Image: Supplied.

Western Australian teenager Kayden Minear turned heads in his official US debut with the KTM Orange Brigade amateur program, winning the opening moto and claiming second overall at Ironman Raceway on Friday afternoon.

Minear, 17, is fresh from finishing runner-up in the Australian MX2 standings, travelling to America directly following Queensland Moto Park’s final round last Sunday.

After qualifying fifth on combined times, the KTM Racing Team regular stormed to victory in moto one by near 15 seconds ahead of Kiwi revelation Cole Davies (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing). It was Davies who won moto two for the overall, while P4 for Minear saw him stand P2 on the round podium, with Landen Gordon (Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki) third.

“It’s been awesome,” Minear recalled post-race. “We didn’t get much time on the bike, coming off the back of our championship, but I’m so stoked to be here. I can’t thank everybody enough that got me here and I’m excited to stay over here for Las Vegas as well.”

After spending time training with Orange Brigade manager Daniel Blair at his training facility in South Carolina last year, Minear is expanding upon that connection and will complete his preparations for the Fox Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) in California.

Minear – who turned professional in Australia at the beginning of last season after clinching the 2022 MX3 title outdoors – will also contest the 250 World All-Stars race at the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals in Las Vegas next month.