KTM Australia has expanded its commitment to the breeding ground of Australian motocross, announcing an eight-rider KTM Junior Racing Team for 2014.

As part of KTM’s ongoing commitment to junior racing the company is bringing the team 100 percent in-house and expanding its geographical coverage to cover four states.

The line-up contains some of the cream of Australian junior racing and includes North Queenslander Mitch Evans, Sunshine Coast vice world champion Hunter Lawrence and his brother Jett, Hunter Valley rider Egan Mastin and Rhys Budd from Sydney.

Callum Norton and Mason Semmens make up the Victorian contingent, while Perth’s Caleb Grothues (pictured), the 2012 FIM 65cc Junior Motocross World Champion, is the sole Western Australian.

“It’s very exciting time for the junior team,” said KTM national brand manager and team coordinator Tam Paul. “Obviously we had a very successful relationship with Glenn MacDonald for a number of years, but for 2014 we’ve brought the team back 100 percent in-house.

“One of our aims was to improve our geographical balance and after retaining three riders, adding a few more and welcoming Egan back to KTM after a year away, we now represent four states.

“It’s a super-strong team with countless state and national titles behind it – they’re all the cream of the crop and it is KTM’s philosophy to try to support promising riders right through the system to seniors.

“KTM has competitive machinery to take junior riders from 50cc right through to 250cc. I’d also like to acknowledge the support of all internal KTM Australia staff involved in the project.”

KTM’s junior teams have long been regarded as breeding grounds for the future of the sport, as former KTM Junior Team racers such as Brenden Harrison, Tye Simmonds and Todd Waters emphatically illustrate.