Aussies Racing Abroad | With our Aussies showcasing their skills overseas 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 more… By Ed Stratmann
On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP
There have been many positives to be extracted from Jack Miller’s October. To start with the Japanese Grand Prix, and his eighth in the Sprint gave him a nice boost for the race, where, despite starting from 14th, he quickly powered into the top five. While he eventually dropped back to claim 10th, there was no doubting he made some steps in the right direction in terms of the bike especially, which gave him some vital momentum ahead of his home round.
While his Phillip Island didn’t get off to an ideal start, with a high-speed crash on Friday and a seagull getting stuck in his bike during the Sprint scuppering him, he turned things around admirably on Sunday. Having shown good pace in spite of the aforementioned setbacks, the popular Aussie got a flying start before tangling with Alex Marquez, which dropped him to the back of the field. To his credit, however, he fought his way back to valiantly finish 11th.
“I got a mega jump on the inside, I would have nearly been top six into Turn, 1 but Alex Marquez turned in on me and then we were hooked and went to last position. I fought my way back, but with three to go the front went and then you had to start relying on the rear to bring her round. I was doing what I could to battle with those boys, but couldn’t do much more. The pace was decent, but it would have been nice to have built on that start,” he reflected.
Senna Agius – Moto2
Senna Agius produced a statement performance on home soil to secure a sensational first Moto2 podium at Phillip Island. Although the best he could muster was 13th in qualifying, he didn’t let this worry him, for the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP speedster quickly blasted into the top 10 in the main bout. Not content with that, Agius kept pushing, quickly surging into fourth. Immediately setting his sights on Alonso Lopez in third, a touch of fortune then came his way courtesy of the Spaniard crashing two laps from the end to hand Agius a memorable third.
“I’m still searching for words, it’s still unbelievable what happened today. The race was so long. I was hoping the last five laps would be gone quickly because I wanted to make it. And we did. I’m so happy and proud. All the efforts the team has put in over the last few races has paid off,” he explained.
“We are rookies this year and my first podium in a home race is obviously something I will never forget. I’m really grateful for everything because I had a fantastic bike today. After yesterday, when we finished P13 in qualifying, but could have done a lot better, I went to bed with a bit of a sour taste. But I knew that a lot was possible today with a good start, which was really good. I was able to fight and find my rhythm, and now I’m standing here. I can’t wait to see my family, celebrate and just enjoy the rest of this great day. Thanks to the team for the hard work they put in every time.”
Jacob Roulstone – Moto3
Jacob Roulstone earned a solid 13th at Phillip Island to mark his first home GP. Qualifying 13th in the challenging conditions at the Island, the youngster was satisfied with this ahead of the big dance on Sunday. Launching off the line to scorch into 11th, he swiftly found his rhythm and clicked off the laps with consistency. Engaging in plenty of fierce tussles throughout and making it as high as 10th, a slight drop off in the closing stages saw him settle for 13th.
“It was very special to race for the first time at home! I loved all of it, and it was nice seeing some flags with my logo around the track! I felt very good today in the race, although we struggled a bit at the start to pass some riders, but then we settled with the leading group, and we managed to stay with them, which I am happy with. We finally scored some points after some difficult rounds. Well done to my grandmother for holding the umbrella for me, it was very special to have her near me on the grid for my first home GP,” he insisted.
Joel Kelso – Moto3
Another of the Aussies leading the charge at the Island was Moto3 hotshot Joel Kelso, who was looking for an improved outing following his crash at Motegi. Banking seventh on the grid, he put himself in a strong position for a quality result on Sunday. But a frustrating early incident meant he slipped back to 17th. Kelso quickly put his head down, though, mounting an eye-catching fightback to ultimately bag 11th, in a race where he was left to ponder what could have been if circumstances hadn’t conspired against him.
“Bittersweet home GP. Well, what a rollercoaster of emotions this weekend. We started off the race so well, but just got hung out to dry at the wrong time. I tried to fight my way back from 17th, but just ran out of time. 11th isn’t what I dreamed of when I went to sleep last night, but it will only light the fire in my belly even more. Thank you to every single fan who supported me today. It was truly amazing seeing you all throughout the weekend,” he remarked.
Remy Gardner – World Superbike
Even though Remy Gardner’s season ended in Estoril with him fracturing his wrist after a crash, there was one positive to close out his term, as it was announced he’s re-signed with GYTR GRT Yamaha for 2025.
“I am happy to be staying for another year with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK team. 2024 has been a bit mixed, but overall, there are a lot of positives including my first podium in WorldSBK at Assen,” Gardner stated. “I’m still hungry for more and hopefully we can build on some of the steps we’ve made this year to be fighting at the front more consistently with another year under our belt in WorldSBK with the R1.”
Ready to build on the highlights from his 2024 and with the full faith of his team, watching what the former Moto2 champion can achieve in 2025 will be fascinating.
Oli Bayliss and Tom Edwards – World Supersport
It was a difficult close to the season for Australian D34G Racing riders Oli Bayliss and Tom Edwards, with untimely crashes in the races ensuring both were unable to finish on a high note. Some encouragement could, however, be gained from how Bayliss was fourth in Saturday warm up and had top 10 speed at various points in the weekend and from Edwards’ pace early in the round.
Team manager, Davide Giugliano, spoke insightfully on the pair’s displays, stating: “It was a strange weekend. Oli showed excellent speed and growth across Friday and Saturday, setting the fourth quickest lap time in the warm up on Saturday morning. We couldn’t capitalise in the race and I believe Oli is more affected than other riders when it comes to changes in track and climate conditions. In any case, it’s pleasant to see the progress in terms of pure performance, which are the result of the incredible work done once again by the team. I’m happy that we keep building in the right direction and this obviously gives us great confidence for the future.
“About Tom, his confidence was affected by the recent crashes and I understand him. He didn’t manage to end the racing year on a high and obviously there’s a little bit of regret about it, as we led the WorldSSP Challenge up until two races ago, but we ended up missing out on the opportunity. He battled with a very experienced rider and he did well, showing his and the team’s value. We got to the end of the season and the expectations of leaving Jerez with a smile were there, but it turned out to be only a half-smile even though we’re aware of our speed. I’d like to thank the team for their work this year and for their professionalism, our sponsors for helping us in this wonderful season and the fans.”
Jason O’Halloran – British Superbike
Experienced BSB maestro Jason O’Halloran opted to end his campaign one round early, with him deciding to undergo surgery on his shoulder that was damaged following his spill at Donington. The completion of the 2024 term also signalled the end of his full-time BSB racing career, with the “O Show” set to announce some exciting future plans.
“That’s a wrap on my 2024 season. I will undergo surgery to my right shoulder on Wednesday, after injuries sustained when I was unfortunately caught up in a crash at Donington. That’s not the way I wanted to end my season or my full-time career in BSB. I want to thank you all for the huge amount of support I have had over the years. I fell in love with British Superbikes a long time ago and I’m glad I got to share a huge part of my life with you all. I have some exciting plans for 2025, which I will be able to share with you soon,” he announced.
Having competed for over a decade in the series, featured in 278 races, bagged 28 race wins and logged 75 podiums, he’s been a real star of the championship over the years.
Josh Brookes – British Superbike
Josh Brookes signed off on his 2024 crusade by registering some classy results at Brands Hatch. In a campaign where he and the team have mixed the highs and lows, Brookes set the tone for a superb weekend by grabbing a front row grid spot. He then embarked on a consistent three races, where he claimed seventh, fifth and sixth place finishes aboard his FHO Racing BMW to see him clinch eighth in the standings.
“We finished the weekend a bit more positive than the rest of the year. I took my best result of the season, and we’ve again been a lot closer to the front group, so we’ve really continued making progress from previous rounds,” he commented.
“We found a setting for the bike, meaning I can ride it in the rain, which is something we’ve not been able to do for the last two years. When it was raining before it was very uncomfortable and I wasn’t fast, but this weekend we were in the top five, so I’m feeling comfortable again. We made a step forward this season, sadly it was a little late as we’re now at the end of the year, but the guys worked so hard to make improvements, which started to show as the season progressed. It’s been a super tough year, at times, but now we look forward to seeing what the winter brings and of course the Macau Grand Prix, which is our main focus now.”
Troy Herfoss – King of the Baggers
Troy Herfoss claimed the King of the Baggers title with a clutch victory at the finale in New Jersey. Getting the job done in fine style to claim his seventh win of the season, this ensured he reigned supreme by 11 points.
“This win is a testament to the hard work and dedication from the entire Indian Motorcycle and S&S Cycle factory team,” said Herfoss, who enjoyed a tremendous rookie term in the championship.
“The Indian Challenger is a phenomenal machine, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team and have the opportunity to learn from my teammate, Tyler O’Hara, who’s been an incredible supporter helping this team reach its goal of reclaiming the King of the Baggers crown. Stepping into this series has been a remarkable journey. Every race has been a learning experience, and the level of competition was incredibly high. I’ve had to adapt quickly, but it’s been exhilarating to compete against such talented riders. Standing on that podium and celebrating this championship with my team is a testament to our commitment and nothing short of a dream come true.”
Having proven his class throughout, adjusted to the bike masterfully and settled in brilliantly within the team’s framework, the 37-year-old yet again underlined what a talented, multifaceted operator he is.
Off-Road
Australia – Winning the 2024 Motocross of Nations – Jett Lawrence – Hunter Lawrence – Kyle Webster. Hunter Lawrence, Jett Lawrence and Kyle Webster rose to the occasion emphatically, as they propelled Australia to their first-ever MXoN victory. Flexing their muscles on the grand stage against the best in the world at the iconic Matterley Basin track, it was a magical day for the talented trio and all associated with Team Australia, as all three riders did their nation proud to cement their names in the history books. “What an incredible race, and what an incredible result,” said Honda HRC Progressive Manager Lars Lindstrom, who was a key figure in Team Australia’s setup.
“The Lawrence family continues to put together a long list of remarkable accomplishments, and this one puts an exclamation point on what was already an unbelievable year. I also want to recognise Kyle Webster, with whom we worked closely over the past month or so. We also collaborated very well with Motorcycling Australia, as well as Honda Australia and Honda Europe, and I think those relationships were a big part of our success. Now it’s time for a short, well-deserved break before we start ramping up for the 2025 season.”
Beating the USA and the Netherlands following a thrilling final moto, all eyes will now turn to Ironman in 2025, where the Aussies will be eager to defend their hard-earned title.
