The three-year deal will begin in 2019 where Lawrence will race 250SX in the Monster Energy Supercross Championship and 250MX in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and continue through 2020 and 2021. In 2018, Lawrence will continue to chase the MXGP World Championship in the MX2 Classification with a move to Team Honda 114 Motorsports. The move also includes a new technical partnership between Team Honda 114 Motorsports and the GEICO Honda team in the U.S.
Lawrence ended his rookie MX2 season by winning the final MX2 moto of the year and took podium finishes in two of the last three races. He finished the season with a brilliant performance at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, taking the individual MX2 class overall.
“To join GEICO Honda and their list of riders past and present is an honour,” says Lawrence. “My family gave up a lot to get me to this point so the decision to sign with GEICO was a big one for us. They felt like family from the minute we started talking and are giving me support next year with 114 Motorsports Honda to win a World Title. Then I will make the move to the U.S. full-time in 2019.”
“We’ve been talking to Hunter and his family for some time, even well before his strong performance at the USGP in Florida,” says GEICO Honda Team Manager Dan Betley. “His talent is obvious, and in the second half of his rookie season in MX2 you could really see him spread his wings and start running up front. Hunter and his family expressed the desire to stay in the GPs for one more season with the goal of winning the World Championship, following in the footsteps of other Australians like Chad Reed, who spent time winning races and battling for a title in the GPs before coming over here. We have watched Hunter ride and feel he will be more than ready by the time he comes here in 2019, and while we haven’t seen him ride supercross yet, we believe he has the talent and skills to excel there, too, and with this deal, also plenty of time to prepare.”
Lawrence expressed his excitement for the deal via social media and thanked Suzuki for launching his MX2 career.
_hunterlawrence_: With year now over I want to thank @suzukiworldmxgp for the opportunity and platform they provided me to race my rookie year and am so happy and proud of what we achieved. I am excited about joining Honda 114 motosports next year and @fchonda in 19,20,21. Thanks Giacomo,Jeff, ziggy and dan for believing in me from the very beginning when we started talking.
The deal was particularly complex and are in full support of me going after my goal of 2018 mx2 world champion. Thank to my agent @lucasmirtl and @wasserman. I can’t wait to get to work and start testing and preparing for next season.
