Hervey Bay and Barrabool will return to the MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, calendar in 2012, according to an announcement made by Williams Event Management today.

Venues for the 10-round series were announced in January, however two were to be advised (TBA) at that point. It’s now been confirmed that Hervey Bay will return to the schedule for the first time in over a decade on 1 July, while Barrabool will also make a welcome return on 15 July.

“We are pleased to confirm Hervey Bay and Barrabool to the calendar for this season,” said WEM boss Kevin Williams. “Both are circuits that will add to the schedule with different types of terrains and it is also important that our expanding number of transporters can fit into the complexes.”

The series will officially commence on 1 April at Conondale in Queensland, where an all-star international line-up will do battle to challenge defending four-time champion Jay Marmont for his premier Pro Open (MX1) title.

The Pro Open (MX1) and Pro Lites (MX2) categories will feature at all 10 rounds during the season, while the Under 19s category will compete at every round except Wanneroo in Western Australia.

Veterans will race at rounds two (Coonabarabran, NSW) and 10 (Coolum, QLD), while the ATV Cup will race at rounds two (Coonabarabran, NSW) and four (Wanneroo, WA).

An Amateur Cup for B- and C-grade riders will race at rounds two (Coonabarabran, NSW) and four (Wanneroo, WA); 13-U16 125cc two-stroke/250cc four-stroke Rookies will race at rounds three (Wonthaggi, VIC) and four (Wanneroo, WA), plus 85cc two-stroke/150cc four-stroke Development riders will race at round three (Wonthaggi, VIC).

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for further information on the series and structure for 2012.

2012 MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, 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