There were quite a few memorable moments of the 2024 season, Jett Lawrence winning his rookie supercross season and dominating A1 on his 450 supercross debut. Jeffrey Herlings ride at Lommel, Coenen v De Wolf all year, Sexton coming through the field from last in the Nationals with ridiculous speed, Deegan being Deegan and bullying his rivals on and off the track outdoors and the pivotal Chinese MXGP that saw flawless Prado take advantage of Gajser’s issues when he needed it, but there is only one winner – Gajser v Jett Lawrence at the MXoN.
Australia were on the verge of winning the Nations and Tim Gajser was still hurting from that painful MXGP final round world championship loss. Gajser was leading the final moto and not at full pelt, but didn’t realise Jett was even closing in until he went for the pass! Gajser regrouped then went all in and showed his full speed sticking with Jett and, amazingly, making the pass of the year on the final turn to show the world just how good he is, and get some redemption on losing out on his sixth world title the week before.
Meawhile, even though he didn’t know at the time, Jett’s second place backed up by Hunter’s fourth gave Australia their first ever MXoN victory. Both riders won in their own way, the best race of the year gave the best moment of the year and it will live with everyone who was there for the rest of their lives.
It was an incredible move by Gajser who is sometime underrated and, if you somehow didn’t know how good he was beforehand, you do now. Not many catch and pass Jett Lawrence but Tim Gajser did it at the biggest race of the year with both riders all in for the win. What a moment.
