The winning rider from the SMX Next Hangtown Combine will step up for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing at Thunder Valley

Yamaha and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing have announced via the @blucruofficial Instagram channel that promising Australian amateur prospect Kayden Minear will make his pro debut at the Toyota Thunder Valley National, where he will line up alongside defending champion and points leader Haiden Deegan, Michael Mosiman, and Nate Thrasher. The announcement comes mere days after Jeremy Martin confirmed he will sit idle until his hometown Spring Creek National, which will serve as his final Pro Motocross race.

Minear's debut comes on the heels of an impressive and dominant performance at the first SMX Next – Motocross event, the Hangtown Scouting Moto Combine. The up-and-coming talent swept the motos despite triple-digit temperatures.

“I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to make my pro debut this weekend at Thunder Valley," said Minear. "I’ve been putting in a lot of work with the team to get up to speed, and I’m confident that I can go compete with the pros and get the results we’re looking for.”

Per the announcement, this could be one of several Pro Motocross starts for Minear ahead of his pursuit of multiple national championships at the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross from Loretta Lynn's Ranch at the end of July.