Image: Jeff Crow.

The KTM Motocross Racing Team has announced that teenager Jesse Dobson will line up alongside Kirk Gibbs in the 2014 Australian Supercross Championship when it commences at Bathurst on 10 October.

At just 17, Dobson raced to 11th overall in the MX1 category of this year’s MX Nationals and will take delivery of his new KTM 450 SX-F team bike today in order to get a feel for the extra power and superior suspension performance of the factory bike.

“Rob Twyerould gave me a call the other day and I really couldn’t believe it,” Dobson said. “To have someone who is as big a figure as Rob take notice of me is unbelievable really. It’s a huge opportunity for me.

“At supercross top 10 is good, but I really think that I may be a fifth to seventh place rider. I mean, I’m training to win, but you’ve got to keep achievable goals too, and I think that would be a good result for somebody my age.

“I’ve ridden with Kirk a few times at the practice tracks at Coolum and I get on well with him. He is a cool dude, and to work with someone of his experience and Rob in the same truck is going to be massive.”

Dobson spent a number of years aboard KTM machinery during his junior career, which culminated in an Under 15 years Australian championship. He was one of the top-ranked MXD competitors in 2013 despite being one of the youngest competitors, before fast-tracking straight to MX1 this year.

“It’s a big plus for us that Jesse has competed all year long on the KTM 450 SX-F, so he won’t be intimidated by the power or take a lot of time to get used to it,” Twyerould said. “Once Jesse has had some time on the bike we’ll go up and test with him.

“Realistically we’ll have three weeks to get prepared, but I think he’ll have a real good crack at it. The boys have got a set-up they think will go quite well for him. I think he will have a lot of potential, the biggest thing is that he is so young. He rode all year in the top class and had a pretty solid championship where he was quite consistent and didn’t hurt himself.

“So obviously he’s got his head around it. Also his family are real enthusiasts and just a pleasure to deal with which makes it that much easier. Having two riders on board will be real great for everyone in the team and we’re all looking forward to it.”

Dobson’s signing comes as one of the key moves of the supercross silly season, with Gibbs and Luke Styke already signed to the factory team fulltime for 2015.