Heading into the 2016 season we’ve seen a rather large shuffle of riders amongst the Australian squads. Not only have we seen a shuffle, we also have some big returning names coming back to the domestic racing scene to really shake things up in the premier MX1 category.

Image: John Pearson.

1. Matt Moss (NPE Monster Energy Kawasaki):
One of the larger moves of the 2015-16 silly seasons was this one by Matt Moss. Although it was locked in quite early during the 2015 season, it was still a big deal for Moss to make the move from the factory Suzuki squad following a number of successful seasons with the Jay Foreman run outfit. Moss looks comfortable aboard his KX450F though and it looks to have refreshed the multi-time MX1 national champion. As they say, sometimes a change is as good as a holiday, and you can be sure Mossy feeling fresh and working his hardest to take back that number one plate in 2016.

2. Todd Waters (Factory Suzuki MX1 Racing):
Following two full-seasons with factory Husqvarna touring the MXGP series Todd Waters announced he was heading home and joining the newly-formed Factory Suzuki MX1 Racing squad. This announcement was both exciting and disappointing at the same time, why you ask? It was awesome to see Waters battling a selection of the world’s fastest racers around the globe and it’s unfortunate he was not able to secure a ride for 2016. The exciting part? Our 2016 MX Nationals MX1 championship just got that much better. Waters will play a huge role in this championship, he’s a definite title contender and we can’t wait to see what he can do this season.

3. Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha):
In almost an identical situation as Waters, Ferris announced he would return to Australia in 2016 following multiple seasons on the MXGP circuit where he put together some amazing results. The Queenslander has locked in a ride with Craig Dack at CDR Yamaha for the upcoming season and alongside Dan Reardon the CDR crew is looking very strong for 2016. You can expect Ferris to be another title challenger in this deep MX1 field.

4. Kade Mosig (NPE Monster Energy Kawasaki):
Vacated his 2015 CDR Yamaha spot and heading to the Troy Carroll managed factory Kawasaki outfit for 2016, Mosig returns to familiar surroundings after spending a season with the Kawasaki crew during 2012 in the MX2 category. The Victorian put together some impressive rides during 2015 and will obviously be a top contender this year. Riding alongside both Moss brothers in 2016 should also play to Mosig’s advantage with two experienced and seriously fast teammates to keep him on his toes.

5. Jay Wilson (Crankt Protein Honda Racing):
Jay Wilson is coming off his best season of his career after capturing the 2015 MX Nationals MX2 title. Wilson opted to make the jump to the MX1 category and leave his title up for grabs in 2016 following an offer from the Crankt Protein Honda Racing team. Speaking with the now Victoria-based rider recently, he’s feeling comfortable aboard the CRF450R and looks forward to the upcoming series. He may not come out and set the world on fire as a rookie, but I think your money should be safe on Wilson working his way to the podium before the season’s end.

Image: Andy McGechan (BikesportNZ.com).

6. Dylan Long (Crankt Protein Honda Racing):
The guy has natural talent written all over him, there’s no denying Dylan Long is one impressive human being on a motorcycle, and the factory Honda guys seem to agree. Long landed himself his first full-time factory MX1 rider with the Crankt Protein Honda Racing team for 2016, a well-deserved ride for the Victorian. He has already proven to be more than capable of battling with the best in the premier class and with a full pre-season program in place, you can expect him to come out firing at round one.

7. Jacob Wright (SD3 Husqvarna):
What a tough year 2015 was for Jacob Wright, the guy just couldn’t catch a break. After landing a dream ride at CDR Yamaha in 2015, Wright dealt with a list of injuries and never really had a chance to do anything with the Yamaha squad. Fortunately the SD3 Husqvarna team picked him up for 2016 and we’ll hopefully see a 100 percent healthy Wright out on the track. Riding at his full potential, injury free, he’s a dangerous contender in the MX1 category, let’s hope that’s the case this season!

8. Caleb Ward (KTM Motocross Racing Team):
This is a huge deal for Caleb Ward, a factory KTM ride in the MX2 category is a special deal. Ward will be the lone KTM Motocross Racing Team MX2 contender in 2016, making the jump from his 2015 deal, which saw him receive support from the manufacturer at a much lower level. Ward will begin testing with the team next week, slightly late in the off-season compared to some of his competitors, but you can guarantee the likeable 18-year-old isn’t worried one bit.

9. Wade Hunter (Serco Yamaha:):
A last-minute addition to the Serco Yamaha team following the departure of 2014 MX2 champion Luke Clout, Hunter will be impressive in 2016 if his late-2015 form is anything to go off. Hunter came on strong at the end of last year, proving he’s been putting in the work and means business. This is Hunter’s big chance, he has the team behind him, the bike underneath him, now he just needs to put it all together.

10. Wilson Todd (Serco Yamaha):
Riding alongside Hunter at Serco Yamaha will be your 2015 MX Nationals MXD champion Wilson Todd. Sporting the bold number two for 2016, Todd will be one to keep a watchful eye on in the MX2 category. He’s a smooth, fast and smart rider, it will be interesting to see where he stacks up against the rest of the field. Will his lack of experience in the class play a factor? Will he show up and shock the field with blazing speed? That’s the beauty of a rookie, we’ll find out once the gate drops at Horsham’s opening round on 3 April.