2014 MX Nationals Musical Chairs

Anaheim 1 rolls around each year, and before we know it, MX racing kicks off on the Australian scene. The 2014 MX Nationals will begin at Broadford, Victoria on March 30. Of course, before anything starts, riders need to lock down contracts with teams and personal sponsors. So, who’s going to replace Jay Marmont at Kawasaki next year? Is anyone going to join Matt Moss at Suzuki? Are any of the sport’s top Privateers stepping into factory positions this year? Here, you’ll find what we know, small bits and pieces that we’ve spotted via social media, and what we’re anticipating to see inked over the coming weeks.

MX1

Just yesterday, it was confirmed that former Aussie MX and SX champ, Jay Marmont, has re-signed with CDR Yamaha after a two-year hiatus, and will race alongside Billy Mackenzie, who joined the team last year. That’s team blue covered. Mackenzie’s teammate in 2013 was Lawson Bopping, who has been linked to a factory support deal via the Raceline Pirelli Suzuki squad for 2014 (and so has Hayden Mellross). Bopping’s been racing a Suzuki over in the US for the past couple of weeks. Also racing an RM-Z450 in America is last year’s national MX and SX champ, Matt Moss. He re-signed with Motul Pirelli Suzuki barely one week after locking up his 2013 ASX title. That’s who we can expect to see on yellow bikes this year. What about the others that raced aboard them last year?

^ Lawson Bopping

Let’s start with Cody Cooper, who was Matt Moss’ teammate in 2013. Nearing the end of 2013, the New Zealand-native inked a deal with Honda to contest the 2013 NZ Supercross and 2014 NZ Motocross Championships. Does that mean Cooper’s going to be racing a CRF450R in Australia this year? It would appear so. Factory Honda Team Owner, Yarrive Konsky, recently stated via Facebook that the team would be betting on #10 in both classes in 2014 (Josh Cachia, who re-signed with the team in the MX2 category, rocks the number, and so does Cooper). It would also appear that Carlton Dry won’t be the team’s naming rights sponsor next year, and Penrite Oil could be stepping up its involvement. That might be Honda locked up for 2014.

There was one more guy who raced on board a yellow bike last year – Campbell Mining Suzuki’s Jake Moss. Around two weeks ago, Jake took delivery of a KX450F, and since then he’s been out testing with Troy Carroll’s Kawasaki team. With Monster Energy pulling its funding from the squad in 2014, and Jay Marmont making the switch back to Yamaha, the team needs a rider, and a naming rights sponsor. If the stars align, we could see Jake racing for a Campbell Mining Kawasaki team this year, and we see no reason why his teammate wouldn’t be Adam Monea.

^ Jake Moss

That’s Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki squared away, for now. KTM Australia is booked out, too – Kirk Gibbs and Ford Dale will be the team’s MX1 riders for 2014, as Todd Waters is racing a Husky in Europe this year. Mandurah City KTM/Berry Sweet rider, Louis Calvin, will also receive factory support from KTM Australia. Who does that leave us with? At the moment, there have been no official announcements regarding the future of Cody Mackie, Sam Martin, Sam Duncanson, Lewis Woods and a bunch of other talented contenders.

Let’s check out the MX2 division…

MX2

Youngsters Luke Clout (who spent the majority of 2013 with a busted femur) and Jay Wilson (the 2013 Under 19s Aussie SX champ) will form Serco Yamaha for season 2014, following the announcement that 2013 MX and SX champ, Luke Styke, has landed a deal to race in Europe.

Kale Makeham (TuneTech KTM Racing), Brenden Harrison (Twe12e Clothing KTM) and Dean Porter (Mandurah City KTM/Berry Sweet) will all receive factory support from KTM Australia in 2014, and will all be racing aboard orange 250cc two-strokes.

^ Kale Makeham

On board yellow bikes, we can expect to see the Raceline Pirelli Suzuki duo of Ryan Marmont and Geran Stapleton return for season 2014. Chris Woods, who managed the Carlton Dry Honda Racing team in 2013, has returned to the squad after a one-year hiatus. Speaking of Honda, as stated earlier, it looks like Josh Cachia will be the team’s sole MX2 rider this year.

It was announced late last year that Daniel McCoy, who raced for Honda, TM and KTM in 2013, has inked a deal with TM Racing Australia to contest the MX Nats’ MX2 class, on board a two-stroke. There’s been no official word on where Nick Sutherland (who raced for the team in the MX1 category in 2013) is heading.

^ Daniel McCoy

Now, Husqvarna is an interesting one. All signs point to Craig Anderson managing a Husky-mounted team, consisting of Brock Winston and Dylan Leary. Transmoto sources tell us that the pair will ride two-strokes in 2014 – well, Winston will to kick things off, as Leary unfortunately tore his ACL last week (this isn’t the first time this has happened) and he’ll have to sit out until Round 6 of the MX Nats. Word on the street is that Kade Mosig, who contested the 2013 MX Nationals with ZeroSeven Motorsports Kawasaki (now gone from the pits), could be looking to fill the seat left vacant by Leary. Mosig signed on with CDR Yamaha to contest the 2013 Aussie SX Championships in the Pro Open class, but there’s been no talk surrounding him riding a 450 this year.

KTM-mounted Privateer, Dylan Long, will continue doing what he was last year. He’ll receive factory support from KTM Australia, and will hang on to his personal sponsors. There’s been no word on where Kayne Lamont, who raced under the Choice Motorsports KTM big-rig in 2013, will be.

And then there’s the Beau Ralstons of the world, who didn’t really leave the top ten last year. There are still a bunch of really talented Aussie guys running around trying to sort out rides, but a lot can happen ahead of Round 1. Stay tuned over the coming weeks as official announcements are made. Until then, if you’re not already following us on Facebook and Instagram @transmoto, do so to stay up to date with the latest in the world of dirt bike news.