Hunter Lawrence finished off the season on a high note for everyone involved in the Suzuki World MX2 team as the young Australian won his first ever moto, at the MXGP of Pays de Monbeliard.
Lawrence took a great start on board his RM-Z250 and never looked back, pulling a gap on the rest of the field as they struggled to match his pace in the slippery mud.
After a fourth in the first moto, this victory was good enough to give him second overall and his second podium in the last three rounds.
Jeremy Seewer almost joined his teammate on the box, just losing out on the final lap as he made a last-ditched attempt to win the GP. Instead, the Swiss rider finished fourth overall, which also confirmed his position as runner-up in the MX2 World Championship.
For Lawrence though it was a great ending to what was a very promising rookie MX2 campaign. “I came into today really happy because I had first gate pick after winning qualifying yesterday. In the first moto it was quite wet, as a lot of rain fell so it was really muddy and slippery. It was really difficult conditions.
“I got a decent start though, and made some passes to come up to fifth and then fourth quite quickly. However, I couldn’t make a dent in the guys in front and finished fourth.
“In the second moto I went for the start, put it all in, and my RM-Z250 came out well on the inside and I held on to come out in the lead. I just then put my head down, put in my own laps and increased my lead and was really happy with how it all went. I’m really happy for the win and to end the season on a high note.
“I was pumped because Thomas Covington was closing in at the end because I was just trying to get it over the line at that stage. Leading a race is a whole different ball game from coming through the pack but I enjoyed it and now I get to look forward to the Motocross of Nations.”
General Manager Stefan Everts then gave his thoughts on what was a really gruelling 19-round season. “The chance of winning the MX2 title coming into this final round was really small but Jeremy did a good first moto even if it wasn’t enough to take the victory. Jonass won the title so congratulations to him because he rode well and fully deserved the win. It would still have been nice to have got the GP win though and Jeremy could have got that if he didn’t make the mistake at the end of the race. He tried hard, just as he has all year, but it didn’t quite work out. It would have been good to have him join Hunter on the podium, to have both riders on there in the final GP, but it was just Hunter and that was still great to see. And it is especially nice for Suzuki to win the last race of the year. He felt good all weekend long, he put in his best-timed practice, he won the qualification and now he went out and won his first moto. He controlled the race, he made it look easy and got his third podium of the year. He made good progress during the season and overall had a good season.”
MX2 Moto 1:
1. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), 36:11.422;
2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:08.614;
3. Jed Beaton (AUS, Honda), +0:20.237;
4. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Suzuki World MX2), +0:53.472;
5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +2:11.199;
6. Julien Lieber (BEL, KTM), +2:16.250;
7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s);
8. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s);
9. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), -2 lap(s);
10. Magne Klingsheim (NOR, Kawasaki), -2 lap(s);
MX2 Moto 2:
1. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Suzuki World MX2), 34:29.429;
2. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:06.026;
3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:31.358;
4. Jed Beaton (AUS, Honda), +0:32.182;
5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:36.050;
6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:46.028;
7. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), +0:48.764;
8. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +1:04.132;
9. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:10.619;
10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +1:14.259.
MX2 Overall:
1. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 47 points;
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Suzuki World MX2), 43 p.;
3. Jed Beaton (AUS, HON), 38 p.;
4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 38 p.;
5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 36 p.;
6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 23 p.;
7. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 21 p.;
8. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 21 p.;
9. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 20 p.;
10. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 20 p.
MX2 Points Standings:
1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 771 points;
2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 732 p.;
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 579 p.;
4. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 532 p.;
5. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 504 p.;
6. Julien Lieber (BEL, KTM), 490 p.;
7. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 460 p.;
8. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 407 p.;
9. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Suzuki World MX2), 395 p.;
10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 309 p.;