On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

Retained by Yamaha for 2026, Jack Miller returned to the V4-powered M1 during the Valencia MotoGP Test following the season finale, as he and his fellow Yamaha riders face the seriously tough challenge of helping shape Yamaha’s V4 project.

Read last month’s Aussies Racing Abroad here…

First on track after a delayed start, Miller completed an important 51 laps and finished 20th. “It was a busy day. I did a lot of laps. I was shaking down the new bike and trying to understand it. Trying to make some headway in the development. We have got some work ahead of us, but I am not afraid of a little work,” he insisted.

One of the key learnings was the Australian ace identifying the electronics as an area needing attention. “Electronics still need a lot of work, as we still have to deal with the same problems as last year when I got on the M1 at this juncture, so the acceleration and progression,” he told GPOne.

“In terms of traction control, we are not in bad shape. It’s just the way it works. We have to find a way to get a better delivery and allow the bike to be fluid and not skate as soon as you go on the gas.”

He then resumed action on Wednesday for a private test with Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins and Toprak Razgatlioglu, which was also crucial to log some more data and extract some further insight for future reference.

“Today was about gaining experience on the bike. We have some clear issues we need to work on. Going into tomorrow, we have some items to try to fix the issues and give us as much speed back as possible before the break. The engineers will go away and try to come up with some solutions over winter and bring us some developments come Malaysia,”commented Miller.

While there’s still plenty of work to be done, the immensely experienced Miller’s feedback will continue to be vital in the bike’s development in their quest to enjoy a strong 2026 campaign.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

While Joel Kelso’s move to the MLav Racing Team was announced back in September, it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares following another largely positive season in Moto3, which saw him grab his best finish yet of sixth in the final championship standings.

“I can’t wait to get started and to deliver strong and consistent results. It’s a new challenge on the Honda, which I believe will be a great experience. I’m pleased to have my future secured for the next two years, and I’m looking forward to working hard with the team to build this project up,” stated Kelso.

“Having Joel on board is a major step forward for us. He brings proven speed, experience and the determination of a front runner eager to keep progressing at the highest level. His arrival underlines our long-term commitment to strengthening this project,” explained the team.

Clinching 16 top 10 finishes and six top fives last term, it’s been terrific to see him already make a fast start to life in new colours, for he impressively set the fastest time on day two of testing in Jerez on his very first outing with the Honda. Now entering his fourth season in the lightweight class, riding for his fourth different team, Kelso boasts the potential to be a legit title contender in 2026, which will be another massive year for the gifted maestro.

Jacob Roulstone

After Red Bull Tech Moto chose not to renew his contract for 2026, Jacob Roulstone was on the hunt for a new ride. Fortunately, he’s found one, with the talented Aussie confirming he’ll race for Team Ciatti Boscoscuro in the 2026 FIM Moto2 European Championship within the FIM Junior GP World Championship framework.

This transition represents an intriguing step, with him going from the 250cc lightweight bikes to the larger 765cc bikes. “The opportunity to progress to a Moto2 machine is one I am definitely ready for, and doing it in partnership with an experienced and professional team like Team Ciatti is fantastic,” said Roulstone.

“To finally be in a position to confirm my plans for next season brings a real sense of a new door opening, and that fuels my motivation. My focus during the off-season is to ensure I am 100 per cent ready to tackle the demands of this new championship.”

With a pre-season neck injury derailing Roulstone’s 2025 campaign and a late-season broken hand ending his hopes of keeping his Red Bull KTM Tech3 seat, this is an outstanding opportunity for the youngster. All his energy will now be channelled to preparation for this new chapter in the seven-round FIM Moto2 European Championship, which visits Catalunya, Estoril, Jerez, Magny-Cours, Aragon, Misano and Valencia.

Jacob has also signed to race ASBK Superbike on the Motocity Wollongong Honda CBR1000RR-R Superbike for 2026.

Jacob Roulstone “Excited for this new challenge. Huge thanks to Motocity and Honda Australia for giving me this opportunity. Can’t wait to get on the bike very soon.”

Marcus Hamod “Really happy to announce the move to superbikes full time next year with Motocity and the support from Honda Australia. Can’t wait to get started, can’t thank everyone involved enough for the opportunity.”

Remy Gardner – World Superbike

While injury prevented Remy Gardner from participating in the Jerez test due to a shoulder ailment sustained in a training incident, the Australian pilot is now fully locked in on recovering as soon as possible to start getting ready for 2026.

Finishing the crusade 11th in the standings, having banked a memorable podium in Assen and a host of top 10s, the former Moto2 World Champion, who signed a two-year contract extension with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, will be looking for more in 2026. Excited at signing his new deal a few months back, the classy Gardner knows there’s huge scope for improvement.

“I am happy to be continuing with Yamaha in WorldSBK. Our journey together so far has been good, but I still feel that we are only scratching the surface of what we can achieve. We’ve shown that when everything comes together, we can be quick and fight for the podium. My target is to do this more consistently over the remainder of the 2025 season and look towards taking a further step in 2026,” he acknowledged.

Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Sporting Manager, Nicolo Canepa, then added: “Remy has become a valuable member of our line-up over the last few years, not just through his speed and potential, but also his ability to give detailed feedback, which proves useful to our engineers as we look to continue developing the R1 in WorldSBK. We have already seen he can fight for the podium, and the target is to be more consistent in this goal towards the end of this season and then build on this for next year.”

Archie McDonald – 2026 Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup

After two consecutive seasons balancing racing commitments across the ASBK Australian Superbike Championship and European competition, Joe Rascal Racing has announced Archie McDonald as its first rider signing for the 2026 Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.

McDonald, 19, arrives with an impressive resume, having already claimed five Australian Flat Track Championship titles to accompany the aforementioned. Widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest rising talents, he embarks on this exciting adventure right as the team builds toward its 2026 campaign.

The squad expects McDonald’s combination of pace and racecraft to translate well to the Bagger World Cup, with confidence high that he can be a regular front-runner. The championship gets underway at the Americas Grand Prix, with the opening round scheduled for March 27-29.

Off-Track
Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross

Jett Lawrence and HRC have confirmed that the Australian suffered a fractured right ankle/foot in a practice crash last Friday at the Dog Pound in Florida. Lawrence immediately underwent surgery to repair fractures to the talus and navicular bones and is expected to be sidelined for at least three months. The devastating injury ends his AMA Supercross title ambitions before the season begins, but he’s hoping to be back in time to defend his AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross crowns.

The 22-year-old phenom, who owns 10 AMA championships, will now switch his focus to his recovery and getting back out there sooner rather than later.

“Words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now,” Lawrence reflected. “The team and I put in so much work during the off-season to improve. I keep reminding myself that we have overcome challenges before, and this is no different. I’ll put the same focus into my recovery that I put into being the best athlete I can be each day. My goal is to get this ankle fully healed up and return as competitive as ever and make the 2026 season as successful as we can.”

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | December 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

Jack Miller endured a frustrating start to November in Portugal, salvaging just 14th in the Sprint after what had promised to be a competitive weekend. The Prima Pramac Yamaha ace had shown genuine pace in qualifying, progressing through Q1 with the second-fastest time to lock down eighth on the grid. But any hopes of a points finish evaporated almost immediately, as Miller haemorrhaged five positions on the opening lap and never recovered, ultimately bringing it home 14th.

Sunday’s Grand Prix offered little respite. Despite starting with renewed optimism, Miller found himself wrestling with severe grip issues throughout the race, eventually crossing the line a distant P12.

“Sunday went a little better than yesterday. I had a decent start and tried to challenge the guys ahead of me, but there were some areas where I was really struggling – especially on the exit of turns 14 and 15, and also through turn six. When the tyre started to drop, it just got harder and harder; the bike was pumping like hell, and I was just trying to do the best I could. So, not happy with the day,” Miller lamented.

Onto the finale, and after topping FP1 and running sixth in practice before qualifying P8, Miller’s weekend was looking promising. A rapid launch in the Sprint then put him in a tight battle with Fermín Aldeguer for eighth, but contact between the two on lap three derailed his charge. Miller was handed a three-position penalty which went unserved, leading to a long-lap penalty that dropped him to 12th.

In the main dance, Miller claimed a credible ninth. After spending much of the race in sixth and seventh with an attacking yet controlled ride, a late tyre drop forced him onto the defensive, which consequently cost him two positions to Luca Marini and Brad Binder.

“Over the season we‘ve been up and down – some good highlights and some decent lowlights too – but in the last couple of races, since Australia, we‘ve managed to understand the front end a bit more. Maybe we lost a little in terms of outright performance, but we gained good feedback in stability and in managing the tyre. Now I understand this bike more and more. Next year’s bike will be different, but the DNA is the same,” reflected the popular veteran.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Senna Agius began the weekend in fine form at Portimao by posting third in FP1 before backing it up with fifth in Friday afternoon’s practice session. While qualifying 13th represented a slight dip in fortunes, he remained optimistic about his race prospects.

Come Sunday, Agius demonstrated the pace that had served him well in practice, but a sluggish getaway off the line proved damaging. Although he recovered to bag ninth at the chequered flag, a result he was satisfied with given the circumstances, the young maestro knew a stronger launch could have yielded a considerably better finish.

“It wasn’t a bad race, even though I didn’t get off to the best start and the first lap didn’t go perfectly. That’s why I fell back a few positions. I also had a little trouble finding my speed at the start of the race, which is why I ended up losing a few positions. I think if I had been able to attack at the beginning, I would have made some really good progress, because I had good pace at the end of the race. In the last three laps, I overtook some good riders and made it into the top ten. So, let’s take the positives, because we have a strong race pace,” Agius explained.

Agius brought his campaign to a solid close with seventh in the season finale at Valencia. Having qualified an impressive third on the grid, the Australian ran inside the leading group for much of the distance. However, fading grip in the closing stages saw him slip back to eighth at the flag.

A post-race time penalty for Filip Salac ultimately promoted Agius to seventh, which was a solid way to draw the curtain on his campaign.

“Once again, a big thank you to Jürgen, Stefan and Wolfgang for giving me the opportunity to be here, because without them I wouldn’t have gotten this far. I really felt their support this year, and they believed in me during difficult moments. On the other hand, the good moments motivate us for the future. Now we’re going home and set for next year. I have a lot to do in the winter. Fortunately, that keeps me busy so I can come back in good shape in 2026. Finally, I would also like to thank everyone involved in this project for their work and help this year,” commented the gifted talent.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Joel Kelso produced a masterclass in qualifying at Portimao, securing pole position with a composed and confident display that saw him top the timesheets with aplomb.

Starting from the prime grid slot on race day, he fought valiantly but found himself on the back foot as the laps ticked by. Mounting tyre wear in the latter stages hampered his charge, thus leaving him to settle for seventh.

“Took a gamble in yesterday’s race and tried my hardest to break away. Unfortunately the soft front just faded towards the end. Overall it was a super positive weekend, and we will leave it all on the line in Valencia next week,” posted Kelso.

Joel Kelso saw his crusade come to a premature and annoying end at Valencia, with him crashing out after qualifying 12th. It was far from the conclusion he’d hoped for. However, despite his disappointment, Kelso looked back with satisfaction on what had been his strongest season at this level to date, stating: “Not the way I wanted to end our final race of the year. A crash brought my progress to a halt quite early, but this year I’ve had my best season yet and was lucky to share it with the Level Up MTA team. We created some great memories together, and I wish them all the best for the future. Now we turn our eyes to 2026.”

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

Jacob Roulstone was forced to sit out the penultimate round in Portugal after undergoing surgery on a fractured left hand sustained in Malaysia. The Australian’s focus quickly shifted to returning for the last stop on the calendar. And that he did, despite carrying that injury into his final outing with Tech3, as Roulstone put in a gutsy performance at Valencia. Starting 23rd on the grid, he wasted no time carving through the field, reaching 16th by lap three and climbing as high as 13th at the race’s midpoint.

The compromised hand inevitably took its toll as the laps wore on, and Roulstone gradually dropped back down the order. Nevertheless, he held on to cross the line 16th.

“Sunday’s race had to be the hardest of the season. Finishing P16, it was the only race this season where when finishing a race I wasn’t able to score points. I took some painkillers and held on for as long as I could. I managed to work my way up to P13 from P23 and battled till the end. But once they wore off, I struggled to keep going with only three fingers working the left bar and holding on.

Considering I still had pins in my hand on Wednesday, I didn’t think I’d be able to say that. It wasn’t the way I wanted to wrap up the season, but I’m proud I was able to put the helmet on and do the last race of the season. The team and I worked very hard these past days to get a comfortable and competitive feeling on the bike. Which I’m proud we were able to do. And I really want to thank the boys for those efforts,” insisted Roulstone.

Off-Track
Jett Lawrence – Paris Supercross

Jett Lawrence certainly endured an eventful time of it at the 2025 Paris Supercross. Night one was nothing short of a catastrophe, for he was taken out by Tom Vialle and then crashed in both Superpole and the third final to cap off a disastrous opening day. To his credit, the phenom responded emphatically on Sunday, as the #18 dominated proceedings with victories in two of the three races and a third in the other, ensuring he left the French capital on a decidedly high note.

Hunter Lawrence – Paris Supercross

Hunter Lawrence also had a wild ride at Paris Supercross, mixing the ups with the downs in dramatic fashion. Beginning with first place in Saturday’s Superpole before going 4-2 in the opening two motos, things were looking promising for the #96. But a nasty spill in the whoops derailed his evening and threatened to rule him out for the rest of the event. Thankfully, the banged-up star was able to compete on Sunday, where he bravely fought through the pain to go 4-5-4, which was a gutsy showing given the circumstances.

“I’m happy I could ride today as well. I wasn’t sure how I’d be. Thankful to keep Eric [Peronnard] happy. Rule number one at these races, keep the promoters happy. Yeah, we were just, I mean, you’ve seen it, compared to yesterday,” he told RacerX.

“I could do enough, you know, get out there and still get some good practice laps in, and no, it was good. I take the riding from yesterday, Superpole, even the motos and how I was riding up until the crash. The crash was just one of those things. The whoops were abnormally large this year, and, just going into them, had a bit of a bad run out of the corner – the rut kind of caved in – and then trying to drive through the first three, and I think on like the fourth one, my front wheel just missed the tip of it. And as I’ve gone to extend, like, commit to putting it on the next one, as you do, the rear wheel spun as I’ve pretty much pushed all my chips in on that one to get traction. So, yeah, it was pretty scary.”

Luke Clout – Paris Supercross

Luke Clout delivered a brilliant performance at the 2025 Paris Supercross to clinch second in SX2 after a weekend in which he came so close to reigning supreme.

The Australian was nothing short of excellent across the two nights, reeling off an impressive string of 2-1-1-1 finishes in the opening four motos to establish himself as the man to beat. His speed and consistency had him firmly in control of the overall classification heading into the final day.

Read our October Aussies Racing Abroad column here…

Heartbreak struck in the penultimate moto, though, when Clout was caught up in a first-turn incident beyond his control, thus seeing him limp home 13th to watch his title hopes slip through his fingers. The experienced Aussie bounced back strikingly to win the final race, but the damage had been done. Even though he missed out on the overall triumph by a narrow margin, Clout could hold his head high after a tremendous display.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | November 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

After a tough 17th in the Austrian sprint, where he struggled with severe rear wheel spin, Jack Miller endured more of the same in the main race, limping home in 18th to cap off a weekend to forget.

“It’s quite clear on paper that this weekend our bike simply doesn‘t work with this rear tyre and its construction. There‘s just no way to make it work. I tried everything I know – from short-shifting to being super patient on the throttle – just trying to find a way to defend myself,” Miller reflected.

Heading to Hungary, the popular #43 secured a positive 12th in the Sprint on a track where overtaking was difficult. The main race was always going to be a challenge, with Miller forced to start 17th after receiving a three-place grid penalty for impeding Francesco Bagnaia during Friday’s practice. Despite a brilliant start, Jack Miller frustratingly crashed out of the race to end another challenging round.

“Definitely not the day I wanted or expected. I got off to a decent start, settled in behind Pol (Espargaro) and waited a bit before making a move, knowing I had the pace to get ahead. But then, at turn one, as soon as I touched the throttle, the front went away and that was it. Honestly, I hadn‘t done anything different from the lap before. I picked the bike up and tried to push, hoping to catch someone, even with a small clutch issue. But a few laps later I went down again at Turn 11. A real shame, because we had a decent pace this weekend and I feel it was a missed opportunity,” he lamented.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Kicking off his weekend with a strong P5 in FP2 and sixth in qualifying in Austria, things were looking promising for Senna Agius to deliver a fine race. But it wasn’t to be, as a brutal crash at turn two on the opening lap, involving Ivan Ortola and Alonso Lopez, saw Agius get run over, ending his race early. Fortunately, he escaped without serious injury. Though scans at the Red Bull Ring came back clear, he was transferred to Judenburg Hospital for precautionary checks and underwent further tests in Barcelona.

“Lucky to be walking away today, relatively okay after a scary crash on lap one. Time to recover to get back on it soon,”Agius recalled. While he had to sit out the Hungarian GP to rest and recuperate, he positively plans to return to action in Catalunya, pending medical clearance.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Back from injury in Austria following the summer break, exciting talent Joel Kelso claimed 10th on the grid before producing a commendable 11th in the race. Leaving determined and motivated to build on this ahead of the subsequent round in Hungary, his words illustrated he wasn’t content.

“Not the result we wanted coming back from the summer break. Didn’t feel fully dialled in this weekend, but we’ll regroup and go again,” stated the #66. Although it wasn’t the weekend Joel Kelso had envisaged in Hungary on a track he enjoyed riding, the Australian dynamo showed plenty of grit to fight his way back from P14 to a respectable eighth.

“It wasn’t an ideal weekend, starting from P14, but we fought hard and managed to move forward. We’re still in a bit of a rut – no point sugar-coating it. The focus now is on finding solutions, and we won’t stop until we do,” asserted the Aussie.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

Having toiled earlier in the weekend, it was admirable how Jacob Roulstone made steady progress on the Saturday to qualify P12 at the Red Bull Ring. Sadly, grip issues hindered his race, thus ensuring he couldn’t get any higher than 14th.

“I’m taking some positives away from what was definitely a tricky round, at not one of my favourite tracks. In today’s race, I managed to get a decent start and maintain a decent pace throughout. I did struggle with grip toward the end of the race. It seems we’re making small steps in the right direction, even if the results aren’t quite reflecting that yet,”commented Roulstone.

After qualifying P7, Jacob Roulstone continued his admirable Moto3 momentum with a P10 in Sunday’s race in Hungary. While a reasonable result, the Aussie felt more was possible with better tyre management.

“Really good start, and I was able to stay near the front for a while. But I just didn’t manage the tyre well enough. Small steps forward again. Not the results I’m aiming for, but I’m giving my best day in and day out to get to where I know I can be. Just need to work things out on and off the bike a little earlier in the weekend. A week off now, but see you in Barcelona,” insisted the gifted prospect.

Off-Track
Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross

Jett Lawrence wrapped up his second 450 AMA Pro Motocross crown and his fifth title in the premier class after enjoying his latest masterful season. His achievement was made all the more remarkable given the fact he’d only just recovered in time from an ACL injury for the start of the Pro Motocross series. Winning nine of the 11 overalls on offer, there was no denying the 22-year-old phenom, who was a cut above his adversaries throughout. Combining superb technique, elite line selection, tremendous starts and outstanding racecraft, it was a joy to watch the #18 flex his muscles.

“I think the biggest moment in this championship was round one. Leading up to it, I was dealing with my knee injury. It was my first one, so mentally it felt horrible, and I was originally told I’d be out four months. I didn’t think I was going to make the opener at all. Just making it to the first round had me stoked, and to go there and win made it one of my best races ever. To wrap up the title one round early makes it even more rewarding,” Lawrence explained. The younger Lawrence sibling will now immediately shift his attention to the upcoming SMX Playoffs.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross

Hunter Lawrence rounded out an excellent Pro Motocross season by finishing second in the standings behind his sensational brother, in a campaign which memorably included him banking his first-ever victory outdoors in the 450 category when he reigned supreme at Ironman.

“I haven’t got the energy to be emotional or happy. It’s hot and I’m finished. I’m just happy to get one [a win]. A lot of second-place finishes, but it’s good to get the monkey off my back,” he divulged. Launching out of the gate wonderfully throughout the crusade and riding in a disciplined and calculated manner, Hunter deserves huge credit for what was an accomplished body of work over 11 gruelling stops on the calendar. Expect him to come out swinging in SMX too, where he’ll aim to go one better after falling just short last time around.

Jake Cannon – EMX250

Consistency has been key for Jake Cannon in August in the fiercely competitive EMX250 division. Beginning with a solid P5 in Sweden despite a spill in race one and having an off-track excursion in the second race, there were many positives to extract from his Uddevalla. Feeling good on the bike, possessing podium speed and comfortable on the iconic venue, a podium was in reach if only he’d avoided those mishaps.

“I felt good on the bike and was enjoying the track, but the first moto just didn’t go my way. I rode strong to get back to ninth after crashing on the second lap, but I need to get better starts and minimise the errors. I’m frustrated with my first lap in the second moto, as I jumped off the side of the track after a good start. After ten minutes I started riding like myself again and came back to fifth for fifth overall. I just have to put it all together for a full moto. I know I have the speed to be at the front,” Cannon told the Bud Racing website.

The Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki hotshot then ventured to Arnhem ready for more, but unsatisfactory starts ensured he had to surge through the pack to eventually clinch a hard-earned sixth overall.

Liam Owens – EMX250

Liam Owens continues to make impressive strides in EMX250, with the Aussie flyer notching his maiden podium at Arnhem last weekend, which was a just reward for all his hard work. Riding superbly on the demanding sand circuit, his 4-2 moto scores saw him claim a deserved third overall and his spot on the box.

“Finally made it on the podium. If you had told me, when I first moved here from Australia, that my first EMX250 podium would come in the sand, I would’ve fallen off my chair. Big thanks to everyone involved in my first podium. Getting that feeling once just makes me want it even more,” said a delighted Owens.

In another piece of uplifting news, it was also confirmed that the Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna ace will stay with the team for 2026, where his sights will be firmly set on the coveted EMX250 title.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | August 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

Jack Miller’s July began on a positive note at the iconic Sachsenring, for he put in his finest Sprint race performance of the season, charging to an impressive fifth after a gritty comeback. Having got off the line well, he struck a tear-off while shifting into second gear that caused the rear tyre to slip, which frustratingly dropped him back to 11th. Undeterred, Miller clawed his way back through the pack to ultimately bank a solid top-five finish.

Read previous Aussie’s Abroad here...

Then, in Sunday’s main race, despite struggling with tyre degradation over the final eight laps, Miller again displayed resilience to battle hard to clinch eighth.

Heading to Brno for the next stop on the calendar, the popular Aussie powered to 10th in qualifying even though he suffered a crash that threatened to hamper his GP. His Sprint was compromised right from the outset, though, for he got caught behind a slow-starting Alex Marquez, meaning he was forced to roll off the throttle, thus seeing him drop to 14th. Regrouping admirably, there was much to admire about how he recovered to 12th.

Making a solid beginning to Sunday’s race, the Australian propelled himself to eighth on the opening lap and settled in behind Jorge Martin. However, a late-race engine brake issue disrupted his rhythm, allowing Brad Binder, Fermin Aldeguer and Pol Espargaro to slip past, leaving Miller to finish 10th.

“It was a long and tough race. I had a decent start – better than in the Sprint race – and was feeling pretty good. We were very conservative, not being completely sure about the tyres. I found a good rhythm behind Jorge, and everything was fine until about seven laps from the end. I changed the engine brake setting, and pretty much at the same time, I started to struggle in Turn 3. The clutch was kind of binding up, basically not giving me any engine braking. It was even difficult to tell which gear I was in, as I couldn’t really feel the downshifts. So, I had to reinvent my riding in those final laps, which was tough. I had been able to brake pretty late to defend against overtaking moves, but once the issue started, I had to leave some margin and became vulnerable to Brad and Pol catching me. I’m not happy with the last three laps, but it is what it is,” explained Jack Miller.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Senna Agius showed blistering pace to open the weekend in Germany, clocking a 1:39.588 to briefly hold provisional pole. However, a dramatic late-session crash, which he thankfully walked away unscathed from, saw him bumped off the front row, meaning he began the main dance fourth on the grid.

Race day brought further challenges, with Agius forced to serve two long-lap penalties. Starting a distant 23rd, the determined Aussie carved his way through the field in a tremendous comeback. When the race was red-flagged on lap 20, he had surged to 11th – an exceptional ride that highlighted his composure, racecraft and unshakeable resolve.

Onto Brno, and after qualifying sixth to secure a second-row position, Senna Agius slipped back to 12th early and struggled to find his groove. Despite a robust effort, he could only salvage 15th and a single championship point.

“Sunday here in Brno didn’t go as expected, because I had inexplicable problems from the first lap. It was strange because it was something I hadn’t felt before this season. It destroyed my race, even though I tried to adapt to the problems as best I could, but nothing worked. I couldn’t overtake, I couldn’t open the throttle and I couldn’t ride my pace like I showed on Saturday. It’s very frustrating, and I’m quite disappointed with today because we had great potential,” he lamented.

The 20-year-old now enters the summer break sitting seventh in the standings, poised to bounce back with gusto when the campaign resumes.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Joel Kelso displayed remarkable determination in the Moto3 race in Germany, bravely pushing through the pain after a heavy Saturday crash that required thorough medical attention. While he managed the discomfort early on, the injury took its toll in the closing laps. To his credit, Kelso valiantly fought on to secure a courageous sixth, which was an eye-catching showing given the circumstances.

The Czech Republic round also proved a tough one for the talented Kelso, who was sidelined following a nasty qualifying crash left him with a fractured right foot.

Fortunately, the upcoming three-week summer break offers valuable recovery time as Kelso aims to return fit and ready for Austria.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

Although he launched from 19th on the grid in Germany, Sunday’s race proved to be a breakthrough day for Jacob Roulstone, who charged through the field to finish eighth, just 0.8 seconds off the win to bank his best result of the crusade so far.

Though he battled rear tyre issues in the closing laps, Roulstone handled the challenge with aplomb, drawing on his flat track experience to manage the situation. Buoyed by the performance, all eyes were on carrying this surge of confidence into the next round at Brno.

Sadly, it wasn’t to be for the youngster, as he endured a rough weekend in the Czech Republic. Getting off on the wrong foot, with an engine issue in FP2 cutting short his track time, before his best lap in Q2 was controversially cancelled due to a questionable yellow flag.

Hitting the grid 15th, the Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider’s toils spilt into the race, with persistent front-end issues preventing him from finding the pace needed to fight at the front.

“Disappointed with this weekend, to be completely honest. It started off looking promising, but after just five decent laps yesterday, I was left with little track time for the race. We have some pretty big things to change before the next race in just under a month,” Roulstone commented.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike

Remy Gardner qualified 16th at Donington with a 1:25.953 after a small misstep on what could have been his quickest lap. But when the lights went out in race one, he made amends in style – slicing through the field to claim a terrific ninth.

Sunday brought more consistency, with Gardner securing 12th in the Superpole race before notching another solid ninth in race two. All in all, it was a confidence-boosting weekend for the Aussie, who exhibited speed and fight throughout.

“The long race was definitely better than the sprint. I had a good start in the Superpole race and felt strong early on, but we struggled a bit in the second half and couldn’t challenge for the top nine. In the main race, though, I felt much better and managed to recover from 15th on the grid to ninth. The pace was solid throughout. It’s a decent result, and we’ll aim for more at Balaton in a few days,” Gardner stated.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport

Oli Bayliss delivered his strongest performance of the season aboard his Triumph in race one, charging up to seventh and hunting for a top-six spot before a crash at Turn 12 on lap nine brought his run to an early conclusion.

Determined to bounce back in race two, the Aussie made a lightning start and briefly ran with the lead group. However, grip issues began to surface, forcing him to drop back and eventually settle for 12th – a result that didn’t reflect the potential and speed he’d demonstrated.

“Bit of a difficult race. Good start and first lap, but I just got dropped and couldn’t catch up to the group. I struggled a little bit with grip and was just in salvage mode for the race. We’ll try again in two weeks,” recalled Bayliss.

Off-Track
Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross

Jett Lawrence’s July has been littered with upside and success as the phenom’s won two of the three AMA Pro Motocross overalls on offer and placed second in the other. Reigning supreme at RedBud and Spring Creek before getting second at Washougal, the gifted Jett has been a cut above his competition more often than not.

With his jumps out of the gate dialled and him comfortable on the bike, the technically sublime Honda superstar holds a 61-point lead over older brother Hunter Lawrence.

“This has always been one of my tougher tracks, so I knew coming in it would be a challenge – especially with guys like Chase and Eli riding well here. In the first moto, I made a mistake and lost some time trying to get back into a flow, and by then Eli had already built a gap. I’m still happy with second overall, though, you can’t win everything, and eventually a streak ends. I was proud to rebound in the second moto and grab the win there,” he insisted after the recent round at Washougal.

Watch for more when the series resumes next month at Ironman in his quest to claim his second 450 Pro Motocross crown.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross

Going 2-2-4 in his last trio of races, Hunter Lawrence’s consistency and speed continue to make him a force to be reckoned with in Pro Motocross. While he hasn’t been able to take home that elusive overall triumph, the fact he won a moto at Spring Creek served as a testament to how brilliantly he’s been riding.

“Another top-five overall – fourth on the day. I kept the top-five streak alive; that makes 19 in a row, so that’s pretty cool. And I’m happy to leave here in one piece. The visibility was really tough today, with the shadows; I might need to see an eye doctor to make sure I’m not partially blind! But it was the same for everyone, and I’m glad to make it through.”

Desperate to bring home a win, expect him to come out swinging at Ironman, as he hopes to best his masterful sibling and the likes of Chase Sexton and Eli Tomac.

Jake Cannon – EMX250

Jake Cannon kicked off his EMX250 outing in Finland with a fantastic body of work in the opening moto. While he was running steady in eighth in the first laps, he really found his form in the second half of the bout, blasting through the stacked field to log an excellent fourth.

Disappointingly, his Sunday didn’t go to plan, with a crash over the bars on the sandy circuit scuppering his second race. A tenacious Cannon notably remounted and put on a charge to cross the line in 20th to earn the final point on offer.

“I got off to a good start in the first moto, but my first few laps were terrible, and I quickly dropped back to eighth before settling down. The track was very rough, there were no breaks. It was surprisingly hot too, but I never gave up and finished strong for a solid fourth place. Sunday was a different story with that crash costing me so much time, it was a different experience,” he told the Bud Racing website.

Liam Owens – EMX250

Liam Owens yet again underlined his class in the latest EMX250 round in Finland by registering seventh overall on a weekend where a podium was on the cards if only he had avoided a penalty and some mistakes.

Qualifying P5 and looking fast, the Husqvarna ace appeared destined to be in the mix from the off, showing promising speed heading into the races. Initially finishing seventh in race one, this result wasn’t to be upheld, though, for a post-race penalty for a sound control infringement saw him demoted five positions to 12th.

Race two saw an even better performance for Owens, as he logged fifth and was hauling in the sandy conditions even if a few errors cost him a shot at the podium.

“A bit of a weird weekend for me, to be honest, not much to say. Starts are heading in the right direction and started around the top 10 in both races this weekend,” Owens posted.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | July 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

It was a case of what could’ve been for Jack Miller at Le Mans. After banking a solid 11th in the Sprint, the Sunday race, which was ultimately won by an incredible Johann Zarco, was one that got away from the Aussie. Amid the chaos of the opening laps, those who had gambled on slicks initially looked to have made the right choice – until the rain intensified. Moving up to 13th on lap three, Miller was on it, carving his way through the field with impressive pace on the wet tyres.

Disaster then struck for Miller at the end of lap six when he was violently thrown off the bike in a nasty highside, just when the stars appeared to be aligning for the #43.

“This one is tough to digest. We had the right strategy, I gambled, trusted the forecast and I was right. Staying out there at the beginning was tough, all the bikes on slicks were coming by, but I knew there was going to be a crossover where I could have started to recover. I was trying to nurse it and do all the right things,” he lamented.

“It hurts, because I don‘t understand what went on. It had started to rain a little more, like I was hoping, came to the last corner, did the same thing as the laps before, but I lost it, had a highside, and that was it. Don‘t know if it was because of bumps or different patches of asphalt, but I am devastated because we had done everything right. I am gutted for the team, also considering that Johann at that time was behind me.”

Read last month’s Aussie’s Abroad here...

Senna Agius – Moto2

Heading into the main dance on Sunday dissatisfied with his 14th in qualifying, Senna Agius was fired up and ready for battle. But, despite producing a tidy showing, the long lap penalty he was handed for taking a shortcut at turn nine ruined his hopes of a quality result.

To his credit, the 19-year-old crucially showed dogged determination to fight back to get into the points, adding two more to his tally ahead of the British Grand Prix by virtue of his 14th.

“A tough race! I did my best to catch up after the long lap, but I made a mistake. I didn’t give the rider who overtook me enough time to get past me again. That’s why I had to take a shortcut and got a long lap penalty. After that, I just tried to score as many points as possible,“ reflected Agius.

“Unfortunately, Le Mans was not an easy weekend. I’m pretty annoyed about how the race went for us. But I tried not to give up. We just have to stay strong and keep focusing because we are working really well. We just need to find some consistency with the feeling. So, we need to stay strong and restart at Silverstone and hopefully have another good weekend there.”

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Having logged third in qualifying to earn a coveted front-row start, this was a terrific sign that Joel Kelso would go on to enjoy a brilliant race at Le Mans.

Kelso duly took command from the start, wasting little time in flexing his muscles and showcasing the pace and precision of a true frontrunner. Even though he was holding firm in the lead for the majority of the bout, a last-corner incident with David Munoz unfortunately robbed him of what would have been a richly deserved maiden Moto3 victory.

Jose Antonio Rueda capitalised on this skirmish, as Munoz and Kelso initially crossed the line in second and third respectively. A post-race penalty was then given to Munoz to promote Kelso to P2.

While the outcome was heartbreaking, his standout performance once again reinforced his status as a genuine title contender.

“P2. Well, what could have been. Led the whole race but just came up short at the end. Honestly, I’m really happy with how the weekend went (except for the last two corners). Another podium on the board and even more fire in the belly to chase that first race win. Massive thank you to my team for all their hard work, it’s going to pay off soon,” he insisted.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

Finishing 13th in Moto3 at Le Mans marked a solid result for Jacob Roulstone as he continues to regain his rhythm after recently returning from injury.

Extracting the positives from this one, which included fighting back from P18 to bag some vital points, Roulstone was, however, left to regret getting off to a poor start in this stacked category, which conditioned his race.

“Will take the points to end the weekend here in Le Mans. P13 – ups and downs over the weekend, but we have made progress. Huge thanks to the team as always for the hard work each day. It was awesome again to race at Red Bull KTM Tech3’s home GP. The record crowd of 311,000 over the weekend was incredible,” he stated.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike

Despite a DNF in race one, there were plenty of positives to take from Remy Gardner’s weekend at Most, as he notably claimed an excellent sixth place in the Tissot Superpole and capped it off with an outstanding fifth in race two.

Blasting off the line rapidly, the #87 made many key passes to kick off proceedings in the second stanza. Powering up to fifth before maintaining his momentum, the 27-year-old admirably navigated the remainder of the race to secure fifth.

“What a way to end the weekend! The sprint race didn’t go well, I wasn’t feeling great on the bike, but we kept pushing and stayed focused on race two. That made the difference – I felt much better and could fight with the front group. I had a great start, which helped me get into a good position early. The pace was strong, and I stayed close to the podium group for most of the race. In the final five laps, I managed to open a gap and secure fifth place. A really strong top-five finish,”explained Gardner.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport

PTR Triumph’s Oli Bayliss rode to an accomplished ninth in race one in the challenging World Supersport class. Starting 17th, he fought his way up to duke it out for sixth, but a late mistake saw him slip to ninth, in a race where he clinched his best finish since the season opener.

Wanting to keep the ball rolling for the second encounter, this contest was disappointingly shattered by two long lap penalties. But he did, however, recover valiantly to grab 12th.

“I’m a bit disappointed after that one. I was feeling really good on the bike and the pace is showing. Two long laps didn’t help us at all, so really kicking myself. We’ll try again in Misano to maximise our potential. Thanks to my team and sponsors,” Bayliss said.

Gaining crucial confidence and performing at a level nearing his best, there was much to like about his efforts at the Czech round. The upcoming round in Italy should be pivotal in his quest to get back to where he knows he belongs – slugging it out at the front.

Luke Power – World Supersport

Venturing to Most with fond memories after picking up a good result last year at the venue, Luke Power’s Czech outing began with tremendous speed in the wet. Although the Motozoo ME AIR Racing MV Agusta ace crashed while laying down a heater, thankfully he didn’t further hurt himself.

He then continued on his path to recapture his groove following his shoulder injury, with 18th in qualifying and race two, which was a more than respectable effort by the Aussie all things considered.

“It was a rollercoaster of emotions, I guess, is the best way to describe the weekend in Most. On the upside, I was happy with Friday. I had a big crash at the start of qualifying, but the team did a fantastic job to fix the bike so I could get back out. I was able to secure P18, which is not the best grid position, but considering I had crashed twenty minutes before, it was good. I want to say a big thanks to the team,” Power commented.

“Saturday was a bit of a downer. I made a good start and made up places in the first five laps. The pace honestly wasn’t bad. Unfortunately, I encountered an unexpected drop in the tyre. I don’t really know why, but this is racing. I finished the race, which wasn’t easy, but at least we finished and got some data. On Sunday I didn’t make a good start, and the first two laps were difficult. I recovered and had good pace towards the end of the race. We fell short of finishing in the points, but our speed at points in the race was as fast as those in the top ten. I will regroup for Misano. I am confident in myself, and I am confident in the team and proud of how we worked. It’s coming together, but it’s a world championship, so it’s not easy – the guys here are fast.”

Off-Track
Jake Cannon – EMX250

It’s been a month full of learning and ups and downs in EMX250 for Jake Cannon, with brutal weather, bad luck, poor starts and crashes ensuring he’s struggled to get the outcomes he desires.

After an unsatisfactory 32nd and 15th in Portugal and Spain respectively, the talented Australian will now shift his focus to the next event in France, the home GP for his Bud Racing Kawasaki Team, in his pursuit of some much-improved results.

Liam Owens – EMX250

Registering a pair of 12ths in the two EMX250 races in May so far has been a decent return for the young Aussie. Progressing nicely with his Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna squad, highlights have come in the form of his sixth in the opening moto in the mud at Portugal, P3 in qualifying in Spain and a masterful fourth in the first Spanish race.

Frustratingly, his disqualification in the second moto in Lugo for an issue in the goggle lane cost him and cancelled out his 11th, meaning he was forced to settle for 12th overall. Annoyed about being unable to put everything together for a complete weekend, all the signs are promising that he’ll translate his speed into results sooner rather than later.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | May 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

The most recent stop on the MotoGP calendar in Qatar was one to forget for Jack Miller, as tyre issues and a crash in the race ensured it was a tough encounter for the popular Aussie. Beginning his weekend with a crash, this wasn’t ideal for Miller, who was also dealing with a bout of food poisoning during the event.

Read last month’s Aussie’s Abroad here...

His disappointment frustratingly carried over to the race under the lights at Losail, where an early spill ended his chances of getting a positive result. “That was the best I‘d felt all weekend – the bike was working well until it suddenly wasn‘t. My rhythm was strong, and I was feeling pretty comfortable catching back up to the group ahead. I switched the map, and then just before the crash, coming into Turn 15 on what could have been my best lap, the bike suddenly started vibrating violently at the rear, so much so that my legs came off the pegs,” reflected Miller.

“I lost the front. I managed to keep the bike up with my elbow, but when I pushed in deeper, it started vibrating again”…

“I had to slow down, and even then my time was a 1‘53.9. Martin passed me, and I followed him into Turn 1, but at Turn 2, another left-hander, as soon as I leaned in, I lost the front. I managed to keep the bike up with my elbow, but when I pushed in deeper, it started vibrating again. I was off-line and onto the dirty part of the track, and the bike just slid out from under me. We saw very clearly in the data that something changed from one lap to the next.

“Why, we don‘t know. The tyre looked fine; everything seemed okay, so we need to understand more about what happened. Honestly, it ended the way the whole weekend had been going. I‘m happy to be heading to Jerez; I think this bike will work well there.”Miller will now immediately shift his focus to round five in Jerez in his pursuit of a much better outcome.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Forced to undertake three Long Lap penalties in Qatar, mustering 14th was a decent result in the trying circumstances by Senna Agius. Kicking things off with a 13th in qualifying, which was a solid effort given he was working hard to find an ideal setup, he then proceeded to bank 14th in the race. Disaster struck from the off for Agius, for he was instantly handed a double Long Lap penalty for a jump start before receiving another Long Lap for not executing his initial penalty adequately. To his credit, the #81 fought back remarkably to register two points following a strong comeback from the aforementioned adversity.

“I apologise because I made a rookie mistake today. I don’t think I’ve ever jumped a start before”…

“I apologise because I made a rookie mistake today. I don’t think I’ve ever jumped a start before, so I’m angry with myself. I’m sorry because we worked really hard this weekend and made a step with both my feeling and my riding, and I threw it all away with my mistake. I tried to come back and get some points to take something home. In the end, it was my mistake. I’m sorry for my crew because they work really hard, and I work hard too to get the results I know we can achieve. I am now focusing on Jerez, but all in all, I would like to apologise to everyone,” he lamented.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Aussie flyer Joel Kelso enjoyed a brilliant performance in Losail, as not only did he secure P2 in qualifying, but he also went on to produce a fine display to cross the line in fourth. Rapid from the outset in Qatar, Kelso laid down a marker by claiming P2 in qualifying to earn his spot on the front row.

In the hunt for the win throughout the thrilling race on a night full of drama and action, the gifted Aussie eventually grabbed P4, just 0.097s off the win in what was a crazy surge to the line. “A little bittersweet, that one. Really happy with how the weekend went. We fought super hard but just came up a little short. Feeling really good heading into the European rounds and ready to fight for that podium in Jerez.” said Joel. Hungry for more in Jerez, watch for Kelso, who occupies third in the standings, to come out swinging in Spain too.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

On his return to racing following a brutal injury, Jacob Roulstone logged a respectable 14th in the hugely competitive Moto3 class. Despite feeling confident and good on the bike, 22nd was all he could do in qualifying, which was more than reasonable in the situation.

“Quite a decent race today. Was able to get a better first few laps and be more aggressive. Lost touch with the second group but could close a 3.0s gap to catch them to be in P9. Unfortunately, I chewed up my tyres a bit too much doing this, so I couldn’t fight at the end and fell back to P14,” stated Roulstone. “Huge thanks to the boys and the team for the work over the weekend. Time to get stuck into some hard training this week ahead of Jerez.”

Remy Gardner – World Superbike

Remy Gardner produced an outstanding effort in Assen in what was a terrific weekend by the Australian ace. Getting off on firm footing, the GYTR GRT Yamaha pilot’s eighth in the opening race and P7 in the Superpole race were quality results. Not content with this, Gardner capped off his tremendous weekend by storming to third in race two at the historic circuit after blasting off the line to put himself in a promising spot to succeed.

“What a relief! The Superpole race wasn’t too bad in the wet, though the last laps were tough to manage. Still, I held on to secure a decent spot on the race two grid. In the final race, I got a great start and was able to battle for the win early on, staying up front until the end. We did get a bit lucky with Nicolò’s retirement, but it was still a strong race and a big improvement over Saturday. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going into the next rounds,” insisted a delighted Gardner.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport

Even though he demonstrated many glimpses of his excellent speed, a crash in race one and a technical issue in the second stanza meant Assen was a rough round for Oli Bayliss aboard his PTR Factory Triumph machine. While there wasn’t too much upside to be extracted from his outing, the fact he launched off to a nice start in the second race was something to take away from an unsatisfactory Assen.

“Difficult day today, I struggled with the bike overheating in warm up, and then for the race on the first lap, it happened again. I rode the bike until it cut out and I unfortunately had to retire. Difficult to end the weekend like this as in qualifying/warm ups we had good speed. Thanks to my team and supporters,” recalled Bayliss.

“With Oli, when you have instances where you crash there can be problems. It was a new engine that went in the bike, and it overheated and he had to stop in the race. Another disappointing weekend for him, but we know the results will come so we just have to stay positive. We’ve a test coming up at Donington next week and we’ll look to the next round at Cremona,” said TR Triumph Racing Factory Team Manager Simon Buckmaster.

Luke Power – World Supersport

Having missed Portimao, Luke Power was back for Assen. And while his shoulder injury was still giving him grief, getting P2 in the warm up and 17th in Race 2 were highlights. Able to log some vital laps and get back in the groove, plus engage in plenty of fights for supremacy on track, this was a valuable building round for him in his search to get back to firing on all cylinders.

“Overall, it wasn’t a bad weekend after missing Portimão,” commented Power. “I started a little bit behind, but we worked through the plan on Friday and were able to qualify. I made a good start in Saturday’s first race and was aggressive, which was my focus before going into the race. I struggled a bit with pace and strength in the shoulder towards the end of the race, but it wasn’t the worst result we could have had. Finishing P2 in the warm on Sunday was really cool, and I felt I had plenty in reserve if it had continued to rain. It dried out for race two, and I made a big step with my riding to finish P17. I know on paper it doesn’t look that good, but we’re close to the points, and we showed some good speed, especially at the end of the race, which is encouraging for the rest of the year. Thanks to the team for their hard work and for sticking by me. I am already looking forward to Cremona.”

Jason O’Halloran – EWC

The Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team of Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika and Australian legend Jason O’Halloran impressively reigned supreme at the first round of 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) at Le Mans. The 48th edition of the legendary 24 Heures Motos definitely lived up to the hype, and O’Halloran played a key role in the memorable victory. Making a dream start to this new beginning, it was little wonder the O’Show cut a delighted figure when speaking after this pulsating triumph.

“My first race with YART and my first 24-hour race…so to win here at Le Mans is incredible! The whole team has done an amazing job throughout the week. Due to the conditions, it is certainly the trickiest race I have ever been involved in. We had to think on our feet on the bike all race, deciding whether you needed to pit to swap tyres or what strategy we needed to adapt. It was a long race, but my teammates were incredible. I actually enjoyed riding during the night because you can get your head down and work away at it, but when the sun comes up, you realise there is still a long way to go. The final ten minutes were probably the longest ten minutes of my life, but we did it. The whole team should be so proud, and I want to thank each and every one of them; they worked so hard, and we deserved the victory,” he explained.

Off-Track

Jake Cannon – EMX250

Trentino and Switzerland were next on the agenda for Jake Cannon, as he looked to make further strides in the demanding EMX250 class. While he’s adapted admirably to making the massive switch to Europe and already taken home some top results, the last couple of rounds have posed many challenges. Suffering some unfortunate crashes and bad luck, the Bud Racing Kawasaki speedster missed out on the points in Trentino.

Bouncing back outstandingly in Switzerland, a seventh in the first race was a fantastic result to breathe life back into his campaign. While a frustrating first-turn crash in the second moto ruined his hopes, Cannon notably recovered to bag 17th to get 12th overall.

Liam Owens – EMX250

Liam Owens’ up-and-down crusade continues in EMX250. But there have importantly been many signs of him making desired progress, which was illustrated by his pair of 15ths in Trentino even though he was caught up in an early crash and had goggle issues.

Relishing heading to Switzerland for his Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna’s home GP, Owens eye-catchingly banked P2 in time practice and was running in fourth in the opening race before a bike problem scuppered his chances and meant he had to retire. Undeterred by this misfortune, the talented youngster posted a superb seventh in the second moto to clinch 13th overall.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad April 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

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.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad March 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

In February, MotoGP conducted five days of testing in Malaysia and Thailand, allowing all five manufacturers to fine-tune their new bikes ahead of the start of the season this month. And Jack Miller made some decent steps in preparation for the 2025 campaign.

“I feel as prepared as possible, obviously. The bike works quite well, I’m happy with where we are”.

Relishing getting in some valuable time on the bike with his Prima Pramac Yamaha team, there were many positives to be extracted for the #43. “I feel as prepared as possible, obviously. The bike works quite well, I’m happy with where we are,” stated the popular Aussie.

“I managed to put on two tyres, something we hadn’t done in the whole test session. Yes, that was good. It’s always stressful, but fun at the same time, the bike seems to behave well. It’s understanding what you have to do in terms of preparing the bike for the lap time.

Read previous Aussies Racing Abroad columns here…

“In the Sprint simulation I was quite happy with my pace, it wasn’t too bad. We had a problem starting with one of the maps, let’s say the race map. So we had a qualifying map by default; and it became quite difficult to hold on in the last laps.” Typically honest and full of insight, it’ll be interesting to see how he stacks up at the season opening round of MotoGP.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Pre-season testing for 2025 got underway for Senna Agius and the Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact squad in Portugal, and the gifted Aussie impressed on his way to claiming fourth on day one before clinching 13th on day two in a rain interrupted hit-out. “It was good to be back on the bike. Overall, it was a good shakedown test and I felt comfortable with everyone and everything. So we will start again in Jerez and do our best to be as prepared as possible for the first race,” Agius reflected.

“It was good to be back on the bike. Overall, it was a good shakedown test”…

Although ninth was all he could put together at the Jerez test, this was still a solid final event for the #81. Having banked his first Moto2 podium on home soil at Phillip Island last season, this crusade promises to be another one littered with highs for the tremendously talented 19-year-old.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

Aussie rising star Jacob Roulstone suffered a fractured and displaced C3 vertebrae in his neck just weeks before the Moto3 season following a heavy training crash. Expected to miss the first rounds of the Moto3 term, this came as a huge blow to the young star on the rise, for Roulstone had been making fine strides in pre-season. Having quickly undergone surgery, he’s now fully focused on his recovery in his quest to get back to racing as soon as possible.

“Yesterday I had a very positive check-up back at the hospital with my surgeon Dr Mireia. Things are all moving in the right direction and I am now able to remove the rigid neck brace and replace it with a softer one. Also able to start to do some small amounts of safe exercise,” he posted.

“Due to the way the surgery was carried out, no muscles, tendons or neurological areas were affected”…

“Due to the way the surgery was carried out, no muscles, tendons or neurological areas were affected, meaning my recovery will be better than first expected. Another check-up in 10 days and then off to Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre for more follow-up and monitoring to be best prepared for when it’s safe to be back on the bike. Thanks again to everyone for the support.”

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Moving to the Level Up-MTA team for 2025, watch for Joel Kelso to be right up there, as he aims to reign supreme in Moto3 in 2025.

“It was an easy decision for me to join the Level Up-MTA team”.

“It was an easy decision for me to join the Level Up-MTA team. The team consistently demonstrates professional and sporting excellence. I thank manager Alessandro Tonucci for the mutually desired agreement we’ve reached. The 2025 season promises to be exciting as we aim for the Moto3 class crown with a team ready to meet such ambitious goals,” Kelso said on his delight at joining the Level Up squad. Beginning his 2025 with a solid body of work to register sixth in the test at Portimao, this was a nice outcome in an event that was hampered by wet weather.”

“It was an interesting first day. We had to make some adjustments to optimise the work on track, but overall I’m happy with the bike, the team and the final time. I can’t wait to get back on the bike,” he expressed. Next up for Kelso was the Jerez test, where he excelled to record the second fastest time, which sets him up beautifully for the start of the new term in Thailand.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike

Remy Gardner successfully completed a productive two-day Test in Portimao to kick-off his year. Even though the mixed conditions made things tough, much upside could be gained from how he and the team were able to try out many different components, with the Aussie notably logging 52 laps on the opening day. Meanwhile, the rain on the second day gave Gardner and his teammate Aegerter the opportunity to gather important data on slick and wet tyre setups.

Eager to put his best foot forward at the opener on the familiar confines of Phillip Island, it sadly wasn’t the weekend Gardner was hoping for. Getting the ball rolling by securing a credible ninth in the Superpole qualifier, crashes, misfortune and adversity then struck in the races, meaning he endured a weekend to forget.

“Not the weekend we wanted. In the sprint race, we managed to stay close to the top nine, but it was a tough fight in a very tight pack. And unfortunately, we just missed out by a small margin. That meant I had to start 13th in the final race, where I pushed as much as possible early on. Unfortunately, a tyre issue held me back in the first half, making it a challenging race.

“We’ll reset and come back stronger in Portimao.”

After the flag-to-flag, our pace wasn’t too bad, but catching the riders ahead to score more points was difficult. Sadly, I crashed in the latter stages, which wasn’t the way we wanted to end the weekend. Now, we’ll reset and come back stronger in Portimao,” he lamented.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport

PTR Triumph Factory Racing finalised their squad for next season with the addition of Oli Bayliss, who teamed up with British rider Tom Booth-Amos in the 2025 World Supersport Championship. The switch to PTR Triumph sees Bayliss embark on a fresh adventure, as he changes manufacturer for the first time. And he made a fine start to life in his new environment by notching a pair of sevenths on home turf at Phillip Island.

“Not a bad first weekend with PTR Triumph Factory Racing”…

“Not a bad first weekend with PTR Triumph Factory Racing. Two seventh place finishes. Wish I could’ve done a bit better in race two, but after a mistake in the first stint and not the best pit stop we were sitting around 15th position. Not a bad comeback back to seventh. The feeling and data we get on the bike improves each session so we need to keep working for Portimao. Big thanks to my team and my sponsors.”

While his progress has been severely impacted by injuries over the last few years, it’s important to note Bayliss has evidenced his speed and skill on many occasions when fit and firing, as he’ll be determined to stay healthy and enjoy a fruitful term aboard his Triumph following his promising start to 2025.

Luke Power – World Supersport

Motozoo Me Air Racing’s Luke Power wrapped up a vital four days of testing to get his new MV Agusta machine up to speed ahead of the 2025 World Supersport season. Gaining valuable data and insights, Power is hoping this will hold him in good stead for a quality year, which will be his third with this outfit in the ultra-competitive class.

“I’m thrilled to be back on the track with the team as we gear up for this new season. I’m really pleased with the hard work we’ve put in; we tested a lot of different aspects and made excellent progress during the sessions, achieving some great lap times. I’m especially happy to have prepared for the Phillip Island race in the best way possible, ensuring I feel good on the bike for the first race. A big thank you to the team for their outstanding effort over these past few days,” reflected Power.

“Overall, it was a positive weekend and a positive start to this year’s world championship”…

Venturing to Phillip Island for the first round of WorldSSP, much optimism could be found from his 12th and 11th in the two races in the stacked category, in a weekend where he made terrific headway despite injuring his shoulder on the Friday.

“Overall, it was a positive weekend and a positive start to this year’s world championship. A big crash that left me injured wasn’t the ideal way to start, but we did a good job given the circumstances when it came to Superpole and the races. I managed to claw my way back to P12 on Saturday and P11 on Sunday, which are my two best results in the dry to date in the world championship,” Power shared.

“I want to thank the team for all their hard work, not just in repairing the bike after the crash, but for doing such a great job in the pit stops. We recorded the third best time, which shows how well we are all working together. I want to thank all the medical staff that got me in a condition that meant I could race. The fans trackside were amazing and it was so nice to see my merchandise in the paddock being worn by fans. I will now spend the weeks before Portimao in March making sure I am fully fit for the first European race of the season. Thanks again to everyone supporting me – it means a lot.”

Currently just outside the top 10 in the championship hunt, watching how he fares at round two will be intriguing in his pursuit to power into the top 10 on a consistent basis.

Off-Track

Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross

Reigning 450 AMA Supercross champion Jett Lawrence will miss the rest of the 2025 supercross crusade after tearing his ACL and meniscus in Glendale at round four. Dabbing his right foot in a corner, this was all it took for Jett to sustain this ailment that appears set to keep him out for roughly four months.

“I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be able to return, but rehabbing will be my new full-time job”…

“I found out today that I tore my ACL and am having surgery tomorrow to repair it. I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be able to return, but rehabbing will be my new full-time job, so I hope to see you guys as soon as possible! I’m super-bummed to let the fans down and I can’t wait to get back out there,” the phenom told the HRC website.

With his title defence now over, all eyes will be on seeing if he can return in time for the AMA Pro Motocross opener on May 25.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Supercross

Hunter Lawrence’s Supercross campaign also came to a disappointing end, for it was confirmed the older Lawrence brother suffered a raised and partially torn labrum in his right shoulder, along with multiple cracks in his humerus bone, which will sideline him for around three months. Doing the damage in a brutal spill in Tampa, the early signs were good that he might be okay to continue, but scans revealed the bad news.

Thank you to all my amazing partners, who continually are the reason all this is possible”…

“I’m going to get this fixed and come back 100% to go and battle for the outdoor and SMX title again. Thank you to all my amazing partners, who continually are the reason all this is possible. We will get this 2025 turned around soon enough,” Hunter commented.

Also gunning to make it back for the Pro Motocross series, it’ll be a case of channeling all his energy into his rehabilitation to make a full recovery for round one at Fox Raceway in May.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | February 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

Ready for a fresh start after a frustrating 2024 aboard his Red Bull KTM, where he finished 14th in the MotoGP standings, Jack Miller’s move to Pramac Yamaha offers him a perfect chance to go again. Having struggled to find comfort on the bike and been forced to ride around many issues that he and the team couldn’t find solutions for, it’ll be intriguing seeing how he fares with his new team.

Already gaining some valuable insight and information from the recent test on the Yamaha, he’ll be hoping for a smooth adaptation in his quest to get back in the mix. Seeing as Yamaha know they need major improvements if they’re to compete with the likes of Ducati and Aprilia, much positivity could be extracted from the fact they’re ready to test their new V4 engine. Given the Iwata marque has hired a host of talented and experienced engineers to ensure they can close the gap, watching their progress will be fascinating.

Read our previous Aussies Racing Abroad columns here…

Courtesy of Miller’s vast knowledge and time working with many teams and manufacturers, he’ll back himself to adjust and get the bike at a competitive level sooner rather than later. All eyes will now shift to the first tests in 2025, where Miller, and his fellow Yamaha pilots, will get their first chance to try out this potentially game-changing package.

Off-Road
Luke Clout – World Supercross

Racing the World Supercross Championship with Rick Ware Racing, Luke Clout had a mixed WSX campaign that was full of highs and lows. Getting the ball rolling with a challenging opener in Canada, where, despite qualifying fourth fastest, crashes and bad luck ensured he had a tough night at the office on a very difficult track.

The well-travelled star then enjoyed an excellent home round in Perth, as he secured fourth and fifth overall finishes in the double-header. While things didn’t go entirely to plan to close out his WSX exertions in Abu Dhabi, with him, and many more, enduring issues with the tight start, he still clinched 11th overall to power him into sixth in the final SX1 standings.

“WSX done, ended the championship P6 overall,” recalled Clout. “Last night’s first turn into a wall jump got me every race, so we won’t go into that. Massive thank you to Rick Ware Racing, I had an awesome time with you guys. And to Aaron Clout for the hard work as always! Let’s do it again. Looking forward to some time off now and doing some more cool things in 2025!”

Matt Moss – World Supercross

Despite Matt Moss’ WSX campaign being littered with hurdles, the popular legend still produced many glimpses of his class. Teaming up with superstar Eli Tomac, who went on to reign supreme in the elite WSX class, under the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy awning, the veteran relished the opportunity to test himself against some of the world’s best. Holding his own and getting some excellent starts, Moss eventually bagged 10th in the SX1 standings, as untimely mistakes and adversity prevented him from finishing any higher.

“That’s a wrap on 2024 SX! Definitely not the season I wanted lots of crashes and just not myself. I would like to thank everyone involved with the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team for the season. Special thanks to Troy Moynihan – you’re an amazing mechanic and person. Sorry I didn’t deliver, but I’m glad I had you by my side. Now to spend time with the family and sit down and see what’s next but for now thank you to friends and family and all my supporters,” Moss reflected.

Ryder Kingsford – World Supercross

Young speedster Ryder Kingsford flew the flag for the Aussie 250 contingent impressively in WSX by recording some brilliant results on the big stage. Heading in full of determination and chomping at the bit to showcase his skills on this platform, observing him handle the step up in quality with aplomb was a testament to all his hard work and talent.

“WSX has an international grid of very talented riders, and I’m excited to put myself up against some of the best in the world. With third in the ProMX SX2 series, 2024 has been good for me so far and so much of our sport is based on form and momentum. I feel like momentum is with me, but I know I can’t take anything for granted. I just want to maximise every opportunity, do the best that I can on track, and see what that leads to,” Kingsford commented ahead of the series beginning.

Rising to the occasion strikingly on his CDR 250, there was plenty to get excited about when he grabbed a superb second in the first SX2 final in Canada on his way to securing seventh overall. Next on the agenda were the final rounds in Perth and Abu Dhabi, where his highlights were a ninth and an eighth overall to propel him to eighth in the SX2 championship.

Kaleb Barham – World Supercross

After banking a solid eighth in the first round in Vancouver, rotten luck struck Kaleb Barham in Perth, as he suffered a devastating broken arm. Ending his season right there, just when he was gaining momentum, was a real blow to the likeable ace, especially seeing how much he was loving his time racing with the CDR squad.

“Sucks to be making this post, but unfortunately I had a crash at WSX resulting in a dislocated wrist with a couple of breaks. Obviously I am gutted, but as we all know, this is how the sport goes sometimes,” Barham explained.

“Thankfully the Race Safe crew had me sorted until I was able to fly home and now I’m getting ready for surgery with Dr. Steve Andrews to let the body heal. Thank you to the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team, Yamaha Motor Australia and the Yamalube Yamaha team for this opportunity. Met some people I have looked up to my whole life, raced some of the baddest dudes on the planet and made some cool mates along the way.” Barham has now turned his attention to his recovery in preparation for 2025.

Gus Riordan – GNCC

It’s been another successful season for Australian Gus Riordan, who flexed his muscles yet again in America by becoming the 2024 U.S Sprint Enduro Pro 2 Champion for the second consecutive campaign. The man who also represented Australia at the ISDE and raced a round of EnduroGP in Wales will be gunning for more glory in 2025 too, with him contesting the GNCC XC2 Class and debuting in the National Enduro NE Pro2 Class.

“This year was good and we’re swapping it up for next season, switching to the National Enduro Series. I’m looking forward to that and GNCC as well, so hopefully we can get some wins and challenge for those titles,” Riordan stated.

The FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers hotshot is currently enjoying some time back home in Australia before heading Stateside again to get dialled in ahead of a busy 2025.

Josh Strang – GNCC

Heavy hitter in the American off-road scene for nearly two decades, former XC1 champion Josh Strang has been named East Coast Off-Road Team Manager for the Liqui Moly Beta Race Team. Not only will Strang manage the day-to-day operations for the team, but he’ll also compete in the XC1 class on a Beta 480 RR, as he’ll be eager to add to his 87 podiums and 24 wins in the category.

“I’m excited to join the Beta Off-Road Team as a racer and East Coast Manager. I have been looking for an opportunity to move into a position like this for some time and I believe I can learn and do a good job representing the Beta brand in our community. I’m also very excited to enter into my 19th season of GNCC racing,” insisted Strang.

Stoked at the challenge ahead and set to be a huge asset to the Beta squad, both he and team are fully focused on making 2025 a terrific one, where his expertise, knowledge and experience will be a real game-changer.

Lyndon Snodgrass – GNCC

Although former XC2 GNCC Champion Lyndon Snodgrass has confirmed he’s without a ride for next season, he promisingly expects to still be lining up. Leaving Team Babbitt’s after five years and many good times, it’ll be a case of watch this space to see what he figures out for 2025. Positively, he finished his time with the squad by claiming a podium at the finale at Ironman to wrap up what was an up and down campaign for the Aussie.

“Five years with Team Babbitt’s has come to an end. I want to thank the whole crew for their efforts. We achieved a lot over the years, including the 2022 GNCC XC2 Championship, which was a goal of mine from the moment I stepped foot in the U.S. It’s hard to accept that I don’t have a ride for the 2025 season, but I’m not going to give in yet. I have another goal to chase. I’ll see you all at round one,” he posted.

Editor’s Note – If you would like someone included in Aussie’s Racing Abroad, contact us via our contact page…

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | January 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

Jack Miller ended his 2024 MotoGP season with a solid 13th in Barcelona, in what was his final race with Red Bull KTM Factory before making the switch to Prima Pramac Yamaha for 2025. “I had a good start, settled in there and the tyres stayed good, but I just couldn’t push much and got stuck behind some guys. We signed-off by finishing the race and putting some points on the board. I think both KTM and I wanted more, but I gave my all from the first laps of testing until the last laps today. Onto the next chapter,” he explained.

And that next chapter aboard the Pramac Yamaha has already begun, with the popular Aussie already getting some vital seat time on his new machine at the recent test. Set to be a major asset to his new squad given his experience and proven work developing many different manufacturers, it’ll be exciting seeing how the #43 fares next campaign.

From MotoGP.com – As well as the statement laptime, there was plenty to pull focus at Prima Pramac Yamaha, with new arrivals Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller debuting on new machinery and the team itself making the much-anticipated switch. They both had the 2024 bike, and Oliveira was P17 after 60 laps, with Miller P22 after 71.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Senna Agius closed out his debut season in Moto2 with a credible 12th in Catalunya to finish 18th in the standings. Starting the finale 10th on the grid, it wasn’t long until he powered into fifth. Unfortunately, his march through the field was halted, however, when he suffered numbness in his right forearm. To his credit, though, he valiantly fought on to complete the bout.

“I had a really good start and on the first few laps, I tried to conserve the tyre. I was able to stay in the leading group quite well. But then, eleven laps before the end, my right arm went to sleep for some reason. I no longer had any control over it and could no longer brake or open the throttle as I wanted,” he lamented.

“I wondered whether I would be able to finish the race at all. So, I just tried to bring the bike home. I’m very disappointed because my bike felt fantastic and the fight for the podium was right in front of me. Getting into it was my plan towards the end. I’ve never had a problem with this physical issue in my life, but something obviously went wrong today. That worries me a bit. Overall, I’m happy with my first World Championship campaign. I did my best and had some good moments. Many thanks to the whole team for all the efforts and work they did for me!”

Setting his sights on making further strides with his LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP team next time around, the immensely talented Agius, who banked a memorable maiden Moto2 podium on home soil, will now enjoy a deserved break ahead of what will be a demanding pre-season training schedule.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

Jacob Roulstone’s rookie Moto3 term ended on a high note with him clinching an excellent eighth in Barcelona.

Having qualified in ninth, there was much to like about how he rode a measured race and navigated the many challenging situations that inherently come in this wild class. Sitting in 12th with just five laps to go, how the youngster pounced to seize his chance and eventually climb to eighth was very impressive.

“I am happy to finish the season in a decent way. I wish we would have found the pace earlier in the season, but anyway it feels good to finish on that positive note. I knew that Dani was fighting for second, so I tried to get in front of Colin Veijer and Ivan Ortola as best as I could, when I could. He finished second, so I am happy that I could play a tiny part in that success, I am happy for him,” Roulstone reflected.

“It was a bit of a shame to lose the group at some point, but I progressively gained back ground. I am really happy with my season. There were ups and downs, but I am proud about the way I managed to overcome everything. I would like to thank everyone in the team for sticking around me, helping me and giving me the most competitive bike possible in every session and race. I look forward to another season with them next year, and I believe that after a good off-season and preseason training, we will be ready to show our potential for our second year in the championship, and achieve our goals. Thank you to everyone involved!”

Roulstone will now shift his focus to 2025, where he’ll be determined to keep elevating and going from strength to strength in his quest to be regularly battling it out at the top of the category.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Despite his last race with Boe Motorsports not reaching the heights he intended, it wasn’t all bad, with Joel Kelso’s 14th in qualifying and P12 in the race still being respectable efforts. Struggling at many stages throughout the weekend and unable to match it with the frontrunners, Kelso will now return to Australia to prepare for the 2025 crusade. Changing teams for 2025 to the Level Up-MTA squad, watch for him to right up there, as he aims to be duking it out for title honours.

“It was an easy decision for me to join the Level Up-MTA team. The team consistently demonstrates professional and sporting excellence. I thank manager Alessandro Tonucci for the mutually desired agreement we’ve reached. The 2025 season promises to be exciting as we aim for the Moto3 class crown with a team ready to meet such ambitious goals,”Kelso stated.

Jason O’Halloran – New testing Yamaha role

Experienced BSB star Jason O’Halloran has announced his plans for 2025, as he’ll join the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official team for the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship alongside Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz and reserve rider Robin Mulhauser. After 278 races, 28 race wins and 75 podiums in BSB, the “O Show” is looking forward to this next stage of his career.

“I am extremely excited to join the YART team and become a full-time EWC rider. I have spent many years in British Superbikes, but when I started speaking to the team, it just seemed like the perfect move. I want to thank everybody who made this happen. I cannot wait to join up with the team, and what a team! Endurance World Champions in 2009 and 2023, plus Marvin and Karel are amazing riders, and the team’s achievements speak for themselves,” he insisted.

“I had a lot of success in BSB with Yamaha, so I am excited to get back onto the R1. It has always been the bike I gelled with the best; it suits my riding style, and I love riding it. I had a taste of riding in the EWC in the past and it has always been a championship I wanted to race in. With Niccolo retiring, the timing was perfect, and I cannot wait for the challenge ahead.”

His deal also sees the YART team’s long association with Australian riders continue, which has seen Damian Cudlin, Steve Martin, Josh Brookes, Broc Parkes, Wayne Maxwell and Ricky Olson compete for them. The 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship kicks off on April 17 with the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, giving the 36-year-old plenty of time to get dialled for what looms as a captivating season.

Off-Road
Jett Lawrence and Hunter Lawrence – Paris Supercross

Although neither Jett or Hunter Lawrence reigned supreme at the 2024 Paris Supercross, there was still much upside to extract from the showpiece event. Getting some crucial gate drops and testing time on the new bike, it was a terrific weekend to log some data and figure some things out ahead of the new term. In the case of Jett, and he really should’ve been crowned the King of Paris, as he won five of the six races, only for an incident with a lapper while leading the second main event to cost him.

Getting some tremendous starts, looking comfortable in the whoops and rhythms and yet again showcasing why he’s widely regarded as the best on the planet, the masterful phenom left content even if he missed out on defending his title. Meanwhile, Hunter definitely endured a more difficult time at the office. Battling the bike and lacking the comfort needed to perform at his best, the lack of time on the latest offering had a considerable impact on his performance.

Expect the HRC team to get any gremlins sorted out sooner rather than later, as the brothers gear up for a huge 2025.

Up next for the dynamic duo was the AUSX Open in Melbourne, which gave them some extra high-level racing action and offered their loyal fans a rare opportunity to see them on home soil before they return Stateside to prepare for another massive campaign. Hunter took the win, the report is here.

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