Image: Jeff Crow.

In recent years, the MX Nationals has received an incredible response for support classes held at selected rounds of its 10-round series and next year the support classes are set to continue.

For the 2015 motocross season, the team from Williams Event Management (WEM) have put together two brand new support classes, to add to the already action packed program.

With a huge amount of talented youngsters currently making their way through the Australian junior ranks, WEM in conjunction with Yamaha Australia, has created the Yamaha Rising Star Rookies Cup, which will be open to riders aged 13-15 years.

The Yamaha Rising Star Rookies Cup will be held at three selected rounds of the 2015 MX Nationals. Round one will be held at Appin, round two in Shepparton and the final round will be staged on the Saturday of racing at the final round of the series in Coolum.

Yamaha Australia motorsport manager Ray Howard, spoke of the partnership and the company’s continued commitment to junior racing in Australia.

“Yamaha and WEM have worked together for more than 18 years, so the opportunity to support this class was one we jumped at,” he said. “At Yamaha we believe in supporting junior racing, and ensuring that the future of our sport is well looked after through racing opportunities like this.”

MX Nationals promoter Kevin Williams shared his thoughts on adding the new class to the 2015 series.

“The success of the 125cc class last year has shown that riders and parents are keen to support the series, and show their talent to the industry,” he said. “We see this class as a great stepping stone to the MXD class, and we are looking forward to seeing the rising stars of the future, racing at the MX Nationals in 2015.”

In addition to the Yamaha Rising Star Rookies class, the MX Nationals will also host a three-round Australian Amateur Cup for the 2015 season, which will be supported by KTM Australia.

The KTM Amateur Cup will be open to seniors on all powered bikes who haven’t finished inside the top-10 in the championship in the last five years, and who haven’t had top 15 moto results in MX1 or MX2 in the past two years.

KTM Australia general manager Jeff Leisk, commented on the manufacturers decision to support the brand new amateur class for 2015.

“KTM has a longstanding relationship with WEM and have supported many initiatives which provide privateers and amateurs with the opportunity to participate in racing at the MX Nationals,” he said. “Last year we had huge success with the KTM Two-Stroke Cup, and we are very excited to continue to support these types of initiatives, including the KTM Amateur Cup in 2015.”

The KTM Amateur Cup has been created to cater for those racers who may not race full time, and previously would not have had the opportunity to be competitive at the MX Nationals.

Round one of the Amateur Cup will be held at Horsham, round two at Raymond Terrace, while the final round will be held on the Saturday of racing at the final round of the series for 2015, in Coolum Queensland.

2015 Yamaha Rising Star Rookies Cup calendar:
Rd1 – 12 April – Appin, NSW
Rd2 – 19 July – Shepparton, VIC
Rd3 – 29 August – Coolum, QLD

2015 KTM Australian Amateur Cup calendar:
Rd1 – 29 March – Horsham, VIC
Rd2 – 15 July – Raymond Terrace, NSW
Rd3 – 29 August – Coolum, QLD