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A chance for teenager Ryder Kingsford to join CDR Yamaha Monster Energy in the World Supercross Championship (WSX) will serve as a career opportunity for the Yamalube Yamaha Racing regular, commencing this weekend in Vancouver’s 2024 season-opener.

Kingsford has been called in alongside teammate Kaleb Barham to represent Craig Dack Racing (CDR) on the international stage in SX2, which will establish an important direct connection with Yamaha Motor Australia’s flagship team.

A graduate of the GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing program who has advanced through WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha and is currently part of Yamalube Yamaha Racing full-time, Kingsford will make his first appearance with CDR – which will also house Eli Tomac, Matt Moss and Barham – this Saturday night in the WSX series.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Kingsford told MotoOnline. “Over here in Australia, CDR is probably the biggest team, so to be able to get such a great opportunity on a high-level team in international races, I’m very thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given.

“To be able to step through the ranks, coming up through the Yamaha Junior Racing program, then onto WBR and Yamalube as a senior, CDR is the next step. Obviously, I’d love to race for them on a 450 one day, but just to be able to ride for them on a 250 for WSX is a massive achievement for me.”

With form on his side and already with experience from racing 2022 world champion Shane McElrath on home soil, Kingsford is carrying an open mind into Canada and the unique four-race format that will make up the four-round WSX series this season.

“I don’t really have any expectations as to where I’ll finish this weekend, but I know that if I go there and ride my best and get great starts, we’ll be up the front,” the 19-year-old continued. “So, if we roll in with that plan of executing good starts and gaining as much experience as I can, then I’ll be more than happy. There are a few nerves, for sure, but I just like to look at it as excitement – to get the opportunity to race overseas for such a great team, it’s exciting.”

Already Kingsford has displayed his capabilities in the stadium environment, winning the second final on his way to P3 on the overall podium at Redcliffe’s opening round of the 2024 Fox Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) earlier this month. He’s fifth in the standings after the Queensland double-header.

“Redcliffe was a good indicator of how much effort we’ve been putting in,” he added. “The races that I kept it on two wheels were really good, so I’m looking to keep that momentum coming into Vancouver. It was a little bit of a surprise, because I knew I was riding well and had the fitness and everything, but as a racer I always go to the start line wanting to win.

“To do that in a race on Saturday was a great sense of relief. Unfortunately, Sunday wasn’t as good, but I felt like I rode good other than a few little mistakes. Other than that, I take a lot of confidence out of it and keep it going into the next rounds.”