We’re already near one month into 2013, which means that the new season is quickly accelerating toward us. For some, that’s exactly what we’re waiting for, while for others, the more time the better after a lot of late silly season switches.

One team that was confirmed this week (as Simon Makker outlines below) is the Raceline Pirelli Suzuki team of Ryan Marmont and Victorian supercross standout Geran Stapleton. The official Motul Pirelli Suzuki team won’t have a 250F this year, which means this pair will spearhead Suzuki’s MX2 assault – albeit likely without much factory support, if any.

With the Raceline team all but confirmed by the team itself, Serco Yamaha already obviously signing Luke Styke and Luke Clout, and Zero Seven Motorsports running Kade Mosig on a factory-supported Kawasaki, we’re finally beginning to see the 250 class taking shape.

Honda won’t have an official bike at this stage, although you’d have to think with Josh Cachia now available, Yarrive Konsky would be second guessing that decision and looking for extra funds to run a CRF250R. The team won both 250 titles last year, so with Cachia available, it’d make sense to try and find additional resources for him (remember, he’s ridden for them earlier in his career).

Cachia has become available since JDR Motorsports announced it will close its doors after the American supercross finals in Las Vegas come May. So, since he’s not in title contention and the MX Nationals start before AMA SX finishes, Cachia has opted to return home for good following the San Diego round next weekend.

One other option that seems realistic is the possibility of Cachia joining Mosig (and MX1 rider Cody Mackie) at Zero Seven. His personal manager Adam Bailey also handles the marketing side of Zero Seven, so the link is there. I’m still in the US, so whether the possibility is high or not, I’m not sure, but it makes sense if the budget (there’s that word again) and equipment can be sourced.

Plus, there’s also the possibility of Cachia remaining on a KTM of course. He won the last two nationals in 2012 and tied for the win at Appin before that, so he’s the in-form rider of that class. If KTM is serious about the MX2 title, Cachia is the guy to lead them toward that goal. As of now, the word is that Choice Motorsports will field rookies Kayne Lamont and Dylan Long, but they’re both unannounced at this stage.

One rider who is also without a seat due to the JDR closure (albeit the Australian one) is well liked Queenslander Brenden Harrison. He’s been in California during the opening rounds of supercross and isn’t yet back on the bike, but in speaking to him he told me he has nothing on the table for 2013 as we speak. That’s a shame, because he was knocking on the doors of greatness until injuries once again sidelined him. Fingers crossed he can bounce back once again.

There’s still a lot of movement going on behind the scenes as we are seeing on an almost daily basis as bits and pieces of news break, but of course there’s still the future of Axis Motorsports, DPH Motorsport, MX Factory, and more, that we’re awaiting confirmation of. Across the board, here’s what we do know (or think we do in some cases!):

CDR Yamaha – Lawson Bopping (MX1), Billy Mackenzie (MX1)
Serco Yamaha – Luke Styke (MX2), Luke Clout (MX2)
GYTR Yamaha – Jay Wilson (MXD), Joel Dinsdale (MXD)
Monster Energy Kawasaki – Jay Marmont (MX1), Adam Monea (MX1)
Zero Seven Kawasaki – Kade Mosig (MX2), Cody Mackie (MX1)
Raceline Pirelli Suzuki – Ryan Marmont (MX2), Geran Stapleton (MX2)
Carlton Dry Honda – Ben Townley (MX1), Ford Dale (MX1)
KTM Australia – Todd Waters (MX1), Kirk Gibbs (MX1)
Choice Motorsports KTM – Kayne Lamont (MX2), Dylan Long (MX2)
Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil Yamaha – Tye Simmonds (MX1)
Full Force/Cars R Us Honda – Dean Porter (MX1), Keiron Hall (MX2)

The only actual teams announced in the group are Serco Yamaha, Carlton Dry Honda, Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil Yamaha and Full Force Racing, but the rest have either been confirmed via social networking or heavily rumours. The major question mark in there is Motul Pirelli Suzuki and that’s why they’re not listed, because we’re hearing all kinds of rumours about that team’s structure for the new year. Adding fuel to the fire, Matt Moss was looking for a bike to ride via Facebook today since he is yet to ink a 2013 deal (he was the team’s first choice). Anyway, here’s Makker…

It looks like we’re finally seeing some movements as to how the MX2 teams will shape up for 2013, with the news that multi-time Lites champion Ryan Marmont is heading to the Raceline Suzuki stables. But as an interesting little piece of information, I was talking to Victorian privateer Geran Stapleton yesterday for a Privateer Profile piece (it’ll be online tomorrow) and he revealed he will be Doggy’s teammate at Raceline for 2013.

It’s a great reward for the bloke, especially after his amazing second place result at the Phillip Island round of the Terex Australian Supercross Championship in November.

Speaking of Raceline, I’ve also heard a whisper (not through Doggy or Stapleton) that Raceline Suzuki will become a Queensland-based team in 2013. The reason is Jay Marmont’s 2012 mechanic at Monster Energy Kawasaki, Ben Lane, has been linked to taking over the reins as the Raceline team manager. Just when you think things are starting to settle down, things start moving around again..!

On the FMX side of things Robbie Maddison posted an interesting image on Instagram today of him receiving a letter confirming he and the rest of the Skyfall (that new James Bond flick) stunt team won the Screen Actors Guild Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture”! Pretty epic win there, mate! Congratulations!

Keeping with the stuntin’, the Nitro Circus Live tour is ripping up NZ at the moment and by all accounts it’s been more jaw-dropping than ever before. Unfortunately Double Backflipping legend Cam Sinclair crashed hard in practice at Dunedin and shattered his heelbone and broke his talus after his bike died on the upramp. He’s now facing a prolonged period on the couch, and we wish him all the best for a swift and complete recovery.

While on the topic of NZ, it was great to see Ben Townley post his first major win of the 2013 season at the Woodville GP on the weekend. Against the likes of Cody Cooper and Australia’s new KTM team Todd Waters and Kirk Gibbs, BT kept the field well and truly at arm’s reach as he begins his comeback and his punt at the 2013 MX1 Australian Motocross Championship. The scary thing for everyone is Townley is only just starting to build his momentum again. That’s all from me this week. Over to you, Spence!

After putting together my two previous editions of MXH direct from Southern California, I am finally back in Australia on home soil to bring you this fourth edition of our all-new feature for 2013.

During my final days in the US, Gobert and myself were invited out to Milestone MX for a day of riding with the crew at Race SoCal. We were greeted by owner and founder, Steve Heighton, who had a line-up of fresh 2013 Honda CRF450Rs and 2012 CRF250Rs on offer for us to play with.

Race SoCal provides impressive packages which include accommodation, riding, shop tours (Pro Circuit, Troy Lee Designs, etc) plus much more – basically it’s every motocross enthusiast’s dream holiday!

After our riding session at Milestone, we got the camera out and grabbed some footage at the track, before heading back to Race SoCal HQ for an all-access tour of their facility. Stay tuned for the tour film and feature story to be dropping on the site later this week.

During my final day in the US, we made the trip back to Milestone to check in with Australia’s Kade Mosig to grab some footage while he laid down some motos on the supercross track.

Fellow Aussie Josh Cachia was also there laying down laps and we made sure to sit down with the charismatic rider to hear what he had to say about his season so far. Both Mosig and Cachia’s films will be up on the site next week, so be sure to check those out.

The two Aussies held a very similar pace throughout the day on the supercross track, which was evident at Oakland’s round four of the Monster Energy Supercross series where they ran 16th and 17th in the 250SX main event – what I see from this is even closer racing when both riders head back home.

Mosig and Cachia have both confirmed they will be back for the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals series, and both are obvious title contenders. With these two running such a similar pace, go ahead and add in Luke Styke, a sure title favourite, and you have yourself a serious battle on your hands.

Not to mention the dark horse, Luke Clout, Styke’s Serco Yamaha teammate, and the veteran Ryan Marmont who is starting fresh this year with the Raceline Pirelli Suzuki team – expect fireworks in the MX2 class come April.

Speaking of Australian talent, a handful of strong Aussie contenders, including Styke, have been down at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra completing the 2013 AIS Elite Rider Camp with Chris Urquhart and Stephen Gall on hand.

Lawson Bopping is also there preparing for another MX Nationals MX1 assualt, along with Sam Martin and Cody Mackie. Mackie has been off the radar for quite some time now after his stint in the US. The talented Aussie spent time in the movie business, working on the upcoming ‘Mad Max’ sequel – something different that’s for sure.

Expect Styke, Bopping and Martin to come on strong at round one, and look out for Mackie as he has been training hard heading into the 2013 season. We all know he has the skills and speed, and with great conditioning he will surely add yet another exciting element to the racing action.

Finally, this week we introduced the first edition of our Project Moto 2013 Suzuki RM-Z250 series for the new year. After taking delivery of the bike in December last year, there has been nothing but great things to say about the MX2 contender.

Be sure to check it out by clicking here, and we will be bringing you the second installment early next month with our first lot of trick aftermarket parts fitted to the bike… stay tuned!

Also remember to check out all of MotoOnline.com.au’s social networking channels and be sure to Like/Follow us for even more behind the scenes insights. We will be further increasing our focus on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the season ahead. Just search MotoOnline.