Moto News Weekly Wrap

April 3, 2018 – By Darren Smart

Proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax

Latest News

• Latest A4DE News
• Australian Squad announced for 2018 Trial des Nation
• Smith Wins Condobolin 750
• Johnson Wins Hook Creek Enduro
• Manjimup Hosts Round 1 of WAMX
• Brook and Koppe Win in Townsville
• Roczen Back in the Saddle
• Desalle Wins Belgian MX Championship

Race Reports

• FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Sparbanken Arena – Sweden
• FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship – Gillman Speedway
• FIM Speedway Sidecar 1000cc World Cup – Gillman Speedway
• FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship – Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Wrap
• MTA World Two-Stroke Championship – Glen Helen
• British Motocross Championships – Rnd 1 – Culham Park, United Kingdom

Latest A4DE News

Well, here we are in down town Cessnock and the place has been swamped by the A4DE! Every café, service station, pub, restaurant, grocer and shopping centre is riddled with competitors and supporters going about their business while the local showground has been well and truly taken over by the Cessnock Motorcycle Club as the parc ferme.

As for the riders, the short and tricky Prologue has been completed, most of us have walked the multiple special tests and tomorrow it will be down to business and from what I have seen so far it is going to be a dusty affair with plenty of surprises along the way as we traverse the multiple trails and specials tests BUT, there is a special atmosphere for many who see Cessnock as the home of the Australian Enduro scene.

Current Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) leader Daniel Sanders won the E3 class at the A4DE in 2016 but has yet to win the event outright.

Daniel Sanders

“Being the 40th anniversary of the four-day it will be an important one to win and a lot of past champions will be there for the milestone occasion, I haven’t won the A4DE outright before, so it’s definitely on the list to do and coming off of a win in the AORC last time out, I have a good feeling knowing that I can be at the pointy-end. Anything can happen over four days, so I have to make sure myself and the bike make it through the first three days and then we can look where we’re at heading into the final day. It will be a big event and I’m really excited to go into race week.”

Geoff Ballard is in Cessnock to compete in his 30^th A4DE and he is the star billing for the inaugural Vintage Class for 1986 and older dirt bikes.

Geoff Ballard

“It’s pretty exciting to be competing in a class that I’ve never competed in before on home soil in my 30th A4DE, it takes me back to when I started, and I can’t wait to get out there. I think the Vintage Class has added something to the event as it brings great history and after doing the Six-Day Vintage Class last year, it was amazing seeing how many people enjoyed coming out to watch the old bikes race.”

Essentially the A4DE is a team’s event and each State has named a full-strength team in their quest to win the Challenge Trophy – see the teams list below:

VICTORIA

• Senior team: Peter Boyle, Tom Mason, Daniel Milner, Daniel Sanders, Jack Simpson, Lyndon Snodgrass.
• Junior team: Stuart Holt, Jessie Lawton, Trent Tucci and Andrew Wilksch.
• Women’s Team: Sophie Coldicutt and Tegan Hall
• Vintage Team: TBA

QUEENSLAND

• Senior Team: Lachie Stanford, Luke Styke, Kane Hall, Cameron Vinstead, Thomas Jenner, Christian Sprenger
• Junior Team: Fraser Higlett, Matty Morry, PD Allen, Lachlan Allen
• Women’s Team: Tamara Gray and Jemma Wilson
• Vintage Team: Darren Smart, Rick Madden, Ashley Sprenger

NEW SOUTH WALES

• Senior Team: Josh Green, Brad Hardaker, Broc Grabham, Scott Keegan, Micheal Driscoll, Stefan Granquist
• Junior Team: Wil Ruprecht, Nic Tomlinson, Mitch Brierley, Josh Brierley
• Women’s Team: Jessica Gardiner, Emeelie Karlsson
• Vintage Team: TBA

AUSTRLIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

• Junior Team: Jacob Peacock, Corey Hammond, Chris Papas, Jack Heffernan
• Women’s Team: Courtney Rubie and Julie Denyer
• Vintage Team: TBA

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

• Senior Team: Nathaniel Beattie, Lachlan Carter, Nick Jeggo, Joel Rebello, Trent Sykes, Cameron Vanstan.
• Junior Team: Brock Buckingham, Nathan Howe, Jamie Makin, Max Vlasich.
• Women’s Team: Avril Gill and Katherine Kingsley.
• Vintage Team: TBA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

• Senior Team: Michael Baraglia, Michael Collins, Rowan Waye, David Jongebloed, Leigh Bentley, Matt Robinson.
• Vintage Team: TBA

Footnote: I was lucky enough to walk one special test with five-time world champion Jess Gardiner on Sunday then I walked two special tests with young guns in Mitch and Josh Brierley on Monday and I can’t thank them enough for giving the ol’ Smarty a good insight into what is ahead of me and for being so hospitable along the way.

Australian Squad announced for 2018 Trial des Nation

The 2018 Australian Trial des Nation (TDN) men’s and women’s teams have both been announced, before they head off to Sokolov, Czech Republic on September 22-23.

Returning to defend their 2017 International Class title, the men’s team will return the same as last year with Kyle Middleton, Connor Hogan and Chris Bayles. The women’s team will include Kristie McKinnon, Sofie Kraft and Jena Lupo.

Australia’s best trial riders will take on the world, with up to 120 riders and over 25 countries set to converge on Sokolov for the World Trial des Nations. Australia’s men’s team will return as the defending champions in the International Class for the first time and a added bit of pressure that team manager Peter Whittle welcomes.

Peter Whittle

“It will be a great thing if we can back it up again in 2018, to win it last year was a great achievement as that’s the first time we have ever won the International Class. The terrain this time around could be a little bit different, but we are hoping the terrain suits our riders. We do go in as one of the favourites in our class but potentially Germany will drop back and give us a run for our money, but we also have to be wary of the Czech on home soil.”

The men’s team go in to the TDN full of confidence after taking out the top three spots in last weeks Australian X-trial Championship in Perth. Middleton will lead the Australian charge as the Australian Trial Championship Champion in the Solo Class.

The Women’s team will have a new look this year, with eight-time Australian Trail Championship Champion McKinnon returning to the fold after a year’s absence and Lupo will be a welcome new addition to the team in his first TDN.

Kraft is the only member of the 2017 team to return for this year’s TDN, and Kraft will be looking to back up her second-place finish behind McKinnon at the Australian Trial Championship.

Smith Wins Condobolin 750

With an overall time of 8 hours and 27 minutes, Honda’s Jacob Smith has won the 30^th Condobolin 750 ahead of Jake Worland and David Geeves.

Condo 750

Jacob Smith of the Penrite Honda Racing Desert team has claimed victory at the 30th anniversary Condo 750 over the Easter weekend, the biggest road navigational rally in New South Wales.

2018 marks Smiths 4th win and his 10th time competing in the in Condobolin event, only missing a podium finish once in his Condo career.

“I had a really solid weekend and the race pretty much went exactly to plan, I held back a little in prologue to start 6th on day one and worked my way into the lead at around the 100 km mark of the first stage, from then on I led for the rest of the race.” Smith said.

“The 2018 CRF450R was perfect all weekend, the electric start was ideal and I was really happy with my navigation, not making one mistake the whole race which is pretty rare for Condo. It is very pleasing when everything works and winning by over 20 minutes was amazing.” Smith added.

Smith was pleased with his pre-race preparation and the support he received from the team and his family in the lead up and during the gruelling three days of competition.

“When you are racing and riding over 3 days it’s important to have a great network of people behind you.  I could not do this without my family and Honda. Thank you to all who allow me to race at this level.” Smith finished.

Smith and the entire Factory Desert Team will now turn their attentions to testing for Finke.

Prologue winner Lachlan Manwaring and pre-race favourite Rodney Faggotter didn’t make it through Saturday’s competitive stage with early reports coming back saying that both riders hit kangaroos in separate incidents.

Johnson Wins Hook Creek 100

The best of Tasmania’s off-road riders competed in the Hook Creek 100 in the small town of Rocky Cape last weekend and in wet conditions Dalton Johnson got the overall and Pro-Open win ahead of Lincoln Bird and Troy Sheridan while other class winners included Seton Broomhall (Pro-Lites), Dean Vanderwerf (Clubman), Kyron Bacon (13-16 Years), Kobe Conley (85cc) and Nate Airey (65cc).

Manjimup Hosts Round 1 of WAMX

The famous Manjimup motocross facility in Cosy Creek hosted the opening round of the coveted WA Motocross Championship last weekend and it was David Birch who drew first blood by winning the overall in the Pro-Open class with 2-1-1 results over the three motos ahead of Michael Mahon and Paul Humbertson while in the MX2 class Daniel Pajewski narrowly got the nod for the overall ahead of the hard charging Fabry brothers Matt and Jayden.

Other class winners included Scott Patricevish (Vets), James Craig (Masters), Luke Gaisford (Quads, Jess Moore (Womens), Seth Shacklton (65cc 7-10), Kayden Minear (85/150 9-U12 and 65cc 10-U12), Regan Duffy (100-125cc 13-U16 and 128-150cc/250cc 13-U16), Brock Flynn (85/150cc 12-U16), Jae Dowsett (Quad Comp 12-U16), Keenan Murphy (Quad Comp 8-U12) and Mason Brown (50cc).

Brook and Koppe Win in Townsville

The Townsville Motorcycle Club hosted the Queensland Long Track and Dirt Track Championships last weekend and although not all of the results are through at the time of writing local hero Damien Koppe has won the Long Track Pro 450 class while Jared Brook won the Long Track Pro Open class.

Queens Baton Relay and Motorcycle Champions

As the Commonwealth Games Queens Baton Relay made its way down the Queensland Coast, young dirt track champion Jared Brook was part of the relay as the baton made it’s way through his home town of Gympie, then a few hundred kms south it was Stephen Gall who continued the relay as the baton made it’s way through it’s final few street of the Gold Coast.

Roczen Back in the Saddle

Honda HRC have announced that Ken Roczen is scheduled to begin riding as soon as April 16 which is just five days after surgery where Dr. Viola, who performed all of Roczen’s surgeries on his left arm last year and did the initial procedure on his hand this year, will remove the pins from his right hand.

Roczen had been sidelined since early February after sustaining a fracture to the second metacarpal in his right hand in a crash in San Diego when Roczen went down with Cooper Webb and Roczen’s hand/arm got sucked into Webb’s rear wheel and swingarm area. Roczen underwent surgery on February 16 and will miss the remainder of Monster Energy AMA Supercross but expects to return for the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross opener at Hangtown on May 19.

Indianapolis also served as the last race that Oscar Wirdeman will work with fill-in Christian Craig. He’ll return to working with Roczen, as he’s expected to begin riding shortly after the break. Rich Simmons, Cole Seely’s mechanic, will finish out the season with Craig.

Desalle Wins Belgian MX Championship

The opening round of the Belgian Motocross Championships was held last weekend and it was predictably Kawasaki star Clement Desalle who took the overall win ahead of Ken DeDycker and Kevin Strjbos.

MX Overall

1. Clement Desalle – 50
2. Ken DeDycker – 44
3. Kevin Strijbos – 40
4. Dietger Damiaens – 34
5. Steve Roman – 33

Smarty’s Race Reports

FIM SuperEnduro World Championship
Sparbanken Arena – Sweden

Despite finishing fifth place at the final round, FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Cody Webb has won the 2018 FIM Maxxis SuperEnduro World Championship at the Sparbanken Arena in Sweeden.

Claiming a career-first overall victory, Billy Bolt delivering arguably the best performance of his career. Bolt raced his way to two wins from three starts at the final round to secure the top step of the podium and ended the championship as runner-up in the final standings.

Adding the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship to his 2017 AMA Endurocross title, Cody Webb is undisputedly the man to beat in indoor enduro. Despite a tough final round, the American was overjoyed with his first ever World title.

Cody Webb

“I am so happy, I can’t tell you what this means to me. Of course, I feel bad for Taddy, he was riding really well tonight. The championship has been great and for it to come down to the wire shows how high the quality really is – I have so much respect for every single rider in this series. I was riding really tight tonight – I think because of my nerves – and Taddy was pushing so hard. He had some bad luck tonight, but I’ve had a couple of bad rounds too.  After having a year out of racing in Europe, to come back and be World Champion is amazing – this is definitely the most important title I have won so far. After my riding tonight, I know there are still some things I have to work on so I’ll go away now, regroup and prepare for the WESS this summer.”

Since the beginning of the season in December, the world’s best SuperEnduro riders have banged bars and fought hard on technical and perilous tracks from Poland, Germany, Spain and the Basque Country, to Sweden. Tonight’s final battle in Lidköping played out on a track that was very, very fast!

Taddy Blazusiak won the Akrapovic Super Pole on the night in front of Jonny Walker and Cody Webb, closely followed by Colton Haaker and Billy Bolt. The Polish rider was determined to take as many points as possible and in the very first race of the night, series leader Cody Webb lost half of his advantage to the speed and determination of Blazusiak, and the aggressiveness of Bolt – who was afraid of nothing! By the chequred flag Blazusiak held on for the win ahead of Bolt and Haaker. The first race held in front of thrilled fans contained many mistakes, crashes, and bar-banging, and put the pressure on for the proceeding races!

The reverse-grid of race two was event more incredible than the first, undoubtedly changed the course of SuperEnduro history. The race between Bolt, Blazusiak and Webb, all trying to catch Manuel Lettenbichler who had taken the lead with a very good start.

While Webb faltered and fell several times, the unthinkable occurred to Taddy Blazusiak when the Pole was forced to stop as his rear suspension broke. This DNF cost him dearly, he needed 4 more points to keep the fight with his American rival and go for gold in the 3rd race. While it was terrible misfortune for Blazusiak, it was happiness for Webb, who became World Champion after the unexpected abandonment of his rival! A title as precarious as unpredictable, and a real turn up for the books for SuperEnduro fans the world over.

The third race was where Billy Bolt finally put it to his older rivals! The rookie flew through the last race of the night, skilfully crossing the many obstacles and easily beating much more experienced riders. Even though, for many people, the focus was on the winner of the World Championship, the Brit fought to the end. Bolt provided a spectacular final race of the season, rocketing himself to an overall victory and snatching second in the championship from Blazusiak.

Billy Bolt

“It’s been the perfect end to the series — winning my first round overall and then ending the championship as runner-up. I couldn’t ask for more than that, especially in my rookie season. Tonight was a great night and I felt my riding really came together to take the overall victory. We’ve worked tirelessly as a team to improve little by little and the end result has paid off with the top step of the podium here in Sweden. My speed wasn’t any better or worse than previous rounds, but my mistakes were fewer and that’s made the difference. I felt much more consistent in my riding and was able to handle the intensity better, taking two race wins tonight. Regards the final championship standings it was a shame for Taddy Blazusiak to have an issue like he did and it definitely swayed the end result in my favour, but I guess that’s the luck of racing sometimes. Finally, I just wanted to say a huge thanks to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team for their support and belief in me to get this result.”

Riding consistently throughout the evening, Jonny Walker finished as runner-up and also claimed the overall Akrapovic SuperPole title for the season. The former Erzbergrodeo winner will now look ahead to the outdoor season and the World Enduro Super Series.

Jonny Walker

“It was a tough night tonight – second overall with a 5-4-3 result shows just how tricky the track was and I think everyone found it hard. My pace definitely got better as the night went on and to finish as runner-up on the night is great, I won the SuperPole award for the season, which shows my speed is definitely good enough, I just need to work a little on my consistency. With the WESS not far away now, I’ll start working on the outdoor races and the different challenges for the rest of the year.”

To come back from such disappointment and challenge for the win in the final race shows the spirit of Taddy Blazusiak. Just months after announcing his return to competitive competition, Taddy was incredibly close to taking a seventh world title. The multiple world champion has vowed to come back and try again come 2019.

Taddy Blazusiak

“I am so disappointed. Words can’t describe how I feel right now, on the positive side, I know I was fast tonight, I was riding really well. I was feeling good on the bike, practice and SuperPole went well and then in the first race, I was able to set a good, fast pace at the front. Going into the second race, I was only eight points down on Cody in the championship and I knew he had made a couple of mistakes in the first race. To be forced to retire like that is bad at any time, but to lose the championship like that is heart-breaking. I got back for the third race, but my heart wasn’t quite in it. To come back to racing and be so close to taking another world title is definitely encouraging though. I think my pace towards the end of the season was the best. I might have missed out this time, but I’ll be back next year to take my seventh championship.”

Prestige Class Results
Super Pole powered by Akrapovic

1. Taddy BLAZUSIAK
2. Jonny WALKER
3. Cody WEBB

Heat 1

1. Taddy BLAZUSIAK
2. Billy BOLT
3. Colton HAAKER
4. Cody WEBB
5. Jonny WALKER
6. Manuel LETTENBICHLER
7. Blake GUTZEIT
8. Cristobal GUERRERO
9. Benjamin HERRERA
10. Diogo VIEIRA

Heat 2

1. Billy BOLT
2. Manuel LETTENBICHLER
3. Cody WEBB
4. Jonny WALKER
5. Colton HAAKER
6. Blake GUTZEIT
7. Benjamin HERRERA
8. Thor MAGNUS
9. Diogo VIEIRA
10. Cristobal GUERRERO

Heat 3

1. Billy BOLT
2. Taddy BLAZUSIAK
3. Jonny WALKER
4. Manuel LETTENBICHLER
5. Blake GUTZEIT
6. Cody WEBB
7. Colton HAAKER
8. Benjamin HERRERA
9. Cristobal GUERRERO
10. Benjamin HERRERA

Prestige Class — Overall

1. Billy BOLT (GBR), Husqvarna, 57 points
2. Jonny WALKER (GBR), KTM, 41 pts
3. Taddy BLAZUSIAK (POL), KTM, 40 pts
4. Manuel LETTENBICHLER (DEU), KTM, 39 pts
5. Cody WEBB (USA), KTM, 38 pts

Final Season Standing

1. Cody WEBB 240 pts
2. Billy BOLT 226 pts
3. Taddy BLAZUSIAK 225 pts
4. Jonny WALKER 194 pts
5. Colton HAAKER 180 pts
6. Manuel LETTENBICHLER 171 pts
7. Alfredo GOMEZ 105pts
8. Blake GUTZEIT 102 pts
9. Cristobal GUERRERO 77 pts
10. Benjamin HERRERA 68 pts

2018 FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship
Gillman Speedway

Sidecar duo Darrin Treloar and Jesse Headland (AUS) have made history by winning the 2018 FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship last Saturday night.

A Final Results

1. Darrin Treloar / Jesse Headland
2. Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter
3. Andrew Buchanan / Denny Cox
   …DQ. Warren Monson / Andrew Summerhayes

B Final Results

1. Andrew Buchanan / Denny Cox
2. Trent Headland / Darryl Whetstone
3. Jamie Moohan / Bayley Ogilvie
4. Dave Bottrell / Chris Bottrell

2018 FIM Speedway Sidecar 1000cc World Cup – Gillman Speedway

Darrin Treloar and Jess Headland have topped off an incredible 2018 season by winning every race including the all-important final to become the 2018 FIM Speedway Sidecar 1000cc World Cup champions after a sensational night of racing at the now famous Gillman Speedway.

Recently Treloar and Headland went undefeated in the four round Sidecar Super Series before blitzing the field in the FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship last Saturday night before their World Cup victory over Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter and Andrew Buchanan / Denny Cox.

See the full report here: Treloar & Headland claim Speedway Sidecar World Cup

FIM Speedway Sidecar 1000cc World Cup Final

1. Darrin Treloar / Jesse Headland
2. Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter
3. Andrew Buchanan / Denny Cox
4. Trent Headland / Darryl Whetstone

FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship
Round 1 – Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Pablo Quintanilla has earned victory at the opening round of the 2018 FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship – the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in the United Arab Emirates.

See the full report here: 
Pablo Quintanilla wins Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Link)

Final Standings Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018

1. Quintanilla Pablo – Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna 16:51’11
2. Sunderland Sam – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +5’11
3. Benavides Kevin – Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +8’34
4. Walkner Matthias – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +9’36
5. Goncalves Paulo – Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +18’35
6. Brabec Ricky – Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +20’46
7. Price Toby – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +29’45
8. Cornejo José Ignacio – Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +30’05
9. Metge Michael – Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +38’19
10. Melot Benjamin – Duust Rally Team KTM +2:15’37

2018 MTA World Two-Stroke Championship – Glen Helen

The annual MTA World Two-Stroke Championship was held at Glen Helen last weekend and it was former pro motocrosser turned off-road racer Zach Bell who put on an amazing last lap charge to catch and pass race leader Darryn Durham three corners from the chequered flag for the Open Pro win.

Robbie Wageman won the 125cc class over Carson Carr and Sean Borkenhagen while Pat Foster won the Over-50 Expert class, Andy Jefferson, who works at Husqvarna America won the Over-50 Expert class and Randel Fout beat a quality field in the Over-60 Expert class on a bog-stock YZ125.

The total purse for the 2018 World Two-Stroke Championship was $9500 with TCX boots making a strong presence by posting the $8000 in prize money for the Open Pro class, with MTA kicking in $1500 for the 125 Pros.

250/Open Pro Results

1. Zach Bell (Hus) 1-1
2. Darryn Durham (Yam) 2-2
3. Talon Lafountaine (KTM) 4-3
4. Ryan Surratt (Hon) 3-6
5. Richard Taylor (Suz) 7-8

125 Pro Results

1. Robbie Wageman (KTM) 1-1
2. Carson Carr (KTM) 2-2
3. Sean Borkenhagen (KTM) 3-4
4. Colton Aeck (Yam) 5-3
5. Broc Shoemaker (Yam) 4-5

Over-40 Experts Results

1. Pat Foster (Yam) 1-1
2. James Lavender (TM) 2-2
3. Justin Crawford (KTM) 4-3
4. Ralf Schmidt (TM) 3-4
5. Scott Mooney (Yam) 5-5

Over-50 Expert Results

1. Andy Jefferson (Hus) 1-1
2. Jonathan Levey (KTM) 2-2
3. Jim Chamberlain (Suz) 3-4
4. Val Tamietti (Yam) 5-3
5. Mike Monaghan (Yam) 6-5
6. Dan Alamangos (KTM) 7-6

Over-60 Expert Results

1. Randel Fout (Yam) 1-1
2. Bob Casper (KTM) 2-2
3. Val Tamietti (Yam) 3-3
4. Mike Monaghan (Yam) 5-4
5. John Atwood (Yam) 4-6

Maxxis British Motocross Championships
Round 1 – Culham Park, United Kingdom

Graeme Irwin and Conrad Mewse have won the MX1 and MX2 classes respectively at the opening round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championships held on the undulating and technical Culham Park circuit in Oxfordshire, UK.

Irwin won the MX1 class with 1-3 results, leading home Evgeny Bobryshev who scored 4-1 results and Jake Nicholls who went 2-4. Brad Anderson and Kristian Whatley rounded out the top five.

Maxxis MX1 Overall

1. Graeme Irwin – 45
2. Evgeny Bobryshev – 43
3. Jake Nicholls – 40
4. Brad Anderson – 35
5. Kristian Whatley – 30

Conrad Mewse has won the MX2 with a solid 1-1 results ahead of Joshua Gilbert with 2-2 and third was Mel Pocock with 3-4 scores. Liam Knight, Ashton-Lee Dickinson, Alexander Brown and Kiwi Josiah Natzke rounded out the top seven.

Maxxis MX2 Overall

1. Conrad Mewse – 50
2. Joshua Gilbert – 44
3. Mel Pocock – 38
4. Liam Knight – 36
5. Ashton-Lee Dickinson – 30
6. Alexander Brown – 28
7. Josiah Natzke – 27