A surprise AMA Pro Motocross debut for Australian MX3 front-runner Jake Cannon saw him impress at RedBud on his way to scoring points in the second 250MX moto, eventually claiming 21st position overall.

The 17-year-old was a recent inclusion in the Scouting Moto Combine – a two-event development platform in the US series – that was held on Friday.

Cannon qualified in 10th and then finished 11th in the opening Combine race, but weather in the region forced the cancellation of moto two. That led to the late decision of the MobileX Fire Power Honda team to sign him up for a shock professional debut the following day.

The Queensland teenager – who is part of Yarrive Konsky’s Honda Racing program in Australia – made major gains overnight and qualified quickest in the 250MX class B group, which placed him 21st overall. He recovered from an early fall in the first moto to salvage 31st, and then raced to four points in 18th. Those scores placed him 21st overall.

“Moto one wasn’t the best,” Cannon recalled. “I got into a first-corner crash and sliced my arm open pretty good. I had to get a few stitches in it, but our lap times were there, I think around the top 15. But it’s big, you can’t be crashing in the first corner, so I think I was 31st in that one.

“Second moto, I got an alright start, I think I was 23rd and worked my way to 17th or 18th. It was an awesome learning experience for me to come over. I came to do [the Moto Combine], but that got cancelled, so I made my pro debut here and it was sick.”

Konsky commented: “I take my hat off to him. Lining up against the people he looks up to, aspires to be and beat, it was clearly overwhelming, but he didn’t shy away and he has shown he has the potential to be something special.”

Cannon sits second in the Penrite ProMX Championship’s MX3 category, winning the Gillman and Maitland rounds of the series. He’s currently 12 points outside of red plate-holder Koby Hantis (WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha) with three rounds remaining.