Monster Energy to sponsor 2012 MX Nationals
Williams Event Management managing director, Kevin Williams, welcomed Monster Energy at today's official series launch in Melbourne, where defending Pro Open champ Jay Marmont and Carlton Dry Honda's Brad Anderson were also in attendance.
"Going into our 16th year of involvement in the championship, the rider line-up that we have is the best that we have seen in our time and probably also in the series' history," Williams commented.
"We are very excited to welcome Monster Energy onboard and are very encouraged by the growth in participation for 2012."
Monster Energy Australasian manager, Adrian Hunter, outlined the importance of the American energy drink giant in Australian motocross, further cementing its status as an international brand, as well as a true supporter of the sport on a global basis.
"For Monster Energy, motocross is where we really established ourselves as a brand," Hunter explained. "The Monster Energy heritage has really come from moto, so for us it is really important to work with Kevin and take the sport to the next level in Australia.
"WEM is very open to our ideas and how we want to establish the brand within the MX Nationals, plus we also bring a lot to the party in resources and support. Monster Energy is very passionate about motocross and I will guarantee you, 100 percent, that you will see the series reach another level when we are involved.
Defending MX1 (Pro Open) champion Jay Marmont has joined Monster Energy Kawasaki for this season after winning four titles on the trot with Yamaha from 2008-2011, and he's now more determined than ever to make it number five as part of an all-new team against a truly international line-up.
"I've been able to get a feel for the surroundings around me during the pre-season and have had a good amount of seat time on the Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450F," 28-year-old Wollongong resident Marmont said. "Every championship is tough in its own right and I've had to work for every one of them since 2008.
"It's all been a building platform for this and I feel like this year will be the hardest yet. The depth of the field is easy to see and we all respect one another as rivals, but at the end of the day I'm prepared and I look forward to the new challenges with these internationals coming to try and win our Australian championship - bring it on."
A newcomer to Australian shores for the 2012 season is defending dual British champion Brad Anderson, who has signed for Honda alongside NZ's ben Townley in an all-star international line-up. Last time Anderson appeared in Australia during a one-off event, he won three motos from three starts at Raymond Terrace in 2010.
"It's a really big move for me, to move to Australia from the UK, but I'm obviously really excited about it," Anderson added at today's press conference. "It's a new goal for me because I've won the British championship twice now, so I wanted to set my sights on another title internationally.
"I've been doing loads of testing with Carlton Dry Honda and I feel really comfortable already - I just can't wait to race. The series in Australia is a really good one and it's an impressive championship, just unbelievable. I think we're definitely going to give Jay a run for his money, hopefully be consistent and be on the podium every time out."
2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals Calendar:
Rd1 - 1 April - Conondale, QLD
Rd2 - 14-15 April - Coonabarabran, NSW
Rd3 - 28-29 April - Wonthaggi, VIC
Rd4 - 12-13 May - Wanneroo, WA
Rd5 - 20 May - Murray Bridge, SA
Rd6 - 1 July - Hervey Bay, QLD
Rd7 - 15 July - Barrabool, VIC
Rd8 - 29 July - Appin, NSW
Rd9 - 19 August - Moree, NSW
Rd10 - 25-26 August - Coolum, QLD
Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for further information on the Monster Energy MX Nationals series.
