Lawrence brothers to Europe with Kawasaki
Teenagers Hunter and Jett Lawrence will fly out to race next season in Europe with a new youth structure set up by the Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team.
Having won virtually everything this season in Australia, Hunter (16 years old) and Jett (12 years old) discovered Europe when they successfully contested the FIM Junior World Championship.
Jett was crowned 65cc World Champion in 2014, while Hunter got a second in the 85 class in 2013 and a third in the 125 class this summer.
Both grabbed new titles in Australia this year; 125 and 250 Junior titles for Hunter, and 85 Junior title for Jett, so the family has now accumulated eleven Australian national titles!
Hunter, Jett and their family are now ready to walk in the footsteps of Chad Reed, who came in Europe in 2001 to race the World Championship with Jan De Groot and the Kawasaki Racing Team. Much younger than the Australian legend, Hunter will enter the European MX2 series while Jett will race selected 85cc races all over Europe.
Both brothers are delighted at the prospect of this new experience. “Europe has always been my main goal since I first raced the Junior World Championship in Italy. I love the tracks, the different cultures and racing lots of fast riders …Europe produces so many amazing champions and I have always wanted to have a chance to grow in the environment that the European motocross scene provides. In Australia we don’t have the population to get a lot of fast riders on the line; there is usually one or two really fast riders but not half the field like in Europe so that provides more challenges which I love. I believe Europe is a great opportunity to see how far my career can go,” says Hunter, while Jett is also very excited. “I am excited because the tracks are awesome in Europe, and I get to race heaps of fast kids.”
This project wouldn’t have been possible without Jean Jacques Luisetti, team owner of the Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team. “For several years already we have worked on the possibility to bring young hopefuls into the team, to prepare them for the MX2 World Championship. Our friend Ben Townley recommended Hunter and Jett to us; they have amazing riding style, speed and ability despite their young ages,” said the French manager.
For Darren, the father of the kids, it’s a great opportunity for the family to take another step. “The opportunity Kawasaki has given our family is a dream come true for us, not only do we get to race over in Europe we get to do it on a brand of bike and team that has worldwide proven success. So to be able to join the Kawasaki factory team is unbelievable and we are really excited to be able to learn and grow with the team to hopefully return a World Championship back to Kawasaki in the future. We can never thank Kawasaki enough for this opportunity, it means so much,” explained Darren who will move with his wife and their three children in Europe to enter this exciting challenge.
