We have Aussies scattered across the world, making us proud in their two wheeled disciplines. Ed has us covered with his monthly Aussies Racing Abroad International race news for Aussies...
Aussies Racing Abroad | With our Aussies showcasing their skills overseas on-track and off-road, this column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their chosen classes. Aussies racing from MotoGP to AMA Motocross and King of the Baggers.
On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP
The highlights of Jack Miller’s August were unquestionably his impressive performances in the Sprint races in Britain and Austria, where he claimed seventh and fifth respectively. While his 12th at Silverstone wasn’t what he’d hoped for in the race, as he struggled with rear grip, both he and the team still extracted many positives from the round. Then on his team’s home turf, all the signs were pointing towards a strong Sunday race after his aforementioned fifth in the Sprint, but sadly a small crash following a fast start meant the best he could muster was 19th.
Aussies Racing Abroad September, Jack Miller
“Not the way we wanted the day to go, but I got away with a better start and we went with a softer map today. I was nursing the bike at the beginning and I was sacrificing a little bit, but I was comfortable. The crash was a small mistake. I came in a little hot and I don’t know if I hit a bump, but it started bouncing and put me down. After that I put in a solid race and a lot of good laps considering. So, it was a ‘what could have been’ because the pace was good. I just wish I could have been with the boys I was fighting with,” he reflected.
“So, it was a ‘what could have been’ because the pace was good”…
With his plans for 2025 up in the air at this point, the latest link has been to him potentially joining Yamaha’s new Pramac satellite team, which would be a wonderful opportunity for him to stay in MotoGP.
Senna Agius – Moto2
Moto2 rookie Senna Agius underlined his class at Silverstone, with the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP ace producing a fine showing to claim 10th. Despite starting 20th, he flew out of the blocks superbly to make up five positions on the first lap. From here, the 19-year-old kept charging, eventually powering to a fantastic 10th. Indeed, this exciting effort was a nice way to mark him extending his contract with the team.
Aussies Racing Abroad September, Senna Agius
Although he couldn’t replicate his above outing at the Red Bull Ring, encouragement could still be found from how he kept plugging away to eventually bank 15th and one point.
“Happy to leave here with something in my hands and a big thanks to the team”…
“Happy to leave here with something in my hands and a big thanks to the team, they never stopped working. We didn’t achieve what I wanted, but we all worked for it, and I hope we’ll get near to our ambitions again soon,” Agius commented.
Jacob Roulstone – Moto3
Despite results not going his way this month, August was still a memorable one for Jacob Roulstone, for he signed a new contract to remain with the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 for another season.
Aussies Racing Abroad September, Jacob Roulstone
“I am really thankful to be riding for another season with Tech3, as well as continuing my pathway with Red Bull. I would like to say a huge thank you to Herve Poncharal and to the entire Tech3 family. I could not be happier to be able to race another year with this incredibly supportive team, and I believe that we have great things to achieve together. I look forward to continuing growing as a racer with these amazing partners,” he stated.
“I could not be happier to be able to race another year with this incredibly supportive team”…
To touch on his races, and his Silverstone was scuppered by him having to serve an early long-lap penalty, thus ensuring the best he could salvage was 17th. Then, in Austria, 14th was an improvement, but not where he knows he can be. The youngster will now regroup and look to close out the campaign strongly.
Joel Kelso – Moto3
Joel Kelso continues to illustrate his talent by putting in some classy showings in the stacked Moto3 class. Indeed, qualifying third and leading laps at Silverstone on his way to an excellent seventh served as a fine testament to his quality, in a race where a podium was on the cards for the majority of the bout. The 21-year-old then backed this up in Austria by grabbing a blistering P2 in qualifying. His race disappointingly didn’t go to plan for him even though eighth was still a fine result.
Aussies Racing Abroad September, Joel Kelso
“After such a great weekend, we struggled from lap one to match the feeling and pace we showed during the practice sessions. A few factors out of my control really dampened what looked to be a promising weekend. But we brush our selves off and keep moving forward,” he noted.
“A few factors out of my control really dampened what looked to be a promising weekend”.
Remy Gardner – World Superbike and MotoGP
It was another busy month for Remy Gardner, as he mixed MotoGP and WorldSBK commitments. Starting with his fill-in ride for Cal Crutchlow in MotoGP at Silverstone, and he fulfilled his aim of helping the team test and gain data. Going on to clinch 18th while sporting the special 75th Anniversary colour scheme, Gardner left feeling reasonably content.
Aussies Racing Abroad September, Remy Gardner
“We tried a completely different thing again in warm up this morning. I didn’t like it, so we went back to what we finished with yesterday. We knew we had some traction problems with that, but I wanted a bike setting I was already familiar with for the race. When the tyre was new, I could pretty much keep the same pace as the riders in front of me for about 6-7 laps. I was in front of Takaaki (Nakagami) for a few laps as well. But I don’t have the experience to keep the pace when the tire drops. That’s all down to race experience, and we haven’t focused on race pace this weekend, it’s all been about testing,” insisted Gardner.
Aussies Racing Abroad September, Remy Gardner
He then shifted his focus to WorldSBK at Portimao, where he had a decent weekend at the office. Kicking off the round with a 14th in Superpole and a 10th in race one, he then rode to 15th in the Superpole race and 12th in race two. Wanting more at the next one in France, expect him to come out swinging his quest to battle it out with the frontrunners where he belongs.
Olli Bayliss and Tom Edwards – World Supersport
The Australian D34G Racing riders endured a challenging stop on the calendar at Portimao, with both having to retire in the first race. But there was importantly some upside to be found from their second races, as Oli Bayliss held his own in the mid-pack scramble to eventually cross the line in 15th while Tom Edwards recovered from an early incident that dropped him way back to finish 17th.
Team manager, Davide Giugliano, spoke insightfully on the pair’s Portugal, stating: “Starting from the positives, in race two, Edwards put together an excellent comeback as he started from the back of the grid following a technical issue in qualifying. He managed to get close to the top 15 and I think it would have been impossible to do any better today.
Oli did battle in the middle of a competitive group and even though it wasn’t the result neither he or us were expecting, it still shows growth. The learning curve is never the same at each round and the level of the field right now is as high as it gets. We’re aware our potential is a lot higher than what we’ve shown so far and we’ll do our best to get there as quickly as possible. It wasn’t an easy weekend as there were some unexpected issues, but both the team and the riders reacted well and gave their very best; after all it is especially in the tough times that the real value of the team is fully on display.”
France now awaits for Bayliss and Edwards, where an uptick in form will be on the cards.
Jason O’Halloran – British Superbike
Despite struggling with a hand injury that forced him to sit out races at the two most recent rounds of BSB, Jason O’Halloran deserves plenty of praise for valiantly soldiering on to register some uplifting results. After logging second in qualifying at Thruxton, the “O’Show” strikingly clinched a podium finish in what was a thrilling opening duel. Sadly, he had to withdraw from the remainder of the event due to a crash caused by engine failure. Suffering a bruised leg and damage to his throttle/front brake hand, these ailments also saw him do it tough at Caldwell Park.
To his credit, though, he toiled away and fought through the pain barrier to not only bank pole position, but also notch sixth and tenth in the first two races before withdrawing from the finale.
“Unfortunately, after trying to persevere with his Thruxton hand injury, the team and Jason O’Halloran have jointly decided to withdraw Jason from Race Three on safety grounds. A good long recovery period now to come back fighting for the next round,” read the team statement.
The Aussie will now do everything in his power to focus on his recovery to get back to a level resembling his best at Oulton Park in the middle of September.
Troy Herfoss – King of the Baggers
Troy Herfoss excelled at the King of the Baggers round in Mid-Ohio, with a superb first and a second aboard his Indian. Proving once more what a talented and adaptable operator he is, this was a vital victory to close the gap to title leader Kyle Wyman.
Aussies Racing Abroad September, Troy Herfoss. Pic: Brian J Nelson.
“That was our best (win) yet. We’ve been second fiddle this weekend and the last few rounds to Kyle. It felt really nice to be able to get out and lead the race at my own pace. He always has a go, so he shot down underneath me, and I got back in front of him. Thank you to everyone that’s involved,” said Herfoss.
Moreover, his fifth and third in the Super Hooligan category rounded out a fantastic weekend for Herfoss, who continues to draw plenty of headlines in his Stateside adventures.
Off-Road
Hunter Lawrence – Pro Motocross
Hunter Lawrence ended a hugely successful debut premier class season with second in the standings behind the exceptional Chase Sexton. Consistent, making great strides with the bike and well and truly at home duking it out with the many heavy hitters in the 450 division, there was much to like about his outstanding term. Winning motos and landing on the overall podium eight times, Hunter certainly flew the 450 HRC flag masterfully in the absence of his phenomenal brother Jett Lawrence.
Aussies Racing Abroad September, Hunter Lawrence
“I’m super proud of how this motocross season went; I rode my heart out all summer. I can’t thank the team enough for all the support they gave me. Now, to have a weekend off before the SMX playoffs start, and hopefully lead into having the best weekend of the year in Vegas,” Hunter recalled.
The highly anticipated SuperMotocross series is next on the horizon for the gifted brothers, which begins on September the 7th in Charlotte.
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