The JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM Team has announced a two-year contract with American rider PJ Larsen to race the KTM 250 SX-F in the Pro Lites class at the Australian MX Nationals and Australasian Supercross Championship.
After a successful amateur career winning two championships in the pro class and the Horizon Award at the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Nationals, Larsen had an up and down introduction to the professional ranks last season in the U.S. His speed and hard work earned him two top ten finishes in the outdoors series but a broken wrist kept him away for half of the season.
“I broke my wrist at the third outdoor national last year and was forced to sit on the sidelines for the majority of the season. My rehab went well and I made it back for the last few rounds which are where I caught the attention of Jay from JDR Motorsports,” commented Larsen.
“I saw Larsen ride on a visit to the states last year and knew he would be a great fit for our team. We invited him to Australia at the end of the 2009 season and allowed him to try a few races with our team to see how he would adapt both to the Australian racing series and our team,” said JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM team manager Jay Rynenberg. “As you guessed, he had a good time and we were happy to welcome him to the team over the New Year’s break.”
Larsen will remain at his current residence in Menifee, California, until the end of February, before the MX Nationals series kicks off on 28 March at Horsham in Victoria.
“I plan to start training at the local motocross tracks around my home until I head over to Australia before our series starts in March,” he said. “The Australian Motocross Series is getting bigger each year and I am excited to be a part of it. So far, I am pumped on how helpful the team has been and I am really happy to be riding a KTM. Everybody has told me the KTM 250 SX-F is a fast bike and I can’t wait to see how it performs on the race track.”
Larsen will be joined on the JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM Team by Ryan Marmont in the Lites class, as well as Tye Simmonds and Andrew MacFarlane in the Open class.