Photos by: Ray Archer
18 year-old Australian Hunter Lawrence has arrived. The Team Australia rider, who won the MX2 class on his debut at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations is special. It’s been known in Europe for some time, but now the world knows.
Lawrence, who finished with a couple of podium finishes in 2017, plus a moto win in the mud in France rode brilliantly last weekend in England. Beating AMA 250cc champion Zach Osborne in the MX2 overall, and clearly being faster all weekend, that’s is a statement, considering the great form of Osborne in 2017.
After claiming the MX2 overall win, Lawrence was still angry with his performance. While his 4-8 was good enough to beat the 10-4 by Osborne, Lawrence was heading for a 4-3 result until his late lap crash in his second moto. A small, stupid mistake, but he wouldn’t talk to anyone for 30 minutes after the moto, so disappointed with himself.
Lawrence, who will spend 2018 in Europe and then head to USA in 2019 should arrive in America with a real chance of winning straight up. It won’t be easy, but this kid might even be Roczen, Herlings, Reed like special. He could be that good.
We caught up to him after his MXoN debut, and asked him about his performance and 2018.
What a weekend. I mean MX2 overall and Team Australia could have made the podium—you must be bummed for that—but overall a great weekend for you personally?
Yes, for sure. It’s cool to get the overall, but really frustrated with my last race. I made it all the way up to third, and that was awesome. I felt really good. I passed Osborne twice and a lot of good 450 guys. To have that crash, I was really angry. Nobody was allowed to talk to me for around 20-minutes, and I wasn’t happy at all. I didn’t care about the overall win at all, I just screwed up. I mean we could have had a 3-6 with my teammate. I mean, it’s a positive the riding better on Sunday than Saturday. It’s Nations and my first gold plate in Europe, so that is really cool.
To beat the AMA 250 champion, a rider who is really in great form. I mean in that second moto, clearly better than him. That has got to be special?
For sure, and that is also something I was bashing my head up against the wall. I was furious, because I passed him twice and then threw it away at the end. I was pretty pissed about that. It’s cool to end on a good note.
What did you like about the track?
Just from free practice on Saturday, it just felt good. I mean such an amazing layout and the track flows everywhere. I am over racing in the rain. I mean people say I am good in the rain and mud, but I am sick of it. All year it’s been like that and half the GP’s have been in the mud this year. I am just happy to be coming away and go into holidays not injured. It sucks going on holidays when you are injured.
Australia went into that last moto and had a chance for a podium. Were you so pissed off with yourself, or could you think about the possible podium finish?
To be honest, I felt like I had let the team down with my crash. The boys gave their all, and they didn’t get good starts and with the roost and stuff. If you don’t get a good start, it’s difficult. It’s so difficult with the heavy mud and stuff. Nobody to blame, we all did our best, and as a team and we all did what we could. I don’t think the boys will be sitting on the plane feeling bad. I mean we all pushed and things didn’t work out, but everyone knows what is to come for next year.
Will you celebrate—I mean Aussies—you gotta drink some beer or not?
I am still pretty young, not really interested in beer. I will probably go out with my mates and be asleep at 11pm or something. I am a bit of a grandpa. I guess the boys will go out, but we will see.
I know you can’t mention teams (press release now out here), but its Europe or America in 2018?
Europe 100% mate. In fact 110%.
