Hunter Lawrence’s homecoming to the AUSX Open proved to be both gratifying and challenging. After completing a rigorous off-season schedule that spanned Paris through to Australia, the two‐week whirlwind culminated in what was a deeply personal event for Hunter and his family. Though coming off as one of the favourites after last year’s win, he found the weekend harder than expected and ultimately settled for third overall across the two-day format.
Reflecting on the event in an exclusive interview with Lewis Phillips of Vital MX, Hunter was frank about the differences between this edition and the one he conquered last year.
He noted that “we won last year, so we’ll try to go back-to-back — but it’s going to be tight racing.” While honoured to defend the title on his home soil, he admitted that things did not play out as smoothly as 12 months ago.
From a set-up perspective, Hunter revealed that the bike and suspension path this winter has been more of an evolutionary process than a radical overhaul.
“The track feels great already, we’re fired up and ready to put on a show,” he said when asked during pre-race media day about how he felt heading into Melbourne. On the weekend itself he referenced his starts, saying that a rough one in the first main hurt his chances: “I wasn’t taking as much risk after some scary crashes in Paris, so the first race I just worked my way into fifth.”
Tire choice and testing also came up in his comments as a key factor: Hunter admitted that while he had high hopes for replicating his previous form, “the grip just wasn’t quite there on my side of the track early on”, adding that adjusting for the Melbourne dirt compounds and whoop sections required a more conservative approach. Although the weekend ended with a respectable podium, he stressed that “we still learned a lot for the next round — the suspension’s sitting in a better spot now moving into the off-season prep.”
Beyond the technical and competitive elements, Hunter made it clear the emotional side of this race wasn’t lost on him.
“Racing at home, hearing the crowd and knowing your family and mates are watching — that means everything,”
he said. Even with the result short of his ultimate goal, he regarded third overall as a solid stepping-stone rather than a true setback. In his view: “This is a building block, last year was special, but every year has its new challenges.”
🎥 Video Link: https://youtu.be/bdclCH25n0U?si=WU3Vwah2rYpDtQAs
In conclusion, while the pressure was high and the expectations even higher for Hunter at the AUSX Open, his mindset remains forward-looking. He and his team are already turning the post-race insights into off-season momentum: refining suspension, dialling in tire behaviour, and sharpening race starts. As he puts it, “When the body’s right, the bike’s right, and the focus is there — then we’ll strike next time.”
