While golf has it’s majors (British Open, US Open, Masters and USPGA), tennis it’s majors (Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open) and so many major sports have their big events, for motocross, we have five majors and those are the AMA 450 supercross, AMA motocross, both in 250 and 450 and of course the MXGP and MX2 championships.

Those are the only events that really matter when it comes to the record books. Sure, the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations is the event of the year, but in the all-time lists, it’s the American and World championships that count and those who win many of these championships, become legends of our sport.

Be it Ricky Carmichael, Stefan Everts, Antonio Cairoli, Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, Joel Robert, Bob Hannah, Roger De Coster or many others in the big lists, we will always have men join these brilliant legends.

In the MXGP/MX2 series, there are none bigger than Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser, who are without question in the top five all-time best Grand Prix motocross riders. Rather incredible to think, both are on the cusp of possibly joining Joel Robert with a sixth World motocross championship and if either would pass Robert as the third most successful rider in GP history as Herlings with 107 GP wins and Gajser (currently with 49), would both pass Robert for GP wins (The Belgian legend has 50), thus pass him as the third best ever behind Everts and Cairoli.

In America, it’s a different story as the new blood is taking over. AMA 450 supercross champion, Jett Lawrence, AMA 450 motocross champion Chase Sexton and AMA 250 motocross, Haiden Deegan will more than likely dominate the sport for the next 10 years, unless World MXGP champion, Jorge Prado can do something about that.

I thought I would take the day off today, being the final day of 2024, but here I am sitting in my kitchen at 3am in the morning and still on Indonesian time (where I spent my winter break). Some time on my hand before I reflect on this year and prepare for my night out, to celebrate the arrival of 2025, I thought I would sit down and write a little piece on the season that was 2024.

It has truly been a sensational year for our sport. To have the five major champions (six if you want to count the MXoN champions) in America and Europe, all being huge talents, who will lead our sport into the next decade is just all good news for us all.

Of course, the first championship decided in 2024 was that of the AMA supercross and Australian Jett Lawrence proved too good and took his 8th AMA title. No doubt, the HRC man might lead everyone into the next 10 years and as an Aussie myself, I love that idea.

Staying in America, the two AMA motocross championships produced two very talented riders in Sexton and Deegan, Sexton winning the AMA 450 motocross championship and Deegan the AMA 250 motocross championship. Please motocross Gods, bring this young man to Ironman and MXoN in 2025. We want Sexton, Deegan and I guess Tomac to represent Team USA and fight the Aussies, French and Dutch for victory.

In Europe, Prado proved he is the fastest man in Europe and maybe the World with his fourth World championship as he beat two huge legends in Gajser and Herlings for the 2024 MXGP world title. Prado has moved to America, but don’t count him out adding some American titles to his already impressive list.

Young Dutchman, Kay De Wolf won the MX2 World championship after a season long battle with fellow Nestaan Husqvarna factory rider in Lucas Coenen. These two are without question going to win a lot of titles in the next decade and with De Wolf moving to the MXGP class, probably in 2026 and Coenen heading to America to race, probably in the same season, then both will create fireworks with their sensational technical skills and desire to be the best.

Of course, that sixth major champion in 2024 was Australia, when they clinched the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin in England. Now, I know a bit about this run, as I was reporting on Australian racing when we turned up for the event back in 1984 and failed to make the A final. The Aussies then tried to make the A Final at the Nations and then slowly worked their way to a podium, with Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe and Matt Moss finished on the podium, in third place in 2011. We had cracked the top five on a handful of occasions, and some of our riders, like Jeff Leisk, Craig Dack, Andrew McFarlane or Reed had shown resolve.

Chad Reed was the first Aussie to win a moto at the Nations with his opening race win at Namur in 2001 and added to that in 2011 in France, while Jett Lawrence added moto wins in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Of course, it was Jett Lawrence who led Australian to this years MXoN victory, but his brother Hunter will allow the Aussies to be a contender for many years to come. Kyle Webster did his part with a solid MX2 moto, and WE got to celebrate in style. Having been to this event dozens of times, since my first trip in 1987, it was nice to see the men from down under become the kings of the event, and what a way to end the 2024 season.

As I mentioned above, 2025 is going to be huge as Lawrence, Sexton, Deegan, Prado, Tomac and Webb battle for wins in America and Herlings, Gajser, De Wolf, Coenen and many others go for wins and titles in the FIM World Motocross Championship, a series that will spread from Argentina, all over Europe, China, Indonesia, and Australia. Before the big finale in America for the Ironman held, MXoN.

Enjoy tonight everyone and bring on 2025 and thanks for reading.