Craig Anderson will be the hometown hero this weekend at Raymond Terrace.

The Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will visit Raymond Terrace in New South Wales this Sunday, 10 April, marking round three of the 2011 Australian Motocross Championship season.

The popular MX Central venue at Barleigh Ranch will play host to the nation’s leading dirt bike contingent, featuring an all-star international line-up that will vie for this year’s title across nine rounds throughout Australia.

Leading the Australian charge in the premier Pro Open category will be 27-year-old defending triple champion Jay Marmont, the Wollongong-based CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha rider shooting for a fourth-straight title.

Another Aussie who is in supreme form for 2011 is new series leader Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Kawasaki), the 20-year-old from Lismore in NSW. Ferris finished third as a rookie last season and has already indicated his championship potential.

While Marmont and Ferris are the favourites on home soil, they’ll go head-to-head with former Motocross World Championship contenders, round one victor Scotsman Billy Mackenzie (Monster Energy Kawasaki), as well as New Zealand’s round two winner, Josh Coppins (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha).

Yet another international set to contend for the victory is recently-crowned Kiwi champion Cody Cooper, the Rockstar Motul Suzuki team lone ranger a favourite for this year’s crown despite suffering a serve rib injury at Appin last weekend.

One man the crowd will be spurring on come Sunday is Mt. Victoria-based local Craig Anderson, the former multiple-time Australian champion taking on the task of team rider/owner for the second year in a row.

One year ago, 33-year-old Anderson was without a factory seat as the silly season stopped, forcing him to start his own team. Since then he has excelled at the task, basing it out of the Hunter region and also assisting in the development of younger riders in the sport.

“It’s exciting because a lot of our team sponsors will be at the event this weekend and it’s always good to race a national level event up the road from home,” Anderson commented.

“The track is always tough at MX Central and I think all three classes will be extremely close. This year has been the best racing with great depth in the fields that I’ve ever seen. I’ve done a lot of laps around the track so I have a feeling this will be a good round for the team and I.”

Anderson, riding under the Berry Sweet Strawberries/Lucas Oil/Honda Racing banner, has signed 21-year-old Victorian hopeful Kade Mosig to compete in the 250cc Pro Lites category as his protégé.

Mosig will take on the likes of 2009 champion and current title leader Matt Moss (JDR Motorex KTM) and his twin brother Jake Moss (Serco Yamaha), who won the title in season 2007.

Also on display across the weekend will be the Under 19s development category, featuring the top up and coming talent in Australia hoping to make their marks on the national circuit. Raceline Pirelli Suzuki’s Errol Willis currently leads the class after a clean-sweep at Appin last weekend.

Round three of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be contested at Raymond Terrace in New South Wales on Sunday, 10 April. Practice and qualifying will commence at 8:30am with the official opening ceremonies taking place at approximately 10:30am.

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au on the web for complete series and round information on the 2011 season.

Spectator Entry Information:
Adults – $30
Children (5-15yrs) – $15
Children (Under 5yrs) – Free
Family (2 adults, 2 children) – $70