Image: Octopi Media.

Geico Honda’s Jett Lawrence has elaborated on his problem with Justin Cooper taking his pet dog onto the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross podium at Thunder Valley, which sparked divided opinions on social media afterwards.

Lawrence went 6-6 for sixth overall in Colorado, but it was a controversial post from the 17-year-old on social media later that night that stole much of the attention from Cooper’s first win of the 2020 season.

“The Justin Cooper thing, I have to start by saying congrats to him,” Lawrence stated. “He kicked all our asses – I ain’t gonna lie about that. I’ve got nothing against him, it’s just the whole industry works so hard on making our sport good and getting it up at such a high level, that when you bring a dog onto the podium with the photo – instead of holding the trophy, you hold your dog – it kinda looks like a bit of a circus show.

“I love dogs, I’ve got a dog at home. For the speech, I didn’t mind the dog sitting there, it looked cute, but for the main photo I just didn’t like it that much. As you know, whatever comes to my mind, I’m gonna say it. I’m not gonna go on DM and talk behind their back, I’ll either say it to their face or I’ll express myself on social media and they can talk back.

“He can come to the truck next weekend at Pala, that’s fine. I’m old school like that, I ain’t gonna go post everything on social media and then in person not say anything. I just wanna make this sport a lot better and get bigger name sponsors into this, cos obviously that’s better for all of us to make our sport [higher].”

During the post-race press conference, Cooper said that it was a casual decision he made to take the dog onto the podium: “I figured, why not? I brought him with me, so to stick him up on the podium, I don’t think anyone’s ever done that before. It was cool, maybe not an every time thing, but since he was there and I got the win, I figured, why not?”

Image: Supplied.

A seventh-place finish in moto two at Mantova 2 came as a career-best for MX2 World Championship newcomer Bailey Malkiewicz, the Australian impressing as he climbs the results order in Europe.

The Team Honda 114 Motorsports rider was 19th in the opening moto after an early crash, but managed to deliver a top 10 result later that afternoon on his way to 13th position overall.

“My qualifying wasn’t really what we wanted,” 18-year-old Malkiewicz recalled after qualifying in 18th position. “I was feeling good on the bike, but I couldn’t find a good lap to give us a good gate pick for the race.

“In the first race I had an okay start, but collided with another rider on the first lap and went down so I had to charge from last to 19th at the finish. I had an awesome start in race two and it was really nice to be up the front for once with a clear track. Seventh in the second moto was really good and I’m super-happy about that.”

Honda Off-Road Racing manager Gordon Crockard was impressed with what he saw from Malkiewicz at the Italian venue: “The standout performance for young Bailey Malkiewicz was superb, being seventh in race two. This on the back of a ride through the pack in the first race to score a 19th.”

The weekend wasn’t such a fortunate one for teammate and countryman Nathan Crawford, exiting the opening moto with a badly swollen knee injury, however the 114 Motorsports team has indicated that he could return as soon as this Sunday with the final stop of the Mantova triple-header.

Image: Foremost Media.

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team’s Kirk Gibbs will return to competition in Rockhampton’s King of Capricorn event after breaking his wrist while training in July.

After winning the New Zealand championship with Altherm JCR Yamaha, Gibbs was injured in Queensland and spent an extended period off the bike, but is now fit to line-up this weekend.

“2020 has been a strange year for everyone and to think this will be my first race of the year when its usually the end of our season is odd,” Gibbs explained. “It was disappointing that the national season was delayed and then my injury prior to the state races starting just compounded my frustration.

“I have missed racing and am so keen to get back on track and get some racing in. It’s been hard work watching all the Queensland-based riders racing up here and not being a part of it, as we have been fortunate to keep racing when other states couldn’t.

“It’s great that Rockhampton have been able to organise this event and it’s given me something to work towards as I regain full speed and fitness. The $20K in prizemoney also means there is a bit on the line and things will be intense on the track, so I can’t wait.”

The King of Capricorn is taking place this weekend, 3-4 October, and includes a wide range of races catering for everyone from juniors through to professionals. The Six Mile circuit is a popular one with the riders and the local community, plus with $20,000 prize money on offer, it will also be one of the biggest events of the season domestically.

“We are happy to support Kirk at this event and will ensure he is in good hands,” said CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Craig Dack. “With the team based in Victoria, we are unable to attend due to the border restrictions, but we are desperate to do what we can to get our riders on track and races events like this where the state regulations allow.”

Image: Supplied.

French talent Maxime Renaux has been promoted into the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team alongside Jago Geerts from next year, both signing through the 2022 season.

Renaux, 20, has long been a Yamaha rider, winning the 125cc Junior World Championship in 2015 and scoring multiple EMX125 victories in 2015.

His first full season in MX2 was last year, finishing seventh in the championship with a podium at Imola as part of the SM Action M.C. Migliori Yamaha organisation that he is currently riding for.

Following 10 rounds in 2020, Renaux sits third in the MX2 standings, capturing a breakout world championship race and overall round win at Faenza in Italy last month. He’s had four podiums overall.

“I’m really looking forward to moving up to the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory team for 2021 and 2022,” said Renaux, who replaces Ben Watson. “It will be a new beginning for me and I’m ready to fight for the title during those next years.

“The team looks really motivated and so am I. I am already really looking forward to starting our winter program and to start testing and training ahead of 2021.”

Geerts made his MX2 debut with the team back in 2018, the 20-year-old Belgian going on to finish third in the world championship in 2019.

This year Geerts won his first-career grand prix at the season-opening British GP, also going on to stand atop the podium at two of the Latvian rounds. He has a total of 13-career podiums.

“I’m really happy to sign with Yamaha for another two years,” commented Geerts. “The last three years were really nice and it’s really cool I have extended my contract.

“Everything works nicely within our team and we have had some really good races this year. I’m really happy with my bike, the Yamaha YZ250FM, so it’s good for me to stay with Yamaha for another two-years.”