Competing back home for the first time in his professional career, the 2024 AUSX Open was kind to Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence at the conclusion of the Triple Crown-type SX1 main events, going 6-1-1 for the overall on a dramatic night of racing in Melbourne. The Australian details his night in this Conversation interview.

Image: Foremost Media.

2024 AUSX Open winner, Hunter Lawrence. That was a crazy night of racing inside Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium. Take me through it.

Yeah, it was unreal mate. It was awesome. Opening ceremonies was an out of body experience I think is what I’m going to put it down to. Unreal. The three mains, there was some chaos going on out there. Safe to say that. This triple crown format, I don’t like it in the US, and yeah, I’m not sure if I like it here either. It was wild, man. It was really wild, but happy to be leaving safe. The event was just a huge success. It was unreal. Everyone that was involved, we’re super proud of them, the promoting team, AME, all the athletes that promoted it for so many months in advance. This was record attendance, so awesome.

Like you said, that opening ceremony, was that the homecoming? Wwas it louder than you expected? Was it more people than you expected or is that just what it is?

No, that was more than we expected, that’s for sure. It was way, way more than what we expected. It was unreal, so it was epic, and I think that just made the whole year worth it, so yeah. Unreal.

Image: Foremost Media.

That final main, you and Dean Wilson, that was the loudest I’ve heard a crowd in, I even think in America, of what I’ve attended. I think it was the loudest I’ve heard it. Take me through that main, was it just trying to find a place to pass Dean? Did you know? Were you just thinking, who’s going to win this championship?

It was cool, man. I could only, couldn’t help but think if I was a kid in the stands, what I’d want to see and just keep the race interesting the whole night, the whole length of the main. It was awesome. Unreal, man. Unreal. Hopefully everyone that watched it and was there just enjoyed every bit of the night. So that’s all I have to say.

On behalf of everybody, thank you for what you and Jett have done and what you’re doing for Australia and mainly coming back as well and putting on a show like that. Thank you.

No worries. We’re back.