It all starts this weekend for the new-look MXDK Rockstar Yamaha MX Team.

The high-profile Subway Yamaha team has been re-branded with the Rockstar energy drink label and welcomes two new riders into the fold as the 2010-2011 motocross season kicks off for them in earnest at the annual Taupo Motocross Extravaganza this Labour Weekend.

Managed by multi-time New Zealand and Australian motocross champion Darryll King, the line-up has been boosted to four riders with King’s younger brother Damien King and Hamilton’s Hayden Clark being joined in the shadow of the distinctive blue Yamaha team truck by world championship frontrunner Josh Coppins, of Motueka, and national under-21 champion Ethan Martens, of Waitakere.

“I am really excited about the new team line-up for the upcoming Supercross and motocross season,” said Darryll King, himself also a former GP star, who twice finished 500cc world No.2, in 1997 and 1998.

“First of all, having Rockstar energy drinks joining us as team sponsor and second to have such an incredible team of champion riders is awesome. To me this is a ‘dream team’ and I am looking forward to going racing with the latest Yamaha YZ and YZF machines and having such incredible riders to campaign on behalf of MXDK Rockstar Yamaha.

Hayden Clark will race in the two Australasian SuperX races being held in New Zealand, in Auckland and Dunedin, along with tackling the national supercross and national motocross championship series.

The 34-year-old Damien King will race his Yamaha YZ450F in the MX1 class at Taupo this weekend, before switching to the YZ250F to tackle the MX2 class at the Whakatane Summercross and the annual Woodville GP as well as racing the New Zealand Motocross Championships series.

Former national junior champion Clark will race the MX1 class on board a Yamaha YZ450F at Taupo this weekend before switching his attention to the national supercross and motocross championships.

Martens, who is also a former national junior champion, is a guest rider for the team and he will race the 125cc class at Taupo this weekend and in other selected races on both the YZ125 and YZ250F machines over next six months.

Coppins will not race at Taupo this weekend, saving his MXDK Rockstar Yamaha MX Team debut for the Tokoroa Supercross on December 11. He will ride the MX1 class throughout the national supercross series as well as the motocross nationals.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com