Meghan Rutledge will race in The Netherlands this weekend. Image: Grant Reynolds.

Kawasaki’s Meghan Rutledge will kick off her 2013 international racing campaign this weekend at the third round of the 2013 FIM World Motocross Championship in The Netherlands.

Rutledge, 17, is coming off the back of a highly successful 2012 season that brought an Australian Women’s Motocross Championship, an AMA moto win and round podium in the USA and victory in Geneva where she was crowned Queen of Geneva SX.

She will hope to continue her good form at the Women’s World Motocross Championship where she will ride a Kawasaki KX250F for the German-based Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil.

The last time she competed in the series at the final round in Germany last year she finished on the podium.

“I’m super excited to race in The Netherlands,” Rutledge said. “Because I’ve ridden the series before I’m not really nervous this time which is good.

“I just can’t wait to get over there, to a place I’ve never been before. I get to holiday and see a bit of the world as I’m pursuing my career so it’s great – I can’t wait.

“If I can finish on the podium again like I did in Germany last year I’ll be very happy.”

After Meghan returns from Europe she will continue her preparations for the first round of the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals where she will compete in the Under 19s class.