AMX Superstores will not only remain as a ‘presented by’ partner for ProMX over the next two seasons, but the retailer will also continue to sponsor the cut-throat MX1 Superpole session – the frenetic battle for final gate positions between Australia’s best riders. The 2024 Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores will begin in Wonthaggi (Vic) on Sunday, March 17.

AMX Superstores, which currently has 31 stores across Vic, NSW, Qld, SA and the ACT, as well as a massive online presence, holds a special place in the ProMX family as a foundation industry partner when the newly branded championship first began in 2021. Furthermore, AMX Superstores was a major player in the motocross scene for well over a decade before ProMX was inaugurated.

Over the last few years, AMX Superstores – which began with a store in suburban Melbourne in 2008 – has continued on a massive growth curve, with plans to service even more parts of Australia with leading brands across the motocross, off-road, adventure and road segments.

AMX Superstores Business Manager, Rob Farrimond, is delighted to be continuing its support of ProMX.

“Being a foundation sponsor, it’s fantastic for AMX Superstores to have the opportunity to extend our future investment and partnership with ProMX,” he said. “The last three years have shown that motocross racing in Australia is on the way up, and we love being amongst it to make the series bigger and better for all fans.”

2024 Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores calendar:

•   Rd1: March 17, Wonthaggi, Vic 
•   Rd2: April 7, Horsham, Vic
•   Rd3: May 5, Gillman, SA
•   Rd4: May 26, Maitland, NSW
•   Rd5: June 23, Murray Bridge, SA
•   Rd6: July 21, Toowoomba, Qld
•   Rd7: August 11, MX Farm Queensland, Gympie, Qld
•   Rd8: August 17-18, Queensland Moto Park, Coulson, Qld

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Tanti finished the last round at Coolum in sixth place with 4 – 7 results. Just five points separated Tanti and the third placed rider, Kirk Gibbs, coming into the weekend so a strong performance at the final round could have seen on the championship podium.

Things were on track after race one when Tanti battled hard for a fourth-place finish, one ahead of Gibbs and narrowed the gap to just three points heading into the final moto. He then positioned himself well in moto two and was ahead of Gibbs when he fell and lost several positions. He fell again a few laps later and with it, any hope of a championship podium went out the window.

“Today was a disappointing finish to the year and not the kind of season myself or the team expected. Last year, I was able to get on a roll and reel of some race and round wins but this year I could never string enough races together to really make an impact. Dean was winning a lot of races while Jed was so consistent while I was having up and down weekends.”

“There were still a lot of positives I can take away from the year and I proved that I can run the pace. Appin was good for me, I was solid at Gilman but the rest of them were a bit hit and miss and that’s not what’s needed to win a championship at this level. I fell at Maitland and Toowoomba, two rounds that I’m good at and I feel I could have notched some round wins,  then the crash last week at QMP took me out of the hunt. But I will keep working hard as we have supercross to come and its my chance to redeem myself and get back up front again. Thank you to everyone that supports me as well as my mechanic, Allister, and the entire CDR Yamaha Team for working tirelessly throughout the season,” Tanti comments.

Despite not racing the final two rounds, Luke Clout rounded out the season in eighth place. Clout attended Coolum to support Tanti and his team with his wrist injury progressing well. He will be back on the bike prior to the start of the Australian Supercross Championship kick off on October 7.    

“It’s been a while since CDR haven’t been in the championship hunt at the final round in Coolum, so it was a different feeling for the team this weekend. Both riders seemed to take two steps forward and then one step back during the year and we just couldn’t get the points on the board when it mattered.”

“Luke was finding form when he injured himself prior to the Toowoomba round, then he had that practice crash that took him out of the championship while Aaron did a lot of the hard work to put himself in good positions only for a small fall or tip over to cost him valuable points and when racing against seasoned competitors like Ferris and Beaton, they prove very costly. We will lick our wounds, dust ourselves off and comeback in 2024 armed and ready for another championship tilt,” explains CDR owner, Craig Dack.

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Dean Ferris claimed his fourth ProMX championship with a polished performance at the final round where he finished second for the day but that was more than enough to secure the championship and makes it three in a row for Yamaha after Luke Clout and Aaron Tanti were winners in 2021 and 2022 respective.

Charli Cannon took her second WMX championship after a final round domination on her home track at Coolum. It was also the first time she had stood on the podium since turning 18 so she was finally allowed to spray some champaign in celebration of another number 1 plate.

Ferris and his YZ450F had been the inform combination all year and entering the final round at Coolum, he enjoyed a 15 point buffer over second place but given the hostilities that Coolum often throws up, this was a long way from over and two, thirty minute motos in the black sand is always easier said that done.

And his weekend didn’t start off great. He crashed heavily in the Saturday qualifying session that left his bike a little twisted and himself a little rattled. With some shoulder and neck soreness, he got some running repairs over night as did the bike and things were back on track for Sunday morning and he locked down fourth spot in Superpole.

The maths for Sunday was simply. Keep Jed Beaton in sight and the championship was his. Beaton had barely set a foot wrong all year and had proven to be ultra consistent and he also showed good pace in qualifying.

Both motos were also carbon copies of each other. Ferris was conservative on the opening laps, doing what ever he could do stay out of the usual chaos 40 hyped up motocross riders create. Once the field settled down, so did Ferris and each time he climbed his way from fourth into second and held it there to the end. It was a very mature performance from a rider who continues to grow on and off the track. He did exactly what he needed to do and executed with perfect.

“2023 has been a massive year of change for me and I’m so happy that I came back to racing and found my love of it again,” Ferris begins. “It was only a small crew of people, but everyone was dedicated and determined to do well and gave me what I needed to get the job done.

“This time last year I was burnt out and done but now I think I’m more invigorated than ever and the thrill of winning never gets old. It’s been five years since I won a championship and there were times when it seemed so far away, but I hung in there, kept fighting and made the changes I needed to and I’m so proud to have win it in 2023 against a high-quality field of riders and over such a challenging year as far as tracks and conditions go. A big thank you to Yamaha for stepping up and making this happen. I came to them late with this idea of what I wanted to do, and they were able to put a platform in place that worked for me and the YZ450F just feels so natural to me,” Ferris ends.

Charli Cannon was tied on points with her nearest rival as the women lined up for their final round at Coolum. While Cannon had been the dominate rider in the series, a fall in moto 2 at QMP that saw her unable to finish the race, tightened the points back up and it was all on the line, winner take all at the final round in the WMX division.

And we should never have doubted her. Cannon rounded the first turn inside the top four each team, passed into the lead within the opening laps and then continued to stretch out her lead all the way until the checkered flag. She won both races by approximately 30 seconds to stamp her authority in WMX and make it back-to-back championships.

“I was pretty nervous coming into the final round. I had to reset from last weekend at QMP and just trying and focus on riding well this weekend because there was no room for error in the points after that DNF. I also had to learn from last week and not make that same mistake again. I tried to rush a pass when I shouldn’t have, and I went down and damaged the bike so there was a lot going on in my head before the races started.”

“But thankfully when the gates dropped, I was just able to race. I was able to get to the lead quickly without taking any risks and the track was super tough, especially in that second race so I was so focused on my lines and what was happening on the track, I didn’t really think about the championship. But I was pretty relieved when I came onto the final straight knowing that I had it won. Thank you Yamaha and the entire Yamalube Yamaha Team. Its great the support they have given me, and I think it’s been a big part in why there are more girls being supported in motocross. Also, to ProMX for giving us a platform to race. There are now more than 20 riders at each round and hopefully that continues to grow, and the women enjoy the experience of racing at these events,” Cannon signs off.

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Season 2023 was to be Brayden’s second year in the MX2 Championship, the pinnacle series for 250cc Four Stroke machines. Although a late starter in racing compared to some, Brayden had come to Wonthaggi from Queensland with his family and his Roo Systems Diesel Tuning Race Team to take on Australia’s best. His first ProMX campaign in 2022 had seen illness prevent him from competing for the full season, but a vigorous and productive off-season on the push bike, in the pool and in the gym had seen him return to full fitness and he noted “head is down, bum is up, plenty of work to be done…!” in anticipation of a full ProMX season in 2023.

Away from racing, Brayden was a likeable, handsome, and creative young man. He enjoyed his fishing, camping, and playing the guitar. In his own words, he liked “to keep things fun but I’m also a determined person and like a challenge.” In line with his cheeky nature, he said his career highlight to date was “beating Dan Reardon in a 125 race” and listed his hero growing up as US champion motocross racer Ryan Villopoto. He also noted he was responsible for “making the #59 more famous than Dad ever did…”

While the ProMX Championship is the peak of Australian competition motocross, and the racing is close and often fiercely competitive, they are still a very close-knit community where friendships and camaraderie cross all bike brands, events and sponsors. MA say Brayden’s passing has affected everyone deeply.

“Today we share the grief and sadness of Brayden’s family and reflect on a good life that was well-lived but tragically cut short. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends, but also with our own wider motocross and motorcycling family, our officials, volunteers, staff, partners, sponsors and of course the fans of this brilliant but occasionally cruel sport.”

“Motorcycling Australia will continue to co-operate with the relevant authorities as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident continue. We have offered unconditional cooperation and assistance in these matters.”

Motorcycling Australia is assisting the Erbacher Family and Brayden’s team at this difficult time. The Erbacher Family wish to make to the following statement:

“The Erbacher Family would like to thank everyone at Racesafe including the paramedics, first responders and the riders and families that supported us. We are beyond proud to call Brayden our son and will be forever grateful for having him in our lives. He is our hero and will be greatly missed.”

“Never let weakness convince you that you lack strength” – Ryan Villopoto’s creed.

Brayden Erbacher, 2/10/2002 – 5/3/2023

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Budd and teammate, Jesse Dobson, both faced some challenges over the weekend as the Appin circuit again provided a confronting stage for the riders with its long and twisted ruts and huge jumps.

Budd was confident coming into the Appin round as he is familiar with the circuit having spent plenty of time here as a junior but with the hot weather expected, the track conditions were considerably different to what he would have experienced in the past with plenty of water pumped into the track to keep the dust under control.

It was those muddy conditions that caught Budd out in moto one when he was barrelled into turn one only to be severally roosted by flying dirt debris as the 40 rider field leaned back in the throttle. Budd’s vision was reduced to nothing and before lap was even completed, he was into the mechanics area for a goggle swap which left him towards the back and a lot of work to be done.

With some new goggles and clear vision began his climb back through the field and made his way from 32nd place back to 10th by race end in a commendable effort. Despite the first race charged, he wasn’t satisfied with the result and vowed to do better in race two.

He ripped a great start and parked his YZ250F in the lead on the opening laps. Slotted in behind him were the heavy weights of the field but Budd dug in and was up for the fight. Wilson Todd was able to sneak by, then Nathan Crawford, as Budd settled into third place. Crawford go the better of Todd, then Budd stayed in touch with Todd all the way until the finish but unable to slip past. His 10-3 results gave him fourth for the day and moved him up to sixth in the MX2 championship.

“We had to work hard for it today,” Budd begins. “The track was pretty wet and sloppy, and I didn’t get a great lap in qualifying in and not the best choice of gate. Then I was just smashed with mud in the first few turns and had to get some goggles as it was too dangerous to race with out them. I did what I could but the leaders were long gone. For race two, we just put a lot of focus on the start, and I was able to get the holeshot and lead for a couple of laps. Nathan and Wilson got past me and I had Alex Larwood right behind me so the pressure was on the whole race but I managed to stay in third and finish the day strongly.”

“Thanks to the Serco Yamaha team and our sponsors for the support and things are starting to come around. I’m looking forward to the next round and keep fighting my way back into this championship,” Budd said.

It was a tough day for Jesse Dobson who just couldn’t find any flow or consistency on the Appin circuit. His qualifying was a bit off and could only manage 6-11 results in the two motos to land in seventh for the day and sit fourth in the championship.

“Not a real lot to say unfortunately. I just had an off day and couldn’t get comfortable on the track. I had speed at times but it wasn’t fast enough for long enough to get the result myself and the team deserve. I want to watch the video of the race to see what the other riders were doing and why I was struggling so much. You can still learn a lot from a tough day like this and I want to ensure I bounce back at the next round and give the Serco Yamaha team a result they can be proud of,” Dobson offers.

The post Rhys Budd Rebounds For A Good Finish At Appin ProMX appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Marmont, who lives in Wollongong and not far from the Appin circuit, raced for the CDR Yamaha team for five seasons, from 2008 to 2011 and then again in 2014. In that time, he amassed an incredible four MX National championship and one Australian Supercross Championship with the team and on the YZ450F. In that four-year reign of MX National championships from 2008 to 2011, Marmont was nearly unstoppable as he raced with passion and determination that defines a very special athlete.

“It will be great to have Jay as a guest of the team for the Appin round,” offers team owner, Craig Dack. “Over the five years of working together not only Jay and the team bonded closely but also his family and I’m sure we all have many happy memories of our time and success together. Jay developed not only into a sensational rider, but also a champion of our sport. While we have kept in contact over the years, it will be our honour to have him and his family as the special guests of CDR and celebrate our 30th anniversary with him,”

For Marmont, the years with CDR Yamaha were the most memorable of his career and established a resume that will take some beating in the future. He joined the sports legends of Stephen Gall and Craig Dack as the only four-time MX National champions after clinching the championship in 2011.

“It was exciting to get the call from Craig and be invited out to the Appin round of the ProMX as a guest of CDR. The team has a long and proud history and I’m grateful that I was able to play my part in making the team as successful as it has been,” said Marmont.

“I raced for plenty of teams, both here and in the US, and CDR Yamaha was the best in terms of people, professionalism and dedication. That four-year run of winning the MX Nationals is something I cherish and look back on fondly and its cool that it’s still recognised today. I’m looking forward to spending the day back with the motocross community and seeing a heap of fans support the riders. I’m friends with both Luke Clout and Aaron Tanti, so I will also be cheering them on and hoping to see both up front and carrying on the CDR Yamaha success.”

Action starts at 8am on Sunday March 19. Jay will be at the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team truck throughout the day signing posters and will have his 2014 YZ450F on display.   

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Haruki Yokoyama (MX2 rider and all-Japan motocross champion) and Cambell Williams (MX3 contender), the team owner and mechanics will share their experiences and insights into the world of racing. Hear firsthand stories about their plan to take it to the top in 2023, the challenges they will face, and the triumphs they have already achieved.

Learn about the upcoming racing at Appin, NSW, the preparation behind the KX250 bikes, and the strategies that go into winning a race. Head down to Kawasaki Australia HQ!

Key Info

• Location: Kawasaki Head Office, Unit Q, 10-16 South Street, Rydalmere, NSW, 2116
• Date: Friday, 17th March 2023
• Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

The post Meet The Empire Kawasaki ProMX Team In Sydney! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Rhys Budd, second in the 2022 MX2 championship, will join Jesse Dobson on the Serco Yamaha team and make for a strong combination as the opening round of the 2023 championship draws closer. While Budd has moved to a new team, he still remains on Yamaha and the YZ250F, so the transition has been an easy one for him.

Budd has landed on the MX2 championship podium for the past two seasons and has been on the YZ250F for three years and feels he is primed and ready to make the next step in his riding and go after that elusive number 1 plate in the MX2 division.

“Each year I have improved my result in the championship and also improved my speed and fitness, so the next goal is to take it to the top step and get that number 1 plate for both myself and Serco Yamaha. The transition to the Serco Yamaha team has been smooth and working with Paul Teasedale has been good. He has been super supportive and encouraging and already we have a great relationship. The bike feels super strong, we have done plenty of testing to ensure its right for me and now is the time to get after it on the track and notch up some race and round wins.”

“Its less than 10 days to round one at Wonthaggi and we are ready to go. The track there is always tough but I think I have improved my riding in sand and have set my goals high to get the season started on the right foot,” Budd said.

Back for his third year on the team is Jesse Dobson. Coming to the team in 2020 to fill in for an injured rider, Dobson cashed in on that opportunity and remains with the Serco Yamaha team three seasons on. Finishing second in the 2021 championship, his 2022 campaigned was dogged with injury and ended in him getting shoulder surgery in the weeks after the final round at Coolum last season. Dobson has been back on the bike for a couple of months now and working his way back to his best form with no pain in his troublesome shoulder.

“My shoulder was pretty beat up at the end of last years’ ProMX championship and I realistically didn’t have any other option but to have surgery on it and get it sorted. A shoulder construction takes in a four-month recovery process and as I had time, I was extra cautious with it to make sure I am 100% when the season starts. My riding and fitness is coming along and I feel improvements each week. I would like to have got in a couple of local races prior to round one just to get behind the gate and get used to race intensity but I just needed to keep preparing and think my experience will take over once I’m on the start line at Wonthaggi.”

“I like the Wonthaggi track as it has a lot of similarities to my home track at Coolum with the dirt and the surface, so my plan is to get off to a good, solid start, log a good result and continue to build into the championship as the rounds progress,” Dobson ends.

With over 20 years in the game, team manager Gavin Eales, is excited to go racing in 2023 and looks forward to a great season from his troops.

“We have new mechanic on board this year with Matt coming in to replace Ben who took up an offer to world for a team on the MXGP tour. It is a great opportunity for Ben, and we wish him well. Matt has blended in well and his knowledge has already shown benefit within the team.”

“Rhys has come through the Yamaha program and already had a good friendship with Jesse and the team. Both riders have a huge work ethic and are determined to make 2023 their best season yet and with a strong preseason behind us, we head to round one in good shape and ready to go racing.”

The post Serco Yamaha Set For Sensational 2023 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

The partnership secures the ongoing development of motocross in Australia, with Penrite being a world-renowned and proudly Australian owned oil manufacturer with a direct connection to the sport through their products and sponsorship activations.  

The 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship will take place across eight venues nationwide and feature handlebar-to-handlebar action in the MX1, MX2, MX3 classes as well as other classes at select events such as MXW (Womens), VETS (Veterans), MX85 WJMX Qualifier Cup and YZ65 Cup. 

Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle; “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Penrite as the Naming Rights title partner for ProMX Championship in 2023. We are excited to continue to work alongside ProMX to help elevate and showcase the best motocross talent Australia has to offer.” 

 Jarrod Harding, Brand Manager, Penrite Oil; “We are proud to continue our partnership with ProMX. We believe that this partnership demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Australian motocross community and supporting the growth of the sport. Penrite has a long and proud history supporting Australian motocross, and this ongoing partnership is a further significant investment into the sport for our 100% Australian-owned company.”

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Tanti and his team entered the final round well placed with a comfortable 24 point lead over former champ, Dean Ferris, but with the inclusion of Kyle Webster and Wilson Todd, the margin for error decreased as the depth of the MX1 field deepened considerably.

The worst case scenario was if Ferris won both motos, Tanti needed to place seventh in each to guarantee the championship was his. But with Wilson Todd winning race one and Kyle Webster race two, all Tanti needed to do was keep Ferris in sight and stay out of harms way and the number 1 plate would be bolted up again to the CDR Yamaha machine at days’ end.

In race one, Ferris could only manage a third, while Tanti crossed the finish line in seventh, meaning the points gap was still at a comfortable 18 points. Race two required nothing more than a finish inside the top 12 to become the ProMX Championship for 2022.

And that’s exactly what he did! He found some clear track around fifth place and maintained a consistent, yet conservative pace right until the end where he came across the finish line, with fist in the air, in sixth place and as the new MX1 champion. Ferris had his own issues and only managed a fifth, so the final margin of victory was 17 points.

“Today certainly wasn’t my best riding and I have been pretty nervous all week to be honest,” said a relieved Tanti. “I have never been in this situation before and this is my first pro title so I was just doing my best to get the job done and make sure I didn’t make any stupid mistakes.

“It’s not the way you always like to win a championship, but the hard work was done in the earlier rounds and I was able to build a good points gap on Dean and that allowed some margin today that meant it wasn’t all on the line and I could afford to be a little conservative on the track.

“Thanks to the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team for their support and endless guidance and encouragement of me this year. I came to the team as I thought they would give me the best chance of success and to be able to secure the ProMX championship with them this year is amazing. Allister, Brad, Gary, Troy and Craig do an amazing job and once you are part of CDR, its easy to see why they have won so many championships over the years.

“I also want to thank my family and girlfriend for their support. They go through the ups and downs of a racer every day and they have sacrificed things in their lives for me to have success and it was awesome to have them all here today.

“And finally to MA and the organisers of the ProMX championship. This year has been a huge step forward for the championship and we have had eight great rounds. MA have done a good job since taking over the promotion of the national motocross championship and looking forward to it being bigger and better in 2023. But for now, it’s time to enjoy this one and soak it up with the team, family and friends,” Tanti concluded.  

Tanti’s success in 2022, makes it back-to-back ProMX championships for the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team after Luke Clout’s victory in 2021. Team owner, Craig Dack, has lauded the Tanti victory as a special one for CDR.

“Aaron has done a sensational job this year and had to carry the full load as Luke went out with injury at round two,” Dack begins. “Aaron stepped up and took ownership of his role in the team and from round three onwards showed a real maturity in his dedication to racing and commitment to the championship. The team rallied around him, and we went from strength to strength through the middle part of the championship and it was so rewarding to see Aaron’s development both on and off the track. He thoroughly deserved to be the 2022 ProMX Championship.”

“I also want to take this time to thank all our team partners at CDR, most of whom have been with us for a very long time. I have decades invested with companies like Yamaha, Fox and Dunlop who have stood by us since the team started to our newer partners in Monster and Renthal. There are some many people and products that contribute to winning a championship and CDR thanks everyone of them and hope they feel proud of the part they play in our success,” Dack signs off. 

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