Billy Mackenzie raced with the KYB PSF fork during the early rounds of Australian Supercross 2012. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Australia will continue to use KYB suspension in 2013, planning to develop the brand new Pneumatic Spring Fork (PSF) system that comes standard on the latest production KX450F.

Despite the American Kawasaki team of Ryan Villopoto and Jake Weimer switching to Showa’s SFF Air fork during the off-season, Australian team manager Troy Carroll has confirmed to MotoOnline.com.au that the local team will remain with the KYB PSF setup.

The Australian arm of Monster Energy Kawasaki will enter the MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, using the 48mm KYB PSF fork that comes equipped on the production model.

In 2011 the Australian team ran Showa kit forks direct from Pro Circuit in the US, before switching to KYB kit forks for 2012. The team now works with both Enzo Racing in California and Technical-Touch in Belgium when developing the KYB product.

“Everyone has their hands up in the air, thinking what are we going to do with this new KYB air fork?” Carroll commented. “It’s no different to what we have been running really, except it has air instead of a spring. As far as development goes, it hasn’t really changed for us.

The US-based Monster Energy Kawasaki team has switched to Showa SFF Air forks for 2013. Image: Simon Cudby.

“We’re quite comfortable working with it, we know it’s going to work and we’ve done some testing with it already. So far we are pleasantly surprised with the results that we’ve had.”

Carroll confirmed that four-time outdoor and current Australian Supercross Champion Jay Marmont has a positive early impression with the KYB PSF system. The team is yet to announce his teammate, tipped to be Victorian Adam Monea.

“The impression that Jay has given us is that the new air fork is one of the best that he’s ever ridden on,” Carroll continued. “He said he doesn’t feel the harshness through his hands anymore, but it’s still stable enough to hold up on the big jumps and big hits.”

2012 team rider Billy Mackenzie contested the opening three rounds of the Australian Supercross series last year using the PSF fork, before returning to KYB’s 2012 kit spring-based fork for the final round. Marmont used his kit forks throughout the whole season, electing to commence testing with the PSF version in the lead-up to the outdoors.

Both the Kawasaki and Honda open class bikes come equipped standard with the KYB PSF for 2013. Like Kawasaki’s factory race team in America, the factory Hondas and Chad Reed’s TwoTwo Motorsports team have also opted for the Showa SFF Air fork.

Ben Townley recently gave MotoOnline.com.au his first impressions of the KYB PSF air fork (click here to check it out). Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing is yet to confirm what fork it will race with in 2013.