The 2024 MXoN had just about everything, except stable WIFI in the press room!
It was one of the most stacked fields of all-star names in history, the youth in MX2 showed mesmerising speed, there was a brand new winner of the event and oh, yes, the best race of the year was the final moto of the year with a pass that will live on in everyone’s memory forever.
Tim Gajser had his Stefan Everts passing James Stewart moment at Matterley Basin 18 years later. Gajser lost the world title the weekend before, that was a hard one to take after a great season, but if anything could bring redemption this was it. In front of the the entire motocross world, Tim Gajser won one of, if not the most stacked field in history, and passed the rider many believe is the fastest man on the planet. Gajser went 1-1 against Tomac, Prado, Herlings, Febvre and both Lawrence brothers as well as Ken Roczen. This was maybe the most emphatic performance of his career in terms of a statement ride in a race that was motocross heaven for every fan, and pure euphoria for Tim Gajser.
Tim Gajser Last Lap Pass on Jett Lawrence! pic.twitter.com/sMFUw84osz
— Dirtbikelover (@Dirtbike_Lovers) October 6, 2024
Gajser had only went 1-1 once all season in MXGP, but he left the biggest moment to the end, the pass of the year, the win of his life. Tim Gajser deserved this, he has always went somewhat under the radar despite five world titles, so he deserves the respect he is getting now from around the the world and on this day there was no debate, he was the fastest man on the planet and everyone saw it.
The only rider to beat Tim all weekend was Jorge Prado, who had a great ride on Saturday, but, surprisingly, Prado was off his game on Sunday and after all that MXGP title pressure and brilliant performances down the stretch, it looked like Prado just had no more to give when the rain came. He was emotionally drained and wasn’t willing to risk anymore. His job was done the previous weekend – maybe the only downside of the entire weekend was not seeing prime Prado in the battle for the entirety of that final all-star moto.
We also got to see Roczen v Herlings in every moto. Herlings and Roczen went at it, and quite frankly, it seemed to upset Herlings rhythm, everytime he passed Roczen he couldn’t focus on his laps or the next guy to pass, because Roczen was hitting back at seemingly every turn! This was a brief throwback to 2010/2011 when the they were the fastest 250 riders in the world. A race of nostalgia with plenty of fire in the moment but Herlings will wonder what could have been. He had the speed for more than 5-5 and the Dutch, without crashes, could have been on top this weekend.
The teenage star this weekend was Lucas Coenen who was absolutely flying! He caught and passed Roczen, something he said he couldn’t believe was happening, and then he caught up to the battle for second with Prado, Febvre and Tomac within striking distance until he fell and got injured. The 17 year old served notice that he is the real deal and, for any lingering doubters, so did Kay de Wolf.
The Dutch MX2 world champ, who just turned 20 last week, was also on a charge in moto one and, really, without two crashes, could well have finished second in race two – at one point he was lapping similar times to Jett Lawrence as he caught Ruben Fernandez. Coenen and De Wolf showed just how high the level has been in MX2 this year. Fair play to Simon Laengenfelder for topping MX2 race two with a third and Karlis Reisulis, the young Latvian, rode the B final, then the first two motos of the MXoN motos back to back to back and finished second overall in MX2, his reward was getting the RC hard charger award – very well deserved.
In addition to all this impressive youth, the YZ125 bLU cRU cup also saw two future stars, Britain’s Jamie Keith edged a young Levi Townley, son of former MX2 world champ and AMA 250 supercross champ Ben, who raced the 2006 MXoN, another contender for the best MXoN in history and made the podium with New Zealand. The next generation of Townley talent is coming, Levi is the real deal and very smooth.
Team USA thankfully showed up and all three riders put their best foot forward with Eli Tomac in superb form leading the team to second overall and a rare but vital holeshot in the final moto that led to cheers from all of the US crew in the pit land when the saw the number 22 pinned out front around the first turn. Team USA delivered, and the UK fans got to see Tomac laying down the speed in person along with the fighting qualities of Cooper Webb on the 250 and joyous nature of the flamboyant but fast Aaron Plessinger. Thanks team USA for coming!
But in the end it was Australia’s day – for the first time ever! The Lawerence boys delivered again and set the foundation for a famous victory, Jett and Hunter are just fantastic to watch thanks to their flawless technique.
Jett Lawrence doing an Everts at Matterley. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0BgrpRZC0j
— Gate Drop MX (@GateDropMx) October 5, 2024
They had pressure and they delivered but a huge round of applause should also go to Kyle Webster, who spent a month with the Lawrence family adjusting back to a 250 factory Honda after being on a 450 in Australia all year. He absolutely delivered the speed he needed and the result Australia relied on for their fifth score to seal victory.
A historic day for Australia, with brilliant racing, an all-star cast and THAT pass from Tim Gajser, makes the 2024 MXoN one of, if not the best MXoN in history. It was a pleasure to be there and it underlined just why motocross is the best sport in the world.
