Image: Supplied.

Finishing second overall in his first podium of the 2021 MX2 World Championship season will serve as a major boost for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton.

The 23-year-old Australian put forward two strong and consistent rides for a runner-up result at the MXGP of The Netherlands.

After a mediocre start in the first moto, Beaton put on an impressive charge to slice his way through the field from 12th to second, finishing 6.279 seconds shy of race winner Jago Geerts (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2).

The second moto saw Beaton with a better opening lap in third position, where he ultimately finished the race after a controlled ride saw him manage the gap to the riders behind while keeping steady pressure on his teammate Kay De Wolf ahead.

As sand tracks such as Oss are admittedly not Beaton’s strongest surface, his increased confidence from a maiden podium this season should translate well onto the more hard-pack surfaces he feels stronger on.

“It was a big confidence boost today and just what I needed to get my season going,” Beaton explained. “It’s been a tough start and deep down I knew I could do it.

“Sand isn’t really my strongest surface to race on, but I’ve been putting in the work in practice and it showed today. The team has been awesome and it’s great to reward them with a podium today.”

This result marks a welcome return to the podium for Beaton after a challenging start to the season and performances like these are exactly what he needs to help secure his international future next season when ageing out of the MX2 ranks.

Beaton now sits seventh in the MX2 standings on 109 points as the championship heads to Loket in the Czech Republic for round five this weekend on 25 July.