Kayden Minear, luxury wildcard, is preparing to join the Star Racing Yamaha amateur team.
The Supercross World Championship has revealed its wildcard riders for the WSX Australian GP. Obviously, the race being held in Australia, the organizers have plenty to do with local talent, and we can say that the four additional drivers entered are capable of bringing something to the series for this final in Perth which will be held on November 23 and 24.
Kayden Minear, at only 17 years old, will be the youngest driver on the track. A real local, since the young man, Australian vice-champion in ProMX MX2, lives in Perth. Destined to go to the USA, Kayden has already proven his talent across the Atlantic in Futures and Combines with an official Orange Brigade KTM, to the point that he landed a contract with Star Racing Yamaha next year. Suffice to say that his debut in WSX will be closely observed. “I’m very excited to make my WSX debut! As a West Australian, having the chance to race in Perth, my hometown, is a once in a lifetime opportunity and being able to do it not once, but twice, will make this moment even more special. 2024 has been very good for me so far, and I want to maintain my current form in WSX. In Vancouver we saw how competitive the SX2 class is, but as always my goal is to fight at the front. »
Four talented wildcards for this Perth final
During his two appearances in WSX in 2023, Kyle Webster showed good things, including a fourth place and as a best result overall, a seventh place, both in Abu Dhabi. After a very successful 2024, which saw him ride in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, win the Australian ProMX MX1 title and win the Motocross of Nations with the Australian team, he has gained a new status. “I’m looking forward to competing at WSX in 2024, especially on home soil in Australia. After competing in the series part-time last season, I feel like I still have work to do and can’t wait to show off my speed in the main SX1 class. I feel good and, above all, I am focused and that should give me a good advantage in Perth. »
Nathan Crawford will join Webster on the WSX category grid and return to the series for the first time since 2023, when he previously made a Wildcard appearance at Melbourne in his debut at the same venue a year earlier. The 2020 114 Honda Motorsports rider this season finished third in the Australian ProMX MX1 Championship with two wins and eight podiums. “I’ve competed in two WSX races in Australia as a wildcard and, from my time in Melbourne, I know how exciting this series is and I’m delighted to be back in Perth. Racing in the main class of WSX will be a big change for me, but I have gained a lot of experience in 450 this year and hope to make my mark in front of my home crowd. »
Reid Taylor, meanwhile, will line up alongside Kayden Minear in SX2. Winner of the Indian Supercross Racing League, the 20-year-old SX specialist is currently fourth in the Aus-X championship in SX2. “This year has been very exciting for me, and now racing in WSX is a dream come true. From my point of view, Perth is the best place I could make my debut in the series, and I’m looking forward to racing against guys I know well and some of the best SX2 riders in the world. I’ll take each race as it comes, but in WSX there isn’t a lot of time to pause and reflect between races. Sometimes you just have to go for it, give it your all and see where you end up. »
By Rich’.
