PJ Larsen will enter this weekend as the favourite for the Pro Lites honours.

Nineteen-year-old American PJ Larsen will enter this weekend’s second round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Australian MX Nationals at Fairbairn Park in the ACT as the clear favourite in the Pro Lites class after dominating the opening round at Horsham last month.

Riding for JDR Motorex KTM Racing, former World Mini Bike Champ Larsen took his KTM 250 SX-F to first overall at Horsham with a 1-11-1 result from his three motos, and now sits on 60 points in charge of the championship chase.

“I’m really looking forward to getting amongst it all again at Canberra,” Larsen commented this week. “There is a fun rivalry of Australia vs USA on the race track, and although I’m calling Australia home during this championship, I’m still the one doing it for the stars and stripes.

“My Aussie comrades are no easy task to beat though, especially my JDR Motorex KTM team mate Ryan Marmont, and Serco Yamaha’s Kirk Gibbs, who were both great competition at the opening round. These guys sit on equal points of 56 in second for the Pro Lites and with only a four point gap behind my lead I have a long way to go to claim a Pro Lites class championship.

“Testing and fitness preparation have been solid leading up to Canberra, and I’m really excited about racing in Australia’s capital.”

Wollongong’s Ryan Marmont will join Larsen in the Pro Lites class also riding the KTM 250 SX-F, while in the Pro Open Class JDR Motorex KTM will enter former world number two Andrew McFarlane on board the KTM 450 SX-F, and also Tye Simmonds on the all new KTM 350 SX-F the only model of its kind in Australia.

Anticipation remains high for 17-year-old Simmonds, who has stepped up from the Pro Lites class to race in the Pro Open and debut the lower capacity 350cc machine against the 450 machines.

This weekend’s racing format will include four 15-minute motos for the Pro Open class and four 12-minute motos for the Pro Lites class, all contested back-to-back with just five minutes in between.