RK Excel America

JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM rider PJ Larsen claimed the 2010 Rockstar Energy Australian MX Nationals title in the Pro Lites category one round early during Coolum’s mega double-header season finale in Queensland on July 24-25, 2010.

Larsen’s top finishing scores throughout the season gave him an 84 point advantage heading to the final round which allowed him to take the championship after Saturday’s race and gave him the opportunity to run his new #1 plate during Sunday’s event.

Saturday’s race was comprised of three 8-lap motos. Larsen pulled the holeshot in the first moto and went on to finish 2nd in the moto. He finished 2nd and 4th respectively in the next two motos to take 3rd overall for the day and the Championship.

The series win marks a fitting finale to what has been a dominant season for Larsen and the JDR Motorsports outfit in its maiden season in cooperation with KTM, the team taking out the title on the weekend using the all-new 2011 KTM 250 SX-F model.

“It means a lot to me to win this title after getting the opportunity to come and do a season in Australia with the JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM Team,” commented the 19-year-old, who is originally from South Carolina. “I’m glad that we could come out with the championship.”

The championship victory is a proud moment for the JDR Motorsports team, winning the title in memory of teammate Andrew McFarlane, who was tragically killed in at Broadford’s third round of the title earlier this season.

“The whole team has been working really hard because we wanted to win the title for Andrew – the whole goal was to go and do our best, make Andrew proud, and I think that we did a good job of it,” Larsen said, eventually winning with a comfortable margin of 65 points.

With the pressures of the championship challenge off his shoulders for Sunday’s round, California-based Larsen endured a difficult end to the season by his standards, taking out 4th overall with a consistent run of 4-5-4 results.

“It definitely wasn’t the best weekend for me,” he reflected. “I’ve been resting up an ankle injury that I suffered in the lead-up to Moree, but all in all we made the best of what we had, won the championship and that’s all that matters.”

“Winning the Pro Lites title is a first for PJ, it’s a first for the JDR team and it’s a first for the 2011 model KTM 250 SX-F,” Team Manager Jay Rynenberg commented. “I think PJ really proved a point to the Americans as well that he’s going to be a guy to be reckoned with next year. It’s a credit to his work ethic and a really good day for JDR.

Team JDR Motorex KTM team will now be preparing for the upcoming Super X Australasian

Supercross Championship, which is scheduled to kick-off at Energy Australia Stadium in Newcastle on October 16, 2010.

As for Larsen, he will return to the United States for the next two months and prepare for the Australian Supercross Series while in California. During his first week back he plans to relax and watch some racing instead of participate. “I am planning on going to the X-Games and then to Loretta Lynn’s in order to just catch up with some friends and take a break.”

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for more information and detailed results on the 2010 Rockstar Energy MX Nationals. For further information on KTM Australia log onto www.ktm.com.au or visit www.jdrmotorsports.com.au to visit the JDR Motorsports team on the web.

I am just getting back into Sydney after a long drive to the airport this morning for my flight back home and am happy to share a recap of my first weekend – which I am happy to say, went really well.

I qualified first in the Pro Lites practice putting down the fastest lap time of the day. The motocross events in Australia are different from the United States as they are based off a three-moto format instead of a two. Nerves must have got to me off the start of the first moto as I hit neutral (like a novice rider) and started dead last.

I put a good charge through the pack passing multiple guys per turn and had moved up to 2nd position by the end of the first lap. I passed my JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM teammate Ryan Marmont for the lead on the second lap and went on to pull a good lead and take the first moto win of the year.

In the second moto, I remembered how to start again, and pulled an awesome holeshot but fell at the end of the first turn. I quickly got back up in last position and started to move through the pack on the muddy course before going down again on the second lap. Now sitting in last for the second time this race, I put my head down and started to pass as many people as I could but only managed to come up to 11th place.

It all came down to the third moto where I got an okay start, pinned it through the traffic ahead of me, and moved into 1st before the end of the lap. I led every moto that race to take the moto win and the overall for the day in the Pro Lites class.

I was really happy with this race and all of the support I received from the JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM Team. I can’t wait for round two in Canbera where we hope to continue on a winning path.

Cheers from Down Under,

PJ Larsen