Reigning Australian MX2 champion Jed Beaton endured a challenging day at Lommel’s 14th round of the 2017 MX2 World Championship, in what was the Tasmanian’s second outing with factory Honda HRC MX2 outfit.

After recording a 15th place finish in Saturday’s qualification race, Beaton strung together 26-28 results for 30th overall after multiple crashes denied him of a more satisfying result in the deeps sands of Belgium.

“I haven’t exactly had the best day in Lommel today,” said Beaton. “The first start wasn’t so good and I don’t know what happened – I think I just struggled a little bit and after making really good headway through the race I had a small crash which took all the energy out of me and then I ended up crashing again, and by then I was just done.

“I wasn’t feeling it, I came in and regrouped for the second race. I got off to a good start in the second race but [Pauls] Jonass went down and a huge pile up happened and I ended up in it. The first couple of laps after that was good, I made progress through the pack and I was just trying to flow.

“Probably about six laps in I went down again which just took all my energy out of me again, then I ended up crashing another three times. So basically, this whole weekend has been a series of crashes.”

Lommel is known to be one of the toughest circuits in the world, which Beaton reaffirmed, stating it was the roughest track he’s raced in his youthful career.

“The track was so gnarly,” he continued. “It is the roughest track I have ever ridden. So, all in all, a lot of negative and positive things to take away from this weekend.”

Beaton has one more opportunity with the factory Honda outfit in the MX2 category this weekend in Switzerland, before returning to his regular role in the European Motocross Championship with the Carglass Honda team.