Welcome to the second edition of the MX Hub right here on MotoOnline.com.au, presented by Oakley. Last week’s debut for the feature proved popular on the site and we’ll be retaining the three-contributor insight all year long. Today’s MXH is actually coming direct from part way across the Pacific as we head to the US for our annual January Monster Energy Supercross visit.

We’ve been doing this particular trip for the past three years and have travelled to America six times in total during that period, maintaining out goal of keeping a close link to the pinnacle of the sport and supporting our Australian contenders as they take on the best in the world.

It’s good timing too, because while ESPN 2 aired both Anaheim 1 and Phoenix live at home, Anaheim 2 this weekend will be delayed coverage (they will pick up the live coverage again at A3). We’ll be there though and giving you all the updates you can handle from an Aussie perspective via Facebook, Twitter and of course Instagram.

This year’s American Supercross is particularly interesting for domestic fans, because apart from Chad Reed, all the other Aussies are only fresh to the US and will complete the season back home at this stage. Dan McCoy is doing the privateer thing (more on that below with Spence), Josh Cachia is on a West Coast 250SX-only deal with JDR and Kade Mosig, like DMC, is returning home after San Diego’s sixth round.

The future of Cachia remains a little uncertain at this stage, because while he’s doing the AMA right now, the original plan was to come home and finish the season in Australia – at least in supercross. But, we know now that JDR has ceased their local operation, so that remains uncertain. Personally, if Josh would like to, I’d like to see him continue on in the American outdoors.

Anyway, we’ll be catching up with all the guys and their teams while in California and plan to do a heap of genuine content while we’re here. A bonus on this trip is the fact I have Adam Spence here along for the ride and we’re planning on him getting some unique films to showcase some of the more interesting things in the sport over here.

By the way, I saw on Facebook right before we departed Sydney that Matt Moss will be undergoing what looks to be arm-pump surgery in the lead-up to the MX Nationals season. Suzuki hasn’t announced their 2013 team just yet, but the thought of him aboard a Jay Foreman-prepared RM-Z450 outdoors has us super excited for a big season ahead as long as he can stay fit.

Right now in the sport, things are relatively quiet. Yamaha officially announced the Serco line-up of Luke Styke and Luke Clout as their MX2 program in Australia on Tuesday, which ultimately means that the MX1 team announcement couldn’t be too far away (the FX-Superbike team was also announced this week).

Just like we knew before the Serco announcement thanks to social networking, it’s also clear that CDR Yamaha will retain Lawson Bopping and bring in Billy Mackenzie for the outdoors at least. McCoy is very likely to be their supercross rider alongside Bopping, because Mackenzie is on an MX-only deal for New Zealand and Australia. As for the GYTR-supported MXD team, Jay Wilson will line-up alongside Joel Dinsale according to sources in Queensland.

Right now the only team actually announced is Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing with Ben Townley and Ford Dale as the MX1 squad, plus Craig Anderson’s Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil/Yamaha team of Tye Simmonds. While we do know and have reported where most riders will be, it’s a strange scenario to think that the majority aren’t even announced and we’re midway through January.

Of course, the Australian season finishes later than most due to supercross, but from what we understand, most deals had been done before or midway during supercross last year. Not all though, and there have been some deals delayed slightly, but it would be ideal to see a little more urgency in the announcements for those that have got their deals set in stone. That way riders can officially speak and we can start working on building exposure for our local series and teams.

That’s it from me for now, here’s Simon Makker for his weekly scoop before Spence checks in.

Monday was a sad day for the Australian FMX industry. The organisers of one of the country’s longest-running and prestigious freestyle comps, the Narrogin Revheads, announced they were pulling the pin on an event that was “no longer viable”. The comp, held two hours south-east of Perth, has always drawn big-named riders, mainly because there are so few contests remaining in Australia.

I’ve gotta say it’s a worrying trend and the only lifeline the stranded Australian FMX scene has is RFDmx’s Underground Tour, which, against all odds, still continues to flourish. With even less contests on this year, a unique format and a laid-back atmosphere focused as much on hanging out as mates as it is about competing, it’s hardly a wonder they’re seeing a spike in the number of riders keen to take part.

At the same time, Aussie riders are being forced to look overseas for comps. This year’s NZ Farm Jam on February 23 has received unprecedented interest from Australian riders looking to come over and ride the rolling natural-terrain FMX competition; so much so that organisers are being forced to cap numbers and put riders on a waiting list!

Riders who have expressed interest include Josh Sheehan, Matt Schubring, Matt McFerran, Brody Wilson (US) Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP, riding both FMX and MTB), Tyrone Gilks, Levi Sherwood, Nick Franklin, alongside a tonne of up-and-coming riders. With a new freeride contest likely to be added the day before the actual Farm Jam, this unique event may be about to take over as the premier FMX contest in Australasia! Here’s Spence to wrap things up…

For this second instalment of MX Hub, I am currently located in what’s largely known as the motocross hub of the world, Southern California – ironic right? Gobert and myself made the long overnight flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, arriving early this morning to begin our US adventure.

Although I will only be staying for eight days, while Gobert sticks around for a few more weeks, I’m excited for the plans we have in store. With the Monster Energy Supercross series in full swing, we will surely have a great selection of content to cover.

As Gobert said up top, I will be jumping behind the lens whenever I can to grab some unique footage for our viewers, so stay tuned for some fresh film uploads to keep yourselves entertained with!

On arrival to LAX we happened to run into Brett Metcalfe and his family as they returned from a recent trip to Australia. Metcalfe spent a couple of weeks back home and also swung a leg over the bike for a few rides with his brother Shane in SA.

After a rough practice crash at Glen Helen Raceway last year, Metcalfe was left sidelined with injury, shortly after that, Metcalfe’s contract was up with Yoshimura Suzuki and they parted ways.

This leaves a major player within the US premier class, especially outdoors, without a ride for 2013. We plan to catch up with Metcalfe during our stay to chat about his current situation and to find out when we can expect the number 24 to be back in action once and for all.

While on the Aussie subject, by now most of you will know that Dan McCoy is touring the West coast rounds of the Monster Energy Supercross series aboard his privateer Yamaha YZ450F (with selected CDR Yamaha parts, thanks to Craig Dack).

After originally basing himself near the Castillo Ranch, up north from Los Angeles, McCoy this week jumped in his RV and travelled down to be closer to where the majority of SoCal’s tracks are located. This move will surely benefit DMC and we will organise to catch up with him and get the latest on his US adventures to date.

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