Western Australia’s Kayden Minear scored his first national MX2 overall podium with P2 at Wodonga’s third round of the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship, marking the next milestone in his youthful racing career.

Minear, 15, stepped up to the professional MX2 ranks this year following a breakout 2022 campaign that saw him emerge victorious in the MX3 category and take two titles at the Australian Junior Motocross Championship (AJMX).

Awarded fourth in Wonthaggi’s season-opening moto, the KTM Racing Team rider later finished sixth overall at the second round in Appin with 5-8 results. Qualifying seventh in the rain-soaked Wodonga conditions, Minear launched to a strong start in the opening moto and ultimately rode to a fifth-place finish.

A strong, calculated ride in race two saw the number 66 secure P2 behind teammate Nathan Crawford, which landed him second overall on the day to Polyflor Honda Racing’s Brodie Connolly.

“Really good round out here at Wodonga, and I felt awesome on the bike all day,” said Minear. “I’m just so happy with my first MX2 podium! The mud definitely made it tricky, although good starts helped me out a lot today.

“Had some great battles in the second moto, but yeah, the 250 SX-F is so good, the KTM Racing Team has been so helpful and I’m excited to see how we go in the next one.”

The result elevates Minear to P3 in the MX2 category ahead of the fourth round of the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship at Maitland, NSW, between 6-7 May.