Lucas Oil/Berry Sweet/Yamaha have officially announced that Mitch Norris will join their squad contesting in the Lites class for the upcoming 2012 Australian Supercross Championships.

Aboard an Axis Motorsports prepared ride, Norris contested the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals MXD division, scoring a season best fifth overall at Coolum’s season finale.

Team manager Craig Anderson says it is a bonus to have a rider in such close proximity to the team’s base, and expects Norris to be pushing for podium positions.

“Mitch will ride the Lites class for us and having a rider onboard that lives close to the workshop and test track is a bonus for all of us,” said Anderson.

“We’ve started testing in full and Mitch is a big part of everything we’re doing. I think he can not just turn some heads in SX, but we want him to be battling for the podium.”

Anderson is excited to take their bike and rider to the line to show the competition that they mean business.

“The bike we’ve developed is great and we’re excited to get it and Mitch on the start line to show everyone that we’re here for results,” he added.

Norris will join the team alongside a currently injured Luke Arbon, also on the Lites bike. Arbon will continue to work on rehabilitating his injured foot to be race ready for 2013.