Is Cole Davies shades of Jett Lawrence?

 Competition Post: Kane Taylor

Similarities on and off-track for the teenager at this point in his career.

What else is there to say about Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s teenage sensation Cole Davies that hasn’t already been said? With a rapid rise to prominence culminating in a maiden 250SX West round victory in Seattle, are there signs that suggest – dare we say it – are shades of a young Jett Lawrence? Let’s find out.

It’s a big call, there’s no doubting that. However, a young, charismatic teenager who’s comfortable letting his personality shine, combined with impeccable technique, race-winning pace and what seems like a true racer’s mindset, all at the age of 17? Let’s say this – the story sounds familiar.

Any comparison to the great ones is a dangerous game to play, especially so early in the piece. Determining whether Lawrence himself had the potential for greatness or not, which he has since shown, during the early stages of his career was met with its fair share of backlash.

 

Image: Octopi Media.

Did the young Australian have the speed of the great James Stewart? How dare anyone ask such a blasphemous question, and yet, three years later, Lawerence sits alongside both Stewart and the Greatest of All Time, Ricky Carmichael, as the only riders to have achieved a perfect 450 Pro Motocross season.

This brings us back to Davies. Announcing his place on the international scene during last year’s SMX Next class after claiming four of an available five podium finishes, highlighted by two race wins, things began heating up for the young rider since, with the all-powerful Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing Team pouncing on their opportunity with the New Zealand talent.

Aligning with the Tallahassee-based squad has attached rockets to Davies’ boots, who is apparently thriving on the regimented program that pits all team riders against each other during the week in order to elevate their game on weekends. It works for some and doesn’t for others, however, a relaxed demeanour from Davies seems to keep him from succumbing to the pressure.

“Cole is really chill,” mentioned Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Haiden Deegan after Seattle. “He just goes with the flow [laughs].”

It’s a good insight from Deegan, who is well-known for identifying (and sometimes exploiting) competitor personalities. From his perspective, the number 100 is relaxed, seemingly enjoying his life as a current professional racer, oblivious to much of the existent pressure.

Sounds Jett Lawrence-esque, right? Particularly in his younger 250 class years, where a carefree attitude was met with dominant results. And though we’re yet to see the latter from Davies, at 17 years old, it’s not out of the question, as at the same age, Lawrence had only just claimed his first 250SX victory in Houston, 2021. He would then go on to claim two more wins that year in Supercross, including the season-finale 250SX showdown in Salt Lake City.

So, what will be interesting to measure is how the next two years unfold for Davies and whether he can go on a path of demolition in the 250 Class. Lawrence did claim the 250 Pro Motocross Championship in 2021, which will be a tall order for Davies with the present list of contenders in class, namely, his teammate and – at least for the moment – friend, Deegan.

The Davies/Lawrence comparison is sizeable, although for it to even be a mentionable ‘thing’ is big. Some may agree, others may not. Although on the personality side, let’s leave this piece with a comment Davies made after victory in Seattle in what were his keys to blitzing what was a treacherous set of whoops.

“I just gotta let them hang [laughs],” were Davies’ words of wisdom.

A young, charismatic teenager who’s comfortable letting his personality shine? We’ve seen this before.

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Triumph Shines in first Enduro GP!

Triumph Factory Racing made a solid statement in their maiden EnduroGP appearance over the weekend, with Mikael Persson landing back-to-back podiums in the Enduro1 class at round one of the 2025 FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Portugal.

It was a milestone weekend for the British manufacturer, proving that their all-new TF 250-E is already competitive at the highest level of enduro racing.

Despite atrocious weather conditions in Fafe—torrential rain, heavy mud and fog—the team adapted quickly. Persson powered through to finish third in Enduro1 on both days while also securing ninth and seventh overall respectively, putting him eighth in the EnduroGP standings after round one.

“That’s round one done here in Portugal! I had two fantastic days, finishing third in class after a really positive weekend,” Persson said. “I was pushing hard to finish a bit higher up overall today, so I’m pleased with P7. I’m really happy for the team – we’ve worked so hard this preseason so it’s great to start the season on such a positive note!”

Jamie McCanney showed solid form across the weekend, narrowly missing the Enduro1 podium on day one before backing it up with a consistent fifth-place finish on day two. Photo: Future7Media

Teammate Jamie McCanney also showed solid early-season form. He missed the Enduro1 podium by just one position on Saturday, coming home fourth in class and tenth overall. Sunday proved more challenging as he struggled to find rhythm, but still managed fifth in class and twelfth outright.

“So we’re finished here at round one of EnduroGP, and we have definitely been put through our paces this weekend! It’s been a tough return, especially carrying a small injury, but I’m happy to have posted some good test times across the two days,” McCanney said. “It’s been a great start for the team with Miki putting the new bike on the box twice, and we have a lot to build on going forward.”

The weekend kicked off with Friday night’s Super Test, where Triumph’s new enduro models—the TF 250-E and TF 450-E—were unveiled in action with a demo lap by legends Jonny Walker and Ivan Cervantes. From there, the real racing began with Persson clocking a solid seventh in the slippery night test. McCanney, starting later in worsening conditions, ended up 23rd.

Team manager Paul Edmondson was thrilled with how the squad came out swinging on debut. “We’ve just completed the first EnduroGP of the season, and to say we are a new team with new bikes, we have had an incredible weekend,” he said. “Mikael coming back from injury to get two podiums is amazing and Jamie managed fourth and fifth in class which was great. We’ve gained some valuable race time and I can’t wait to see what the boys can do in Spain next month!”

With one round down and the TF 250-E already proving its capability in the mud and mayhem of Fafe, Triumph heads into round two in Oliana, Spain (2–4 May) with confidence and momentum.

 

Mikael Persson also impressed in the overall standings, finishing inside the top ten on both days and proving the TF 250-E is already a serious contender. Photo: Future7Media

DUST BOWL AT CAMP COKER BULLET GNCC ENDURO

Cairoli To Fill In At MXGP of Trentino

Tony Cairoli, the nine-time MXGP World Champion, will fill in for the injured Mattia Guadagnini at the MXGP of Trentino on April 12-13 in Pietramurata, Italy. Cairoli, who is already one of the Ducati lead test riders, will race alongside current team rider Jeremy Seewer at the Italian Grand Prix after Guadagnini was injured in a training crash last week in Sardinia

 

Antonio Cairoli will fill in for the Ducati Factory team at the MXGP of Trentino on April 12-13.

“I enthusiastically accepted Ducati’s request to race in MXGP at Pietramurata as a replacement for Mattia Guadagnini, to whom I extend my best wishes for a speedy recovery,” Cairoli said. “Even though I wasn’t expecting to return to racing so soon this year, I will use these few days that separate me from the Trentino GP to train and be in the best possible condition on 12 and 13 April. It will also be the perfect opportunity to greet all my fans and Ducati’s fans on the occasion of the launch of the production Desmo450 MX”.

EnduroGP 2025 Highlights | Portugal

Gajser Stays On Top of MXGP

Five time World Motocross champion Tim Gajser of the HRC effort, put in a strong second-place finish in race two, to get himself onto the MXGP of Sardegna podium, and continue his excellent start to this 2025 world motocross championship season.

His 5-2 performance might not have been similar to his two victories in Spain and France in rounds two and three of the championship, but his consistency has seen him extend his championship points after winning the Saturday qualification race.

On the Saturday, Gajser put in excellent rides to finish first in the MXGP of Sardegna’s qualification race. Coming into the Saturday, Gajser had won five the last six gate-drops, and he made it six from seven, with a come-from-behind performance that shows he sand skills are up with the best in the world. The #243 was fastest in timed practice, but didn’t get the best jump, especially compared to teammate Fernandez, who roared out of the gate and crossed the holeshot line in first place.

While Fernandez tried to pull away, Gajser made a number of moves to get himself into third place by the end of the first lap as the Honda pair made-up two of the three podium positions. Midway through the moto, Gajser passed his teammate for the lead and while the #70 did slip to third, it was still an excellent ride for the Spaniard, and one that should give him a lot of confidence for the longer motos tomorrow.

Gajser then tried to pull out a gap, but unbeknownst to him, the second-place rider was staying within striking distance. On the last lap, as lappers blocked the Slovenian, he suddenly realised how close it was up-front so increased his speed and held on for the win – his second qualification victory of the season, also moving him to 39 points ahead of his nearest rival in the championship standings.

“It was a good day in the sand, being fastest in timed practice and then coming through the field in the qualification race to win that. I didn’t get the best start, but I made a lot of good passes on the first lap to get into third. Ruben was riding well in the lead, so it took a few laps to get past him, and then I thought I had a comfortable gap to second but in the last lap I heard a rider behind and had to push to stay in the lead. Still, I felt comfortable and I enjoyed myself so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Both motos on Sunday, the Slovenian didn’t get the best of starts as he had to avoid fallen rivals, but he made his characteristic first-lap passes to put himself in a position to challenge for the top honours. In race one, he wasn’t able to find the rhythm on the deep-sand Riola Sardo circuit, and could only work his way into fifth position.

This left him leaving a big effort in race two and that’s exactly what he was able to deliver, receiving the chequered flag just 0.6 seconds behind the winner. Overall though, third step on the podium and increasing his lead from 29 points to 34 points over the course of the weekend is what the Honda HRC rider is aiming for and he now heads to Trentino – his ‘home’ GP – full of confidence he can keep this podium streak going.

“After the first moto, when I just didn’t find a good rhythm and struggled to really attack the track, I felt much better in race two and I think it showed. I didn’t get a good start in either race and that doesn’t help, but I made some good passes and had a good second moto for a solid GP. I am in a good position in the championship, and I’m excited to head to Trentino for what should be a very cool event.”

Now onto Trentino this coming weekend and you just know that Gajser will again perform well at this Italian facility. One of his favourite GPs, with a huge number of his countrymen travelling across the border from Slovenian to cheer him on. Some of the HRC mans best memories have come at Trentino.

'This was probably the best 15th I've had in my life' – Hampshire

250SX East contender moves to within three points of series lead.

Image: Octopi Media.

Following a chaotic night of racing at Saturday night’s Foxborough Supercross round, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire has expressed that his lowly result in the 250SX East class main event was likely the best 15th-place finish of his career.

Hampshire launched out of the gates on a rain-soaked Gillette Stadium circuit, having held almost a bike-length advantage on the field. It would all come unraveled, however, when the number 24 went to turn into the first corner, aquaplaning dramatically and going down.

Collecting Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) among others in the process, Hampshire had his work cut out for him, coming through the field in what were ultra-challenging conditions.

Following additional crashes, Hampshire would eventually finish the race in P15 and ultimately close the gap from 10 points to three in the 250SX eastern division championship with four rounds remaining.

“The goal coming in was just to put it in the main event and try to make up some points toward the championship,” reflected Hampshire. “This is probably the best 15th I’ve had in my life! I pulled a massive start and then just hydroplaned into the first turn, went down four or five more times, but clawed back some points in the series, and now we’re only three down with four [rounds] to go.”

It was a significant swing in the regional point-standings, with defending champion Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) making a series of late race mistakes that relegated him from fifth to 22nd – following a DNF – on the night.

For Hammaker, he would recover to a ninth-place finish, which now sees him share the series lead with Vialle on 99 points, followed by Hampshire in third on 96 as riders prepare for this year’s second 250SX Showdown in Philadelphia this Saturday night.