— Monster Energy MX Nationals – Round Two – Murray Bridge – Promoter Report
Following a huge opening round, teams and riders packed up and made the trip to Murray Bridge SA for the second round of the tour.
Presented with an amazing track and great conditions the scene was set for some epic racing.
With a strong crowd around 3000 in attendance, the riders didn’t disappoint with some amazing battles across all classes.
First on the track was the Motul MX2 championship class, carrying the red plate from his round 1 win was 2012 runner up Luke Styke (Serco Yamaha).
Styke took a fall in moto 1 and worked his way from the back through to 3rd place, he came out swinging in moto 2 and took the win, Second on the day and maintaining his series red plate.
His Teammate Serco Yamaha, MX2 Rookie Luke Clout took the win in moto 1 and 2nd in moto two, for the overall and his first MX2 win.
3rd overall was Privateer Brock Winston for his first ever MX Nationals Podium.
The Monster Energy MX1 Championship class didn’t disappoint with the first lot of championship points going to Motorex KTM’s Todd Waters in the Go Pro Super Pole.
Moto 1 was a real mixed bag with both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders suffering DNF and plenty of other riders taking small falls, Waters was the pace setter but a few mistakes had him finish 3rd. Moto 2 was won by Waters and that gave him the round win to make it two from two.
Second overall was Billy Mackenzie backing up his performance from round 1 and filling the last spot on the podium was Campbell Mining’s Jake Moss.
Murray Bridge played host to the opening round of the Yamaha Australian Pro Quads class and they really turned up the heat with some great action.
Moto 1 was red flagged on the first lap with defending champion Gaisford taking a heavy fall.
With Gaisford out ,it opened the championship up to be anybody’s day.
Yamaha mounted Christopher Bosnakis, (WA) showed that he will be a name in the Pro Quads, the 16 year old won both moto’s to take the overall from Victorian Honda mounted Jake van Vliet and rounding out the podium was Adam Larson in 3rd place.
Series Promoter Kevin Williams was delighted with the event ,and the work the club did in improving the venue. “This would be the best round we have had in ten years” Williams said.
Monster Energy MX Nats Rd.2 MX1 Overall Results:
1. Todd Waters 66
2. Billy Mackenzie 64
3. Jake Moss 60
4. Lawson Bopping 59
5. Matt Moss 54
6. Tye Simmonds 46
7. Jacob Wright 45
8. Cody Cooper 45
9. Ford Dale 42
10. Cody Mackie 42
11. Daniel McCoy 41
12. Cheyne Boyd 40
13. Kirk Gibbs 39
MX1 Championship Points:
1. Todd Waters 141
2. Billy Mackenzie 122
3. Lawson Bopping 109
4. Jake Moss 107
5. Matt Moss 107
6. Cody Cooper 105
7. Tye Simmonds 98
8. Ford Dale 85
9. Cody Mackie 83
10. Jacob Wright 80
11. Daniel McCoy 78
12. Kirk Gibbs 76
MX2 Overall Results:
1. Luke Clout 67
2. Luke Styke 65
3. Brock Winston 57
4. Kale Makeham 54
5. Ryan Marmont 50
6. Dylan Long 49
7. Geran Stapleton 47
8. Rhys Carter 45
9. Kayne Lamont 44
10. Matt Ryan 43
MX2 Championship Points:
1. Luke Styke 135
2. Luke Clout 122
3. Kale Makeham 112
4. Brock Winston 109
5. Geran Stapleton 90
6. Kayne Lamont 90
7. Matt Ryan 90
8. Josh Cachia 88
9. Takeshi Katsuya 82
10. Kade Mosig 73
11. Tristen Cachia 69
12. Dylan Long 66
Yamaha Pro Quads Round Results
1st Christopher Bosnakis 70 Points
2nd Jake van Vliet 62 Points
3rd Adam Larson 58 Points
4th Mitch van Vliet 56 Points
5th Daniel Middleton 56 Points
— Motorex KTM Report
Motorex KTM team rider Todd Waters won his second straight round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals at Murray Bridge today, despite a crash which led to him finishing fifth in the first moto.
The North Queensland ace not only reiterated his outstanding form from round one, but also showed his ability to fight back from setback as he extended his lead in the MX Nats championship to 19 points.
Waters won the Go Pro Super Pole, then scored fifth and first place finishes from the two motos, winning overall from Billy Mackenzie, Jake Moss, Lawson Bopping and Matt Moss.
Motorex KTM Team mate Kirk Gibbs his doggedness after a puncture in the opening moto dropped him to outside the top 20. The MX2 rookie regrouped and came out all guns blazing in moto 2, building on a lightning start to claim a brilliant and well-deserved fourth place.
Rob Twyerould – Team Manager “It was a beautiful day today with an awesome crowd. Kirk went down in the first turn then punctured which was very unusual as it’s not a rocky track, but we changed the wheel and he went back out. Todd got to the lead and then washed the front out, but the electric start button twisted under the throttle and he dropped back to sixth trying to get to the button and get started. He came back to third, but stalled the bike in a turn and had the same problem, ending up fifth. He was the fastest guy out there, but he lost track of how much time he had and probably rode harder than he needed to. Still, it was interesting for him to experience that and it made him more determined, which was exactly what he showed in the second moto.
Kirk was disappointed to puncture in the first race but did fantastically well in race two. He was running third with 10 to go and Bopping got him but he hung with him. He’ll carry this through to future rounds – it was a really good confidence builder for him. He was smooth and in control on a very tough, technical track which really was impressive. I’d also like to say a big thanks to the crew; Kyle, Ryan, Danny and Kevvy for an awesome job in helping everyone to keep their heads high between races.”
Todd Waters #47 “I always enjoy Murray Bridge; every time I’ve raced here I’ve won the overall so it’s been good a good place for me. I was quick in that first race but just made a couple of mistakes. I didn’t get the best start to the first moto but worked my way into the lead by lap two and had started to check out and pull a gap when I washed the front and fell. The starter button got stuck under the throttle and I went back to sixth. I was determined to keep chipping away and came back to third with first and second right ahead, when I snuffed the bike and dropped back to 5th.
I was really disappointed when I came in because I knew the race was mine. I was a little cheesed off but I told myself I need to stop sooking about it and keep a clear mind, which I did and I won the next moto. I’ve learned I can switch it off when I have a bad finish, just put it off and go out there fresh.”
Kirk Gibbs #5 “I’ll look at the positives today, which was my second race. I’m really happy and I’ll keep moving forward with that momentum. I was pretty disappointed after the first, but once I got going I felt like I was riding well, so I knew that as long as I could start well things would turn out okay. I felt like I had good lines and just rode smart, and if I got passed I wouldn’t ride over the top to keep up. I just rode my own race and held my lines and picked up on different ones as they emerged. This race was really good for my confidence. I know the guys have a lot of faith in me and today I showed what I can do if I get a start. The shoulder didn’t bother me at all today, I put in 30 minutes solid on a rough track and there was no arm pump or anything.”
MX2 – In the MX2 class Brock Winston put his KTM into the final podium place while Kale Makeham maintained third in the championship with fourth on the day. Class rookies and Choice Motorsports KTM team mates Dylan Long and Kayne Lamont both gained top-ten finishes with sixth and ninth respectively.
— Carlton Dry Honda Report
The second round of the 2013 MX Nationals at South Australia’s Murray Bridge, proved to be an event the Carlton Dry Honda Racing team would rather forget.
Josh Cachia sustained a puncture to the rear tyre of his CRF250 in the opening MX2 race, putting him out the moto and out of contention for a podium.
The teams luck didn’t fare any better in the MX1 class with Ford Dale going down on the opening lap of both races.
Dale was once again, one of the fastest riders on track, earning a spot in the five-rider superpole. Pace didn’t translate to a good result for the Sunshine Coast rider who finished the two races ninth and 12th.
“I got two terrible starts, crashed in both races and struggled to come back through the field,” Dale explained.
“This track is fast and it really showed me that I need to work on my strength and my starts.
“I qualified well and had the pace to run at the front but I need to be a lot stronger when it comes to riding the 450 on these type of tracks,” Dale said.
After just three weeks riding the CRF450 Daniel McCoy continued to make good progress. He finished the opening MX1 race seventh and has moved to 11th in the championship standings.
“I felt strong in the first moto and after just three weeks on the bike I feel like we are definitely making inroads.
“In the second moto I found myself stuck back in the pack and with the track deteriorating, I struggled to make up ground.
“Overall we have definitely progressed in our program and I can’t wait for Wonthaggi,” McCoy concluded.
Josh Cachia bounced back from a disappointing and premature end to his opening race to finish third in the final MX2 moto.
“I got a good start and holeshot the first race but about three laps in I felt the rear end start swerving all over the place,” Cachia explained.
“Luke Clout got past me but I was still able to hold second, then about two thirds of the way through the moto the tyre gave way completely and came off the rim.
“In the second race I got a reasonable start but I struggled a bit with my arm. I decided it was best to settle for third and some much needed points,” he continued.
The Carlton Dry Honda Racing team will regroup ahead of next weekend’s hometown event at Wonthaggi Motocross track. The track is a happy hunting ground for the Victorian outfit that won both classes at last year’s event.
— Serco Yamaha Report – Clout Breaks Through For Maiden MX2 Victory
Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout landed his first MX2 overall round victory with a stunning performance at round two of the MX Nationals at Murray Bridge over the weekend.
In a red letter day for the Serco Yamaha team, Clout lead home a Serco 1-2 with team mate Luke Styke over- coming a first race fall to take second overall for the round and both riders hold down the top two spots in the championship hunt.
18 year old Clout qualified in second place, just a few tenths behind his team mate, and took that form into race one. He took control of moto one in the early going and went on to stretch his lead each and every lap to take a comfortable victory.
Moto two turned into a Serco parade with Clout and Styke out front. Clout locked onto second place and shadowed his teammate for the full 30 minutes but safe in the knowledge that a 2-1 result would give him the round victory. He cruised over the finish a few seconds behind Styke with his fist in the air.
“I’m so pumped right now,” Clout enthuses. “This is my first race win for Serco, my first MX National round win in the MX2 class and it’s just been an awesome day. “It’s been a lot of hard work for me, my family and the team but the feeling I got when I finished that last race was amazing.”
“I will never forget today,” Clout ends.
As mentioned Luke Styke had to fight off a big crash in the opening moto and a battered and bruised body to claim second for the round and maintain his lead in the championship. Styke fell heavily on the opening lap and picked up his the chase well down the field. His pursuit took him all the way through the field to finish the race in an astounding third place and a brilliant bit of damage control for points.
Moto two was right from the Styke play book, holeshot and win, and that’s exactly what he did. He took the win and instantly went back to the race truck and begin his recovery for the next weekend.
“To finish up how I did considering what happened in race one was pretty good. The bike got me in my crash so I’m pretty sore right now but to leave here with second place and lose only two points from my lead is good.”
“My focus now is to get myself up and right for next weekend at Wonthaggi,” Styke said.
The Serco Yamaha team now face a quick turnaround as round three of the MX Nationals picks up at Wonthaggi this weekend.
— Motul Pirelli Suzuki Report
Moss and Cooper continue form for Motul Pirelli Suzuki in South Australia
Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Matt Moss finished fifth overall in South Australia’s second round of the 2013 MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, at Murray Bridge on Sunday, 28 April.
Moss rode the factory-supported RM-Z450 to fifth overall for the second round in succession, maintaining that same position in the championship after two of 10 events.
The multiple-time MX2 champion qualified fourth in the morning’s Super Pole qualifying session to earn two points, before he was able to card fourth in moto one and a seventh in Moto 2 despite a sluggish start and an early incident.
In a comprehensive mood following the event, Moss was content with his consistency, but aims to climb the results ladder with experience in what is his return season to the premier MX1 category.
“I qualified a lot better today and the first race was really good even though I got a bit of arm-pump,” Moss reflected. “I was really excited for the second moto, but unfortunately I got a really bad start – it was the worst start I’ve ever got in my life.
“When you’re riding around those guys mid-pack, you sort of get stuck around their pace and I couldn’t shake it. Otherwise, it’s the same result as round one and I’m happy with that. I just have to keep moving forward and getting stronger.”
Teammate Cody Cooper endured a mixed day at Murray Bridge, battling to a solid third in the opening moto, but struggled with an uncustomary 16th place finish in the second outing. That resulted in a frustrating eighth overall for the weekend.
The two-time New Zealand Motocross Champion now sits sixth in the championship, determined to bounce back this weekend at Wonthaggi when the Victorian venue hosts round three.
“My starts were good all day,” Cooper commented. “The first moto went to plan, although I got a bit of arm-pump like most people seemed to, but then in the second race I just went backwards. It was a difficult moto, but we’ll do some testing in Newcastle this week and try to come back stronger this weekend for round three.”
Motul Pirelli Suzuki team manager Jay Foreman is reassured by the team’s promising early-season form, now looking to build upon the stable foundations formed in the opening rounds. The upcoming races will be vital in the team’s title prospects, according to Foreman.
“Qualifying was an improvement for Matt and then the first moto was really good with third and fourth – both Cody and Matt showed good speed,” Foreman reflected. “The second moto was tougher for both of the guys, but we will come back and do better next week. We’re looking forward to Wonthaggi.”
Murray Bridge was a standout round for Campbell Mining Suzuki satellite team rider Jake Moss, winning the opening moto on his way to finishing third overall for the round aboard his RM-Z450.
— Monster Energy Kawasaki Will Regroup Quickly After Tough Murray Bridge Round
Monster Energy Kawasaki will look to regroup quickly after a tough second round of the 2013 MX Nationals at Murray Bridge, SA yesterday. The team’s championship aspirations suffered a setback with both riders forced out of the top ten following DNF’s in the first moto. However with 8 rounds to go and more than 400 points still up for grabs, Jay Marmont and Adam Monea remain in championship contention and the team is looking forward to an improved result this weekend.
Jay Marmont got off to a brilliant start in the first moto quickly finding 3rd place on the opening lap however in an unfortunate turn of events; he came together with his team-mate Adam Monea just a few turns later. Marmont was forced to withdraw from the moto with severe pain in his lower back and needed a lift back with the crew from RaceSafe. Marmont fought through the pain and raced the second moto. The move could prove valuable to the gutsy rider later in the series with a handful of points earned for his efforts thanks to a 13th place finish. Jay Marmont currently sits in 13th place in the championship.
Jay Marmont was bitterly disappointed with the day but by no means down or out, saying, “It’s probably one of the worst days of racing I’ve had for a long time. I thought all of the boxes were ticked coming into the round but it just wasn’t to be. I got off to a good top three start in the first moto and then came together with my team-mate. I went a bit wide on the turn and Monz came up on me and took the line and blew me off my bike. I wasn’t able to get back on my bike, my back was really sore. I raced the second moto in a lot of pain, I got a bad start and worked my way up a little bit but couldn’t get into the top ten so I’m pretty disappointed. I can still take positives away though. I’m still walking and I’m not badly injured.”
“I’m in a tough position now in the championship. I’m outside the top ten but the championship is not gone. It’s a really disappointing day. We have to go out there at Wonthaggi, stamp our authority and start clawing our way back. There are still a lot of points up for grabs, it’s only round two. I’ve had my bad round now so I need to move on. We’ll come out swinging at Wonthaggi.”
After sitting in 4th place on the opening lap right behind Marmont, Adam Monea was forced to retire from the opening moto with a damaged water pump sustained in the collision with his team mate. Monea came out strong in the second moto and tried to capitalise on a decent start however his rear brake lever copped a knock and was badly bent rendering it near useless. Monea did his best to finish the race in 6th place. Adam Monea sits just behind his team-mate in the points standings in 14th place.
Adam Monea say’s, “It was a tough day. Getting that DNF straight off the bat was not what I wanted. I had to regroup and get back into a good mind frame and focus on the last race. I got a decent start in the second and pushed as hard as I could. I was right on the back of Kirk (Gibbs) and was riding well, I thought I had a decent pace then I had a rear brake mishap. I had to ride most of the moto with next to no rear brakes. To salvage a 6th after such a hard day was OK. I’m looking forward to a home race in Wonthaggi.”
Kawasaki MX2 rider, Zero Seven Motorsport’s Kade Mosig also had a day he’d rather forget with a first race DNF due to a mechanical issue. Then a first turn crash in the second moto prevented him from advancing any further than 11th place. Thanks to a strong opening round a fortnight ago, Mosig still sits inside the top ten in the championship in 10th place.
MX1 Kawasaki rider Cody Mackie (Zero seven Motorsports) finished the round in 10th place and currently sits in 9th place in the championship.
Kawasaki was also well represented in the Pro Quads class with numerous KFX450R ATVs taking to the track. Hardiman Kawasaki’s Paul Worth took a pair of 7ths for his efforts.
Monster Energy Kawasaki are looking forward to putting this tough round behind them and will come out refreshed and ready for battle at the 3rd round of the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals at Wonthaggi, Victoria this weekend.
