfully made his own name. Will the Lawrence brothers be the most successful brother combo in the sport? It’s definitely trending that way, they just haven’t arrived….yet.

Troy Dog: No, they might by the end of their careers, but I’ll still take the Stewart brothers. James with his Hall of Fame career and techniques that he brought into the sport outshine both of the Lawrence brothers at this point in the game. Then you add in Mookie who has a 250SX title and multiple 450 class podiums. Ask me this again in 10 years and I might have a different answer.

Chicago Dog: Yes and it’s not even close. Although the Josh and Justin Hill have sick style, Jett and Hunter are doing what we thought the Bell brothers were going to do years ago.

Is Travis Pastrana the greatest athlete of all-time?

Slaw: Yes. Moving along.

Bird Dog: I’m very torn here. The most marketable? Yes, I’d agree with that. But if we’re talking about the best all around athlete, I can’t go there. McGrath would get my nod there. Or maybe Carmichael. Or James Stewart. They were all better “athletes” than Pastrana, IMO.

Troy Dog: He’s the greatest multi motorsports athlete of all-time, how about that? This world has seen some incredible athletes and accolades. Yet, Travis ranks up there based on my bias. He’s always been one of my heroes as a kid and I’ll never forget those feelings I had watching him land the double backflip for the first time. Straight chills. It’s incredible to me that whatever that he puts his mind to, he can become one of the best in the world at it. For a rider who was supposed to take down Ricky Carmichael in his prime to do, well whatever it is that Travis decides to do that day, it’s been fun to watch.

Chicago Dog: The Pastrana-thon continued this past weekend with TP not only qualifying for the Daytona 500 but running a competitive race and finishing P11. If it weren’t for a last lap crash, there’s a solid chance that finish improves by a few spots. I’ve never met a more competitive person in the action sports industry. So I say yes.

Biggest privateer surprise this season?

Slaw: I honestly don’t know what we consider a privateer anymore. I was going to go Derek Kelley, but Troy Dog said D Dog himself said he wasn’t a privateer. So I’m going Kevin Moranz. I know very little about his program so maybe he’s not a “privateer” but whatever, using my own rules here. He’s been en fuego through six rounds. He’s made five mains and is currently 18th in points. Raise your hand if you had that to start the year? No, family doesn’t count.

Troy Dog: As you know, I’m balls deep in the world of privateers, so this is a very difficult question for me to answer. A lot of guys are crushing it for the support they have. For some guys, just getting into the main is a huge deal, while other privateers, ala Justin Starling, expect to be there every week. I’ll pick the “Data Dog” Josh Cartwright for my biggest surprise. I wrote a story about how he works a full-time job and has been in four main events this season on his Psychic Motorsports Kawasaki (with help from the Madd Parts Kawasaki crew as well!). I didn’t expect him to be a main event guy every week and for that I’m sorry. Cartwright rips.

Chicago Dog: Gotta go with Jared Lesher! Ripping the Yamaha YZ 250 two-stroke has been so awesome to watch. Rad bike put together with the help of the boys over at FMF, it’s nice to see someone keeping the pre-mix life going. He’ll be pulling double duty this weekend racing Arenacross on Friday in New Mexico then bucking it to Texas for SX on Saturday. What a savage!

Main image: Jessica Reed