News 14 Dec 2020

Penrite and Honda team part ways following longstanding partnership

Image: Foremost Media.

Penrite Oil and the Konsky Motorsport-operated Honda team have parted ways prior to 2021, the pair formally announcing their separation moving forward following a longstanding partnership.

Initially supporting the team in 2013 before becoming the naming-rights partner from 2014, Penrite is synonymous with the factory Honda organisation in Australia, which has proved a winning combination over seven years together.

While the Honda team under the ownership of Yarrive Konsky is expected to announce its domestic plans on Christmas eve, Penrite continues to be heavily-linked to a title sponsorship bid in the new-look ProMX Australian Motocross Championship. It will also focus on grass roots and localised aspects of the sport, according to today’s announcement, and remains in negotiations to continue as Honda’s Australian Superbike Championship team partner.

“We believe that reinvesting at the grass roots levels of motorcycle racing and making this exciting form of motorsport accessible to all is the most responsible way to provide our support given the current economic climate,” stated Jarrod Harding, Penrite Oil Australia director of motorsport.

“We are very proud of the success that we have enjoyed with our Honda MX and SX footprint over the years and we thank the team and their highly talented riders for their outstanding efforts. We could not have asked for a more demanding showcase for our premium quality lubricants. We wish the team continued success well into the future.”

Konsky Motorsport has been widely-recognised for its ability to attract and sustain immense outside industry support, the team previously being backed by Woodstock Bourbon (2008-2009), Cougar Bourbon (2010) and Carlton Dry (2011-2013) prior to Penrite Oil’s arrival in 2014. There have also been a mixture of individual bike partnerships leveraged at select events throughout that period.

“We have experienced great success during our relationship,” Konsky said. “Penrite has achieved double-digit growth most years and we aided in the development of their products through our team’s testing and winning results. It’s an exciting time for motorcycle racing, the industry is up, there is a new promotor for the motocross championship and we are maintaining our racing program in Australia.

“It’s disappointing to see Penrite take a different direction, but I understand their position and appreciate their years of support. We won seven championships together, which is a credit to everyone involved and I want to thank everyone at Penrite for their support.”

The partnership between Konsky Motorsport and Penrite also included a US effort this year, featuring as title sponsor of the American-based Penrite Honda Racing team that saw Mitchell Oldenburg and the outgoing Luke Clout claim top 10 positions in the Monster Energy Supercross 250SX West standings.

That program will further expand to be led by defending four-time Australian champion Justin Brayton in 450SX beginning in January at Houston’s opener, in addition to two 250SX entries, with a new naming-rights partner to be named in the coming weeks upon the team’s official rider announcement.

News 13 Dec 2020

American opportunity over as Clout reveals Penrite Honda split

Image: Octopi Media.

Penrite Honda and Luke Clout have split in the lead-up to 2021 Monster Energy Supercross, the Australian revealing his American opportunity is over as he appears certain for a return to Yamaha at home.

After finishing runner-up with CDR Yamaha Monster Energy in last year’s Australian Supercross Championship, Clout shifted to the rival Honda organisation for 2020.

The 26-year-old was due to remain in Australia full-time this season in addition to entering the first six rounds of 250SX West as the Yarrive Konsky-owned Penrite Honda team launched its US program. It was later determined that Clout would finish the series, earning ninth in the standings

A two-year agreement should have seen Clout continue in America for 2021, however, the pair have since opted to part ways and all signs indicate that he will instead return to CDR Yamaha Monster Energy in Australia alongside Hayden Mellross.

“I want to thank Yarrive and Honda for helping me live my dream and everyone who was associated with the entire team to getting us to race the whole series in another country,” Clout confirmed. “I really enjoyed myself racing the best of the best, it wasn’t easy! Unfortunately we won’t be back together next year – I want to wish everyone involved the best in the future.”

It’s unclear at this point why Clout and the Honda won’t be together next year as intended, unable to comment when contacted by MotoOnline recently. It’s expected that both Penrite Honda – which will bring in a new title sponsor from 2021 with Penrite exiting – and CDR Yamaha Monster Energy will confirm their rider line-ups this coming week.

The only confirmed rider for the expanding team of Konsky in America is the experienced Justin Brayton, leading the Honda-supported squad’s transition into 450SX with the latest CRF450R. Mitchell Oldenburg is in line to remain, while Mitchell Harrison has also been heavily linked to a seat after being seen testing in recent weeks.

Despite displaying his capabilities overseas and gaining increasing fan support from Australian onlookers, Clout has so far been unable to crack ongoing success in the US, this year being his second attempt and again unfortunately ending in a premature return home.

While Clout is tipped to be rejoining the Craig Dack-led factory Yamaha team alongside Hayden Mellross, it had already been widely understood that Kirk Gibbs would be departing and it now makes sense that he will switch to Honda outdoors in Australia for the coming year.

Gibbs, the reigning New Zealand champion, rides on a motocross-only contract and could easily make way for Brayton to return and challenge for a fifth-straight Australian SX1 crown later in the year. Both Brett Metcalfe and Kyle Webster are believed to be retaining their seats at Honda locally.

News 10 Dec 2020

Yamalube Yamaha Racing retains Wilson and Rogers for 2021

Image: iKapture.

Yamalube Yamaha Racing has re-signed both Jay Wilson and Levi Rogers for the 2021 ProMX and Australian Supercross championships, retaining an unchanged roster for next season.

Multiple Australian champion Wilson will be joined by Rogers in the MX2 category for the new season, each representing the factory Yamaha team operated internally by Scott Bishop.

“My goals heading into 2020 were to have a dominant year on the 250 and move to the 450 class for 2021, but with the year the racing world has had, I have just pushed everything back a season,” Wilson explained “My motivation is as strong as it’s ever been and I think I have yet to hit my peak as a rider in terms of both speed and fitness.

“I have found a real interest in off-bike training, which I didn’t always have, and with Levi and Kota [Toriyabe] around last year, they were a good motivational tool for me as both of them are so enthusiastic about riding and racing, that it naturally rubs of on me. I feel fresh and ready to go and as always we have a great team that’s willing to do what it takes to get success. The goal is to win and that’s what we are out to do.”

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Rogers will move directly into the professional ranks after initially planning to enter MXD this year, that opportunity halted by the pandemic. Now, he’s set his sights on a successful rookie campaign after gaining experience at a state level this year.

“Although we didn’t do any national racing in 2020, I was able to get some state-based racing in where I was able to line-up against a lot of the national MX2 riders at several events and experience how things roll,” said Rogers. “I battled with them at a few of the tracks that were on the national calendar over the last few years so it was a confidence boost that I wasn’t too far from them and I could learn from first hand racing experience.

“I took on what I needed to improve on, found areas that I was strong in and think that experience has assisted my in preparation for 2021. I’m willing to do the work and looking forward to taking as many things in from Jay and establishing myself as a solid MX2 competitor.”

Yamalube, GYTR, Yamaha Motor Insurance, Yamaha Motor Finance, bLU cRU will be at the forefront of the program, combined with the use of brands like Scott, Just1, Dunlop, DID, NGK and JT Sprockets from Ficeda Accessories.

News 27 Nov 2020

AMX MXOpen event set for Wonthaggi in mid-December

Image: Foremost Media.

Motocross competition will return to Victoria at Wonthaggi on 13 December when the gates drop on the 2020 AMX MXOpen event, headlined by $15,000 in prize money.

Racing will return this side of Christmas at the Dandenong Motocross Club, confirming that Penrite Honda, CDR Yamaha Monster Energy and SB Motorsports will all be on-track.

“We are starving for racing,” commented event organiser Yarrive Konsky. “It’s been eight months without competition in Victoria and riders, sponsors, teams and clubs are hungry for it. I wanted to see racing happening this side of Christmas and I appreciate the Dandenong Motocross Club’s enthusiasm towards making this possible.”

Motorcycling Victoria CEO Robert Mestrom added: “We are getting behind this event. Yarrive, the DMCC and Motorcycling Victoria share the same passion for competition. We know that some of our members want to get back to racing and we have offered our full support to Yarrive and the DMCC.”

Entries are available online now at www.ridernet.com.au, with the categories to include Pro Open (A and B-grade), Pro Lites (A and B-grade), Senior Women, Veterans (30+, 35+, 40+, 45+), C-grade 450, C-grade 250, 2-Stroke (Pre-90s, Pre-2000s, Open) and a variety of regular junior classes.

The AMX MXOpen is proudly sponsored by AMX, Wonthaggi Toyota, Honda, Pod, Serco, Yoshimura, FMF, Fly Racing, Answer, FCAM Bricklaying, Ausbuilt, Rhino, Fist, McLeods, Michelin, Matrix Concepts, Thor, Delcon Civil, M9, Alpinestars, M2R Helmets, Krooztune, 100%, Bridgestone, SKDA and Leongatha Honda.

News 25 Nov 2020

Raceline Performance places team on hold following KTM split

Image: Foremost Media.

Raceline Performance has announced that it has placed its professional motocross and supercross team on hold for 2021 after implementing a new direction for the organisation and mutually agreeing to part ways with KTM Australia.

A staple in the sport at a national level, Raceline has operated KTM’s outsourced factory team since last year – also operating the official MXD program before that – and has had a rich history under the ownership of John Tisdale.

After signing three-time national MX1 champion Dean Ferris for this season and the Australian Motocross Championship being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the serious back injury of Ferris and split from KTM will see Raceline Performance instead focus upon its workshop business in addition to state-level and club initiatives. The Queensland-based company will also still provide race bike lease and rider support programs nationally.

“Firstly, I would like to thank KTM Australia for their support and valued partnership with Raceline Performance over the last five seasons,” commented Kevin Williams, head of Raceline Performance business development. “It has been a pleasure to work with them and we wish KTM all the best in their future endeavours. In regards to Raceline Performance not fielding a professional racing team in 2021, there are many factors that have influenced this decision.

“Raceline Performance was founded by John Tisdale in the early 2000s as a junior support program with the goal of providing young riders with both equipment and infrastructure to help take their riding to the professional level. Evolving into a MXD support program and eventually a factory team over the past 12 years has been an incredible journey and we have helped many young riders and their families achieve their racing dreams.

“The Raceline Performance racing organisation has fielded international stars and national champions en route to professional motocross and supercross victories in all classes of professional competition. In order to facilitate this elite level of racing, the Raceline Performance workshop has been expanded and refined to a business structure where we have our workshop based in Burleigh Heads, QLD, along with an import and distribution program for performance products with brands such as Pro Circuit.

“The signing of Dean Ferris for the 2020 season after a successful appearance for the team in 2019 winning at the Murray Bridge round of the MX Nationals has been a huge success for our program as a whole. This is a relationship that will continue into the future with Dean as an ambassador for the Raceline Performance program, mentoring our junior riders via his Motocross Masterclass coaching, developing our products and representing the brand to the highest of levels.

“Dean being sidelined for 12 months with his back injury has played a role in Raceline not competing in the 2021 season and we are happy to reevaluate our position on professional competition as a team when Dean is willing and able to return to racing. In the current global climate during the COVID-19 pandemic and the instability around national competition, we feel it is best for us to focus on our growing performance workshop and distribution programs.

“Raceline Performance will also be returning to our roots with helping to develop the next generation of junior talent via our local level racing support and club activations. We will still be involved with racing at a national level via our race bike lease and rider support programs and we look forward to providing more details in the coming weeks on our 2021 initiatives, including local and state level club and event partnerships.”

KTM Group Australia is yet to confirm its plans for 2021, however, it has most recently been broadly speculated to be considering an in-house program for the first time since 2018 when the KTM Motocross Racing Team was closed in favour of partnering with Raceline. Factory KTM and Husqvarna enduro teams have been operated internally throughout that period with significant ongoing success.