Source: Supplied.

Youthful Australian talent Hunter Lawrence has signed a unique long-term international Honda deal that will see him through to the conclusion of the 2021 season.

The Queensland-native will remain in the MX2 World Championship in 2018 after recording several podiums in his rookie year, where he’ll race under the official Team Honda 114 Motorsports banner owned by Giacomo Gariboldi.

Gariboldi’s team captured the MX2 title with Tim Gajser in 2015 before the pair also won the MXGP crown together in 2016. This year the Italian operation took charge of the factory Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) program in the premier class altogether with Gajser as the lead rider.

For 2019, Lawrence will then transition from the world championship to the US with Geico Honda and will spend the next three years with the powerhouse squad in the Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross championships.

“To join Geico Honda and their list of riders past and present is an honour,” Lawrence commented. “My family gave up a lot to get me to this point so the decision to sign with Geico was a big one for us. They felt like family from the minute we started talking and are giving me support next year with 114 Motorsports Honda to win a world title. Then I will make the move to the US full time in 2019.”

Geico Honda will provide technical support to the Gariboldi-owned team, marking new ground for the American squad as they collaborate with a grand prix outfit for the first time. Team Honda 114 Motorsports will be operated by multiple-time WMX champion Livia Lancelot and it’s understood that HRC won’t have a direct MX2 team moving forward.

The 18-year-old was initially signed to a multi-year deal with Suzuki World MX2, although there is significant uncertainty over the manufacturer’s future in the world championship, with Lawrence’s move only strengthening the rumours.

Geico Honda team manager Dan Betley spoke of the signing, expressing his belief in the likeable Australian in both disciplines of the sport, despite not yet seeing showcase his potential in supercross.

“We’ve been talking to Hunter and his family for some time, even well before his strong performance at the USGP in Florida,” said Betley. “His talent is obvious, and in the second half of his rookie season in MX2 you could really see him spread his wings and start running up front.

“Hunter and his family expressed the desire to stay in the GPs for one more season with the goal of winning the world championship, following in the footsteps of other Australians like Chad Reed, who spent time winning races and battling for a title in the GPs before coming over here.

“We have watched Hunter ride and feel he will be more than ready by the time he comes here in 2019, and while we haven’t seen him ride supercross yet, we believe he has the talent and skills to excel there, too, and with this deal, also plenty of time to prepare.”

Lawrence completed his rookie season in the MX2 category ninth overall, despite missing a number of rounds due to injury. He most recently represented Australia at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, taking the industry by storm with two stellar performances that credited him the overall win in the MX2 division.