1. Aaron Tanti - determined to keep number one
2022 was very much the breakout year for the Sydney born rider. Having joined the CDR Yamaha team at the beginning of last year to replace Hayden Mellross, Tanti was quickly thrust into the main rider role midway through round two in Mackay, when 2021 MX1 champion and teammate Luke Clout suffered a broken tibia and fibula in a nasty crash early in Moto 1.
With the support of the CDR Yamaha team behind him, Tanti rode competitively and consistently to fend off Honda’s Dean Ferris, Husqvarna’s Todd Waters and privateer Brett Metcalfe to win his maiden Australian MX1 Championship at the final round in Coolum. His title win also made it a back-to-back crown for Yamaha, backing up Clout’s success the year before.
CDR Yamaha's Aaron Tanti chatting to ProMX reporter Kate Peck, shortly after winning the 2022 MX1 championship.
2. Luke Clout - seeking redemption
Heading into the 2022 ProMX Championship, Luke Clout was very much the championship favourite. The CDR Yamaha rider quickly showed in round one why he was the favourite, taking home both Motos to claim the championship lead. But it all went horribly wrong in the second round in Mackay, Queensland.
Luke Clout won the opening round of the 2022 MX1 championship, before sustaining season-ending injuries in Mackay.
2022 was clearly a year to forget for Clout. That said, he has the full backing of the CDR Yamaha team and team boss Craig Dack. The former motocross championship and veteran team owner has been through it all himself in his long and successful career and is resolute in his backing of the 28-year-old. Clout will no doubt be wanting to reclaim the number one plate, as well as keep his teammate on his toes throughout 2023.
3. Kyle Webster - aiming for consistency
As one of Honda Racing’s rising stars of the sport, Kyle Webster’s transition into the top-line MX1 class last season was character-building. The 2021 MX2 Champion clearly had plenty of pace and the ability to handle the 450cc machines, but a number of silly mistakes and falls early in the season severely dented the 26-year-old’s hopes of being in championship contention.
The Victorian rider then suffered a similar fate to rival Luke Clout prior to the third round of the championship, crashing heavily in testing courtesy of a bike malfunction and breaking his left leg and right ankle. Missing the next three rounds, he returned at the penultimate round at the Queensland Moto Park, before winning the final MX1 Moto of the season at Coolum and helping outgoing Honda teammate, Dean Ferris, in his quest to snatch the championship away from Yamaha and Tanti.
Honda's Kyle Webster will be looking for a stronger 2023 season.
4. Jed Beaton - Aussie international returns home with MX1 title in his sights
Having done amazing things on the world stage, especially in the FIM MXGP World Championship across a variety of teams and manufacturers, Tasmania's Jed Beaton is returning home and joining Honda Racing for 2023 in MX1.
Beaton's international credentials are exemplary. Having done great things in the MXGP MX2 class between 2017-2021, notching up eight career podiums and a race win during his time, Beaton moved up into the premier class for Kawasaki last year, where he endured a character building campaign, finishing 19th in the MX1 World Championship. For 2023, with limited options to continue in MXGP MX1, the Tasmanian has decided to return home and join Kyle Webster to complete a very strong Honda line up, where he will replace Dean Ferris, who finished runner-up to Tanti last year.
Beaton has previously expressed a desire to return home and race in ProMX and has watched the coverage from overseas. Now that he has his chance to compete against Australia's best, Australian fans will be salivating at the prospect of what the Tasmanian international brings to this year's MX1 contest.
5. Brett Metcalfe - season veteran loving life as a privateer
At the end of 2021, Brett Metcalfe finished up his time as a factory Honda rider, making way for MX2 champion Kyle Webster. This left some uncertainty about what his future laid out.
Instead of chasing for a ride, he went out on his own as a privateer. And it was a bold move that went very well for the 38-year-old South Australian, who founded the GO24 United team with support from apparel brand, Rat Racing. He posted some very strong results for much of the 2022 MX1 title fight aboard his KTM 450 and eventually came fourth overall.
Brett Metcalfe is hoping for another strong season, following a fourth place in MX1 last year.
Honourable mentions: It would be amiss of us to mention a few riders who are just as capable of winning the MX1 title in 2023. GasGas will once again field a factory effort in the MX1 championship, bringing in 20 year old Regan Duffy into the fold.
Duffy, who’s from Western Australia, will be making a welcome return to ProMX this year, having missed the entire 2022 season following life-threatening injuries sustained from a crash whilst contesting a state-level event in 2021. Duffy finished runner-up in that year’s ProMX MX1 title for KTM Australia.
Dean Ferris will also be one to watch, as he follows in Brett Metcalfe's footsteps and goes it alone as a privateer. Ferris had previously announced that 2022 would be his last professional season, but it seems the racing bug just hasn't quite gone away for the three times Australian Motocross Champion. He'll be stepping aboard a Yamaha 450 with support from Brisbane Motorcycles.
And lastly, Husqvarna’s great white hope, Todd Waters, is a rider you can never write off at all. Third overall in last year’s MX1 title fight, Waters will be looking to ruffle plenty of feathers in this quality field.
The 2023 ProMX Championship kicks off this weekend at the Wonthaggi Motocross Track, featuring the MX1, MX2 and MX3 categories. Catch all the action this Sunday on SBS and SBS On Demand from 1pm AEDT.
This article has been amended with updated information since the original release of this story.
