New Zealand’s Rhys Carter is looking forward to his first MX2 outing of the year when he lines up for the first round of 10 in this season’s Australian Motocross Championships at Horsham, in Victoria, on Sunday.

With only days before the opening round of the 2015 MX Nationals season gets underway at Horsham, the Team Raceline Pirelli Suzuki rider says he is raring to go for the weekend.

With an injury to MXD team-mate Brock Mcleary forcing him out of the round one event, all the team’s eyes will be on Carter to see what impression he can make in the MX2 class.

Carter has had an uninterrupted pre-season in the lead-up to the series, and says that he is feeling very optimistic about the weekend despite having never competed at the Horsham venue.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it – I’m in a similar position to what I was last year where I don’t really know where I’ll stack up against the good guys. I’m excited to be with Raceline – they have been a huge help already so I’m looking forward to it,” said Carter.

“I haven’t actually been to Horsham before, so I’m really looking forward to going out there having a look at it and riding on it.

“The aim for the weekend is basically to come out of the first round healthy with some solid points to start the championship. I’d like to be around in the top-five somewhere, and even if it’s a couple of spots off that I’m not going to be too worried.

“I know what this class is like so if I can just stay consistent I can then look forward to the following rounds.”

“Most of my experience has been on 250s but I think the year I’ve spent on a 450 will help me. I know I can do well.

“The goal is to be consistent and to shine when I can,” said Carter.

“I’ve spent a bit of time on a 250 in the last three weeks.

“I’ve worked on getting a bit lighter and to get the heart rate up.

“There’s more intensity because you have to ride harder on a 250.”

Carter finished eighth in MX1 in the just-completed New Zealand Motocross Championships.

Team manager Jesse Wallace said he was looking forward to racing.

“It’s a bit disappointing with Brock hurting himself, but Rhys is looking pretty good on the bike so I can’t wait for the opening round to get underway,” said Wallace.

“Horsham is an interesting venue – it has its days. If it’s wet it will be boggy and pretty hard going but I think our bike will suit that. We have a good package for that kind of track – nice and tight to dig deep in those big ruts, that’s right up Rhys’ alley.

“For round one and for most of the season, if we can average a top-five spot we’d be pretty happy, and then we could give it a shot at the end of the series and see how that goes.”

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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