Motorex KTM Junior Race Team rider Hunter Lawrence has done his team and his country proud at this year’s Monster Energy FIM Junior Motocross World Championships in the Czech Republic, finishing with a silver medal in the 85cc class.
Motorex KTM Junior Race Team rider Hunter Lawrence has done his team and his country proud at this year’s Monster Energy FIM Junior Motocross World Championships in the Czech Republic, finishing with a silver medal in the 85cc class.
After qualifying fourth-fastest in Pool B, the 14-year-old Sunshine Coast racer powered to fourth in the first moto, then performed an incredible charge from 15th place to win the second moto.
The outstanding performance brought him second overall in the 2013 85cc FIM World Motocross Championship, a single point behind British rider Conrad Mewse.
KTM-mounted Lawrence now becomes the third Aussie rider to medal at the junior worlds in the last five years.
The distinctly orange-flavoured green and gold squad made up entirely of KTM riders raced exceptionally well at the Jinlin circuit and gained creditable results.
In the 65cc ranks Rhys Budd and Bailey Malkiewicz were 12th and 14th respectively, Caleb Grothues finished 20th in the 85cc class, while in the 125cc division, Ritchie Evans was 16th overall and Aaron Tanti finished with 33rd and 25th place finishes.
The team was supported by the German KOSAK KTM team and managed by Motorex KTM Junior team Manager Glenn Macdonald, who was delighted with the progress of Lawrence.
“I am so very proud of Hunter,” said Macdonald. “He rode so well and fought to the very end. The title came down to just one point. Hunter and his family work very hard and the result well deserved.
“This is the third world championship medal for a Motorex KTM junior racer in the five years I have been involved – 2009 85cc Wilson first, Long third and now Lawrence second – so it was an extremely proud moment for me.”
Aiden Tijero from USA won the 65cc title, Conrad Mewse from Great Britain topped the 85cc division and Pauls Jonass from Latvia raced to the top of the 125cc podium.
Team USA was on the top of the podium after obtaining the best overall result taking into account the best rider in each class, and the Czech Republic and Spain were second and third respectively. Sweden finished fourth and Italy completed the top five.
Australian’s team of young guns finished the event sixth overall.