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Apologies for the sluggish updates of sorts this week, with countless air travel and sporadic internet access really making things difficult in the land of MotoOnline.com.au while in the U.S. on what you could call a working vacation. Anyway, here we are with the latest Insider, so let’s get things started…

Ryan Villopoto is in the box seat for the 450 Class title heading into the season finale at Pala this weekend. Image: RacerXOnline.com.

American Motocross

Pala Raceway’s final round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship is just days away, with the 450 Class title fight going down to the wire between the two Ryans, Villopoto and Dungey.

With the round being a hot spot for testing a training in California you can most likely expect a number of wild cards to be in the mix come Saturday, especially since there are so many rides on the line.

For Australia we have Brett Metcalfe as our form man and he’s one of those California locals that have spent some time at Pala practicing, however not as much as you’d probably imagine. He’s still been testing this week and after a month back East, he’ll be feeling refreshed and ready to win again.

Chad Reed isn’t based in Cali anymore, however he does spend quite a bit of time out here and enjoys the Pala complex. The big news on him right now is 2012, with riders such as Dean Wilson and Mike Alessi being linked to TwoTwo for next season. Chad says he wants a top guy, but also one who can fly the flag into the future would be positive too.

Could this weekend be the last we see of Tye Simmonds in the AMA… for now? Speculation in recent weeks has linked the teenager back to Australia for next year as the JDR/J-Star/KTM will be a Lites program only for next season. Unless Tye gets a decent deal over here then we can expect him back home, but the big question is whether it’ll be on a KTM or not?

Anyway, there will be a lot of Australians on hand at Pala this weekend – with many headed to the Motocross of Nations afterwards in France – and we’ll be back with updates throughout the next week direct from the U.S.

Australian Supercross

First up when on the subject of local racing in Australia, a massive congratulations goes out to Ryan Marmont and his fiancé Chelsea, with the birth of their baby daughter Indigo Grace Marmont earlier this week. Great news for a great family!

Global Action Sports introduced a number of new initiatives this week as you’ll see in news, including a new Club Challenge and also Pit Bike racing to Super X competitions in 2011. It’s refreshing to see them think outside the box and, despite some critics, I think this year’s series is shaping up to be the best yet – live TV or not!

Will Josh Hansen be here to defend his title? The latest word is that he’s not yet signed, sealed and delivered to Hart and Huntington in the U.S. for next year, which is clouding his Super X possibilities for next month.

If Josh is on a Kawasaki next season then we can expect him here for Super X in a similar role to last year, however if he goes to somewhere such as Valli Yamaha in the States, don’t count on him being in Australia.

Speaking of Yamaha, Craig Dack’s revelation that Jay Marmont may be leaving Yamaha next year was a sensational one on RPM last Wednesday night. It certainly came out of left field, but you could tell it was highly uncertain whether Jay would be with CDR next season.

Where would he go though? The smart money would have to say either JDR Motorsports and KTM, or Kawasaki thanks to Monster Energy money. I don’t think Suzuki or Honda could afford him at this point.

It’s an interesting turn of events, a factor that would probably turn the market upside down in Australia and create one heck of a silly season following Super X. We’re hearing Josh Coppins will be back at Yamaha for at least another year though in the outdoors.

Australia's Tye Simmonds is believed to be searching for a ride, but will it be in the U.S. or Australia? Image: Hoppenworld.com.

Australian Off Road

The Yamaha Australian Off Road Championship underwent another revision this week with the news that the series’ penultimate weekend of racing would be switching from Mt. Seaview in New South Wales to Hastings Valley.

Either way it will be a critical event when it comes to the series, especially if Matt Phillips can continue his form of late. The series finale is shaping up to be mega, albeit disappointing that defending champion Toby Price probably won’t be in the mix for the number one due to sheer bad luck in his title defence.

That’s all for this week, thanks for stopping by! We have some surprises in store for later this week, so stay tuned for that. Meanwhile, remember to follow us on Twitter and to ‘Like’ us on Facebook.

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