CDR Yamaha Monster Energy has officially confirmed Hayden Mellross will join the returning Kirk Gibbs for the 2020 MX Nationals championship.

Mellross, who missed supercross with a knee injury sustained during the nationals, has signed a two-year deal to ride motocross and the Australian Supercross Championship.

After claiming third overall in his first MX1 season with Raceline KTM this year, the 25-year-old replaces Penrite Honda-bound Luke Clout for 2020 and 2021.

“Every kid that grows up racing dirt bikes in Australia has a dream to ride for the CDR Yamaha team, so it’s exciting to me to be part of this team now,” Mellross said. “They have won an incredible amount of championships in their history and are undoubtedly the benchmark for professional racing in Australia.

“It’s with pride I can say that I’m a CDR Yamaha team rider. I am also excited to be back on Yamaha, as it’s a brand I spent plenty of time on in the US and one that I have had plenty of success on in the past. I have heard nothing but awesome things about the 2020 YZ450F, so I’m looking forward to getting some seat time on the bike.

“The first MX Nationals round is in March, but I have a program mapped out over the off-season to get myself back in shape, riding well and ready to go for when the nationals come around. Together with the team at CDR, I’m sure that we will have everything ready to go and chase every championship in 2020 with all we have.”

Gibbs has re-signed with CDR Yamaha Monster Energy for 2020 in a motocross-only arrangement, also due to contest the New Zealand championship once again. He was runner-up in NZ this year and fourth in the Australian outdoor series.

“For 2019 we put together a deal that allowed me to race both in New Zealand and Australia and I think it’s a great way to go for me,” Gibbs explained. “New Zealand provides the perfect preparation for the MX Nationals and with the CDR and JCR teams working so closely, it’s a seamless transition between each country.

“We know have a great base to build from after the 2019 season and heath wise I’m in the best condition I have been in some time. New Zealand gets underway in late January, so I have already ramped up my training for that and then its straight into the MX Nationals in March, so it’s a busy start of the year for me but one that I enjoy.

“I’m excited to be back with the CDR Yamaha team again in 2020 and look forward to working with Craig [Dack] and the team again and hopefully this time, we can have a good crack at the championship next year.”

This year, once the nationals were completed, CDR Yamaha Monter Energy called in supercross specialist Dan Reardon to contest supercross, as well as featuring American guest Josh Hill for three of the five rounds.