Australian Supercross ready to rock Bathurst | By Kendall Jennings
In the lead up to the 2014 Australian Supercross Championship it might pay dividends to step back time 12 months to quickly recap the 2013 series..
In the SX1 class Matt Moss piloted his Suzuki RM-Z450 home for back-to-back Supecross victories. Jake Moss made a controversial move in the final round final at Toowoomba against Josh Hill, the American ended up hitting the deck resulting in Jake claiming the final step of the podium.
In the SX2 Class, Luke Styke completed the yearly double of MX2 and SX2 champion. Import American Gavin Faith was runner up and Ryan Marmont completed the podium.
In 2014, Factory Yamaha (CDR) is missing from the line up, so to is Serco Yamaha, in fact any rider who has a contract with Yamaha Australia is not present. There is a nice and nasty way to explain what happened, so we’ll just leave it as Yamaha didn’t allow budget for the 2014 Supercross Season. I am sure Luke Styke would be displeased that he can not defend his 2013 title, however it is what it is. And with the dominating force of Serco missing in the SX2 class, it leaves the barn doors wide open for someone else to grasp a number one plate.
Josh Cachia has moved up to SX1 and Faith will be looking to repeat his championship winning success of 2012.
#2 Kale Makeham, has won an under 19s championship, and is very confident at supercross while #3 Ryan Marmont, has many podiums in his career.
Then there is Dylan Long, Geran Stapleton, and import Kyle Peters who all can win races.
Taylor Potter, who went over to the AMA with the goal to qualify for a main event, which he achieved, and is heading over to the AMA again for the 2015 SX Season.
Then there are two riders whom have dropped back down to the SX2 class, Penrite Honda’s Lewis Woods and Raceline Suzuki’s Hayden Mellross.
Plus there is Luke Arbon on a 2-stroke Husky and Brenden Harrison is on a 2-stroke KTM.
A full gamut of privateers such as Luke Wilson, Boyd Hocking, Jake Vella, Ryan Mitchell, Jackson Richardson, Tristian Duncan, John Prutti and Jake Williams, as well as Raceline Suzuki’s Nick Sutherland and Kawasaki’s Meghan Rutledge, yes a chick competing in SX with the fellas? Meghan has competed in the AMA and the Women’s GP, she is also competing in the Women’s SX, her consistency may lead to overall placings. Anyway the SX2 class is going to be very entertaining for sure.
For the SX1 class, the question is who can beat Matt Moss? Moss has a tendency to start strong, who will be able to pull Moss in? Veteran Jay Marmont aboard his new Penrite Honda? Or Kawaski’s Adam Monea?
DHP motorsports Yamaha Kade Mosig can win races as a privateer.
Then there is Josh Cachia, who has moved to Craig Anderson Racing, he will be piloting a Husky 350. Cachia was quite comfortable on a JDR Motorsports KTM250 back in the day and even rode for the team in the USA. With a youth spent on KTMs winning championships, has Cachia found his home aboard the Husky?
Then there is Factory KTMs Kirk Gibbs, who is constant and can win races as well as Jake Moss aboard the NPS Monster Energy Kawaski.
Daniel McCoy is riding under his own banner. Lawson Bopping is on a Motul Suzuki.
Then there is young gun Jesse Dobson about a factory KTM. And throw in the privateers Justin Carafa, Julian Craye, Chris Camilleri, Keith Tucker, James Booth-Elliot, Joel Newton and Tim Vare. Just wait I am forgetting someone, Kieren Tisdale aboard a Raceline Suzuki.
We will all find out soon enough as the gates drop for the first time in the 2014 Australian Supercross Championships at Bathurst 10th / 11th October.
The boys were out shaking things down in yesterday in preparation for the race action.
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