Australian talent is on the rise in the MX Nationals. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

The youth of Australia is stepping up to the challenge in the Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship.

Williams Event Management managing director Kevin Williams has spoken out about the local talent on display at yesterday’s 2013 season opener at Raymond Terrace, anticipating a breakout year for emerging Aussie rising stars.

While the internationals have been a major part of the MXN series in recent seasons, 21-year-old Todd Waters’ dominance in MX1 has signalled an early changing of the guard in the premier class.

And while the international flavour remains with a trio of countries represented on the MX1 podium with Waters (Australia), Cody Cooper (New Zealand) and Billy Mackenzie (Scotland), teams are largely filled with local talent throughout the fields.

Ford Dale (Carlton Dry Honda), Matt Moss (Motul Pirelli Suzuki), Kirk Gibbs (Motorex KTM), Adam Monea (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Daniel McCoy (Carlton Dry Honda) are all Aussies who have landed factory 450 seats for this season, while Cooper and Mackenzie are the lone internationals on factory teams for 2013.

That trend was continued in the MX2 ranks as rookie standouts Kale Makeham and Luke Clout joined the likes of title favourites Luke Styke and Josh Cachia in the top three during the motos.

“This year we don’t have as many nations represented, but the simple fact is that there’s not as many seats available for them,” Williams said. “The young Aussies of today have stepped up and taken many of those seats, earning every one of them.

“We had a drop in depth a few years ago, everybody scrambled to try win championships and signed internationals. That’s not happening anymore to the same extent.

“Every class we’ve seen progression and these young talented riders right across the board are stepping up to the challenge at a national level.”

And the depth of local talent continues to surge, setting up a strong future for the sport on a national level.

“Coming into this round we said it could be the best rider line-up we’ve ever had,” Williams reflected. “With every class vacated by the previous year’s winner, new talent was always going to rise.

“We saw three new faces on Jesse Dobson, Jack Simpson in Hamish Harwood fill the MXD podium, then you look at kids like Kale Makeham on the MX2 podium as a rookie and it’s great for the series.

“Toddy Waters, what can you say about him? He was absolutely sensational. This championship is alive and we’ve just finished round one.”

The Monster Energy MX Nationals will continue at Murray Bridge in South Australia on Sunday, 28 April.