Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton has placed fourth overall at the final round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, the MXGP of Garda Trentino. Battling to an opening moto seventh place finish, the Australian came agonisingly close to snatching victory in race two.
Jed Beaton arrived at the MXGP of Garda Trentino looking to maintain his fourth-place ranking in the MX2 World Championship. After placing seventh in the opening moto, Beaton was quick from the start line in race two, slotting into third place on the second lap. With Jago Geerts crashing out just ahead of him, the FC 250 rider put on a charge that brought him onto the back wheel of the race leader, Ben Watson. Frustratingly, Jed was unable to find his way into the lead, crossing the finish line less than one-second away from victory. Beaton’s 7-2 results secured fourth overall.
In placing fourth in the MX2 World Championship, Beaton enjoyed a highly positive year in 2020. Showing race-winning speed throughout the season, he came agonisingly close to a maiden overall win at the penultimate round. Proving to be a capable racer on any surface, the 22-year-old claimed three overall podium finishes, along with nine moto podiums and was the first rider in the standings to score points in every race. A memorable season with many career milestones reached.
With the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship now complete, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will soon embark on an off-season of testing and preparation ahead of the 2021 campaign.
Jed Beaton:“It’s been great to end the year with a runner-up finish in the last moto of the season. I had a great start and challenged for the win, so it’s positive to end the season like this. It’s a shame about the first moto but moto two proved I can be up there with a good start. It’s been a long season. Many ups and downs but all in all it’s been a positive year for me and the team. Having completed a full season I know what it takes now and I know what I need to work on over the winter ahead of 2021. I’m actually really glad that we got a season in as at one point it looked like we weren’t going racing at all. The three GPs in a week, that was different, racing so frequently was different, but it was always a good time and it’s been a lot of work for the team as well as myself. The team has done a phenomenal job with such a tight schedule. It can’t have been easy so credit to them, they’ve done an awesome job.”
Results – 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 18
MX2 – Overall
1. Ben Watson (Yamaha) 45;
2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 41;
3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 40;
4. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36
MX2 – Race 1
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 19 laps, 34:05:231;
2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 34:11:364;
3. Ben Watson (Yamaha) 34:12:349…
7. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 34:20:931;
MX2 – Race 2
1. Ben Watson (Yamaha) 19 laps, 34:17:030;
2. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 34:17:918;
3. Isak Gifting (GASGAS) 34:31:996…
Championship Standings – After Round 18
MX2
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 759pts;
2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 679;
3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 581;
4. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 564;