Image: Supplied.

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Aaron Tanti is emerging as a force to be reckoned with entering season 2022, earning a timely pre-season boost by winning the Australian Motocross Invitational in Nowra on Saturday.

Tanti, 25, makes the switch from GasGas Racing Team for 2022 and is looking increasingly ominous as a potential MX1 championship contender a month out from Penrite ProMX.

Queensland-based Tanti made his CDR debut in last year’s AMX Open at Wonthaggi, placing an impressive second overall. While last weekend’s Australian Motorcross Invitational ran a unique layout at Nowra Speedway and MotoX Skins format of competition, Tanti still had to overcome the likes of teammate and defending national champion Luke Clout to emerge with the victory.

“Even though it was a bit of a different format, not a traditional sort of motocross race, it was still good fun, quite intense and a good little hit out to get some racing under the belt even though it was short and sharp,” Tanti told MotoOnline.

“We were racing some pretty good dudes, Clouty, Matt Moss, and a few of the boys that were on the 250s. Confidence levels are going pretty well at the moment…

“I feel like I have gelled with the CDR team really well, loving the bike, comfortable and definitely in a lot better shape – everything the whole package – than what I was 12 months ago.’

Behind Tanti in the MX1 final was Matt Moss (BBR 102 Motorsports Yamaha) in second and Luke Styke (GasGas) in third, as Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team) topped MX2 and Byron Dennis (GasGas Junior Racing Team) was victorious in MX3. Clout notably crashed while positioned third in the MX1 final.

The 2022 Penrite ProMX Championship kicks off in just over one month’s time at Wonthaggi, VIC, on 27 March, marking the first national motocross event since June last year.