Features 21 Jan 2020

Countdown: Australians overseas

Full-time motocross and supercross riders racing internationally.

The 2020 season is set to see the largest contingent of Australian motocross and supercross riders racing full-time internationally, and in this instalment of Countdown, we list the contenders in no particular order that will be competing in championships across the globe.

Image: Supplied.

9. Caleb Grothues:
Western Australian Caleb Grothues has been a regular in Europe over recent years, contesting both the EMX250 series and Italian Motocross Championships. 2020 sees him transfer to Suzuki machinery with Team RT973, where he’ll once again race both of the previously mentioned series’, along with the International Italian Motocross Championship.

8. Nathan Crawford:
We’re set to see Nathan Crawford race internationally for the first time this year, and it will be in the MX2 World Championship. The popular Queenslander has joined Team Honda 114 Motorsports, piloting a CRF250R in his rookie season on the world circuit.

7. Bailey Malkiewicz:
Joining Crawford at Team Honda 114 Motorsports in the MX2 World Championship is Bailey Malkiewicz. The former 125cc junior world champion picked up a ride at the Honda team that has previously fielded Hunter Lawrence and Mitch Evans, and will make his maiden campaign in the prestigious series alongside his compatriot.

6. Wilson Todd:
Dual Australian MX2 champion Wilson Todd is third of three new Aussie faces to hit up the world championship in 2020, and he’ll be doing it with Dixon Racing Team Kawasaki. It’s going to be a massive year for the talented Queenslander, who’s been targeting an opportunity in Europe for many years.

Image: Octopi Media.

5: Hunter Lawrence:
Following his maiden season in Pro Motocross, we’re set to see Geico Honda’s Hunter Lawrence make his debut supercross campaign in the 250SX East division of Monster Energy Supercross. He’ll also be back for the outdoor series, where he enters as a title contender in the 250MX category.

4. Chad Reed:
It’s an incredibly special year for two-time Monster Energy Supercross title holder and fan-favourite Chad Reed, who will hang up the boots from professional racing at the end of the supercross series. He’s currently running a privateer Honda effort, and recently increased his record to 251 main event starts.

3. Mitch Evans:
After a rookie MX2 World Championship in 2019, Mitch Evans graduates to the premier MXGP category this year with Honda HRC. Pitted alongside reigning world champion Tim Gajser, it’s going to be interesting to watch Evans’ progress on the bigger bike, which he’s always admittedly been better suited to.

2. Jed Beaton:
Tasmanian Jed Beaton enters the MX2 World Championship for his third-straight full-time campaign, and he’ll once again be with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. Coming back from injury last year, and suffering multiple more, we can’t wait to see was Beaton can do with a healthy body in 2020.

1. Jett Lawrence:
At just 16 years of age, Jett Lawrence is in his rookie season as a professional rider with Geico Honda. He’s already made an impressive start to the 250SX West championship in Monster Energy Supercross, and while an injury sustained at the weekend will keep him sidelined for the coming weekends, he’ll likely be back in fine form for the remaining rounds followed by Pro Motocross.

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