Source: Supplied.

Highly-regarded Australian teenager Hunter Lawrence made his first official appearance as a Team Suzuki World MXGP rider at the factory outfit’s launch overnight at the team headquarters in Belgium.

Lawrence, 17, made a strong first impression in Europe last year by winning at the EMX250 level prior to a knee injury ending his season, which was enough to secure him a fulltime MX2 grand prix deal in the Stefan Everts-led Suzuki squad.

“This year I’m trying not to put results into my head,” Lawrence explained. “We all want to win, that’s for sure, but I need to go in and do my best each race and the results will be what they are. I’m just trying to focus on making good progress throughout the year, learning race-craft and getting as much experience under my belt as possible. I’m really looking forward to it though.”

Lawrence will partner with Jeremy Seewer and Bas Vaessen in the three-rider MX2 team, while younger brother Jett joins Liam Everts in the 85cc development program. Suzuki also announced a brand new 2018 RM-Z450WS entry to be ridden by Kevin Strijbos and Arminas Jasikonis this year.