There is no doubt that the future of Australian Motocross is bright. I mean look on the world stage right now. A few weeks ago Team Australia placed 3rd in the MXON at Red Bud, a feat that hadn't been done since 2011. That team was filled with some Australian Greats. Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe, and Matt Moss. And this year with Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence, and Mitch Evans the team scored its lowest score for Team Australia in the history of MXON. Where am I going with this you may ask? As I said earlier the future is bright for Australian Motocross, with the current talent pool coming through, training programs run by former champions, and the inclusion of the MX3 class at Pro MX the sport is developing the next generation of stars that will no doubt soon be household names. None brighter though than the 2022 Pro MX MX3 Champion Kayden Minear who only a few weeks ago wrapped up his Junior career by adding 2 more Australian Junior Titles to his name. I called up Kayden to reflect on the year and what his plans may be for 2023.
Trent - Kayden congratulations on your AJMX championships. I know you had a rough qualifying crash early in the week. How did you manage to turn it around for the rest of the week and come away a 2x Champ?
Kayden - It was definitely a struggle, especially trying to sit down because in that crash I burnt my a## to shreds. Other than that I did struggle to find a flow because I also cracked a valve on my 2022 250 so that forced me to switch to the 2023 which I hadn't done any testing on it or anything.
Trent - So it wasn't planned for you to ride the new 2023 bike for AJMX?
Kayden - No I had intended to ride my race bike I raced the entire MX3 season on but that valve cracking forced me to change.
Trent - So did your suspension bolt straight in or was the bike just stock?
Kayden - Well the week before AJMX my suspension guy came up and brought my new suspension for the new bikes. But that was just a base setting we hadn't even tested yet. Over the week we worked on it and got it pretty dialed in, especially once the track got rough.
Trent - I mean not only did you have to deal with the burnt a## but riding an unfamiliar bike and still winning that's impressive.
Kayden - That's not the worst of it, I actually rode a borrowed Gas Gas 125 from my mate that had like 36 hours on it because there were no KTM 125's anywhere KTM couldn't even get one. So we actually turned the Gas Gas into a KTM. All we had to do was swap the tank and the rest of the KTM plastics fitted on and that did me for the week.
Trent - WOW, I had no idea.
Kayden - Yeah Bog stock suspension and engine. I don't think we even checked the fork pressure just got out there and rode.
Trent - That's impressive then, to deal with everything that was thrown at you over the week. It's a testament to your parents to have you so prepared to compete and deal with the obstacles.
Kayden - Definitely, Dad puts in so many hours in the shed getting the bikes ready and he keeps me focused on what to do. And Mum is so passionate about this sport, I mean she made the ultimate sacrifice for me this year by moving with me to Victoria to train with Ross (Beaton). I honestly can not thank either of them enough.
Trent - I have spoken about this a lot, you are the 2022 MX3 Champ and now 2/ and 4/ 15yrs Australian junior champ explain the difference in the feelings of winning those titles?
Kayden - It was definitely a bit different. I had to step it up to run with the big boys in the MX3 Class. But I definitely got caught off guard by some of the junior riders had and especially Byron Dennis had at the event and some of the 125 guys were fast as well. The week definitely taught me a lot about not slacking off too much for that event. The feeling was different between the 2, especially knowing that this was my last AJMX.
Trent - I saw you do the burnout on the back of the truck on the Saturday after winning the 2 AJMX titles. Was that also a bit of a celebration too for your MX3 Championship, because you didn't really get to celebrate that one as you had to be on a plane to Finland to represent Australia in the World Junior Titles?
Kayden - Yeah, definitely I reckon. Plus it is quite serious at the Pro MX with all the big managers there. But I was focused on the next goal which was Junior Worlds so yeah it definitely was a bit of a celebration for that too.
Trent - What Championship means more to you the MX3 or the Junior Titles or do they both have different meanings?
Kayden - The MX3 definitely was my top accomplishment this year because I saw that as a stepping stone to getting me onto a good team for my MX2 career next year. Not only that but it meant a lot to me to reward the sacrifices my family had to make throughout the year to make it happen.
Trent - I know we are early into the silly season. And you mentioned before about moving up into the MX2 Class what are the plans for 2023?
Kayden - We have definitely had talks with the KTM group and hoping to stay there but regardless of if I get a ride or run as a privateer I'm 100% moving into the MX2 class.
Trent - Was there ever a discussion on staying in the MX3 Class as you are only 15 and defending/ running the #1 plate?
Kayden - Not really, we have had a plan for the future and it's always about finding the next challenge and improving me as a racer, and moving to the MX2 class is just that. I felt like staying in MX3 wouldn't progress me as much as moving up and racing against the best 250 riders in the country, as well as the longer motos that MX2 does.
Trent - With the move to the MX2 class, where do you see yourself fitting in?
Kayden - My expectations are definitely top 10 I feel comfortable with that. I want to be in the top 5 I know I got that speed as I train with a lot of the guys who ran at the front of that class this year. But I am just going to prepare as much as I can and do my best on the weekends and see where that ends me up.
Trent - Well thanks for the time Kayden and again congratulations on an awesome year by adding 3x Australian Championships to your name.
Kayden - Thank you.
Comments