With our awesome Aussies showcasing their skills overseas both on-track and off-road, this column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their chosen classes. Aussies racing from MotoGP to AMA Motocross and King of the Baggers.
On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP
It’s certainly been an eventful month for Jack Miller. With KTM announcing they’re replacing the popular Aussie with Spanish star in the making Pedro Acosta, this left his MotoGP career in serious limbo. While Miller is remaining calm about the situation and just wants to focus on recapturing his form, rumours have been flying regarding his future. Initially, there was hope he could join the Tech3 team, but that idea was dashed when KTM confirmed Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini would be under this awning next season.
Then, there were reports linking him to factory Honda, but that door was also closed shut when Joan Mir somewhat unexpectedly extended his contract. Some other potential destinations have now emerged, with him linked with a switch to Gresini Ducati to stay in MotoGP and Ducati’s World Superbike squad, with the latter move appearing to be reliant upon if Alvaro Bautista decides to retire. It’ll certainly be a case of watch this space regarding Miller’s plans for 2025, with much still yet to be determined in this saga.
Some other potential destinations have now emerged, with him linked with a switch to Gresini Ducati to stay in MotoGP…
Senna Agius – Moto2
Despite enduring a difficult weekend at Mugello, talented youngster Senna Agius still extracted the positives. Heading to a track he was unfamiliar with, it was never going to be easy, but he battled on valiantly. Starting 26th on the grid for this one, upside could be gained from how the 19-year-old powered through to claim 17th.
“It was one of those weekends where I struggled to get a feeling for the bike. We tried a lot, and I also changed my riding style to make it better. It’s true that we improved, but we couldn’t keep up with the steps the others were making. It was a head-scratching weekend, but we will learn from it and attack again in Assen,” he reflected.
“We tried a lot, and I also changed my riding style to make it better”…
Jacob Roulstone – Moto3
Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 ace Jacob Roulstone continues to impress in his rookie Moto3 season. Having shown excellent speed in the earlier sessions at Mugello, he qualified in a strong seventh for the Sunday race to put himself in a quality position to secure a good result. Even though his rhythm was halted by the red-flag interrupted race, there was no doubting he had the pace to match it with the frontrunners. Frustratingly, a poor jump from the restart and a late mistake meant ninth was the best he could do.
“We are happy to get another top 10 result, although I am a bit annoyed with myself for the decision to go with the medium tyre, but we learn from these mistakes. We raced well, especially within the first laps, I feel like I have improved in this area since my debut in the class, which is a good thing,” he explained.
“We take away a lot of positives from this weekend, so thank you to my team for their awesome job this weekend. In a couple of weeks, we will go to Assen, a track that I like where I got a podium in the Red Bull Rookies cup, so I’m excited to go!”
We raced well, especially within the first laps, I feel like I have improved in this areaJoel Kelso – Moto3…
Joel Kelso
Keen to put his best foot forward at Mugello, things started nicely for Joel Kelso by qualifying ninth for the main bout. After making some fruitful changes to the bike, all eyes turned to the Sunday in his quest for a podium finish. It wasn’t to be, however, for not only did the red-flag complicate matters, but his tyre selection didn’t work out, in a race where he ultimately claimed a respectable 12th.
“I felt comfortable on the medium tyre. The start was a bit crazy, I lost a few positions, but we were doing good lap times and I started to move forward. However, as the laps went by I started to suffer with the tyre. I was struggling to overtake and to stop the bike, and it’s a shame to end the weekend like that because we had worked so hard during all the sessions. It wasn’t the fault of the set-up of the bike, I suffered with the tyres. Now it’s time to keep working and think about Assen.” Said Joel.
“The start was a bit crazy, I lost a few positions, but we were doing good lap times and I started to move forward”…
Remy Gardner – World Superbike
Kicking off his weekend at his GYTR GRT Yamaha team’s home round with a fourth in the first free practice session, he then built on this to claim third in the second FP stanza. Eager to transfer this momentum into the Saturday, Gardner did just that by banking third in the Tissot Superpole qualifier and leading laps in race one before tyre issues meant he came home in sixth.
An unfortunate DNF following an incident beyond his control in the Superpole race stalled his overwhelmingly upbeat weekend. To his credit, though, the fact he recovered to clinch a credible eighth in race two saw him close his Misano on a relatively high note.
“Not the Sunday we were looking for after a strong weekend. Unfortunately in the sprint race I had to go wide at the start and I lost some positions. I felt then we could have a good race anyway, but I got involved in an incident and that was the end of our race. That finale compromised race two as well as it’s tough to have a good run starting from behind, but I still managed to score some points. I’d like to thank Yamaha for the support, the team for the hard work and all the people who came here to support us,” said Gardner.
“I’d like to thank Yamaha for the support, the team for the hard work and all the people who came here to support us”…
Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Breathing life into his Misano by grabbing an eighth in qualifying, which was his best of the season, this was hugely encouraging for Oli Bayliss. Although he wasn’t entirely comfortable in the first race due to struggles with front end feel that prevented him from pushing as he wanted, he still recorded a terrific eighth. He then backed this up with a solid 13th in the second race to ensure he took home a handy points haul from the round. Cutting a content figure when speaking afterwards, his immediate aim is to keep making steps in the right direction in his pursuit to enter the top 10 in the championship standings.
“P13 in race two. Clearly, I wish it could have ended a bit better than it did. I struggled a little bit in the second race. However, it’s clear we know where we have to work on moving forward from here,” he stated. “Overall, it was a positive weekend. Thanks to the D34G Racing team and all of our team sponsors for the support. Bring on Donington Park on the second weekend of July.”
“It’s clear we know where we have to work on moving forward from here”…
Jason O’Halloran – British Superbike
Venturing to Knockhill with plenty of confidence, the early indicators were promising that O’Halloran would carry on his upward trajectory into this round when he qualified second and finished fifth in the opening race. Disappointingly, though, that was as good as it got for the experienced Australian, with crashes in race two and three meaning it was a forgettable weekend in the treacherous, wet conditons.
Looking for an improvement at Donington, his team principal Nigel Snook, knows there’s more to come from the polished veteran, with him commenting: “Jason’s still P7 on 81 points just behind Haslam, but now a bit back from the top five. Just needs a couple of strong rounds now he’s fully at home on his Kawasaki.”
Josh Brookes – British Superbike
Brookes enjoyed a decent body of work at Knockhill. Showing blistering pace in the dry, Brookes started off by qualifying third. Moreover, there was much to like about how he charged through the pack in the first race from as low as 11th to claim sixth. Mustering 12th and 11th in the second and third races respectively, Brookes was left to rue what could have been if only the weather had been kind despite still performing admirably in the wet.
“At the moment it seems like luck never goes our way when it has the chance to. We were on the front row in qualifying in dry conditions, it then became rain affected and for that moment for once, I would have actually been grateful for it to be dry because we had the speed in the drier conditions to be more competitive. There’s been other weekends in the past where I would have liked it to have rained, maybe change the dynamics to bring things into our favour and it’s just stayed dry. I just don’t seem to be able to capitalise on any situation, and I’m actually just a bit bewildered at the moment. We don’t really have an answer so for now we have to just accept it for what it is at this point,” Brookes lamented.
Brookes then rapidly shifted his attention to the iconic Isle of Man TT event, where he demonstrated what a beast he is on a bike by riding to a sensational second in the prestigious Senior category. “Wow! Second in the 2024 Isle of Man TT Senior. 134 MPH club & 206.9 MPH speed trap record. After the TT I’ve had up until this point, it feels like a win and I just couldn’t be happier. A huge thanks to everyone involved. It’s been a challenging couple of weeks so to come away with a result in the big race is mega,” he gleamed.
“Wow! Second in the 2024 Isle of Man TT Senior!”
Troy Herfoss – King of the Baggers and MotoAmerica
Troy Herfoss continues to catch the eye on his American adventures, as the man who was initially signed to race in the King of the Baggers and Super Hooligans has now added the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship to the list. Showcasing his multifaceted skill set and adaptability, Herfoss even did double duties at Brainerd, with him coming out of the Baggers races in the championship lead while producing an admirable effort on the superbike.
In what was a rollercoaster round full of learning and challenges, as he familiarised himself with the bike and the track, emerging with 9-8 results was a fine effort in the circumstances. Ticking all the boxes and getting through unscathed, Herfoss yet again underlined his class and what a talented rider he is.
Off-Road
Jett Lawrence – Pro Motocross
Despite his 24 moto win streak ending at Hangtown following a nasty crash in the opening race at the second round, Jett Lawrence deserves immense credit for bouncing back in emphatic fashion by notching the overall triumphs at Thunder Valley and High Point. Still able to flex his muscles in the elite 450 class while riding injured from that aforementioned spill, it’s been nothing short of impressive how he’s bravely fought through the pain barrier to reign supreme. Sitting third in the title standings behind his brother and Chase Sexton, watching him duke it out with these two will be fascinating as the championship resumes at Southwick this Saturday.
Hunter Lawrence – Pro Motocross
Currently leading the 450 AMA Pro Motocross standings, how Hunter Lawrence has combined consistency, speed and smarts has been a joy to behold in his rookie term in the premier category outdoors. Securing exceptional overall finishes of 2-2-2-3, this wonderful form has ensured he’s heading the pack in this fiercely competitive field. Never one to rest on his laurels and doing everything in his power to heap the pressure on his adversaries, expect him to keep fighting hard to ensure he maintains on top in the points chase. Ready to come out swinging at Southwick in search of his maiden 450 Pro Motocross overall victory, the iconic sandy circuit looks set to take centre stage for a pulsating battle royale for supremacy come Saturday.
