Image: Octopi Media.

Preparations for the upcoming Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) are being prioritised by two-time national MX1 champion Kyle Webster, opting to train in the US onboard a factory HRC CRF250RWE rather than wildcard in the Australian MXGP at Hidden Valley.

After earning a second premier class national motocross crown in 2025, the inclusion of Nations winner Webster in Darwin would have significantly added to the grand prix weekend, but it proved near impossible while aiming to defend at MXoN alongside Jett and Hunter Lawrence.

“I definitely would have liked to have raced the MXGP of Australia,” Webster told MotoOnline. “If I were doing Nations on a 450 I definitely would have raced. I just think it’s tough timing, because I need that time to adapt to the HRC 250 and jumping between bikes, plus the added travel as well.

“I felt like I needed to pick one, and I ended up prioritising the Nations. Again, if I were racing a 450 [at MXoN], I definitely would have done it, so I mean, they’re coming back here over the next few years, and I’d definitely like to line up for it in the future.”

The 29-year-old Western Australian has already spent a week onboard the factory CRF of Chance Hymas, directly following the final round of Pro Motocross in the US, and will return to Florida next week as part of a wider Team Australia training camp alongside the Lawrence brothers in the lead-up to Ironman.

“I spent a week in the US after the last Pro Motocross round and rode the HRC 250, did a heap of riding that week,” he continued. “Then I flew back to Australia, which will have been for a little less than two weeks, before I go back to America on Monday. I’ve been riding one of Yarrive [Konsky’s] bikes – his 250 – since I’ve been here as well, so it’s been nice.

“In the US, I pretty much jumped on Chance’s bike and haven’t really changed a thing, to be honest with you. We run the bars in the same place, levers in the same place… It’s just been a matter of getting on it and getting used to it, but the bike is unreal and I’m pretty stoked to line up with the 1-2-3 [plates] this year.”

Unlike the last year’s eventual roster at Matterley Basin, Jett Lawrence is due to contest the MXGP category with the number one plate, with Hunter Lawrence shifting to the Open class as number three, while Webster will continue in his familiar role with number two in the MX2 division.