HRC factory rider, Hunter Lawrence might be in the shadows of his younger brother Jett, but lets not forget just how good this guy is. Already an AMA 250 motocross championship to his name, not to mention an AMA 250 supercross title and of course, the MXoN victory this year. A much, much better rider than maybe even given credit, due to his little brothers results.

Similar to Micheal Byrne, Brett Metcalfe and Andrew McFarlane in the Chad Reed era, a man not given the respect he probably deserves. The media caught up with the older Lawrence and he told them this.

MXLarge: Jett obviously got to experience Marvel Stadium in 2019 when he raced here, but this is your first time in this stadium. I think a lot of people maybe have the conception that Australia is like a very small country with small stadiums and small tracks, but, after being in the US for so long and then stepping into the stadium, how does this compare? Compared to what you've raised in the US?

Lawrence: Yeah, it's awesome. These stadiums are unreal, it's huge, you know, it's bigger than some of the stadiums we race in over in the states. So it's cool. Shane was saying how he was so surprised. Like, oh, you know, the Australians take pride in in everything they do and everything's done so proper and stuff. I'm like, yeah, we're competent people, trust us. It is cool and even, two weeks ago in Paris. That stadium is unreal as well. It just shows the potential of what you know we can do for the sport in every little corner of the world. So yeah, it's unreal. First time here and just just so stoked to be home.

MXlarge: You guys are such a major part of it this year. Is this something we're gonna see moving into the future, you guys come home every year?

Lawrence: Yeah, actually, mate, that's the goal for sure. I think the Sports in a really healthy position right now, so we'd be silly not to, you know and when we were younger, all we ever wanted to do was watch Chad do well. So for us to, you know, hopefully be great role models for the next generation to just have an Aussie to bat for and have someone to look up to and show them that it is possible. Even we didn't even think we'd get this far and we were able to. So just that is is a huge thing and just trying to make the sport bigger and grow it in Australia over in the states. We're trying to do it as well, and yeah, I'd love to to see it as a long term thing.

MXlarge: Being back to your local area in Queensland, how was that for you?

Lawrence: Yeah, it was cool. I think one of the biggest things was like when I left I was 15 and you know you're still in school and then coming back and all your mates are working and stuff. But it was cool to see. Just the friends and family we have there and you know, seeing my mates are doing well for themselves, that was kind of what stoked me out more honestly. Just seeing them and the lives they've created for themselves and stuff was pretty cool. It's funny, we felt like tourists, like we didn't feel like we come back home, we have no ties there anymore.

MXLarge: There's a lot of talk about you on a production bike. You and jet. Two things. I believe that it's a testament to just how great the bikes are now off the showroom floor. Can you learn much from racing the production bike here and take that back to America and tell them what you need done?

Lawrence: Yeah, absolutely and it's testament to how great production bikes are and outdoors it is unreal. We haven't got a lot of laps on supercross yet, so it's cool, cool to just chuck some suspension in and it does. We always like to be able to ride the stock bike before we go to the factory bike just to reconfirm that yes, the factory bike is definitely better, because I'm sure everyone's heard of cases where guys have preferred stock bikes over factory bikes. So that's something we like to double check ourselves on. Absolutely, right now we're still in early days of developing this bike for supercross. So, it does give us a good idea, you know. As the track kind of broke down a little bit in the corners with not broke down.

MXLarge: How does it feel to be in Melbourne?

Lawrence: Sunny Melbourne. The vibes are amazing for one at sunny, that's a huge win. What an arrival and yeah, stoked to be back. It's been eight years. It's been feels like a lifetime. If Australia's been waiting for that long, you can only imagine how long I've been waiting to get back here and for good reason. So yeah, extremely happy.

MXLarge: This event has a lot of history in the sport and you guys are now involved with the promotion.

Lawrence: It's unreal. It's obviously an event we've watched so many years and to finally partner up with with the crew and stuff is unreal and and we just you know. Absolutely. Carry on our shoulders and and have a lot of pride and and and we're proud of it. You know, so it's cool to be involved with that as far as what level this is. You know, with the attendance, we've got already confirmed for this weekend. It is an American supercross. This is what you would go over and see. You know this number of people, the track layout, the stadium. It's unreal, so it's cool. We got a lot of international riders here. So basically we try and bring the US Supercross back to Australia and that's what makes the OSX Open so unique.

MXlarge: How important is it for you to do these races?

Lawrence: Yeah, these offseason races really help us a lot because obviously we can we train throughout the whole preseason at the practice track, but until you get to the first race, you never truly know, right? So it's a good little at the moment for our scenario we're in. It's great for us getting direction on what we need to take the new bike. We don't have any data for Supercross or anything, so it's good to get that you know., oh hey, the bike likes this, setting it likes being in this position and stuff like that. So it's cool and it's just such a fun event. I mean, we get to go to Paris and then we get to come home to Australia. We get to race, we get to enjoy. It. See friends and family and we don't have the pressure of our normal schedule throughout the whole year. So I think that's what everyone enjoys so much about this event.

MXLarge: What would you tell people who have never been to the Aus X Open?

Lawrence: So if anyone that hasn't been and and it's their first time. I mean, just enjoy the show. Go with the flow, cruise it, get some food, some drink, have a good time. Make a day of it, because it's gonna be unreal. There's gonna be racing, you know, they're selling full seat tickets. You only need the edge of your seat, so that's a good one. And there's going to be action all night long, and it'll be fun. We got halftime shows on his freestyle. There's live action performances as well, so it should be unreal whether you're into the sport or not. You know nothing about dirt bike, that's the beauty of it, you don't have to be into it, but you can still come and enjoy, appreciate it.

MXlarge: How about the competiiton this weekend?

Lawrence: It's good to have some friendly competition. You know, love racing these boys. We always race clean and and respectful, so that's unreal. And we've just come off of two weeks of no riding on the sunny coast. So might have to shake off some cobwebs. And who's been back home training? So we'll see. It should be good. Hopefully we we don't, we haven't missed the ball too much. So it should be a fun weekend.