It’s funny how sometimes the more questions are answered, the more questions pop up. That’s the feeling I’ve got coming away from the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals opening round at Conondale, Qld.

Speculation, bench-racing and rumours are always rife in the lead-up to a series, but I think the anticipation and hype leading into the 2012 season far exceeded anything we’ve seen before.

The inclusion of some fire-breathing internationals like Ben Townley and Brad Anderson, the form the Kiwi contingent were carrying off the back of their perfectly-timed domestic series, and the injury clouds hovering over key favourites sent cyberspace into a frenzy.

But as the dust settles from round one, I reckon more questions have arisen than have been answered.

The big one is who’s going to fill the void left by Townley once he departs for the US with Chad Reed’s TwoTwo Motorsports?

If Conondale pace was anything to go by, the short odds rest with Carlton Dry Honda’s Brad Anderson, but you’d be a brave man to discount wiley stalwart Josh Coppins, who always gets better as the races and seasons progress.

But that raises more questions:

• Should Australians be worried about the speed and domination of the international riders, not just in the MX1, but in MX2 as well? You have Anderson, Coppins, Billy MacKenzie (who’s looking better than ever), Cody Cooper, Justin McDonald (MX2) and Kayne Lamont (MXD) all sticking their fingers in the Aussie pie, but only two Australians – Todd Waters and Jake Moss – made the top five in MX1 over the weekend.

• Who’s going to step up and fly the Australian flag in our own series?

• Will four-time champion Jay Marmont be able to shrug off his knee injury and claw his way back into contention?

• Was the speed and form of Ben Townley good enough for consistent podiums in the USA?

Then there’s the MX2 class, which poses just as many questions. Carlton Dry Ford Dale came out swinging at Rd 1, and even with an absolute bell-ringer of a crash, still finished the day second overall to Serco Yamaha’s Kirk Gibbs. Dale was on a tear in the opening two races, and is spending the next two weeks with Townley in NZ, gleaning as much knowledge as possible.

• At the same time, Gibbsy’s carrying a wrist injury and had little bike-time leading up to the series opener. As his wrist heals he’ll get faster and stronger… but will it be enough?

• 2011 U19 champ Errol Willis also lead a large majority of the second moto, and his 11th overall doesn’t do his speed and form justice. Could he be a threat for Overall wins by season’s end?

• What about Luke Styke, starting his 2012 campaign for Serco Yamaha with a podium position: can he put it together for a full season and reach his true potential?

And don’t get me started on the MXD class. There are so many unknowns with riders jumping up from the junior ranks, but for mine, Choice Suspension KTM’s Dylan Long looks content to have a target painted on the back of his jersey.

In saying that, pre-season favourite Jay Wilson did it tough with a bung wrist, but once he’s healed up, I think he’ll be a genuine threat. Then there’s unknown Kiwi Kayne Lamont who flew under the radar to finish second overall at Conondale, proving there’s plenty of depth in the NZ scene.

I can’t wait for Coonabarabran. Hopefully it’ll answer a few more questions as the pieces of the puzzle start emerging, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it throws up even more curveballs and thoughts to ponder.