Moto News Wrap for December 8, by Darren Smart
Proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
Australasian News
Reardon’s Championship Recognised
Dan Reardon’s championship winning season has been recognised by two of the hottest riders in the world right now – Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb tweeted their respect for Reardon’s comeback to the sport and his championship win.
@kenroczen94 – I think this is rad. Congrats @danreardon122 came back and won the championship – simple
@cooperwebb_17 – Congrats to this guy @danreardon122 on the championship down under! From retirement to a championship awesome job mate!!
Green and Ralston Stay Active
After an ultra-successful year that saw Josh Green win all before him in the E1 class and Beau Ralston take the E2 championship in the 2015 AORC, both riders have recommitted to the Active8 Yamalube Yamaha team for the 2016 season.
The team will again represent Yamaha at the Australian Off Road Championships (AORC), the Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE), as well as high profile events such as the Finke and Hattah desert races throughout the 2016 season.
Husqvarna Goes Dirt Track Racing
Paul Caslick, Billy Van Eerde and Max Croker will have Husqvarna Factory supported machinery for the 2016 season which kicks off with the Troy Bayliss Classic on the 16th of January.
American News
Short Injured
On the eve of his final season as a professional motorcycle racer, Andrew Short sustained a shoulder injury while testing last week and immediately flew to San Jose to have the respected Dr. Ting perform an operation to repair the injury. Short said on social media he does not know how long he will be out at this time.
Schmelyun and Blose to Blue Buffalo/Slater Skins/Yamaha in 2016
The Blue Buffalo/Slater Skins/Yamaha team has hired Larry Brooks as their team manager and now they have signed Broc Schmelyun and Benny Blose for the 2016 AMA 250 East Supercross series and AMA National Championships.
Grant Still Riding
Josh Grant still hasn’t scored a full time ride for the 2016 AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships so the former Two-Two Motorsport rider has purchased an RMZ450 and with his dad spinning the spanners has been out hammering the tracks around SoCal to keep his eye in.
Hansen to UK Arenacross Series
Former Australian Supercross Champion Josh Hansen flew into the UK recently to announce his surprise participation in the 11 round Monster Energy Arenacross Tour. “I’m pumped at the prospect of a new challenge and at competing in the UK. I know the guys back home just won’t get it and that will drive me on even more. I see the Arenacross series as going places and I want to be a part of that. I reckon that after this, the gates will open and the British series will be flooded with Americans!”
Footnote: Well, we sort of thought that was going to happen after Hansen won the Aussie SX Champs back in 2010 but it didn’t increase the amount of Yanks coming to compete one iota….
Euro News
Phillips to Sherco in 2016
Sherco have confirmed that they have signed 22 year old Aussie Matthew Phillips to race for the CH Racing team to contest the 2016 World Enduro Championship.
Phillips already has the 2013 World Junior title and the 2014 World E3 title to his name and with the changes to the World Enduro Championship (WEC) seeing the top sixteen riders in the world compete head to head with no restriction on bike capacity, Phillips has chosen the Sherco 450 SEF-R to contest next year’s series.
Along with the entire WEC series, Phillips and Spanish team-mate Lorenzo Santolino will also race selected international events throughout the year. “I am very pleased to be joining the Sherco organisation and racing on the CH Racing team which a few years ago led me to discover the World Enduro Championship.” Phillips commented. “It’s really great to be on a new motorcycle. I was surprised by the bike, it feels really comfortable and I’m beyond excited to return to competition.”
Dutch Master Calendar Announced
Dutch Masters of Motocross calendar for 2016 has been released and thankfully none of the rounds clash with the MXGP series so you can expect to see the likes of Jeffrey Herlings, Glenn Coldenhoff and more of the GP regulars competing at all of the rounds.
2016 Masters Calendar
- Rd1: 24 April – Mill
- Rd2: 22 May – Oldebroek
- Rd3: 12 June – Markelo
- Rd4: 3 July – Emmen
- Rd5: 10 July – Halle
Gonçalves Advises MXGP
Youthstream has come to an agreement with MXGP rider Rui Gonçalves to be the advisor for track preparation and maintenance as well helping the technical communication between Youthstream and the riders. Rui will start this role as a part-time cooperation with Youthstream as he is still racing and in the future he will become full-time from the moment he stops his career as a professional MXGP rider.
Factory Suzuki to Contest Hawkstone
The entire Suzuki World MX GP team competing at the Be Wiser Hawkstone International on the 7th February, 2016 and this will be the first time the world will see Stefan Everts as the team’s manager overseeing Ben Townley, Kevin Strijbos, Jeremy Seewer, Brian Hsu and Bas Vaessen in the MX1 and MX2 classes.
Stefan Everts – “I am very happy to return to Hawkstone Park, it will be my first big appearance with the Suzuki team so it is going to be very special! Also with the return of Ben Townley it will be very cool to go back racing with him.”
Kevin Strijbos – “Hawkstone Park is a track I enjoy riding at a lot and I am looking forward to going back there in February. I had a good result there this year and will be fighting for the same result in 2016.”
Ben Townley – “I’m really looking forward to restarting my career in the UK at Hawkstone Park. I’ve got a huge amount of friends and family that will be there for my first race back! Hawkstone will be a key event on my calendar as I prepare to tackle the MX GP World Championship again in 2016 with Suzuki. It will give me an indication of my physical form and bike set-up a few weeks in advance of the first GP in Qatar.”
Jeremy Seewer – “It is the first time that I will ride at Hawkstone but I have heard that the track is fun to ride. It is going to be an interesting race and really good preparation for the next MXGP season.”
SR75-Molson Racing Team for 2015 British Arenacross Tour
Following the news that SR75-Molson Racing will officially represent Suzuki on next year’s Arenacross Tour, the team unveiled its 2016 RM-Z450 colours at the NEC in Birmingham at the weekend, ready for the season opener on January 2.
Running under the official entry of SR75-Molson Racing Suzuki, the team, headed by Geoff Walker, has previously enjoyed support from Suzuki in the Arenacross Championship, having contested the series with RM-Z450 machines since 2014, clinching two team titles and the 2015 rider championship with Thomas Ramette, who returns to defend his title in 2016, alongside teammate Cyrille Coulon.
Team principal, Geoff Walker, commented, “This is the next stage in the evolution for SR75. We’ve enjoyed technical support from Suzuki over the past two seasons, but to reach an agreement for official team status is great news for both us and the series as a whole. We came and we conquered last season with Thomas on the Suzuki, while Cyrille had a tough championship due to injury, but still finished fourth. With the help of our sponsors and partners we go into the 2016 series stronger and hungrier than ever before with our sights set firmly on championship glory.”
Simpson Joined by Sterry
Wilvo Forkrent KTM will field an all British line-up in 2016 with double national champion and the UK’s top Grand Prix racer Shaun Simpson joining the set-up alongside Adam Sterry. Simpson, 27 years old from Gauldry, Scotland, will receive direct technical support from KTM factory for the next season as he aims to consolidate his position in the top five in the premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship as well as his status as a Grand Prix winner. Unbeaten on UK soil in 2015 Simpson’s services were highly sought-after for the next racing campaign and the agreement with the Belgian and Dutch GP victor is a statement of intent by Wilvo Forkrent KTM and Team Owner Steve Turner.
Simpson will spearhead the team’s campaign in MXGP, while Adam Sterry will step up to the full MX2 Grand Prix class for his maiden term at the highest level.
MXGP Promoters Youthstream extend deals with KTM and Husqvarna
Youthstream President, Giuseppe Luongo, visited the KTM factory and headquarters and the racing department of KTM and Husqvarna in Austria, during this occasion he met with Mr. Stefan Pierer (KTM’s CEO), Mr. Pit Beirer (KTM’s Motorsport Director) and Robert Jonas (Husqvarna’s Vice-President Motorsport).
Mr Luongo and Mr. Pierer had the chance to talk about MXGP’s strategies, youth activities and the new projects like the Supermotocross Riders’ & manufacturers’ Cup in the Veltins Arena in Germany at the beginning of October next year and the MXGP in Charlotte, USA. KTM and Husqvarna expressed their full support for these projects and for Youthstream’s plans in developing MXGP and the youth activities. Both brands renewed their partnership for advertising at the MXGP and European Championships.
Mr. Stefan Pierer said, “After having celebrated many great successes in recent years, we are very pleased to continue the partnership with Youthstream in the future. The European Championship is the perfect platform to enter and to move up to the world of professional racing. The World Championship has achieved an outstanding level of development in recent years and has now reached a very professional level. As global leader in the offroad segment it is our aim not only to preserve the sport´s tradition, but also to go beyond its limits to develop it even further.“
“It’s always a pleasure to see Mr Pierer because we have a very similar vision of how to develop our sport,”Mr Giuseppe Luongo stated, “KTM has been a very loyal partner since the very beginning when Youthstream took the management of the Motocross World Championship and they have also played an important role in the success of the European Championships. KTM and Husqvarna are investing a lot into our sport, not only in the top teams but also in youth activities, they support the MXGP Academy and many young talented riders are under the wings of KTM and Husqvarna.”
Weekend’s Racing
Australian Supercross Championships – Round 6 – Melbourne
Daniel Reardon, Jimmy Decotis and Mitch Evans have been crowned Australia’s new SX1, SX2 and SXD champions respectively following the drama filled sixth and final round of the 2015 Penrite Oils Australian Supercross Championships presented by Ryco Filters at Knights Stadium in Melbourne last Saturday night.
SX1 Race Report
After defending two-time champion Matt Moss pulled out of the final round it was obvious that CDR Yamaha team mates Dan Reardon and Kade Mosig had a lock on a comfortable one-two finish in the championship but in the SX1 heat races Mosig crashed heavily and suffered a gash near his wrist while Reardon dislocated his shoulder in a similar crash which was popped back in place by the Racesafe medical crew.
Remarkably Mosig holeshot the SX1 Final but before long succumbed to the pain and was hauled in by Lawson Bopping, Daniel McCoy and Taylor Potter with the trio ultimately going on to finish in that order ahead of Cheyne Boyd, Mosig and Danny Ham….Yes, you read it right! The old boys were on fire in Melbourne.
Reardon rode through the pain for seventh to clinch the SX1 Championship. “What a way to win a championship – with a dislocated shoulder,” said Reardon. “First and foremost I just have to say thanks to Racesafe. I dislocated my shoulder in the Heat race and then we popped it back in 30 seconds later on the side of the track, and then they’ve worked on me all night to get me ready to get through the Final, and I just can’t thank them enough.”
“I was in so much pain out there, and even on the sighting lap I didn’t know if I would even be able to jump the jumps, but we did it and got through and got a seventh place finish, but most important of all, we got the championship and that was the really big prize tonight.”
“This year has been awesome and to win the Supercross Championship, that’s just the best, so I have to say thanks to the CDR Yamaha team and all the sponsors and supporters who have helped make this possible. I’m rapt.”
With his fifth place finish, Mosig held on to the runner-up spot in the Championship to give the CDR Yamaha team a one-two in the standings. “That was the longest, most painful 20 laps of my life (in the Final). The cut in my arm was deep, so just even gripping the handlebars was tough and the opening laps I was unsure if I would be able to hang on through some of the sections on the track. It’s a tough way to end the championship but overall it’s been a good series for me and I’m happy to come second, as that’s the best I have finished in an Australian Supercross Championship. I felt I got better at each round and my riding improved from the start of the series. I want to give a special shout-out to RaceSafe for their work tonight. Simon and his team were able to keep me on track and as always, they do a great job. Thank-you also to my CDR Yamaha team, Mike Landman and congratulations to Dan on a great series.”
Bopping’s final round victory cemented third overall in the championship. “That’s the best I’ve felt on the bike in months,” said Bopping. “My plan was to put in 20 solid laps in the final and that’s exactly what I was able to do, so I am stoked to get the win tonight and get third in the championship, it feels great.”
Daniel McCoy scored his first podium for the series. “I’m just so happy to be up on the podium tonight. I’m getting a little bit older than some of these guys, but the thing is, I still feel young and this year has been great with the SFC Yamaha team. The last two weekends I’ve had some good speed going and tonight in the Final I tried to stick with Boppo early on but he had so much pace going on that he totally deserves the win. I’m rapt with second and to finish fourth overall in the Championship is a great result for the SFC team and all our sponsors. It’s been great.”
Taylor Potter called up to the Penrite Honda Racing garnered 3rd in the Melbourne Final. “It’s been a hard couple of weeks since I lost my mum (Jennie, to cancer). It has been tough, so I was rapt when the Penrite Honda Racing team gave me the opportunity to race their 450 tonight. I really have to thank the team and all their sponsors so much for all they did for me this weekend. All day today I could feel my mum was with me, and even though ten laps into the Final I was feeling the strain, I knew mum was there and that’s what kept me going.”
- SX1 Final: 1. Lawson Bopping. 2. Daniel McCoy. 3. Taylor Potter. 4. Cheyne Boyd. 5. Kade Mosig. 6. Danny Ham. 7. Daniel Reardon. 8. Aaron Tanti. 9. Matt Van Slooten. 10. Joel Newton.
- SX1 Championship Standings After 6 of 6 Rounds: 1. Daniel Reardon – 191. 2. Kade Mosig – 162. 3. Lawson Bopping – 159. 4. Daniel McCoy – 150. 5. Matt Moss – 127. 6. Gavin Faith – 109. 7. Adam Monea – 107. 8. Danny Ham – 103. 9. Luke Styke – 93. 10. Joel Newton – 59.
SX2 Race Report
There was carnage in the first corner which left Jackson Richardson back in mid-pack while Jimmy Decotis and Geran Stapleton tangled and left the track leaving the Honda riders dead-last by the time they eventually got back into the track.
KTM pilot Dylan Wills made the early front running before a rear suspension issue saw Lewis Woods take the lead until Wade Hunter and the hard charging Richardson took over the leading two positions.
The two Far North Queenslanders Battled tooth and nail for several before Richardson’s AMA Supercross experience saw the Honda pilot take charge of the leading position all of the way to the chequered flag with Hunter, Woods, Joel Wightman and Jack Simpson rounding out the top five.
“I felt fast all day and really liked the track,” said Richardson who finished the championship in second place. “But then when I was mid-pack out of the start in the final, I just had to concentrate on putting down fast laps and getting through to the front, which is what I was able to do. Then when I got the lead, I just kept clicking off the laps to the finish, and to get the win is just the best way possible to wind out the championship.”
Decotis put the bit between his teeth and charged hard all of the way to a championship winning seventh position. “Man, what a night!” exclaimed Decotis. “That first turn was just crazy and after I finally got back on the bike and got going I knew what I had to do and once I came through and got to seventh, I knew that would be enough to get the job done.”
“I’m just rapt for the whole Penrite Honda team, and everyone at Honda, and all the sponsors that made this Championship possible,” said Decotis of his support here in Australia. “I’ve had the best time here in Australia, the fans are awesome, and to be taking home the championship, I couldn’t have asked for more.”
- SX2 Final: 1. Jackson Richardson. 2. Wade Hunter. 3. Lewis Woods. 4. Joel Wightman. 5. Jack Simpson. 6. Jesse Madden. 7. Jimmy Decotis. 8. Geran Stapleton. 9. Jamie Harvey. 10. Boyd Hocking.
- SX2 Championship Standings After 6 of 6 Rounds: 1. Jimmy Decotis – 196pts. 2. Jackson Richardson – 176pts. 3. Lewis Woods – 160pts. 4. Geran Stapleton – 155pts. 5. Wade Hunter – 141pts. 6. Joel Wightman – 133pts. 7. Jesse Simpson – 123pts. 8. Dylan Wills – 122pts. 9. Luke Clout – 113pts. 10. Luke Arbon – 111pts.
SXD Race Report
GYTR Yamaha rider Mitch Evans threw everything bar the garden sink at the two finals contested in Melbourne and managed to score two wins while championship McLeary meantime posted 4-2 results, which, remarkably, left the pair tied on points at the end of the series, with the Championship ultimately awarded to Evans on a count back, while Toby Stevens (PSC Yamaha) was third.
“They don’t get any closer than that,” said Evans after the event. “But I did everything I could by taking two wins tonight, and fortunately it came together for me and the title went my way. I’m so happy and just have to say thanks to all the team at GYTR Yamaha.”
“The weekend didn’t exactly go to plan, I really wanted to go out and win the first main to extend my points lead but instead I got held up in the first turn and could only salvage a fourth losing a bunch of points,” he Mcleary. “The second race I gave it my all but unfortunately it wasn’t enough and I came out with second, losing the championship on count back.”
SXD Championship Standings: 1. Mitch Evans. 2. Brock Mcleary. 3. Toby Stevens.
Jy Roberts wins Australian Supercross Junior Title
Husqvarna may be one of the oldest and most prestigious marques in the sport, but its rising young stars are kicking more than their share of goals for the brand in Australia, with Jy Roberts’ Australian Supercross Championship the latest contribution.
Jy Roberts wrapped up the 85/150cc junior championship at the final-round of the Australian Supercross championships in Melbourne.
The Husqvarna TC 85 rider entered the round needing just one race win to wrap up the title, and after getting the job done in the very first race, went on to celebrate in style with a perfect three from three result for the evening.
Roberts won the night ahead of another Husqvarna TC 85 rider, Husqvarna factory support racer Bailey Malkiewicz, with Tyler Darby third.
Victory at the final-round gave Roberts a 63-point win over Darby, with Samuel Noonan third.
Jy Roberts – TC 85: “I’m stoked that I won! I’ve been training hard and putting in the effort. I’ve been going to cross-fit three or four times every week, and cycling with Mossy and Willsy. I’ve been riding at McCleary’s track with all the pros, just training heaps with them and riding the tracks, training non-stop. At the start of the season I had a big competition with Rhys Budd, but he crashed at Adelaide and was unable to finish the series off. It was definitely tough to put the whole championship together without any mistakes. Melbourne was pretty much spot on, nothing went wrong, the track was pretty good. After winning all three at Jimboomba, all I had to do was win the first race and I’d win the title; then I could just go out in the last two and have fun. The last one I was battling with Bailey for the whole race and passed him in the second-last corner to get the win.”
2016 SuperEnduro World Championships – Round 1 – Lodz, Poland
The opening round of the 2016 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship was held in Poland last weekend and it was KTM US rider and AMA EnduroCross Champion Cody Webb who took out the overall win ahead of Red Bull KTM factory superstars Jonny Walker and Taddy Blazusiak.
Cody Webb was hot on the track and wrapped up the first final early in the evening. He finished sixth in the second final, which starts in reverse order, then had another convincing win in the third final to take the trophy.
Jonny Walker was the most consistent and often the fastest on the Polish track to be second in each of the three finals and registering the fastest lap in the first and second race. At the end of the night he conceded the victory to Webb by just one point, which reflected the fact that Webb had also won the SuperPole.
Third place went to Taddy Blazusiak, riding in front of a very enthusiastic hometown audience. The event in fact signaled a successful return to racing for the Polish rider who had missed the second half of the 2015 season suffering with the debilitating Epstein Barr virus.
Webb:“To come away from round one with the overall is just fantastic. Two wins and sixth was great. I really felt good out there tonight. The track was riding really fast but I had a good flow. Race one was near perfect. I got a decent start, followed Jonny and then got into the lead. Race two was just a bit of a lottery but then to win the final and take the overall capped off a great night.”
Walker: “It wasn’t the overall win I wanted but it was pretty close – only one point away. There wasn’t much in it between Cody and me at the end of the night. The goal was to be consistent. I wasn’t consistent at round one last year so I definitely feel like I turned things around tonight. Three second-place results were great, the SuperPole just cost me the top step of the podium but I can leave Poland happy and look forward to Germany.”
Blazusiak: “Tonight was just wild. I hit the ground hard a couple of times and really had to dig deep to pull something out of the bag. When I crashed off the start in race three I thought that was it, any chance of the podium was gone, but I didn’t give up and clawed my way back. That’s probably the hardest fought podium result I’ve ever got, so I’m pleased. After taking the summer off with illness, it’s good to be back on track. There are still some bits of my riding to build on but it’s coming back. My fitness didn’t fade so I’m pumped about that. There’s still a long way to go in this championship, that’s for sure.”
American rider Taylor Robert finished fifth, followed by Alfredo Gomez of Spain, who recently signed with the KTM Factory Racing Team. Seventh was USA’s Ty Tremaine, who has just moved up from the Junior Class, Swedish KTM rider Andreas Linusson was eighth and Paul Bolton of the UK was tenth to give KTM eight riders of the top ten places.
Colton Haaker – 4th overall – “It was an eventful night. My bike was excellent and I really felt like I could ride to my potential. The track in Poland was good and we had some interesting races. It’s great for the sport that we have five or six different riders going for the win. I got a mediocre first race, a win in the second race and had a big crash in the last race. If you’re out front from the start it makes a big difference and that’s what happened to me in the second race, which I won. In the final race Taddy got tangled up with someone and went straight on and I was just there. I went over the side of the bike and lost it. The gear level broke so I was left in fourth gear. I’m looking forward to the next round, hopefully with some better luck.”
Mario Roman – 9th overall – “It was my first race with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team and I’m glad I kept improving during the night. It’s really hard to come back to competitive action after six months off. We worked hard during the day and came up with a good bike set-up. Right now I feel I can compete with the best of the guys for a certain amount of laps, but I still need to find my rhythm for the full moto to get better results. I’m happy I improved during the day and managed to get a ninth place overall. We’ll get back stronger in the next round of the championship.”
Next Race: January 2, 2016 – Riesa (GER)
- Overall Classification – 1. Cody Webb (KTM) 53pts; 2. Jonny Walker (KTM) 52pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 39pts; 4. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 38pts; 5. Taylor Robert (KTM) 38pts
- 1st Final – 1. Cody Webb (KTM) 8 laps, 06:56.141; 2. Jonny Walker (KTM) 06:59.679; 3. Taylor Robert (KTM) 07:02.951; 4. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 07:07.319; 5. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 07:10.71
- 2nd Final – 1. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 8 laps, 06:56.231; 2. Jonny Walker (KTM) 06:59.392; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 07:08.002; 4. Andreas Linusson (KTM) 07:29.611; 5. Alfredo Gomez (KTM) 07:30.25
- 3rd Final – 1. Cody Webb (KTM) 9 laps, 07:51.123; 2. Jonny Walker (KTM) 07:58.385; 3. Taylor Robert (KTM) 08:01.783; 4. Alfredo Gomez (KTM) 08:15.277; 5. Ty Tremaine (KTM) 08:19.25
King of Geneva – Switzerland
Justin Brayton’s preparation for the 2016 AMA Supercross Championship is in great shape after a sensational Euro Supercross season where the KTM pilot won the overall in Bulgaria, Genova and now the Geneva.
Brayton was unbeaten all weekend in heats and final appearances and when it was all said and done was crowned King Of Geneva ahead of Malcolm Stewart and Fabien Izoird.
“Yeah, a good European tour for me, I won all three, Brayton told RacerX. “I feel good going into Anaheim, ten times better than I did last year. We had three totally different types of track and three totally different styles. I feel really good about where we are on our bike. Instead of just riding at home on the hard pack everyday, I’ve kind of had to test on different tracks and see how the bike reacts. It’s been awesome. I know it sounds cliché but I’m excited, I feel good and I’m ready to go.”
- SX1 Friday Results: 1. Justin Brayton. 2. Malcolm Stewart. 3. Gregory Aranda. 4. Fabien Izoird. 5. Matteo Bonini. 6. Valentin Teillet. 7. Cyrille Coulon. 8. Loic Rombaut. 9. Charles LeFrancois. 10. Cedric Soubeyras.
- SX1 Saturday Results: 1. Justin Brayton. 2. Cedric Soubeyras. 3. Valentin Teillet. 4. Fabien Izoird. 5. Valentin Guillod. 6. Malcolm Stewart. 7. Christophe Martin. 8. Matteo Bonini. 9. Loic Rombaut. 10. Cyrille Coulon.
- King of Geneva Overall: 1. Justin Brayton. 2. Malcolm Stewart. 3. Fabien Izoird. 4. Valentin Teillet. 5. Cedric Soubeyras. 6. Matteo Bonini. 7. Valentin Guillod. 8. Loic Rombaut.. 9. Cyrille Coulon. 10. Gregory Aranda.
2015 Roof Of Africa
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Graham Jarvis has won the Roof of Africa, ending the three-day event ahead of Wade Young and Brett Swanepoel.
Making a conservative start to the race held in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, Jarvis placed sixth at the end of the opening day’s ‘Round The Houses’ time trial. Knowing that two long, tough days of competition lay ahead Jarvis was very much making a tactical bid for overall victory.
Day two was all about putting himself in a strong position in readiness for the third and final day’s competition. Placing second on the day to move up to fourth overall, Jarvis caught up with day one winner Wade Young yet pushed no harder than he needed to.
As expected the third and final day proved decisive. Starting one-minute behind then race leader Wade Young, Graham took his time to reel in those ahead of him before striking as the event reached its hardest sections. Moving firstly into the race lead Jarvis steadily extended his advantage, opening up a 20-minute lead as the day neared its close.
In biding his time during the first two days of competition Jarvis once again showed his superiority during the final day of racing, earning a well-deserved 2015 Roof of Africa victory. “It feels great to get the win at the Roof of Africa. It’s an incredible event, and this year was as tough as ever. I’ve learned lot over the years and I know I’m not as quick as the younger riders on the faster sections, so this year it was all about taking my time and waiting for the more technical sections. The first two days were really about putting myself in the right position for the final day. At the start of the final day I decided to stay behind the guys ahead of me at first. I let them do some of the navigating, and saved some energy. Last year I ran out of energy, so I didn’t want to make that mistake again. Once we arrived at the difficult hill climbs I gave it everything I had. I knew that was where I could make up time, and things went to plan. The Roof of Africa certainly doesn’t get any easier, but to end 2015 with a win here is a great way to finish off the season.”
- Results – Roof of Africa 2015: 1. Graham Jarvis. 2. Wade Young. 3. Brett Swanapoel. 4. Travis Teasdale. 5. Jade Gudzeit. 6. Kenny Gilbert.7. Altus De Wet. 8. Henco Botha.
2015 RED BULL Day In The Dirt 18
The 18th running of the Annual Red Bull ‘Day In The Dirt’ was held last weekend with a good smattering of current and former motocross, enduro and desert racing champions – here are the results below:
- Coup De Grace GP: 1. Zach Osborne. 2. Taylor Robert. 3. Sean Cantrell. 4. Blayne Thompson. 5. Colton Udall. 6. Ivan Ramirez. 7. Robbie Wageman. 8. Arik Swan. 9. Chris See. 10. Eric Yorba.
- Pro-Am GP: 1. Josh Grant. 2. Sebastien Tortelli. 3. Blayne Thompson. 4. Mitchell Falk. 5. Sean Cantrell. 6. Dalton Shirey. 7. Carlen Gardner. 8. Justin Hoeft. 9. Derek Drake. 10. Willy Simons Jr.
- Socal Reunion Race: 1. Mike Sleeter. 2. Mark Tilley. 3. Ron Lechien. 4. Jon Ortner. 5. Terry Cook. 6. Jason Norton. 7. Mason O’Brian. 8. Jeff Niblack. 9. Louie Franco. 10. Zeke Landers.
- Two-Stroke Revival Race: 1. Taylor Robert. 2. Trevor Stewart. 3. Jarryd McNeil. 4. Griffin Dexter. 5. Dalton Shirey. 6. Derek Drake. 7. Colton Udall. 8. Willy Simons Jr.. 9. Derek Kelley. 10. Mike Sleeter.
Future West Moto Arenacross – Round 7&8 – Chilliwack – BC
Round 7 and 8 of the Future West Arenacross series was held last weekend in Chilliwack and despite and up and down weekend Ross Johnson continues to lead the Lites and Open championships.
- AX Pro Overall (Round 7):1. Noah Mcconahy. 2. Chris Howell. 3. Ross Johnson. 4. Ryan Lockhart. 5. Collin Jurin.
- AX Pro Overall (Round 8): 1. Collin Jurin. 2. Ross Johnson. 3. Ryan Lockhart. 4. Chris Howell. 5. Brad Nauditt.
- Pro Lights Overall (Round 7): 1. Ross Johnson. 2. Collin Jurin. 3. Brad Nauditt. 4. Keylan Meston. 5. Ryan Lockhart.
- Pro Lights Overall (Round 8): 1. Jake Anstett. 2. Noah Mcconahy. 3. Brad Nauditt. 4. Chris Howell. 5. Collin Jurin.
- Pro Lites Series Standings: 1. Ross Johnson – 162pts. 2. Jake Anstett – 152pts. 3. Brad Nauditt – 148pts. 4. Ryan Lockhart – 127pts. 5. Kyle Swanson – 115pts.
- AX Pro Series Standings: 1. Ross Johnson – 174pts. 2. Ryan Lockhart – 154pts. 3. Brad Nauditt – 150pts. 4. Kyle Swanson – 111pts. 5. Noah Mcconahy – 111pts.
