Supercross riders braved windy conditions at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit today to cut the first official laps on the purpose built Supercross track at Lukey Heights.
X-Games Men’s Moto X silver medallist, Josh Hill was joined on track by current Australian Supercross Championship leader Matt Moss and X-Games Women’s Moto X silver medallist Meghan Rutledge, giving onlookers a taste of what to expect over the weekend.
Hill, who won last weekend’s third round of the series in Mt Gambier said he was looking forward to racing alongside the MotoGP event.
“The track is great,” Hill said. “So far it is the most similar in terms of the tracks we race on in the US. These conditions today were pretty tough so I didn’t push it as hard as I normally would.
“I am really looking forward to getting back out there over the weekend. To be on the same billing as MotoGP is a huge thrill,” Hill continued.
This weekend also marks the return of Brett Metcalfe to Australian competition. It will be the first time the Canadian Motocross Champion has raced in Australia in seven years.
“It’s going to be awesome to be here at the MotoGP racing Supercross it’s (going to be) a lot of fun,” Metcalfe said.
“I have family and friends coming and it is something I have been looking forward to for a while now.”
Pro Open Championship leader Matt Moss is determined to make amends after crashing while leading last weekend’s final.
“I am excited to be here as I missed this event last year due to injury,” Moss said. “The track is good and from what I saw of last year’s event I think this year’s layout provides a lot more viewing areas for fans.
“I like the two-round format that we are running this weekend, it helps with momentum.”
Australia’s Meghan Rutledge will take on some of the world’s best female riders in tomorrow’s opening round of the EVE Australian Women’s Supercross Championship. Rutledge took to the track today in front of multiple Women’s World Motocross Champion Jessica Patterson who will make her Australian debut tomorrow.
“It is incredible to think that Australia has led the way with a Women’s Supercross Championship,” Rutledge said.
“We have three rounds this weekend which will be a huge test of fitness for all of us but I can’t wait to get going and race these girls.
Rounds 4 and 5 of Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championship and the inaugural EVE Australian’s Women’s Supercross Championship will get underway at the 2013 Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix tomorrow.– Previously in Mount Gambier….. Hill and Styke win dramatic Mt Gambier Supercross
Mt Gambier’s Borderline Speedway played host to a thrilling weekend of Supercross action, which saw race favourites come to grief in both the Pro Open and Pro Lites class of Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championship.
Hart and Huntington / InsureMyRide / DPH Motorsports rider Josh Hill scored his first podium of the season, winning the Pro Open final ahead of Carlton Dry Honda rider Weston Peick and Campbell Mining Suzuki rider Jake Moss.
“It feels good to come out here and get the win,” Hill said. “We worked really hard in the month break since Darwin to get the bike where it needed to be.
“My mechanic really went to town on the bike. I told him what I wanted and he made me a bike similar to what I have back in the states motor wise.
“I can’t thank him enough I was a lot more comfortable this weekend because I had confidence in the bike,” Hill admitted.
Fellow American, Weston Peick was also pleased with the improvements made by the Carlton Dry Honda Racing team but said they weren’t quite there yet.
“I had a good night,” Peick said. “I tried to stay as consistent as possible but the track really started to break up towards the main event.
“I think we have a few more changes to make before we can get up there on the number one spot on the podium.
“The championship has definitely tightened up with moss boys going down, but consistency is going to be the key,” Peick continued.
Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Matt Moss led Hill over the early laps of the 20-lap final before crashing heavily and dropping back through the order.
Moss worked his way back to fifth and heads to Round 4 and 5 of the series at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix with a four-point lead over his twin bother Jake.
In the Pro LItes class Serco Yamaha’s Luke Styke extended his championship lead after being gifted the race win when Carlton Dry Honda Racing’s Gavin Faith washed out on the final lap of the 15-lap final.
“It’s not over until it’s over,” Styke said. “I stuck in there and rode my own race.
“I made a few silly mistakes in the back half of the race and Gavin was doing a really good job but made a mistake right at the end and I was there to capitalise.
In just his second race meeting in two years, Choice Motorsports KTM mounted Brendan Harrison stood proudly on the second step of the dais.
“I really can’t thank my team enough,” Harrison said. “Hard work does pay off, it is hard to believe I was lying in a hospital bed not long ago. “My fitness was pretty good, this is only my second race meeting in two years I can’t wait for the next event now.”
The Under 19’s final was won by GTYR Yamaha rider Jay Wilson with Raceline Suzuki’s Jake Emanuelli second and Berry Sweet Yamaha rider Corey James third.
Rounds 4 and 5 of the Terex Australian Supercross Championship will be run alongside the Moto GP at next weekends Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
— Top Ten Pro Open Round Results – Mt Gambier
1. Josh HILL (Suzuki) 25, 2. Weston PEICK (Honda) 22, 3. Jake MOSS (Suzuki) 20, 4. Daniel McCOY (KTM) 18, 5. Matt MOSS (Suzuki) 16, 6. Sam MARTIN (Suzuki) 15, 7. Kade MOSIG (Yamaha) 14, 8. Jay MARMONT (Kawasaki) 13, 9. Jacob WRIGHT (Honda) 12, 10. Hayden MELLROSS (Honda) 11
— Top Ten Pro Open Championship Standings (After Rd 3 of 6)
1. Matt MOSS (Suzuki) 66, 2. Jake MOSS (Suzuki) 62, 3. Weston PEICK (Honda) 58, 4. Josh HILL (Suzuki) 56, 5. Daniel McCOY (KTM) 49, 6. Jay MARMONT (Kawasaki) 48, 7. Kade MOSIG (Yamaha) 40, 8. Sam MARTIN (Suzuki) 34, 9. Kirk GIBBS (KTM) 31, 10. Lawson BOPPING (Yamaha) 28
— Top Ten Pro LiItes Round Results – Mt Gambier
1. Luke STYKE (Yamaha) 25, 2. Brenden HARRISON (KTM) 22, 3. Ryan MARMONT (Suzuki) 20, 4. Gavin FAITH (Honda) 18, 5. Taylor POTTER (Honda) 16, 6. Nickolas SUTHERLAND (KTM) 15, 7. Luke ARBON (Yamaha) 14, 8. Dylan LONG (KTM) 13, 9. Kayne LAMONT (KTM) 12, 10. Tristen CACHIA (Honda) 11
— Top Ten Pro Lites Championship Standings (After Rd 3 of 6)
1. Luke STYKE (Yamaha) 72, 2. Gavin FAITH (Honda) 65, 3. Ryan MARMONT (Suzuki)58, 4. Luke ARBON (Yamaha) 48, 5. Dylan LONG (KTM) 48, 6. Nickolas SUTHERLAND (KTM) 42, 7. Taylor POTTER (Honda) 40, 8 Kayne LAMONT (KTM) 39, 9. Brenden HARRISON (KTM) 31, 10. Kale MAKEHAM (KTM) 31
— KTM Report
He gave it everything but Motorex KTM rider Kirk Gibbs was unable to give his home fans the show he wanted to at tonight’s third round of the Australian Supercross Championship at Mt. Gambier in South Australia. Gibbs crashed out of the night’s main event and was taken to hospital with a possible punctured lung.The race went to American rider Josh Hill from compatriot Weston Pieck with Jake Moss third.
Narrowly missing out on the podium was Motorex KTM’s Daniel McCoy who was the fastest qualifier on the night, but was pushed wide at the first corner and had to come through the pack.
McCoy came from ninth through to fourth and was coming home like a train toward the podium finishers when the chequered flag fell.
In the SX Lites final Choice Motorsports KTM’s Brenden Harrison made a welcome return to the podium finishing just 1.3 seconds behind winner Luke Styke, with Ryan Marmont third. Dylan Long (8th) and Kayne Lamont (9th) both grabbed top ten finishes while Tune Tech Racing KTM’s Kale Makeham was unfortunate to suffer a shoulder injury in the first heat of the night.
The next round of the Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championships will be a double-header held at Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit on October 18-20.
Rob Twyerould, Motorex KTM Team Manager: “The night started well for us with Kirk the first rider into the 49s and Daniel qualifying fastest on the last lap. However third and fourth in the heats meant we had 6th and 8th pick of the gate which was not a fantastic pick. DMC got an unbelievable jump but then got pinched out wide and had to come from 9th. He just worked his way through which was tough initially, but as the race wore on he was able to pick the positions off through to 4th and was picking third off at a second a lap. He rode very solid but just gave away too much at the start. Gibbsy rode in behind Matt Moss off the start but when Moss doubled Gibbs launched around and into the face of the berm and stopped dead, dropping to last. Then about six laps in he went over the bars the bike landed on him, so right now he’s on his way to hospital and we’re hoping he doesn’t have a punctured lung.”
Daniel McCoy: “Qualifying went real good, it’s something I’ve been working on lately, but the heat result killed me, just not getting a good gate pick – I was wide and I got blocked at Turn 1, and I just need a better heat to get a better start. A lot of guys were crashing and the track got quite rough with the soft dirt. Coming through the pack – it’s nice to know that you’ve got good speed but it’s tough to be the fastest qualifier and finish fourth.”
— Carlton Dry Honda Report
Carlton Dry Honda Racing’s Weston Peick has reduced the points gap to championship leader Matt Moss with a solid second place finish in last nights third round of Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championship.
Peick’s Pro Open teammate Hayden Mellross, achieved his goal of a top ten finish but it was heartbreak for Gavin Faith who washed out on the last lap of the 15-lap Pro Lites final, whilst in the lead.
Peick, who was pleased with the improvements made by the Carlton Dry Honda Racing team, said they would work on a few more changes ahead of next weekends event at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
“I had a good night,” Peick said. “I tried to stay as consistent as possible but the track really started to break up towards the main event.
“I think we have a few more changes to make before we can get up there on the number one spot on the podium.
“The championship has definitely tightened up with moss boys going down, but consistency is going to be the key,” Peick continued.
Just four points seperate Peick from second placed Jake Moss with twin Matt Moss a further four points ahead in the championship standings.
Whilst disappointed at crashing out on the final lap of the race, Faith, who had dominated the final, finsihed fourth and maintains second in the championship standings.
“I am so disappointed in myself,” Faith said. “I didn’t get the best start but I put the power down and moved into the lead on the opening lap.
“I had a comfortable lead but I hit that corner and the front just washed out. I got back up and finished fourth but that is cold comfort.”
Rounds 4 and 5 of the Terex Australian Supercross Championship will be run alongside the Moto GP at next weekends Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
— Serco Yamaha Report
Luke Styke has made it back to back wins at the Australian Supercross Championship after taking the victory at round three of the series at Borderline Speedway, Mt. Gambier.
On board his Serco Yamaha YZ250F, Styke kept the momentum started at round two in Darwin and took the win in the competitive Pro Lites class and extended his lead in the championship to seven points.
US Import and reigning champ, Gavin Faith, took control of the race in the early stages and looked to be on his way to victory. Styke mounted a late race charge and closed in on Faith but not close enough to make a pass. With less than half a lap to go, Faith made a small mistake and fell, allowing Styke to sneak by and take the win.
“I got lucky tonight,” Styke explains. “Gavin was riding exceptionally well and even though I was able to get close to him, it was unlikely I was going to get passed. Then as we came into the corner after the start, he lost the front and fell and I was able capitalise on his misfortune.
“Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t and tonight luck was on my side.
“Thanks again to the Serco Yamaha team and to everyone at Mt. Gambier that turned up and supported the event,” Styke signs off.
Team mate, Luke Arbon raced to a seventh place finish in his home state race and holds down fourth in the Pro Lites championship after round three.
Arbon was well placed at the start of the 15 lap final but took several laps to settle into the race and get a good flow going. He finally found his groove late in the race but was forced to settle for seventh and now looks forward to the following rounds at Phillip Island.
“I was a bit flat early in the final and made some mistakes that allowed some riders to get by me. I’m not happy with seventh, but fortunately I’m still in fourth in the championship and I’m out to improve that standing at this weekend’s event at Phillip Island.
“Rounds four and five of the ASX take place this weekend at Phillip Island in conjunction with the MotoGP. The double header weekend can be a game changer with 50 points to be won and lost in the championship.
— Previously….. Moss dominates in the Top End
Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Matt Moss has completed a clean sweep of the Pro Open class at this weekend’s double-header round of Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championship at Hidden Valley Raceway.
Moss took the win ahead of Carlton Dry Honda Racing’s Weston Peick and Campbell Mining Racing’s Jake Moss, but had to work for the lead in the early stages of the 15-lap race.
It was Motorex KTM rider Kirk Gibbs who claimed the holeshot ahead of Peick. The two battled for the race lead with Peick moving into the lead on Lap 5 when Gibbs succumbed to the pressure and went down.
Moss was smooth and calculated as he meticulously picked off the front -runner and eventually passed Peick for the race lead on Lap 10.
Acknowledging he had enjoyed the perfect weekend Moss said he was looking forward to a bit more preparation time ahead of the next event.
“It was a perfect weekend,” Moss said. “Every single session we qualified first so I couldn’t ask for anything better.
“I felt really good, I wasn’t as fit as I wanted to be with only a week and a half to get ready but all in all it went really well considering the heat.
“I liked the double-header format, we have it again at Phillip Island I am looking forward to it,” he added.
US import Weston Peick looked a lot more comfortable on board his CRF450 today.
“We had a lot better day today,” Peick said, “We made a lot of changes to the bike for today and everything seemed to come together better.
“I got a good start and it helped to not be fighting from the back. The team is coming together I am starting to get more comfortable on the new bike.”
In a reversal of yesterday’s results, Serco Yamaha’s Luke Styke took the Pro Lites win ahead of Carlton Dry Honda Racing’s Gavin Faith with Raceline Suzuki Racing’s Ryan Marmont third.
Styke got the holeshot and lead the race from start to finish.
“Today was good, it started off well with P2 in qualifying,” Styke explained. “My starts were awesome and definitely helped me a lot in the tough conditions with the heat.
“Overall I had a good final. I got the holeshot and minimized the mistakes I made the day before.”
Styke and Faith will leave Darwin tied on championship points at the top of the standings. Faith admitted a lack of seat time probably cost him a better result today.
“I got a pretty good start behind Styke but I struggled a little bit,” Faith said. ”I wasn’t quite used to the bike. I had a very short time on the bike and I struggled with arm-pump pretty bad.
“I am heading back to the US in between but I am looking forward to the next few rounds. We will regroup and I will come in a bit earlier so we can do some testing.”
The next round of Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross series will be held at Mt Gambier on October 12
— Top Ten Terex Australian Supercross Championship Pro Open Results – Rd 2, Darwin
1. Matt MOSS, 2. Weston PEICK, 3. Jake MOSS, 4. Kirk GIBBS, 5. Daniel McCOY, 6. Jay MARMONT, 7. Kade MOSIG, 8. Josh HILL, 9. Lawson BOPPING, 10. Tim VARE
— Top Ten Pro Open Championship Standings (after Rd 2 of 6)
1. Matt MOSS 50, 2. Jake MOSS 42, 3. Weston PEICK 36, 4. Jay MARMONT 35, 5. Kirk GIBBS 31, 6. Daniel McCOY 31, 7. Josh HILL 31, 8. Lawson BOPPING 28, 9. Kade MOSIG 26, 10. Tim VARE 20
— Top Ten Terex Australian Supercross Championship Pro Lites Results – Round 2, Darwin
1. Luke STYKE, 2. Gavin FAITH, 3. Ryan MARMONT, 4. Luke ARBON, 5. Kale MAKEHAM, 6. Dylan LONG, 7. Kayne LAMONT, 8. Nickolas SUTHERLAND, 9. Taylor POTTER, 10. Daniel McINNES
— Top Ten Pro Lites Championship Standings (after Rd 2 of 6)
1. Luke STYKE 47, 2. Gavin FAITH 47, 3. Ryan MARMONT 38, 4. Dylan LONG 35, 5. Luke ARBON 34, 6. Kale MAKEHAM 31, 7. Kayne LAMONT 27, 8. Nickolas SUTHERLAND 27, 9. Taylor POTTER 24, 10. Luke WILSON 21
— Previously……. Moss and Faith victorious in Supercross opener
Round one of Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championship commenced at Hidden Valley Raceway today, with current Australian MX Champion Matt Moss and US racer Gavin Faith taking home the silverware.
On a day where the sun blared and temperatures soared to 33 degrees, fitness became a crucial factor as racers battled the challenging elements. Ice baths and maximising hydration became the order of the day.
In the Pro Open class the Moss brothers put on a show for the crowd. They both looked in good form from the drop of the first gate and this was affirmed with each of them taking a heat win. The main was all Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Matt Moss, with Campbell Mining Racing’s Jake Moss a couple of seconds behind for most of the race.
“We didn’t get the preparation we wanted, but it was a good win and I was happy with it.
“We will go from here and try and win again tomorrow. The track was a bit gnarly and a little bit dry, but I have the red plate now so I need to keep the momentum.
“The bike was working awesome, so hats off to my team,” he continued
Jake was not as happy with his performance and struggled with arm-pump throughout the race.
“My actual riding was really terrible tonight and I got arm pump pretty bad,” Jake explained. “The track was hard and the sun played a big factor.
“I think I will definitely improve tomorrow, as I found some lines towards the end of the race that should work out well. I played it smart today and that has left me in a good position for the championship.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jay Marmont filled the top three, with the first podium of the year a welcome relief.
“The result felt good, as I haven’t run up the front since last year in Supercross,” Marmont said. “It has been a long time coming for the team, so to be on the podium is a big step forward.
“It gives me something to build upon. I know I am going to get stronger as the series goes on, so I want to try and be in the hunt for that championship.”
In the Pro Lites class, current champion Carlton Dry Honda Racing rider Gavin Faith picked up where he left off at the end of the 2012 SX season. He once again proved too strong for his local counterparts and after pouncing on an early error by Luke Styke, he was never really headed.
“I got a decent start and worked my way into second,” Faith said. “Styke was a little way ahead of me, so I just tried to reel him in.
“He ended up going down and I got into the lead. At one point I almost stalled and he caught back up to me. Other than that it was pretty smooth.”
While not entirely happy with his performance, second placed Luke Styke was happy with his result.
“The race was good. I had a bit of a crash while I was leading fairly comfortably, so I was pretty bummed about that,” Styke explained.
“I ended up catching back up to him [Faith], but the track was a little one-lined and it was tough. My starts were good and I can build on that, so hopefully I can replicate them and build on my result tomorrow.”
Dylan Long rounded out the top three with a solid performance.
