TM Racing Australia to descend upon the 2013 MX Nationals

TM Racing Australia will step on to the national race circuit full-time in 2013, with a two-rider line-up set to race at all ten rounds of the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals.

Cross Country Action, who have been importing the Italian motorcycles in to Australia since 1992, will give their full backing to Simon Thompson and Ryan Ziepes for the entire series, with Cross Country Action owner, Andrew Franklin, aiming to lift the profile on the TM machinery. “Really what better way to go racing and show your support for racing than to go racing as an importer,” Franklin enthused in regards to going racing with TM in 2013.

Leading the teams charge in the MX1 class this year aboard a TM MX 450 Fi will be Queensland’s Thompson, who has spent the past few years racing the off-road circuit focusing on some of Australia’s big one off races like Finke and Hattah. Thompson is no stranger to the national motocross scene, having spent previous years racing the national circuit with some strong results along the way, including top ten moto finishes in the Pro Open class.

Franklin sees Thompson as a solid top 10-15th place rider heading in to the 2013 season. “Simon contacted me late last year and said though the off-road racing was fun, he felt that there was a lot he still could and wanted to achieve racing motocross,” explained Franklin. “Being a small team and with a small budget in our first year of racing, Thompson is the perfect fit for our team and shares the same goals as we do going racing.”

Ziepes has a steep tradition with TM, racing aboard the blue and white bikes for his entire junior career and early in to his senior career. The closure of Ryan’s local TM dealer a couple of years ago forced him to look elsewhere for support until now. Ziepes will compete in the MX2 class for TM Racing Australia aboard a TM MX 250 two-stroke.

“Ryan and his dad saw what we were doing last year and were impressed with the direction we were heading.” Franklin explained. “After spending most of his life racing TM’s he wanted to come back and race for TM at a national level and we offered him the opportunity to come and race with us in our first year.”

This year, the team’s sponsors include Heit Bulk Haulage, HA Manufacturers, Advanti, Costanzo Racing Tuned, Mountain Shade, Stylmartin, Bel-Ray, Pirelli, Answer, 100% and Pro Taper.

Check out the new-look 2013 TM Racing Australia team on debut at the opening round of the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals in Raymond Terrace, April 14.