Aussie young gun Dean Ferris leads the Pro Open category for Troy Carroll's Kawasaki team ahead of Toowoomba.

Leading the Australian Motocross Championship is nothing new for hometown hero Troy Carroll ahead of this weekend’s fifth round of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals season at Toowoomba, however this year he enters his home round as leading team manager rather than rider.

The 12-time national champion heads the title-leading Monster Energy Kawasaki team, now based in the Queensland town of Toowoomba, and he’s risen to the challenge of mentoring 20-year-old title leader Dean Ferris.

Ferris was a revelation last season as he raced to third in the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals series as a rookie privateer, prompting Carroll and Kawasaki to sign him alongside experienced Scotsman Billy Mackenzie for the new year.

With Ferris currently enjoying a nine-point lead following a three-round podium streak and Mackenzie third after winning the most recent round in South Australia, Carroll’s looking ahead to a massive weekend for the team on home soil on Sunday, 22 May.

“It’s a similar feeling to when I raced at my home round,” Carroll explained. “I have a lot of knowledge regarding the circuit and also am aware of the weather conditions leading up to the event.

“It’s a lot easier for the team racing in Toowoomba – we don’t have to travel interstate so we have an extra two days or so up our sleeve to ensure everything is ready for race day.

“We’re excited to race in front of our home town because there have been a lot of people from within the Toowoomba region that have helped us. It’ll be great to reward them with a good result in our local round.”

Splitting Ferris and Mackenzie to date in the series is Kiwi grand prix veteran Josh Coppins, while his CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha teammate and current triple champion Jay Marmont sits fourth. Completing the top five is Victorian hopeful Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing).

Last year’s Toowoomba round of the series saw Mackenzie at his best, taking the overall victory on debut at the undulating venue, which is a favourite amongst riders in the series.

JDR Motorex KTM’s Matt Moss maintains a 37-point lead in the Motul Pro Lites title chase heading into Toowoomba, however he’s coming under pressure from an in-form Kirk Gibbs. Queensland-based Gibbs won in South Australia, his first of the season for Serco Yoshimura Yamaha. Queensland local Brenden Harrison sits third as Moss’ teammate at KTM.

In the Pirelli Under 19s development category it’s Raceline Pirelli Suzuki rising star Errol Willis who’s in charge, taking his second round win of the season a fortnight ago in SA. Willis will again continue his rivalry with GYTR Rockstar Energy Yamaha’s Luke Arbon, who sits second in the series to date. Arbon won at Toowoomba in 2010. Current third place Under 19s rider Dylan Peterson will sit out this weekend’s round, the Team 07 Axis Motorsports entrant suffering a broken collarbone in training this week.

Round five of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be contested at Toowoomba in Queensland on Sunday, 22 May. Practice and qualifying will commence at 8:30am with the official opening ceremonies taking place at approximately 10:30am.

A special reduced spectator entry price has been announced ahead of the round, a tribute to the many affected in the devastating Queensland floods at the beginning of the year.

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au on the web for complete series and round information on the 2011 season.

Spectator Entry Information (special for Toowoomba):
Adults – $25
Children (13-16yrs) – $15
Children (Under 12) – $10
Family (2 adults, 2 children under 16 yrs) – $60