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Australian Motocross

Welcome to another edition of the Moto Insider column right here on MotoOnline.com.au, this week coming to you from the Qantas Club at Brisbane airport.

Why are we here mid-week when the MX Nationals season is finished? Well, today (Tuesday evening) we travelled to Toowoomba in Queensland to test Dean Ferris’ factory Monster Energy Kawasaki, using Pro Open privateer Aden de Jager for the on-track duties.

Right now our resident film guru Guy Streeter and I are awaiting a flight to Melbourne, where we’ll call upon the services of Ross Beaton to help us test Jay Marmont’s championship-winning CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha YZ450F at Barrabool (which is probably taking place as you read this on Wednesday morning!).

The fun doesn’t stop there though, because on Thursday we’ll be joined by Adam Monea at Blue Rock in Victoria to test Todd Waters’ Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing CRF450R.

Pro Open MX Nationals privateer Aden de Jager rode Dean Ferris' Monster Energy Kawasaki for MotoOnline this week. Image: Alex Gobert.

In the coming weeks we’ll complete the tests with a quick spin on Cody Cooper’s factory Rockstar Motul Suzuki, but you’ll have to wait and see who we have lined up to ride that one. It’s a great opportunity for us here at MotoOnline to be granted tests on these factory race bikes, enabling to give you visitors a unique insight into the bikes of the pros.

The MX Nationals had a massive finish last month at Coolum after the final trio of rounds were contested in succession, and after our tests, teams will begin to take their first steps in preparing for Super X.

Marmont has been busy since his MX Nationals win himself, racing and winning the King of the Cross in WA on Sunday ahead of Cody Mackie (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda) and Kade Mosig (Berry Sweet Strawberries/Lucas Oil Honda Racing).

Australian Supercross

Monster Energy Super X is just around the corner and to celebrate the 2011 season’s start, Global Action Sports have launched brand new Facebook and Twitter accounts in the social networking landscape. Check them out today by searching Super X on both.

Speaking of Cody Mackie above, we’re hearing that he’ll revert to a 450 for Super X full time after what was a disappointing MX Nationals season for him in the Lites. It wasn’t that his season was that rough, more so that he seems to suit the Open class bike better. We’ll let you know when and if it’s confirmed.

Kade Mosig’s Berry Sweet Strawberries/Lucas Oil Honda Racing boss Craig Anderson sat out the Coolum MX Nationals finale in order to help Mosig score a good result – which he did! – but he’s confirmed to us that he’ll be back for Super X in the Opens.

One person who remains in doubt for the series is Jake Moss. He’s signed for CDR Rockstar Energy Drink Yamaha to race the series alongside Jay Marmont, but Craig Dack told us that Moss will not be racing unless they are certain he is fit enough considering his recent shoulder injury sustained at Wodonga’s national.

After taking third last year and winning a round we hope he’s going to be good to go, but there are other riders linked to the ride if you are to believe speculation. The CDR team is still keeping its fingers crossed that Jake will be good to race though, so stay tuned for any updates as they come through.

Yamaha isn’t the only team still undecided for the Open class, with Rockstar Motul Suzuki not giving out any indication on who will take over from Cooper. All as we know is that Daniel McCoy is confirmed for the Lites. Don’t rule out an appearance from Brett Metcalfe just yet. What we are expecting though is for Lawson Bopping to be a quick learner for Raceline Pirelli Suzuki.

And how about Kawasaki? Who will join Billy Mackenzie on the highly anticipated 2012 model KX450F at Monster Energy Kawasaki? I’m still putting my money on Josh Hansen coming back to defend the title for Kawi, albeit in Hart and Huntington colours under the factory truck. Dean Ferris will be in the Lites.

Speaking of Hart and Huntington, we confirmed yesterday that Chris Blose will be here on an all-new Australian team aboard Kawasakis. After finishing fourth at Vegas’ AMA finals, Blose may be a dark horse for the title if he gets a roll on. Also on that team is Luke Urek in the Lites… now there’s a comeback story for you!

Good news for Ryan ‘Doggy’ Marmont fans is that he made his return to the track on Saturday at Kembla for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery after the Toowoomba national. He said his ankle did cause his a lot of pain, but by the time he and brother Jay start getting serious about Super X it should be good to go.

Another JDR Motorex KTM rider is currently on the mend in the form of Brenden Harrison, who had the silverware removed from his femur following Coolum. Harrison was on hand at the Sunshine State titles watching last weekend, and fully expects to be back to 100 percent in time for Super X. He could win races this year.

We’ll have more on Super X over the coming weeks when more movement takes place and when additional riders and teams lock in their structures for the season.

World Motocross

Monster Energy Kawasaki teammates Billy Mackenzie and Dean Ferris will be on hand at the British Grand Prix next weekend during the Motocross World Championship round.

Mackenzie will be racing on 21 August in his return to the GP arena, but he fully expects to return to Australia for a third straight season in 2012. From what we know, Monster Energy Kawasaki will be happy to welcome him back, too.

Ferris will be heading over there despite some recent injury scares at the Moree and Coolum national rounds, with whispers indicating that he’s negotiating with a team or two in a bid to head over full time next year. Is it too soon? Probably not, but he won’t go unless the ride gives him a real chance to show his talent in either MX1 or MX2.

Two-time Pro Lites MX Nationals champion Matt Moss is in line to represent Australia at the MXoN next month. Image: Alex Gobert.

The realisation that Matt Moss is young enough to ride for Team Australia at the Motocross of Nations in France next week came as a surprise to some, and we’re hearing that the final team will be selected this week – possibly as soon as tomorrow.

It’d have to be between either Moss or Ferris at this stage, although Serco Yoshimura Yamaha’s Kirk Gibbs would also be a good choice considering his strong finish in the MX Nationals. With Chad Reed’s support though, I’d think Moss will be on the start line in France alongside Reed and Metcalfe come race day.

Either way, equipment available to Moss or Ferris wouldn’t be a problem, with the JDR team enjoying close ties to KTM in Europe and Ferris said to have access to a CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki KX250F if he gets the call up. Bikes are super important in MX2 at the MXoN.

World Enduro

The International Six Day Enduro is taking place this week in Finland, with Team Australia featuring some very formidable contenders. As usual, MotoOnline will cover the action as it happens from an Aussie perspective, so stay tuned for updates in Breaking News as they come through to us. Yamaha’s Matty Phillips had a big result on day one, so check out news for more today.

That’s all for this week, a hectic week in our schedules here at MotoOnline, but one that definitely makes it all worthwhile. Stay tuned for the tests and films to be posted over the coming weeks. Thanks for stopping by!

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