Litmus test for WA’s best
By, Trevor Hedge
Right now Western Australia has perhaps the best line-up of motocross riders the State has ever seen. Young guns Michael Addison and Dean Porter came through the junior ranks together and with a swag of State Championships now under their slender belts they have firmly established themselves as the bar by which fellow Sandgropers are measured.
At 18 years of age Louis Calvin is three years their junior. He doesn’t quite measure up to Addison and Porter in the height stakes but on track the Huntingdale teenager has come out swinging with a new found aggression in season 2008.
This weekend at Wanneroo Park Calvin, Addison and Porter will defend home soil honour against a fierce invasion from interstate and across the Tasman when the Australian Motocross Nationals rock into town to contest round five of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals.
Wanneroo’s notorious deep sand always throws up some surprise results. After a 30 minute moto on one of the most testing tracks in the nation, riders themselves have been known to throw up from sheer physical exhaustion. Motocross has no place for pussies.
Woodstock Honda Thor Racing supremo Craig Anderson (NSW) leads the Pro Open Championship heading to Wanneroo and has been around long enough to know that the AJS Club circuit presents a unique challenge.
“I love riding in the sand – it’s a tough track and gets really rutted, but I’m really looking forward to it.” Said the 12 time National Champ.
“Jay Marmont is strong on any kind of surface, so he’ll be a threat as always. I reckon there’ll also be a couple of dark horses at Wanneroo; Cheyne Boyd will be one to watch out for and local guy Michael Addison should go well there, too.”
Anderson maintains a slender five point lead over CDR Yamaha’s Jay Marmont (NSW), and with Wanneroo marking the halfway point of the ten round series the pressure is on.
Addison has perhaps the most pressure of the WA men riding on his shoulders as he heads the charge for Motorex KTM on the national scene this year. An impressive sixth overall at Raymond Terrace last weekend has moved Addison into seventh place in the series.
Dean Porter suffered some misfortunes in his national campaign this year and will be confident of moving up from his current 16th place in the series on the back of some top results at Wanneroo.
In the Pro Lites class, Kawasaki incumbent Luke George (NSW) will go head to head with Honda tyro Kade Mosig (VIC). The WA sand will test the pair like never before and local favourite Louis Calvin will be sure to mix things up at the front of the pack on home soil.
The stars of Australian Motocross are aiming to also shine off the track while on WA soil. Next Friday a contingent of riders will visit Princess Margaret Hospital before then heading to Gloucester Park to be grilled by the press in front of the Trotting crowd.
The on track battles commence from 11am at Wanneroo Park this Sunday, June 1. Tickets for the Wattle Avenue East venue in Neerabup will be available at the gate and range from $30 for an adult ticket through to $60 for a family pass.
If you want to check out some images of what is in store for the boys this weekend then check out some images from the WA State Round at Wanneroo earlier in the year.
| Pro Open Series: 1: Anderson 181 2: Marmont 176 3: Daryl Hurley 154 4: Boyd 123 5: Burkhart 115 | Pro Lite Series: 1: George 155 2: Mosig 151 3: Monea 135 4: Gibbs 132 5: Ferris 125 |
