Pre-Season Picks
Australian MX Champs 2014
The Favourites – the guys that will enter Broadford’s opening round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals as the men to beat. This is gonna be good!
Source: Team Motul Suzuki.
MX1
Rider: Matt Moss
Team: Team Motul Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki RM-Z450
2013 result: 1st (MX1)
Title chances: 9/10
Rundown: As the defending champion remaining with Team Motul Suzuki, you can’t look past Moss as the favourite. He’s surpremely fit and confident with speed to burn, so anybody who’s going to stop him will have to bring their A-game and some!
Rider: Billy Mackenzie
Team: CDR Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ450F
2013 result: 3rd (MX1)
Title chances: 8/10
Rundown: Mackenzie has all it takes to be a champion, but it hasn’t quite materialised on Australian soil. After a really good first year at Yamaha last year and the boost of a revamped YZ450F, a slight improvement on last year’s form will see him right in the mix.
Rider: Jake Moss
Team: National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki
Bike: Kawasaki KX450F
2013 result: 6th (MX1)
Title chances: 8/10
Rundown: Back on a factory team and aboard the KX450F he’s known to love, Jake Moss has the speed to win and desire, too. His late form last year was undeniable in SX and from what we’ve seen, his confidence is at an all-time high. He’d love nothing more than to take that number one plate from his twin brother.
Source: Penrite Honda.
MX2
Rider: Kale Makeham
Team: Tunetech Racing KTM
Bike: KTM 250 SX
2013 result: 2nd (MX2)
Title chances: 9/10
Rundown: There are many things to like about Makeham and this year is shaping up to be his year. He challenged Luke Styke last year and loves his bike/team, so if all the stars align he will go one position better in 2014… as long as he can fend off some very determined four-stroke riders including the talent of Luke Clout!
Rider: Luke Clout
Team: Serco Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ250F
2013 result: 13th (MX2 – part-season)
Title chances: 9/10
Rundown: The only rider to win a round last year apart from Styke, Clout’s outright speed is phenomenal. His injury from last year shouldn’t affect him and he’s solely focused on winning, which he can do if he can get the better of Makeham and two-stroke. It’s going to be epic to watch this rivalry play out.
Rider: Josh Cachia
Team: Penrite Honda
Bike: Honda CRF250R
2013 result: 11th (MX2 – part-season)
Title chances: 8/10
Rundown: Will he or won’t he be at round one? And if he is, will he be fit? There are many unanswered questions about Cachia right now, but believe us, as long as he’s on the bike he’s in with a shot at the title. If he isn’t, then that would be a shame for the class altogether – fingers crossed.
The Contenders
MX1
Rider: Jay Marmont
Team: CDR Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ450F
2013 result: 7th (MX1)
Title chances: 7/10
Rundown: After two disappointing years in green, this is Marmont’s chance to get back to his best aboard his favoured YZ450F. He’s succeeded at CDR before – four times to be precise – but this year will be one of the toughest yet. Pin-point consistency and sheer speed will be essential, which he has within him.
Rider: Cody Cooper
Team: Penrite Honda
Bike: Honda CRF450R
2013 result: 4th (MX1)
Title chances: 7/10
Rundown: Coming off a third NZ crown, Cooper will be looking to make the most of his switch to Honda and finally translate his form to Australia. He’s quick, no doubt, but needs to display that across a full season. The complete focus of Honda in MX1 on Cooper could be exactly what he needs to take the next step.
Rider: Kirk Gibbs
Team: KTM Motocross Racing Team
Bike: KTM 450 SX-F
2013 result: 5th (MX1)
Title chances: 6/10
Rundown: Gibbs is coming in under a slight injury cloud, but aside from that, he’s said to be in peak form. He starred as a rookie last year and will only get better for 2014. If he reels off early results, confidence could take him straight to the front.
Rider: Adam Monea
Team: National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki
Bike: Kawasaki KX450F
2013 result: 8th (MX1)
Title chances: 6/10
Rundown: Determined and tough, Monea again proved he’s amongst the best of the best last year. Experience will help him a lot, so if he can channel his ability into race results week in, week out, there’s no reason he can’t win races and a lot of them.
Image: Chris Ritchie Foto.
MX2
Rider: Jay Wilson
Team: Serco Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ250F
2013 result: 2nd (MXD)
Title chances: 7/10
Rundown: Wilson rides off of confidence, in which he’ll need plenty as an MX2 rookie. The talent’s there, the team’s there and his experience is there despite his first-year MX2 status – it’s really just up to him to perform at his best to reach his ultimate potential. He’ll be very, very solid.
Rider: Ryan Marmont
Team: Raceline Pirelli Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki RM-Z250
2013 result: 4th (MX2)
Title chances: 6/10
Rundown: If anyone’s going to benefit from experience in this class it’s Marmont. A former champion with a good team behind him, he will certainly be consistent. If he’s build raw speed in the off-season and he can focus on the job at hand (not easy as a business owner), the championship is well within reach.
Rider: Dylan Long
Team: BBF Motorsports KTM
Bike: KTM 250 SX-F
2013 result: 5th (MX2)
Title chances: 6/10
Rundown: The stability on Long’s side entering this year will serve him well, as will a dedicated support team that know he can run amongst the front. After a strong supercross season, he could really establish himself as a podium guy from the outset this year.
Rider: Brenden Harrison
Team: Instant Security KTM
Bike: KTM 250 SX
2013 result: N/A
Title chances: 5/10
Rundown: Harrison will make a welcome return to MX this year and has a blend of experience, speed and confidence to draw from. As long as he stays injury-free he will gain strength, which will play in his favour as the season goes on. Don’t rule him out.
The Contenders
Image: Simon Makker.
MX1
Rider: Sam Martin
Team: DPH Motorsport Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ450F
Title chances: 4/10
Rundown: After a full season in MX1 last year, Martin has proven he has the pace (including a Super Pole win at Swan Hill) to contend at times. That experience will pay off, so with a solid training structure and new-found Yamaha support he remains a real star of the future.
Rider: Brock Winston
Team: Husqvarna Motocross Racing Team
Bike: Husqvarna FC 450
2013 result: 3rd (MX2)
Title chances: 4/10
Rundown: Winston stormed to third in the MX2 last year as a privateer, and now under the wing of Craig Anderson in the factory Berry Sweet-backed Husqvarna team, expect big things from the Queenslander. He’s strong and determined, which will pay off over the course of the season as he gains comfort in the premier class.
Rider: Kade Mosig
Team: DPH Motorsport Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZ450F
2013 result: 19th (MX2 – part-season)
Title chances: 3/10
Rundown: The DPH team will be a good place for Mosig after a number of seasons affected by injury, now aboard a 450 fulltime. The combination of he and Martin is a promising one and we anticipate he will gain strength as confidence builds.
Rider: Brad Groombridge
Team: Byrners Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki RM-Z450
2013 result: N/A
Title chances: 3/10
Rundown: After pushing Billy Mackenzie all the way to third in the NZ series, Groombridge has what it take to upstage the Aussies if he can adapt to our competition quick enough. He’s a privateer over here, which will be tough at times, but he’s shown he has the skills at home.
Rider: Rhys Carter
Team: Motul Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki RM-Z450
2013 result: 6th (MX2)
Title chances: 2/10
Rundown: Perhaps the most surprising factory 450 signing of the season, Carter will have plenty of spotlight on him in MX1 alongside reigning champion Matt Moss. He was solid in MX2 last year and the team doesn’t have major expectations, so that will help him in a low-pressure environment.
Image: Andy McGechan/BikesportNZ.com.
MX2
Rider: Kayne Lamont
Team: Red Bull Husqvarna
Bike: Husqvarna TC 250
2013 result: 8th (MX2)
Title chances: 5/10
Rundown: Fresh from winning the New Zealand MX2 title in style and back aboard a two-stroke, Lamont will be a darkhorse this year after a quiet rookie campaign last year. We’ve rated him relatively high despite his privateer status, so now it’s up to him to meet rising expectations.
Rider: Daniel McCoy
Team: TM Racing Australia
Bike: TM 250MX
2013 result: 17th (MX1 – part-season)
Title chances: 4/10
Rundown: It’s difficult to judge where McCoy will be after a mixed 12 months, now TM’s lead rider in what is essentially his own program. He’s won rounds as recent as 2011 – last time he was in MX2 – so if he can re-adapt to MX after an off-season in the UK racing arenacross, his experience will pay off.
Rider: Geran Stapleton
Team: Raceline Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki RM-Z250
2013 result: 9th (MX2)
Title chances: 3/10
Rundown: No doubt one of the sport’s young talents, Stapleton knows he needs to improve upon his consistency this year if he’s to contend for the crown. If he gets momentum and with it confidence, he’ll get stronger and stronger on the RM-Z four-stroke.
Rider: Nick Sutherland
Team: Husqvarna Motocross Racing Team
Bike: TC 250
2013 result: N/A
Title chances: 3/10
Rundown: Also hard to rate right now, the last time we saw Sutherland outdoors at Coolum in the Two-Stroke Cup he was impressive. Like Winston he’ll benefit from Craig Anderson’s experience and his factory equipment should be well up to the task.
Rider: Joel Milesevic
Team: EMU Racing TM Australia
Bike: TM 250MX
2013 result: N/A
Title chances: 3/10
Rundown: Milesevic is highly regarded in Victoria and for good reason. With international experience and strong state form earlier this month, he could easily exceed expectations. His aim is top four as a rookie, so it’s just a matter of piecing the full season together, because raw speed is on target.
MX1 rider list
1 Matt Moss
2 Jay Marmont
3 Adam Monea
5 Kirk Gibbs
6 Jake Moss
9 Brock Winston
10 Cody Cooper
11 Sam Martin
12 Rhys Carter
14 Luke Davis
15 Lewis Woods
17 Kieran Tisdale
32 Kyle McKeddie
35 Alex Morris
37 Jacob Wright
40 Jesse O’Farrell
45 Hayden Mellross
46 Chris Camilleri
48 Kade Mosig
54 Matt Ginders
65 Michael Grassick
79 Brad Groombridge
87 Brodie Hartin
95 James Booth Elliott
211 Billy Mackenzie
414 Jesse Dobson
627 Will Angel
MX2 rider list
2 Kale Makeham
3 Ryan Marmont
4 Luke Clout
5 Dylan Long
6 Jay Wilson
8 Nick Sutherland
10 Josh Cachia
11 Ben George
12 Brenden Harrison
14 Geran Stapleton
15 Luke Wilson
16 Dakota Court
17 Paul Humberston
19 Izaac Jones
19 Chris Duncan
Z22 Zane Keleher
23 Wade Hunter
25 Matt van Slooten
27 Caleb Gasbarri
34 Daniel Banks
47 Dylan Kidd
52 Hamish Dobbyn
52 Riley Graham
53 Hamish Harwood
54 Luke Arbon
61 Kody Wheeler
62 Joel Milesevic
65 Daniel McCoy
66w Meghan Rutledge
70 Jake Emanuelli
81 Joel Evans
82 Elijah Wiese
83 Joel Green
86 Daniel McEntee
88 Corey James
90 Adam Hynds
94 Kayne Lamont
112 Nick Scott
118 Ryan Hunt
174 Tom Jones
188 Tomas Ravenhorst
208 Josh Adams
221 Lewis Reardon
283 Errol Willis
410 Darcy Jones
485 Caleb Ward
734 Kai Sedlak
MXD rider list
4 Brock McLeary
J05 Jesse Madden
5 Wayde Carter
6 Jett Anderson
7 Jack Simpson
10 Dylan Wilson
11 Ryan Shadbolt
12 Jed Beaton
15 Aaron Hart
16 Jarrod Kelly
17 Bailey Coxon
20x Lenny Magyar
23 Kyle Webster
25 Jake Salems
26 Aaron Tanti
29 Robert Lovett
31 Blake Colleton
33 Jesse McNally
36 Jayden Rykers
40 Jake Lowe
41 Wilson Todd
44 Brody Cassidy
45 Egan Mastin
51 Zak Small
52 James Alen
66 Tyler Lange
75 Tyler Goullet
84 Siegah Ward
90 Matthew Hopkins – Talty
100 Ty Pearce
140 Kayne Duncanson
182 Miles Clissold
188 Trent Wheatley
199 Nathan Crawford
214 Jaiden Corrigan
227 Zac Williams
247 Jacob Williams
254 Taylor Oag
257 Lachy Steen
264 Izak Maule
265 Jamie Harvey
373 Jye Breed
432 James Jafer
600 Daniel Price
818 Ryan Boyd
851 Ty Lynch
941 Brodie Ravenhorst
962 Lachlan Archibald
