Adam Cianciarulo joins the AMA Pro Motocross ranks as a 16-year-old. Image: Simon Cudby.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Adam Cianciarulo will make the step to professional competition for the upcoming Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross season, officially confirmed as a member of the decorated Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki stable.

The 16-year-old is excited to make the transition from Kawasaki’s successful amateur program and said he can’t wait for the season to start at Hangtown next weekend.

“This is something I’ve been dreaming about since I saw my first ever Supercross race when I was four years old,” said Cianciarulo. “To be able to race for Mitch Payton and the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team is an honour.

“I am looking to learn a lot this year because everyone knows how good this team is and I know my job is to put more number one plates on the door of the truck.”

Florida-based Ciancirulo became the winningest mini-bike rider in the history of the AMA Amateur Motocross National Championships at Loretta Lynn’s with 11 championships.

After winning four titles at Loretta’s in the last two years, Cianciarulo wrote his name in the record books ahead of superstars like Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Mitch Payton identified Cianciarulo as a talent that the team had been monitoring for a long time.

“He is a special kid who will bring a lot to the team this summer,” said Payton. “I know he has been working hard all spring to get ready to race and we are going to provide him with the best equipment on the track.

“It will also help him to have veteran teammates like Blake [Baggett], Martin [Davalos], Dean [Wilson] and Tyla [Rattray] who can help him as he makes the jump to professional racing.”

Cianciarulo last raced his KX250F at the Monster Energy Cup last October in the Amateur All-Star class where he finished second overall after finishing fifth in the first race and winning the second race.

Following the Monster Energy Cup, Cianciarulo was injured and did not return to riding until February of this year. Since then he has been training to achieve his goal of lining up at the 2013 AMA Pro Motocross opener at Hangtown.