Image: Foremost Media.

Williams Event Management, promoter of the Pirelli MX Nationals, is set to introduce a three-round series dubbed the Yamaha bLU cRU 2-Stroke Amateur Nationals in 2019.

The series, backed by Yamaha Motor Australia and endorsed by Motorcycling Australia (MA), will be open to both junior and senior competitors, and is designed with the intention of grooming youthful talents for international events, particularly the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship.

“I was fortunate enough to spend a week at Horsham for the Junior Motocross World Championship,” said WEM director Kevin Williams. “During that week I had the opportunity to speak with the people from the FIM and majority of the international riders and their teams about two-stroke racing.”

“I was managing the mechanics area therefore I had the opportunity to gain some valuable knowledge during these conversations and it became very obvious that Australia are behind the rest of the MX world in helping to prepare our junior riders for international events, so I met with MA and we put a program together that would help in this area.”

MA CEO Peter Doyle added: “MA has had a long relationship with WEM, and we are pleased to be able to work alongside them with creating a series that will aid in the development of the junior riders in preparation for international competition. We will be looking at the results of the competitors in this series, along with other event results, during the selection process for the Australian junior world team.”

“The senior two-stroke classes are a great opportunity for the dads and other amateur level riders to put some fun back into their racing as well as encouraging some legends of the sport to pull their boots back on for some healthy competition against prior rivals and team mates. Therefore, as the new two-stroke series unfolds, it will bring out a great camaraderie amongst everyone and help create a family-friendly environment within the sport.”

Round one will take place at Traralgon in Victoria on 10 February, followed by Coolum, Queensland, on 3 March, and Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, on 27 April. Junior classes include 65cc (9-U12 years), 85cc and 125cc, while senior categories will boast two-stroke all powers and retro two-stroke (plus 20 years age of bike frame and engine) divisions.