The 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, will fire into life at Broadford’s State Motorcycle Sports Complex in Victoria on Sunday, 13 March.

This year’s MX Nationals title fight will be contested over nine rounds spanning four states from March through July, visiting Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland throughout the series’ duration.

An all-star cast is set to descend on the internationally acclaimed Broadford circuit next month for the season opener, lead by defending triple Pro Open Champion Jay Marmont and his CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha team.

This year could be the toughest yet for 27-year-old Wollongong resident Marmont, partnered by former world championship contender Josh Coppins, the New Zealander returning to domestic racing fulltime and already casting an eye on his teammate’s crown.

The Monster Energy Kawasaki team has signed current national number two Billy Mackenzie – the Scotsman himself an ex-GP race winner – and he’ll be joined by talented young gun Dean Ferris, who scored third in the series as a privateer last year.

Rockstar Motul Suzuki will return with Kiwi Cody Cooper aboard the factory RM-Z450, while Lawson Bopping will step up to the main game with the satellite Pirelli Raceline Suzuki squad.

Queensland’s former national champion Dan Reardon will return to Australia fulltime after a number of years on the U.S. circuit, signing for the JDR Motorsports KTM as teammate to Open rookie Ryan Marmont on the 350 SX-F machines.

The satellite Coastal KTM team has appointed Queensland racer/freestyle star Robbie Marshall for the Open class, another KTM that could contend on any given weekend.

A new-look Carlton Dry Honda Racing team will be lead by Victorian Cheyne Boyd, who has switched manufacturers in the off-season to partner Queensland up and comer Todd Waters.

Another title challenger could be Honda privateer Craig Anderson, a former multi-time national champion who has once again formed his own team with support from Berry Sweet Strawberries and Lucas Oil for 2011.

The Pro Lites class will also enjoy a star-studded field as 2009 champion Matt Moss takes over the JDR Motorsports KTM vacated by last year’s champion, American PJ Larsen, in his homecoming after a season in the States.

Moss will do battle with teammates Brenden Harrison and Josh Cachia, who is the reigning Under 19s champion, plus Serco Yamaha’s Kirk Gibbs, Rockstar Motul Suzuki’s Daniel McCoy, Monster Kawasaki’s American import Phil Nicoletti, Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda’s Cody Mackie and more.

Moss’ twin brother Jake – the 2007 Pro Lites title winner – is also poised to return to Australia after a stint in the U.S, expected to be joining Gibbs at Serco Yamaha.

Fans can catch Australia’s brightest teenage talent on display in the Under 19s title chase, a new champion set to be crowned as last year’s winner Cachia movies into the Pro Lites.

This year’s opening round of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be contested at Broadford’s State Motorcycle Sport Complex in Victoria on Sunday, 13 March.

The series launch will take place next week at the Macarthur Motorcycle Club in Appin, NSW, on Thursday, 24 February, marking the first official glimpse at this year’s MX Nationals contenders.

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au on the web for complete series and round information on the 2011 season.