Welcome to a fresh new edition of MX Hub on MotoOnline.com.au, which we’re slightly revamping for 2014 within a few weeks of the Monster Energy MX Nationals. Like most things we’re looking to refine the way content is delivered on a daily basis, so here’s the new structure for the season ahead. I’ll tell you what though, man we’re getting excited for the season to start!

Image: Andy McGechan/BikesportNZ.com.

Team shoots

This week saw a couple of high profile photo shoots take place in New South Wales and Victoria, as both the Suzuki and Honda factory teams completed sessions for their respective posters, sponsors, etc. Matt Moss looked like he was again absolutely killing it now decked out in Alpinestars and Bell, as he was in the US earlier this year. Plus, Rhys Carter was on track as his surprise new teammate (more on that from Makker below). As for Honda, Cody Cooper and Josh Cachia – the duel number 10s – were debuting Penrite Honda Racing’s new look, which is all-new after the team’s previous association with a number of alcohol companies. We’ve seen plenty of KTM on track in NZ with Ford Dale and Kirk Gibbs, Husqvarna has sent out bits and pieces, but are yet to see a final look at the CDR Yamaha or Kawasaki teams when it comes to Australian MX1 contenders.

Sheckler sighting

Something we spotted on Instagram late this afternoon was the Marmont brothers, along with Robbie Maddison, riding with none other than American skateboard legend Ryan Sheckler at Mount Kembla. It was a real sight to see as some of our top domestic motocrossers linked up with Sheckler and Maddo for what must have been an awesome day to experience. So what were they doing out there? Sheckler’s in town for a few appearances with Red Bull including this weekend’s F1 at Albert Park, so as part of Red Bull TV they headed out for a low-key moto session.

Marmont gaining steam

Speaking of Jay Marmont, he’s under no illusions that this year will be as tough as it’s ever been in Australian Motocross when the series starts at Broadford on 30 March, but he’s also quietly confident that he will be in the mix as the season progresses. I’ve said it before and will say it again, New Zealand’s series isn’t as vital as it once was. Instead, the benchmark is Matt Moss at a number of NSW tracks right here at home for many to gauge themselves from. Marmont is one of those that will be aware of Mossy’s outright speed, but then again, we can never underestimate the race time that Cooper, Billy Mackenzie and the KTM boys (to name a few) are getting in NZ.

East Coast MX

The East Coast Series was on at Canberra last weekend, but a mud-packed morning meant a number of the national contenders didn’t actually compete as initially planned. Matt Moss was the class of the field in what turned out to be a pretty good day for ‘training’. Moss swept all three Open motos from Husqvarna’s Brock Winston, while Meg Rutledge was a stunning third fresh from winning the opening round of the WMX world championship. In the Lites it was Yamaha campaigner Joel Wightman the victor, from moto one winner Egan Mastin on his new Husky and Aaron Tanti. The final moto was won by Corey James.

That’s it from me for this week, over to Makker for the latest from his perspective…

X-Fighters return

There’s been an unusually quiet build-up to the first round of the world’s biggest FMX series, the Red Bull X-Fighters this year. In fact most moto people I’ve talked to over the past couple of weeks don’t even know that the opening round in the traditional, long-standing venue of Mexico City’s Plaza De Toros is on this weekend. Fresh off a hugely successful Nitro Circus tour of South Africa, Aussies Josh Sheehan and Clinton Moore have received the call-up to compete against a veritable who’s who of FMX, including 2012 champion Levi Sherwood and 2013 victor Tom Pages. Having seen Levi ride first-hand at the Farm Jam last weekend, I can tell you he’ll be very tough to beat and it’s likely to boil down to a two-horse race between him and Pages. I have a feeling we’re going to see some all-new tricks get thrown down this weekend! The action will be broadcast through Red Bull’s website from 2:00-4:00pm Saturday (AEDT).

Carter at Suzuki

Finally the big question about who will fill the second seat at Motul Pirelli Suzuki has been answered… and despite much conjecture and pit buzz, it’s not Lawson Bopping. Nope, Suzuki has brought on promising young Kiwi Rhys Carter to ride alongside defending champ Matt Moss. Cartwheel will step up from what was effectively a stock-standard RM-Z250 in 2013 to a full-blown factory MX1 weapon this year. I don’t doubt Carter’s ability at all – the kid has a tonne of natural style and didn’t finish sixth in the MX2 championship last year by chance. And when you think about it, it seems Motul Pirelli Suzuki likes having some Kiwi flavour on the team (Rhys Carter, Cody Cooper, Scott Columb, Luke Burkhart and Daryl Hurley have all ridden yellow bikes since 2005). Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

Mixed results for KTM

Ever had one of those days where you wish you hadn’t even got out of bed? KTM had one of those on Sunday at the third round of the NZ MX Nationals at the fast, flowing Pukekohe circuit.
Actually, not all of it was bad. Kirk Gibbs broke through for his first MX1 win astride the Austrian manufacturer in the final moto, and finished (a distant) second to Cody Cooper in the second race. However, a spectacular high-side in the opening race saw him finish the day in fifth. Ford Dale, though, well he had a shocker, with a good crash in every race. An eighth in the opening moto was followed by two DNFs due to a bent front disc (moto two) and a big head-knock (moto three). On the bright side, there’s a good chance they’ve used up their year’s worth of bad luck and mishaps and should be right in the mix come Broadford!

Cooper quick in NZ

If there were bookies fleshing out motocross pre-season form and pace for the shortly-arriving MX Nationals, they would be putting a fair whack of short money on Honda’s Cody Cooper. The quiet-spoken bloke from the Bay of Plenty roared to two out of three race wins at Pukekohe, and now carries a 37-point lead over Billy Mackenzie into the final round at Taupo in a couple weeks time.

Lamont on fire

But for mine, Kayne Lamont was again the real standout, with a hat-trick of moto wins in the MX2 class, extending his lead to 38 points over Hamish Dobbyn and Australia’s Jay Wilson. And if he wins at Taupo, it’ll be the revived Husqvarna’s brands first international championship since being brought into the KTM fold. With that sort of form Lamont must have the Australian race team bean-counters in a tizz as they try and find a way to recruit him. Will we see him line up at Broadford in a few weeks time?

That’s all from me this week. As always, remember to check out all of MotoOnline.com.au’s social networking channels and be sure to Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for even more behind the scenes insights. Just search MotoOnline.