Aussies Racing Abroad March 2025 | With many Aussies showcasing their skills abroad in a range of disciplines on-track, our latest column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their classes, covering pre season MotoGP & more… Words: Ed Stratmann
On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP
While the first two rounds of MotoGP haven’t all been plain sailing for Jack Miller aboard his Prima Pramac Yamaha, there’s still been many positives to be extracted from his season so far. Kicking things off with an 11th in Thailand, this was a strong effort by the Aussie, especially considering a problem with his fairing arose on lap eight.
Read last month’s Aussie’s Abroad here...
“Overall, it was a good day for me. I felt pretty decent, but I had a small issue with the fairing around lap eight, which caused me to lose touch with the front group. Unfortunately, one of the clips popped out, and the whole fairing started coming loose. As you know, aerodynamics are crucial these days, and I started struggling with turning and carrying corner speed – especially in what was my strongest sector, Turns 4 and 5,” Miller remarked.
“On top of that, I was cooking out there because all the air was being directed straight at me. It made the race even hotter, and I actually burned my inner arms trying to hold the fairing in place on the straights. But I managed to make it to the finish line. In the end, I lost a few positions because of that, but I kept it together and brought home some points. Overall, it was a positive weekend. We‘re focused on building a solid foundation, and we‘ll keep working hard.”
“Overall, it was a positive weekend. We‘re focused on building a solid foundation, and we‘ll keep working hard.”
Miller then headed to Argentina and banked 11th in the Sprint, in a race where the result didn’t reflect his speed due to him being held up in the pack after an average start. Although he got off the line poorly in the Sunday bout, Miller, to his credit, kept fighting to eventually claim 14th, on a weekend where the dirty track, some tyre issues and the circuit proving hard to pass on hindered him.
Typically honest when speaking afterwards, all eyes now turn to the GP of the Americas for Miller, where he’ll be looking for an improved outing.
“The release at the start of the race wasn‘t too bad, but then I had a bit of wheel spin – maybe I was a little too aggressive on the clutch, or the track was quite dirty – which caused me to lose a few positions. Fortunately, I was able to recover them fairly quickly. However, we struggled with grip. We opted for the medium rear tyre, and I‘m not sure if it was the right decision, but it‘s always easier to say that after the race,” Miller stated.
“Anyway, I tried to be as gentle as possible and find my rhythm. With 11 laps to go, I felt like I was catching up to the other riders, but in the end, our tyre degradation was similar, so I wasn‘t able to move forward as much as I had expected. Overall, it‘s been a valuable learning weekend for us. Of course, we want to be closer to the front, and I‘m confident that we‘ll come back stronger in Texas.”
Senna Agius – Moto2
Senna Agius began his 2025 campaign with a bang by securing a superb podium at the opener in Thailand. After showing sensational speed early in the weekend before qualifying fourth, this put him in a quality position to enjoy a brilliant race, which is precisely what he did. Blasting off the line smartly, the 19-year-old quickly surged into third. Although he received a long lap penalty following contact with Celestino Vietti, he didn’t let this scupper his race, for he copped his penalty and immediately recalibrated his focus to set his sights on a top-three finish.
All his hard work and determination paid off, as the youngster prevailed in a thrilling duel with Diogo Moreira to ultimately claim third in fine style.
“We have to keep doing everything right, stay consistent, keep working hard and to do this as much as we can.”
“I am over the moon! I had a good start, stayed calm and learnt a lot at the beginning. Unfortunately, the moment with Vietti came, but I saw the chance. It is what it is. So, I did the long lap and then I was on a mission to catch Moreira. In the last few laps, I was on his rear wheel and passed him. It was the most physically demanding race I could have imagined. I’m so grateful to everyone working with me because I have such a strong mentality this year and the other side of our garage has the same ambition to win this year. Today’s double podium for the team means so much to them. I can see it in their eyes and that makes me happy. But we still have 21 races to go, where we have to keep doing everything right, stay consistent, keep working hard and to do this as much as we can,” commented an overjoyed Agius.
The following round in Argentina proved far more challenging for Agius, as beginning the race from 22nd was always going to be tough for him on an unfamiliar track. His resilient body of work warranted plenty of praise, however, with him overcoming his struggles and lack of flow to bag 13th, which means he sits fifth in the standings ahead of the GP of the Americas.
“We’ll take home a few points. But we have to reset and prepare well for Austin. Nevertheless, I would like to thank the team, because they worked tirelessly this weekend. We showed good speed, but something was missing today. We have to analyse that and think about it for America,” Agius lamented.
Joel Kelso – Moto3
LevelUp-MTA’s Joel Kelso injected life into his crusade with a solid eighth in Argentina, following a disappointing first round that saw him crash out and trigger a massive pile-up while in the running for a top-10 finish.
“Massive apologies to [Angel Piqueras] for ruining his race.”
“Gutted about that one,” said Kelso on the unfortunate incident. “After a tough weekend, we dug deep as a team and came into the race with a good feeling. I started off trying to position myself in the best spot to avoid the carnage. As the tyres dropped off, I kept a little in reserve to make a late push toward the podium. I saw my opportunity to move forward as the pace slowed, but no one’s fault but mine – I misjudged the last corner and just couldn’t pull up the bike. Massive apologies to [Angel Piqueras] for ruining his race.”
Delivering a strong comeback performance at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, bagging eighth in qualifying afforded him a decent platform for the main event. Knowing he had to undertake two long lap penalties in the race, much upside could be gained from how he didn’t let this completely ruin his race, for he let his riding and powers of recovery shine to clinch eighth.
“On paper, P8 doesn’t sound amazing, but after serving two double long laps today, we’re happy with our progress! We made around 13 passes throughout the race, caught the front group, and closed a five-second gap. We’re working well and ready to get stuck into COTA in a couple of weeks,” he expressed.
Remy Gardner – World Superbike
Remy Gardner hit the track for another valuable test, which occurred on the 14th and 15th of March in Portugal, as this two-day hit-out gave him and the GYTR GRT Yamaha some vital data ahead of the second stop on the calendar at the same track. Despite being forced to wait for conditions to dry out on the opening day, Gardner wasted little time in getting up to speed, for he clocked the sixth fastest time and logged 57 laps. While the rain interfered with day two, it was another productive one for Gardner, who posted the fifth best time while importantly getting 33 laps in.
“It was a positive test, and we managed to try some new things ahead of the race. Unfortunately, we missed some valuable track time due to the weather, but we were still able to complete a good number of laps and gather useful data. The lap time was strong, considering it came on a race tyre, and the overall pace was promising, which gives us confidence for the race weekend. That said, we know there’s still work to do, and we’ll make sure to be fully prepared for the second round of the season,” Gardner insisted.
Jason O’Halloran – World Superbike
It’s been confirmed Jason O’Halloran will replace the injured Jonathan Rea in the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team for the second round of the World Superbike Championship at Portimao this weekend. Having signed with the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team for 2025 and set to start his role as Yamaha’s WorldSBK test rider as well, plenty of exciting times are ahead for the popular Aussie. Ready for the challenge, the experienced legend, who notably spent five seasons aboard an R1 in the British Superbike Championship from 2019-2023 and became the brand’s most successful rider in the category with his 26 race wins, is set to be a tremendous asset.
“I’m excited to get the opportunity to ride for the Pata Maxus Yamaha team in Portimao while Jonathan continues to recover. I have really enjoyed being back on the R1 in pre-season testing with YART, it’s a bike I’ve always gelled well with. And I had a lot of success with the R1 in BSB, so to try it in full WorldSBK spec is something I’m looking forward to,” explained O’Halloran.
“I will give it my best for the team and for Yamaha while also remembering that the EWC season starts in just a few weeks”…
“Of course, heading into a race weekend with no testing is jumping in at the deep end a little bit, but I will give it my best for the team and for Yamaha while also remembering that the EWC season starts in just a few weeks. I’d like to thank Yamaha and the team for the opportunity and wish Jonathan a speedy recovery.”
Off-Road
Jake Cannon
Jake Cannon has made an impressive start to life in the fiercely competitive EMX250 class, as the reigning Australian MX3 champion’s displayed many glimpses of his immense talent in the opening two rounds of the series. Looking fast and right at home in this stacked class against many of the finest young riders in Europe on his Bud Racing Kawasaki, Cannon’s recorded some handy results already.
“I felt comfortable riding in the mud both days, but I just need to get round the first turn, stay off the ground and minimise those mistakes.”
Really catching the eye in his first race in Spain by crossing the line second in the first moto, this served as a testament to what an exceptional prospect he is. Although the second race in the brutal mud didn’t go as planned, he, like many others, grappled with the conditions and faced goggle issues, ultimately finishing 21st and securing 12th overall.
“I was over the moon with my first race in EMX, particularly after I saw the track when I arrived. It was just crazy for practice and I only managed four laps. I wasn’t sure how the day was going to go, but I executed a good start in the first race and rode smart and came good at the end. I saw fourth trying to put a charge on me, but I found some good lines and all of a sudden I was behind second and could pass him on the last lap. In the second moto, I crashed off the start and then I lost another minute when I needed to stop in the pits for fresh goggles and gloves. I felt comfortable riding in the mud both days, but I just need to get round the first turn, stay off the ground and minimise those mistakes,” he told the Bud Racing website.
Even though his 15th overall in France at the subsequent round may not jump off the page, this doesn’t tell the whole story, for there were again many examples of his speed. Not only did he qualify third fastest in his group, but he also battled up front in the first moto before being eliminated in the closing stages and claimed ninth in moto two after a wicked ride through the field, to demonstrate his skills.
Liam Owens
Similarly to Cannon, Liam Owens has mixed the highs with the lows in EMX250, as he continues his adaptation to the demanding category. Beginning the series in a wet and wild Spain, a bike failure while running fifth in the first race, and problems with his gloves and goggles in the second, ensured it was one to forget for the hotshot.
Relishing the chance to venture to France for round two in his quest to enjoy a better weekend, the early signs were promising when he went third in free practice and fifth in the first qualifying session. Sadly, it all went downhill from there, for Owens endured a torrid time in the miserable conditions, with him unable to translate his speed into the races and avoid mistakes, meaning 24th overall was all he could achieve. Ready for more in Trentino in April, watch for him to come out swinging in his pursuit to piece everything together.
