FIM World Junior Motocross Championships 2016 – Team Australia
Motorcycling Australia (MA) has announced the young riders who will represent Australia in the 2016 FIM World Junior Motocross Championships (WJMX), to be held in Orlyonok, Russia on 14 August, 2016.
Six talented Motocross riders will compete across two classes (125cc and 85cc), under the guidance of Team Manager Glenn Macdonald, who is now in his fourth year in the position.
2016 FIM World Junior Motocross Championships – Team Australia
- Glenn Macdonald – Team Manager
- Caleb Grothues – 125cc
- Cody Dyce – 125cc
- Reserve rider attending: Riley Dukes 125cc
- Jett Lawrence – 85cc
- Cody Chittick – 85cc
- Reserve rider attending: Dante Hyam 85cc
Speaking about the announcement of the WJMX squad, Macdonald said he was looking forward to mentoring a talented contingent of young Australian riders as they test themselves against the world’s best.
“The squad that has been picked to represent Australia in the WJMX this year is certainly an extremely talented one, and has the capability to have plenty of success,” Macdonald said.
“A lot of the riders in this year’s squad have been around for more than a couple of terms; Caleb Grothues is a former 65cc World Champion (2011 Bulgeria), and was 2nd in the 85cc World Championship in 2014 at Belgium. Caleb was selected as a team member for our 2015 campaign, but an injury while racing in Italy ruled out the gutsy Western Australian.
“Riley Dukes is another seasoned rider at World Championship level, with a 2nd in the 65 class in 2011 (behind Caleb), and was also part of the 2015 Australian team, but sustained an injury in the lead up to the event while testing in Belgium at the Genk circuit.
“I am also very pleased to have Jett Lawrence as part of the Australian team for 2016. Jett won the 65cc world championship in 2014 in Belgium, and is the youngest ever, and the last person in history, to win a 65cc world championship at 10 years of age. He is the current 85cc Australian Champion, so to have Jett on the 85cc, and with him currently living in the Netherlands with his family it is a good lead up for the youngster.
“Cody Dyce from Victoria is another rider who has a swag of results. Cody won the Australian 125 motocross championship and 3rd on the 250 4-stroke in 2014 at the Appin circuit, unfortunately Cody was injured at the start of the 2015 Australian Junior Motocross Championship at Bunbury and was unable to compete but the mutable state champion and current Victorian 250cc champion finished 2nd to Grothues in the rising star rookies at the Appin round of the MX Nationals with Riley Dukes in 4th.
“Joining Jett Lawrence is Cody Chittick from Western Australia, Cody won the Australian 65cc Championship in 2015 and finished 2nd to Jett in the 85cc class. This shows good consistency including his international events such as Loretta Lyn’s will help Cody step in to this year’s World Championship knowing how to adapt quickly to new circuits from his previous overseas events.
“Joining these two current Australian champions is Dante Hyam from NSW. Dante is one of the older riders this year in the Australian team and will be ready come August in Russia. Consistency will be the key for Dante and focus while he is up against a stacked world field.
“If there was one thing a rider needs to bring with them at World Championship level, it is good starts, so I’m certainly expecting some good starts for our team this year and to run up the front.” Mac Donald concluded.
“As Team Manager, I’m very much looking forward to working with all these guys and their families, as well as the guys representing Australia for the first time, and creating an environment which will allow them to flourish on the world stage.
MacDonald said preparations for the event were coming along well, and added that the squad would be given the best chance to perform at their best with a strong support team around them.
“We are again seeking support from German-based team KOSAK KTM, who have helped us out the last three years. This is a very valuable part of our team,” MacDonald said.
“We’ll probably look to land in Moscow on Tuesday August 9, 2016 and do what we have been doing previously, basing ourselves at a motocross track not far from the actual circuit that we will be competing on.
“That way, the guys will be able to secure some valuable track time and get their body clocks in sync before they have to go out and compete.” MacDonald finished.
