Reigning Australian MX3 and SX3 Champion Kayd Kingsford has strengthened his case for a future in the United States after an impressive debut at the prestigious AMA Motocross Combine at RedBud, showcasing front-running speed against America’s top emerging talent.
The appearance marked another milestone for the satellite American Honda Team’s long-running commitment to creating international opportunities for Australian and New Zealand riders, with Kingsford becoming the latest graduate of a program that has helped launch and develop the careers of riders including Luke Clout, Wilson Todd, Kyle Webster, Jed Beaton, Brodie Connolly, Charli Cannon and Jake Cannon.
Competing at the iconic RedBud National for the first time, Kingsford adapted quickly to one of the most challenging circuits of the season after torrential rain transformed the track into a deeply rutted and ever-changing test.
Despite seeing the circuit for the first time, the young Queenslander immediately showed speed, setting the second-fastest qualifying time against a field of America’s leading prospects.
“It was tough learning a brand-new track, especially with how much it changed every lap because of the rain, but I really enjoyed it,” Kingsford explained. “I’d always wanted to jump LaRocco’s Leap after watching it on TV, but with the conditions, it just wasn’t possible. I don’t think any of the 250 riders attempted it all weekend.”
Kingsford’s pace carried into the opening Combine moto, where he ran inside the top three during the early stages before a mid-race crash changed the complexion of his race.
“When I got back up after the crash, the heat really hit me,” he said. “I completely emptied any energy I had left and was just trying to hang on.”
Despite the setback, Kingsford battled through the demanding conditions to finish sixth and record the third-fastest lap of the race.
The second moto, postponed until Saturday because of the weather, provided another opportunity for the Australian to showcase his potential. With no warm-up session and still recovering from the previous day’s exertions, Kingsford charged to third place while posting competitive lap and sector times against the best young riders in the United States.
While pleased with the result, Kingsford believes the experience has only reinforced his desire to race in America full-time.
“I’m happy with the result, but I know I can be better,” he said. “I’ve learnt a lot from this trip and now I know exactly what I need to work on. Hopefully I get the opportunity to come back full-time next year because this is where I want to be.”
Kingsford has since returned to Australia to prepare for Round 6 of the Australian Motocross Championship, where he currently sits second in the MX2 standings.
The RedBud weekend also marked the long-awaited return of Brodie Connolly, who made his debut for the Quad Lock Honda Team after spending almost 12 months sidelined through multiple serious injuries.
Connolly’s comeback began dramatically when he became tangled with another rider on the opening straight of Moto One, sending him over the handlebars and damaging both his clutch and front brake.
“That definitely wasn’t how I wanted to start, but that’s motocross,” Connolly said. “Even with the damage, I was just happy to be back racing.”
Moto Two provided more encouraging signs, with the two-time Australian Champion running competitive lap times against factory riders despite the final result not reflecting his speed.
“The first half of the race was really positive,” he explained. “I was running with the factory guys and some of my lap times were competitive. Considering it was my first race back, the first time racing this bike and how different RedBud is to anything I ride at home, we learnt a lot. I’m looking forward to testing this week and taking another step forward at Southwick.”
For Christian Craig, RedBud proved to be a frustrating weekend. Carrying injuries from a heavy crash during the week, a technical issue discovered on the sight lap forced the team to withdraw from Moto One as a precaution.
Following extensive inspections, the team identified damage to an aftermarket component believed to have resulted from the earlier crash, with several parts replaced before Moto Two.
Unfortunately, Craig’s luck did not improve. He was caught in another heavy incident in the opening turns after colliding with a fallen rider, causing further damage to his motorcycle and ultimately forcing the team to retire the bike.
“These weekends are part of racing, even though you never want them to happen,” Craig reflected. “Crashes damage bikes, things break and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. We’ll regroup, recover and come back ready for Southwick.”
Despite the mixed fortunes across the team, founder Yarrive Konsky said the weekend reinforced the broader goals of the program.
“Our goal is to perform at the highest level, to win, to progress and to continually learn,” Konsky said. “Racing is a business, and success requires patience, structure and disciplined processes. It’s about developing riders, building great people, creating opportunities and producing future champions.”
Konsky was particularly encouraged by Kingsford’s performance on one of motocross’s biggest stages.
“Kayd showed he belongs on this stage. Brodie took an important first step after an incredibly difficult twelve months, and Christian will bounce back. That’s what this program is built on. We keep learning, we keep improving and we keep moving forward.
“Of course we want to win, that will never change, but we’re also experienced enough to understand that sustainable success comes through a process. You can’t shortcut it, you can’t ignore it, and if you’re committed to it, the results will follow.”
Connolly and Craig will return to action this weekend at Southwick as the American motocross season continues.
