As the next round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals in Appin approaches, eyes are firmly focused on the champs from round one, and the question looms as to whether or not they will be able to back it up at round two.

Some of the hottest picks leading into round one left a lot to be desired after the weekend concluded at Broadford. In addition, the weekend proved to be a round of surprises with some unexpected results from some dark horses of the championship.

Tunetech KTM’s Kale Makeham who was one of the MX2 favorites leading into the first round, managed to salvage an eight overall at the opener of the series – a far cry from what Australia last saw of Makeham when he collected a podium in the MX2 championship in 2013 at Coolum.

With Makeham absent from the front of the MX2 class, the gap was left open for underdog Kiwi rider Kane Lamont. Lamont who had an inconsistent 2013, had a breakthrough series opener managing to take the overall round win. The question pends as to whether his win was a stroke of luck, or a preview of what he has in store for us for 2014.

Most expected, four-time Australian champ Jay Marmont to come out swinging at Broadford after returning to CDR Yamaha for 2014. Marmont who had mixed 2013 results and suffered niggling injuries, finished eighth overall at the rounds end, which most would agree is not the start the CDR team would have been looking for.

With Appin being Marmont’s home round, he is set to have family and local fans on his side when he hits the track this weekend, and again fans are expecting a lot from the Yamaha rider at this round.

The surprise in the MX1 class was local Victoria rider Adam Monea. The young gun who had not really attracted too much attention prior to the opener, wowed the crowds with his moto one win and second overall for the day, to stamp is position firmly on the hunt for the 2014 MX1 title.

However, with tough competition from the Moss brothers, and their Appin track experience, Monea will have his work cut out for him come round two this weekend.

In the MXD class, Jack Simpson’s two-stroke machine was one most were watching. With a year under his belt in Under 19s and an opening round arguably better suited to the two-strokes, most were expecting a win from the talented youngster. Simpson finished with an impressive fourth overall for the day, however it was GYTR Yamaha’s Jed Beaton who stole the spotlight.

Beaton who has stepped up from the junior racing scene made his presence known in his first pro-level event at Broadford, and will be one to watch at round two at Appin this weekend with some similar racing conditions to contented with.

So with a mixed bag of results and predictions to go by, it looks like Appin is shaping up to be a round of confirmations or redemptions.

Will local Ryan Marmont breakthrough his new young competition in the MX2 class? Will Billy Mackenzie turn performance into results in MX1? Will there be another battle of the Mosses on familiar ground? Will we see another newly turned pro show up Jed Beaton?

The racing is set to heat up, and with one round already in the books, the MX Nationals for 2014 is well underway.

MotoOnline.com.au will compile an official pre-race Fan Guide ahead of every round in 2014.

Image: Simon Makker.

Circuit location

Brian Rd
Appin, NSW

Event entry

Adults: $30
Children (aged 5-15 years): $20
Family (two adults and two children aged 5-15 years): $70

Event schedule

MX1 rider list

1 Matt Moss
2 Jay Marmont
3 Adam Monea
5 Kirk Gibbs
6 Jake Moss
9 Brock Winston
11 Sam Martin
12 Rhys Carter
14 Luke Davis
15 Lewis Woods
31 Alex Snow
37 Jacob Wright
40 Jesse O’Farrell
45 Hayden Mellross
48 Kade Mosig
65 Michael Grassick
79 Brad Groombridge
211 Billy Mackenzie
414 Jesse Dobson
627 Will Angel

MX2 rider list

2 Kale Makeham
3 Ryan Marmont
4 Luke Clout
5 Dylan Long
6 Jay Wilson
8 Nick Sutherland
11 Ben George
12 Brenden Harrison
14 Geran Stapleton
15 Luke Wilson
16 Dakota Court
19 Izaac Jones
Z22 Zane Keleher
23 Wade Hunter
25 Matt van Slooten
27 Caleb Gasbarri
34 Daniel Banks
51 Hamish Dobbyn
52 Riley Graham
53 Hamish Harwood
54 Luke Arbon
61 Kody Wheeler
62 Joel Milesevic
65 Daniel McCoy
70 Jake Emanuelli
81 Joel Evans
83 Joel Green
86 Daniel McEntee
88 Corey James
90 Adam Hynds
94 Kayne Lamont
101 Tristen Cachia
112 Nick Scott
118 Ryan Hunt
174 Tom Jones
185 Richard Evans
188 Tomas Ravenhorst
208 Josh Adams
221 Lewis Reardon
283 Errol Willis
410 Darcy Jones
485 Caleb Ward
949 Chris Francis

MXD rider list

4 Brock McLeary
5 Wayde Carter
J05 Jesse Madden
6 Jett Anderson
7 Jack Simpson
10 Dylan Wilson
11 Ryan Shadbolt
12 Jed Beaton
16 Jarrod Kelly
17 Bailey Coxon
19 Jye Smith
20x Lenny Magyar
23 Kyle Webster
26 Aaron Tanti
29 robert lovett
31 Blake Colleton
33 Jesse McNally
36 Jayden Rykers
38 Harley Treadwell
40 Jake Lowe
41 Wilson Todd
42 Damien Harrison
43 Jack Simmons
44 Brody Cassidy
45 Egan Mastin
50 Jake Donaher
51 Zak Small
52 James Alen
56 blake sola
66 Tyler Lange
75 Tyler Goullet
84 Siegah Ward
100 Ty Pearce
121 Tyler Bullen
141 Harrison Corbett
158 Braden Collins
182 Miles Clissold
188 Trent Wheatley
199 Nathan Crawford
214 Jaiden Corrigan
227 Zac Williams
254 Taylor Oag
264 Izak Maule
265 Jamie Harvey
432 James Jafer
600 Daniel Price
732 Jackson Foley
818 Ryan Boyd
851 Ty Lynch
941 Brodie Ravenhorst
962 Lachlan Archibald

125 Junior Cup rider list

2 Jackson Davison
3 Morgan Oloughlin
4 callum norton
5 Justin Walker
7 Tyler Steiner
9 Kaleb Barham
12 Joel Adamson
14 Jack Mills
16 Sam Pelz
21 Bailey Davis
23 Dylan Dukes
25 Dylan Wood
27 Mason Rowe
27 brendan tanti
33 Cody Dyce
34 Jacob Buckman
37 Ryan Kenney
43 Mitchell Evans
44 Reece Rayner
72 Hugh McKay
88 Jordan Hill
93 Alex Redgwell
117 Brock Healey
119 Brandon Ghoulmieh
124 Cody Woodward
127 Tom Artini
139 Lawson Preston
168 Nicholas Day
217 Cooper Pozniak
225 Brendon Walther
226 Jake McGlashan
233 Blake Parker
236 Travis Silk
277 Bailey Gudgeon
286 Drew Cigliano
288 Michael Driscoll
353 Cody McMahon
500 Jimmy Griffin
607 Seth Patience
610 Connor Tierney

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2014 series calendar

Rd1 – 30 March – Broadford, VIC
Rd2 – 13 April – Appin, NSW
Rd3 – 27 April – Wonthaggi, VIC
Rd4 – 18 May – Murray Bridge, SA
Rd5 – 25 May – Wanneroo, WA
Rd6 – 29 June – Conondale, QLD
Rd7 – 13 July – Swan Hill, VIC
Rd8 – 3 August – Raymond Terrace, NSW
Rd9 – 24 August – Gladstone, QLD
Rd10 – 31 August – Coolum, QLD

MotoOnline Films round one highlights