Living out of a caravan and chasing the MX Nationals circus around this vast country is the norm for a lot of privateers, and MXD rider Joel Milesevic and his family are no exception.

With both the 16-year-old and his younger sister Emma spending most weekends banging bars, the family from Lal Lal, near Ballarat, Victoria, are used to living life on the road.

Operating out of a van and a 2.5 tonne caravan, the family spent a good month chasing the dotted white line between the first three rounds of the championship.

“We decided to head up north two weeks before the first round at Conondale, because the rain just wouldn’t let up at home and we also needed to prepare for the heat and humidity we’d face in Queensland,” Joel explains.

“We also used the time to race the Moree round of the NSW titles the next weekend then drove to Coonabarabran and put in a few laps there to get used to the circuit. After Coona we raced the VIC titles, then finally drove home, sorted some stuff out, then packed up again and headed to Wonthaggi. We’ve got a three-week break now before Murray Bridge, so it’s going to be nice to spend a bit of time at home.”

At just 16, Joel Milesevic is already starting to make an impact on motocross. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Joel straddled his first bike, a KX60 at the age of five, and two years later he began racing club days. Still not really knowing what he was getting himself in for, a year later the family ferried across to Penguin, Tasmania, for the 2004 Junior Nationals. To the amazement of everyone, this little-known dark horse came out of the blocks to win the U9 class.

“It’s a bit strange because I wasn’t really surprised that I won the Aussies,” he shrugs. “I didn’t really know what it meant and it just felt like another win. It didn’t sink in, even though my dad was overwhelmed and my mum was pretty excited.”

From that moment on, Joel has steadily built on his speed and fitness as he sets his sights on entering the MX2 class, hopefully next year.

Riding a KTM 250 SX two-stroke, Joel has been one of the standout newcomers to the MXD class. A podium performance at Coonabarabran raised more than a few eyebrows, but he saw it is just another puzzle piece falling into place.

“I’m treating the MXD class as a launching pad into the MX2 class next year,” he explains. “Honestly, I don’t want to be in this class for a long time – I see it as a starter’s year to help find your feet before jumping up to the Lites, and hopefully a few doors will open up for me.”

Milesevic is one of many campaigning a KTM 250 SX two-stroke up front in MXD. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Milesevic is one of a number of young kids opting to use a two-stroke in the MXD class over the more high-maintenance four-strokes.

“I see myself more as a two-stroke rider than a four-stroke rider,” he says. “They’re just more fun to ride, and although they’re a bit more of a handful and probably require more fitness, they’ve got more speed. I rode a four-stroke for a bit last year, but I got bored of it, and the costs associated to rebuild one is ridiculous.”

However, Joel is also aware that if a team came knocking on his door with a deal to ride a four-stroke, he’d jump at the chance.

“If that happens, for sure, I’ll ride one. The team makes the decisions, not the rider, and I’d just be stoked to have the opportunity to ride for a team. That is one of my big goals for this year, and what motivates me to get good results in the 2012 series.”

Joel is sponsored by JBS Motorsports, Werribee KTM, F1 Motors, Allwest Motorcycles, Pirelli, Jet, Thor, Spy, Shoei, Maxima Oils and his parents.