Team Australia Make History to claim first MXoN crown
After five decades of trying, Team Australia has scaled the motocross summit with a sensational landmark victory at the 2024 FIM Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in England. Words: Motorcycling Australia
With a host of former Team Australia MXoN legends watching on, the Honda-riding trio of Hunter Lawrence, Jett Lawrence and Kyle Webster prevailed after three pressure-cooker motos around the Matterley Basin track.
The intensity in the final moto went to another level as the Lawrences hit the track in the MXGP/Open battle with America and The Netherlands still capable of wresting the prestigious Chamberlain Trophy.
But any doubts were quickly dispelled with the Lawrences circulating at the front of the pack, with Jett finishing second and Hunter fourth – more than enough to win the MXoN for the first time.
The MXstore-backed Team Australia finished on 26pts, ahead of America (29), The Netherlands (36), Spain (45) and 2023 champion France (50).
Jett rode in the Open category at the Hampshire track, with Hunter in MXGP and Webster in MX2 as all the classes competed against each other once across the three 16-lap motos.
Jett was the lynchpin of the Team Australia victory with a 1-2 scorecard, while Hunter (8-4) and Webster (11-19) were superb running mates. Each team is also allowed to drop its worst result in the final scoring.
After finishing third and second for Team Australia over the last two years, victory for the Lawrences has now completed the full suite of positions on the MXoN dais, while for Webster it was the best possible return to MXoN action for the first time since 2019 – and a rich reward after his spectacular MX1 victory in the 2024 ProMX Championship.
In the individual standings, Tim Gasjer was the overall winner after two brilliant victories, ahead of Jett (1-2) and American Eli Tomac (Yamaha, 2-3).
Jett’s final moto scrap with his fellow Honda factory rider Gasjer was brilliant, with the Slovenian pipping the Aussie by just 0.4 seconds.
The winning margins in the other two motos were much more comfortable, with Jett winning the second by nearly eight seconds.
Team Australia’s defence of the 2025 Motocross of Nations will take it to Ironman Raceway in Indiana on October 4-5.
Image: Motorcycling Australia
