Inside Dirt Issue 10: MX Nationals Round 3 by MX Nationals

RIDERS TIPS BODY POSITION TO REDUCE ARM PUMP

MYTH BUSTERS MA NEW RULING FOR JUNIORS UNDER 12

pg. 22

pg. 32

MW PLUG CHOP MATT MOSS TALKS 2016 AND BEYOND

SPMX TECH TIP HOW TO CHANGE YOUR CLUTCH

pg. 42

pg. 50

DEAN FERRIS

STAMPS HIS AUTHORITY “I still feel like I could ride a bit better, these first couple of tracks are a little bit tight and it’s something I haven’t raced on for a long time” pg. 62

ROUND 3 B R OA D F O R D

MX NATIONALS

ISSUE 10 1.5.2016

ÉRIC GEBOERS KNOWS THAT TECHNOLOGY is an advantage open to anyone, but that it should not be the only one. Éric and Dave Thorpe’s battles on their MX bikes became more and more epic and they needed to take every advantage over one another at any price. Éric knew all his technical choices would be held as a reference point for others, thus fooling his competitors would lead to victory. Why not run a sighting lap on hard track tyres and switch to scoop tyres just before the start? Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Éric followed the MOTUL approach by predicting his challengers’ moves and going one better.

WE BUILD A TRIP TO THE PODIUM INTO EVERY TYRE.

OFFICIAL TYRE PARTNER

64 trips to the top step of the Podium in the MX GP Championship and consecutive MX Nationals titles in Australia prove we build winning tyres. The Pirelli Scorpion MX range is no exception. Six tread patterns and compounds, built to dominate in all conditions. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the choice for professional and amateur riders who want podium performance out of every ride.

The 2016 Motul MX Nationals has already produced some of the best quality racing Australia has seen in years, and we have it all covered in this big issue 10 of Inside Dirt! Next on the visit list is Broadford for round three of the Motul MX Nationals, and following last week’s announcement of this year being the final time that the State Motorcycle Complex will feature on the MX Nationals calendar, riders will be going their hardest this weekend! In this issue we are going to recap on all of the action from Round 2 of the Motul MX Nationals in Appin, as well as hear from the new red plate holder CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris, thanks to our digital partners MotoOnline. We will also be recapping on all of the action from the fifth and sixth rounds of the Yamaha Australian Off Road Championship, which was held last weekend at one of the MX Nationals favourite destinations, Murry Bridge. As always, we will have 100 per cent original content from our Inside Dirt contributors, including tech tips, how to combat arm pump, as well as an insightful look at what National Championships mean for Junior racers in Australia. So get flicking! 04

WHATS IN STORE 8

Behind the Gate

Life roles on

Riders Tips - Arm Pump

Myth Busters - MA new rules

MW Plug Chop - Matt Moss

SPMX Tech Tip

MXStore Privateer Spotlight

Race Recap - Dean Ferris

6 Questions with Jay Wilson

Hit and Miss

What’s on Sunshine coast

Schedule

MX1 Round 1 Recap

MX2 Round 1 Recap

106 MXD Round 1 Recap 116 MXN Rider profiles 146 AORC Round 3 & 4

ID ISSUE #10

ON PAGE 42: We talk to Matt Moss about race results, becoming a dad, plans after racing and more.

ON PAGE 32: Todd Myth Busts the new ruling to take away championship status for Juniors under 12 years old

62 ON PAGE 22: We explore simple rider position changes that can reduce your chances of getting arm pump.

LIMITLESS LT D E D. HUX LE 201 6

L I M I T E D

E DI T IO N

CORE HUX LE

THORMX.COM

THOR stocklist contact: Gas Imports Australia Pty. Ltd. Ph: 03 8331-0300 | www.gasimports.com.au

C O O P E R W E BB

BEHIND THE GATES Over the year’s many people have looked at the MX Nationals and been critical. Critical of myself and some decisions, or at times of our team of people, and the way we run things. Sitting back, and now being in my 20th year as the operator of the Australian Motocross Championship, for myself there’s only ever been one love, and that’s our sport. I can’t count the amount of times that I’ve either thought of walking away, or I’ve come home completely frustrated with things that have never even reached the public eye, that just happen quietly behind the scenes, but I’ve always been driven to continue to push the boundaries, not for myself, or anyone else, but for the sport that we all love.

In the last 20 years, the MX Nationals has gone through plenty of highs and lows. We’ve lost people, we’ve seen riders hurt, there’s been comebacks, victories, live broadcasts, magazines, babies, families, and everything in between, and the one thing that has made each and every one of these moments even more special, is that a lot of us have shared them because of the sport we love. On a personal front, the next round of the MX Nationals is always a tough and emotional one. In 2010 we lost one of our greatest ever sporting stars Andrew McFarlane at Broadford, and whilst the venue has some challenging memories, it also holds some of my fondest as well. One I would like to share, is back when we

ran the MXGP in 2000 at the venue. I can still remember standing on the sidelines, watching our Aussies line up against the best in the world at the time, and seeing Andrew McFarlane take one of the most insane holeshots you have ever seen. For me, that was a pivotal moment in my career as a promoter. I was completely overwhelmed with emotion, not only because I had such a close relationship with Andrew, but because I was there to witness a moment that not only impacted myself, but with the home crowd cheering in the background, and tens of thousands of people watching on, we were all a part of Australian Motocross history that day. It’s crazy to look back at moments like that and realise that right now, we

“FOR ME, THAT WAS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN MY CAREER AS A PROMOTER. I WAS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION” _________ KEVIN WILLIAMS SPEAKS ABOUT ANDREW MCFARLANE LEADING THE MXGP RACE AT BROADFORD.

are still all creating Australian Motocross history. I remember when Matt Moss was fresh out of juniors and blast on to the MX Nationals scene, won a bunch of championships, and is now married and expecting his first child. I remember shaking Jay Marmont’s hand moments after winning his fourth MX Nationals title, and I will never forget Dean Ferris as a Honda mounted privateer in 2010, with his whole family there at the final round in Coolum wearing ‘Ferris’ supporting T-shirts. Seeing him finish on the podium in third place in the 450 championship, and beating some of the best supported

factory teams at the time - Moments like that come from one thing, and that’s our love for Motocross. As the years roll on I’ve gotten greyer hair and a few more wrinkles, but one thing that has never changed, is my love, and my team’s love for the sport and our series. Everything we do, and everything we’ve done, has been for that reason only. Whether it’s changes, improvements, advancing technology, making motos longer, making motos shorter, switching to digital, live streaming, all of it has been so that we can see more people be a part of the sport that has given us all so much.

“ITS HARD, AFTER 20 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO THE SPORT, THAT PEOPLE CAN TRASH THE MX NATIONALS AND WHAT WE HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO PUT TOGETHER” One of the things that has been difficult for me in recent years is negative comments on social media – and that’s not because I’m older, or that I don’t like technology or that I can’t work it out, in fact it is the complete opposite reason to that. I use social media, I research social media, and I understand it. It has been hard at times when even after 20 years of commitment to the sport, that people can trash the MX Nationals and what we have fought so hard to put together. We are all human and at times I’ve made mistakes, some of them bigger than others, but I continue to wake up every morning and walk over to my desk and work on making the MX Nationals bigger and better. I enjoy constructive criticism, I enjoy surrounding myself with young people who are willing to explore new ideas, and be innovative, but I still to this day become shocked when people

in the industry speak so badly of the series, or the sport for that matter, when really it has given so many people some of the most memorable experiences of their lives. Anyone who has ever been to an MX National, worked at one of our events, raced as a privateer, or even as a fully fledged factory rider, has played a crucial role in making the sport and our series what it is to this day. Rather than saying it’s not good enough or that they could do things better, I would love to see more and more people find passion within the sport like I have. Make a life out of motocross,

pour positive energy in to the sport, and then spend the next 20 years being a part of watching it grow. So if there’s one thing that I can ask you ahead of this weekend, whether it be that you’re heading out riding with your mates, taking your little one to his first coaching lesson, or you’re lining up on the gates eyeing off a championship at the MX Nationals, take a minute. Take a single minute to just appreciate our sport and all it’s given you. Take in the rich history of motorcycling in our country, and be proud that even you too are a part of making Australian Motocross history today.

LIFE ROLES ON A POSITIVE MINDSET

CAN CHANGE EVERY THING

“THIS IS A MOTIVATIONAL STORY OF A EX-MOTOCROSS RIDER WHO TURNED THE DARK SIDE OF OUR SPORT INTO A POSITIVE SUCCESS STORY. THE PERSON BEHIND THIS STORY IS ALEX WELSH, ITS UNDERSTANDABLE IF YOU DON’T RECOGNISE THE NAME, BUT BEHIND THE SCENES HE HAS BEEN GRINDING AWAY ON NEW GOALS AND IN THE PROCESS HELPED MANY TOP MOTOCROSS ATHLETES IN THE SAME SITUATION AS HIM, SEE THE POTENTIAL THAT LIES WITHIN BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR. IT’S EASY TO SEE THE NEGATIVES OF BEING PARALYSED, BUT WITH THE RIGHT MINDSET YOU CAN ACHIEVE GREATNESS NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION. THIS MINDSET IS WHY I HAVE PERSONALLY CONNECTED RIDERS IN THE SAME SITUATION TO REACH OUT TO ALEX AND ASK FOR HIS GUIDANCE. BUT THIS IS HIS STORY, A STORY THAT FOCUSES ON THE POSITIVES IN LIFE, A STORY THAT EVERYONE CAN LEARN FROM, THIS IS ALEX WELSH.”

- WORDS FROM KEVIN WILLIAMS

THE STORY OF ALEX WELSH Just like most kids growing up I had goals, dreams and a profound love for my chosen sport which gave me drive and motivation to become the best I could possibly be at it, up until I was 17 years old this sport was motocross. Through my years of racing I experienced a lot of success in the Gippsland region and was competitive at an A grade state level throughout juniors and into my first year as a senior. My prospects in the sport were looking good as I grew older my riding was developing to the level it had to be line up and be competitive in the mx nationals field. My world as I knew it would be turned upside down when I took a trip over the handlebars one stinkin’ hot, dry and dusty Sunday afternoon on the 18th of January 2009. The accident caused permanent and irreparable damage to my spinal cord leaving me paralysed from the chest down. This was 1 week before I was due to start year 12 at school and I would then spend the next few months learning to be independent in a wheelchair, which consequently meant missing out on my final year of school and in a position where I wouldn’t know what the future had in store for me.

Not only had I lost the ability to walk and the ability ride a motorcycle to my full potential, I had lost my dreams and passion which I had for as long as I could remember. After months of highs and lows and my world being turned upside down, I finally completed my rehab and went home. Very early on I resigned to the doctor’s prognosis that I would never walk again, so I knew that I wasn’t going to pursue private alternative therapy, but instead I went in search of a new sport to reconstruct new dreams and goals. I began with the obvious option go and race go karts which I did a few races, but I really wanted to explore my options in wheelchair sport because I wanted to push myself and see what’s still possible. I wanted to get involved in some sort of sport straight away but this process proved frustrating until I had a meeting Richard Colman who’s one of Australia’s most successful Paralympic wheelchair racers. Richy proved to be a mentor for me and taught me the unique and challenging art of wheelchair racing, initially I was still very weak but I could feel myself improving with every session which was satisfying, but I was still in

“MY WORLD AS I KNEW IT WOULD BE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WHEN I TOOK A TRIP OVER THE BARS”

TOGETHER IN 2012 HARLEY AND I EXPERIENCED OUR FIRST TRIP TO EUROPE TO RACE WITH THE AUSTRALIAN PARA-CYCLING TEAM

search of something more. I had finally found my calling when I sourced my first hand cycle, it initially allowed me the freedom I had been searching for as I could leave my wheelchair in my garage and just get out and explore my local roads that I had once cycled on before when I was training for motocross. Hand cycling had lit a competitive flame in my body once again and I began racing, the first year my expectations were high and I got humbled quite quickly when I was finishing last in most races but it taught me to dig deeper in racing and I began training for a purpose. Passion for cycling was beginning to emerge when I could feel intrinsically motivated to jump on the bike every day to become the best cyclist I could possibly be, that I hoped in turn would bring me success. Once I was getting my life on track I really wanted to find a way to give back to the motocross community that provided

me with generous financial and emotional support, when Harley Quinlan had his accident I reached out to him and introduced myself and explained the hurdles I had overcome to get to where I was. I came up to Queensland to do a hand cycle race and I was able to introduce Harley to the sport, this prompted him to get involved like me and explore the possibilities the sport provided. With Harley’s tough nature that I’m sure his motocross rivals know all too well, it didn’t take him long to build up the strength and endurance to become competitive in hand cycling. That foundation grew and together in 2012 Harley and I experienced our first trip to Europe to race with the Australian para-cycling team. Life is about experiences, making choices, taking chances and it’s our mindset that will depict what choices we make as to how we experience life. Although my goals and dreams in motocross did not

transpire, it still provided me with rich experiences and an upbringing Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never forget. Since my injury I have made the choice to have a positive mindset, to become an optimist and focus on what I can still do rather than what I cannot. Through have a glass half full approach I have achieved more than I would have ever imagined since laying in a black berry bush with a broken back 7 years ago. In that time, I have raced overseas numerous times, won 4 road para-cycling national titles, a duathlon world title, gained access to university and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m currently 2 years into a bachelor degree to become a primary school teacher. Everyone in life will face adversity and it will either make you or it will break you... I plan to keep working

hard to experience all that life has to offer and I will continue my lifelong goal of reaching the pinnacle of my sport, which is now the Paralympics. I will always remain close ties with the motorcycle industry though the friends I have gained through this great sport and being an ambassador for Racing 4 Disabled. I will continue to give back by providing hope, understanding, awareness and knowledge, not only for people who have an accident but for current riders too. You can find out more about me at www.alexwelsh91.com, which also contains links to my social media profiles. Till next time, keep the wheels turning, ride smart and have fun out there!

Tech 10

Tech 8RS

Tech 7

Tech

Alpinestars Range AL PIN ESTARS2015 2016 Boot BOOT RAN GE

Click to watch the Alpinestars boot video

Kids Boots

Tech 1

Tech 6s www.monzaimports.com.au

Tech 3s

alpinestarsaustralia

alpinestarsaus

RIDERS TIPS CORRECT RIDING POSITION TO REDUCE ARM PUMP Hi everyone and thanks for taking the time out to read my third instalment of the riding tips articles for the 2016 Mx Nationals season via Inside Dirt. What did you all think of the Ruts article from round two at Appin? I hope that you took some time at the local track and improved on your rut riding and technique... send me some feedback I’d love to hear how these tips are helping your progression on the bike. As for Appin the track proved once again to be super technical for the riders with deep and long ruts. With the addition of more mulch

to the track surface in 2016 we had some BIG holes exiting the turns and great racing in all classes! Let’s get to the topic for this article as we head to the historic Broadford round… that being ARM PUMP!! I’ve chosen arm pump for this rounds theme due to the steep hills, high speeds and natural terrain of the Broadford circuit and I want to illustrate the connection between inefficient riding technique on race day and ARM PUMP! There are many contributing factors to arm pump other than riding technique and these can

vary from incorrect bike set up, rider injuries, rider fitness and strength, nutrition and hydration, the list really is a long one. Sticking with the theme of the article, I’m going to skip the science and get to the points I feel will help eliminate or at least minimize your arm pump on race day via riding technique!

USE YOUR LEGS

I’m sure you have all heard before that riders need to use their legs more when riding. But what does that really mean? Well at Broadford, we will see riders charging 60 horse power factory 450cc machines wide open down very steep hills into deep and very sharp breaking bumps whilst using every control on the bike simultaneously (front and rear brake, clutch, throttle and shifting gears). If that doesn’t make you tense up a little from reading that last statement I’ll be surprised. If a rider tackles this type of terrain

without gripping and locking in at the largest point of contact on the motorcycle (from your feet to your knees) then the lower body is a passenger getting kicked and “huck a bucked” around off every breaking bump. This is a major catalyst for arm pump because the trade-off from not gripping with your legs is holding on tighter with your forearms and hand grip on the bars. Combine that with a riders tendency to round their shoulders forward when riding tense and there you have it folks.. severe arm pump from holding on too tight is just a few short laps away!!

There ’s a re a so n f teams actory a n d th e b e st r have n i de rs ew gr aph ic s a lm every o st ride a n d i t ’s not ju to kee st p spo n so r s happy The fa . ster p ro’s lit erally d e st r o y g ra p h ics du how t e to i g ht t h e y g rip wit th e b o h ots an d kne es wh en riding .

S q ue e

ze the

b i ke w ith yo ur low and I er bod c a n g y at a i s s ue s u a ra n ll ti m e tee yo will be s whe u r l e r s a s o cc u ce da n numb y rring. e rs do a r m I p f your n’t loo ump g ra p h k tore ics an u p af t d s i de e r th e not gr first m i pping oto yo h a rd e u a re n oug h ! riding

It i s e s

s e nt i a

your h e

your h i

l you D

el s on

p s fo r

O NOT

th e p e

gs an

ride w i

d pus ward. h This r e n de r eless s your o n th e ag a i n b i k e and c a u se will a r i d er to h too tig old on ht wit h h is f fa r orearm to ine s lead vitabl ing e arm pump !! legs u s

BODY POSITION

Using your body weight on the bike in a functional and efficient way is mainly down to how a rider uses his hips. Attacking steep terrain such as the down hills at Broadford will require a rider to weight all points of contact on the bike to maintain workable compression levels on the front and rear suspension simultaneously. Essentially we are aiming for a rider to be able to prevent the front or rear suspension kicking or knifing at high speeds, causing a rider to tense up and tighten their grip on the bars. In order to achieve this we need to take a look at some of the best riders employing this technique and currently I think Caleb Warn and Kirk Gibbs utilize unlocking their hips extremely efficiently. By riding on the balls of their feet (closer to the toes on the pegs) they are able to bend the feet at the ankle, ride with their toes in for extra grip, they bend at the knee in a squatted motion allowing more traction to the rear of the bike. The hips unlock or roll in a backward motion which in turns lowers the torso to maintain forward momentum and raises the head to see further up the race track. The best part of this riding technique is that your arms do very little work and allow a rider to carry great speed without holding on tight! 26

LOOK AHEAD

If you asked the majority of MX Nationals pro’s all the way through to the average weekend warrior racing, when do they get arm pump? 99.9% would answer on race day! Very few riders suffer with arm pump during the week or at the practise track. Why is this? Usually when a rider is practising he knows the track, is relaxed in his surroundings and puts very little pressure on himself even when charging hard, he is in an environment he can control. I’ve always said the best racers really don’t do anything different on race day to during the week practising. They simply are the best at blocking out the event, the competition and the associated distractions that they cannot control and focus on their own riding by looking ahead and racing the track. They focus

ahead on their technique and race their own track away from the competition. For all riders reading this who suffer with race day nerves and arm pump you need to identify the triggers to your arm pump. If you are not looking far enough ahead both on the race track and in regards to the riders you are chasing in front of you, then you are looking down and inevitably tensing up by seeing every little bump and ledge your bike is hitting and reacting by holding on too tight.. pumping your arms up. This often happens subconsciously and you will need to work hard on looking ahead and being proactive (making your own decisions on the track) as opposed to reactive (reacting to everyone else’s moves as you are not looking far enough ahead to see what is coming). 27

I n th e

ope n i

ng lap

s tr y l ooki n g r y j u mp on t ra c k and ta th e ke a f b r e at e w de e hs , on p c e th i s b e co h a b it me s a it i s a g r e at way to so m e m uc h g et ne e de d into th ox yge e bod n y , relax riding your techn i q ue a t h e t ra nd flo w on c k e li m i n at i n on wit g hold h your ing f o re a r ms an pump d ing up ! a he ad

off eve

BREATHE

Yes we have made it to the very clichéd BREATHE pit board signal all riders will receive on race day! It is seen so often because it actually does work. When a rider is tense on race day they hold their breathe, typically during the opening laps when there is chaos breaking loose and bikes around them on every space of the race track. A rider typically does not know he is holding his breath until a few laps into the moto and BAM, his Heart Rate is maxed out and he is literally gassed. The side effects of this are whilst you were focused on the battle and not breathing, you did not realise that an extreme tense grip had formed with your hands on the controls and by the time you took a breather to relax it’s too late.. arm pump is already here! Thanks for reading everyone, please hit me back with some feedback and if you have any questions related to these articles I’d be happy to answer them! See you at the races. Joe Stevens - “M.A.D” MX Athlete Development

C O

A C H I N G

WITH JOE STEVENS AND #TEAMMAD PRIVATE TUITION AND GROUP COACHING / SCHOOL HOLIDAY CAMPS. ALL LEVELS OF RIDERS CATERED FOR: PRO RACERS TO BEGINNER RIDERS. CONTACT JOE STEVENS P: 0404059168 E: JOE@MADSPTC.COM

MYTH BUSTING NO CHAMPIONSHIP STATUS FOR JUNIORS UNDER 12 TODD JARRATT - 3rd Year Bachelor of Exercise Science & Master of Exercise Physiology

On behalf of those who want the very best for our current junior riders and the future of motocross in Australia, I ask you to do something before you continue reading... Please, detach yourself from your current views regarding the Motorcycling Australia (MA) Motocross Commission’s (MXC) proposed rule change to “Junior National Championship Classes”. I believe being impartial while reading this article is important because we are discussing a topic that if responded to incorrectly could change Australian motocross forever. I can also assure you that this is not an exaggeration and you will see why below. I am going to tackle this discussion from (A) the view of a former racer, junior team manager and long time supporter of the sport; (B) the perspective 32

of a current commentator/journalist; (C) MA’s point of view; and (D) the angle of an exercise science student who studies daily, the process of long term athlete development. In case you haven’t already seen it, the proposed rule change mentioned above was raised by the Motocross Commission as Item Number MX1172 at their Commission Meeting in early March and is quoted as follows “Remove Australian Championship status for children under the age of 12 years, including 50cc Division 2, 65cc classes and 85cc 9 to Under 12 years class”. The Motocross Commission’s reasoning behind this proposed rule change is quoted as follows “The FIM decided in 2015 to not award

I absolutely detest the idea that these days every kid has to be a winner and that no child should have to feel like they have â&#x20AC;&#x153;lostâ&#x20AC;? because it upsets them. 33

Championship status for under 12 years, the MXC agree with this decision. MXC believes that there is too much pressure put on children at a young age and that by removing Australian Championship status for age groups under 12 it may improve longevity within the sport. Upon review of other sports including Tennis, Athletics, Swimming and other Motorcycle disciplines, MXC believes that the age of 12 is an appropriate age for the start of Australian Championships. The MXC will still support the 50cc, 65cc and smaller 85cc age classes to be held as support classes at AJMXC”. (A) This proposal has been particularly controversial and with respectable reason I must say. All of our successful Australian exports in the years past accumulated huge amounts of racing experience (and success) as juniors at the national level before continuing their career internationally. The junior national event provides the perfect testing ground for potential future stars, much like Loretta Lynn’s, as for one week 34

each year, the best of our country‘s best all congregate to one location, to see who will be able to withstand all of the pressure and stress when it truly counts, to be crowned our nation’s #1. On top of this, I absolutely detest the idea that these days every kid has to be a winner and that no child should have to feel like they have “lost” because it upsets them. What kind of terrible mental programming does that instill for a child as they mature? Everyone has to overcome obstacles as they grow, so the earlier children can be exposed to this and take responsibility of their actions the better. I guess it goes without saying then, that I am a firm believer in the “school of hard knocks” development, as you learn far more from one failure than you do many successes. So when the notion arose of basically “delisting” championship status for the one event per year that truly tests, strains and forces these young riders to grow and develop into the future, as a racer, former junior team manager and long time supporter of the sport I was not a fan... (B / C) Unfortunately though, we see it time and time again at junior events where parents put too much emphasis on their child winning every weekend, and completely disregard the most important aspect of development – consistently accumulating experience and skills (which is proven to produce elite level athletes in ALL sports). This is why we see so many young riders with tremendous amounts of talent burning out well before their prime. I could right now name at least 10 phenomenal young riders in the

“We see it time and time again at junior events where parents put too much emphasis on their child winning every weekend”

current day that are most likely going to burn out in the next two to three years, simply because of the winning focused process of development they’ve been pushed through by their parents at far too young an age. For an athlete to reach the elite level and maintain their position there they must have intrinsic motivation i.e. their passion and drive to succeed must come from within them. So, if your child does not have that intrinsic motivation, there is basically nothing on this planet you can do to help them. This is because extrinsic motivators, such as money, rewards, praise etc. will only impact on the

child for so long before the novelty wears off and the child no longer experiences any motivation from them. So from the perspective of a current commentator/ journalist, and from a governing body’s point of view, a much greater emphasis should be focused on enjoyment of the sport at a young age, rather than a “if you don’t perform you’re going to get interrogated” mentality that we commonly see at junior events. (D) Unfortunately, it has been shown time and time again that rushing competition almost always results in short comings in physical, technical, tactical and mental 35

abilities of athletes, whereas a long-term commitment to progressive development leads to the production of elite athletes in ALL sports. Did you know that there is a well-established (yet disputable) theory that it requires approximately 10 years or 10,000 hours of extensive training for a talented athlete to reach an expert level? This equates to approximately two hours and 45 minutes of practice every day for 10 years. If this is in deed correct, in the grand scheme of things, this one-week event per year that everyone is worrying about is going to play only a minimal part in an athlete’s overall career progression. Yes, it will most certainly play a part in their seasonal development, but it’s not as big of a deal as some may think. In light of this, I think it’s time I break down the process of long-term athlete development mentioned previously. In a nutshell, sports can be classified 36

as either “early specialisation” or “late specialisation” sports. Late specialisation sports include field based sports such as athletics, football, tennis and basketball, that require an emphasis on the development of general, fundamental motor skills, such as running, jumping, landing and changing direction. In a sport like motocross though, it is obvious that we can’t develop amazing field based sport athletes and expect them to be successful motorcycle riders, it just doesn’t happen like that. This is why we refer to sports such as mountain biking, gymnastics, water skiing and motocross as “early specialisation” sports. These early specialisation sports require “sportspecific” development from an earlier age, and this is why I see a major flaw in the MXC’s comparison of motocross to the other sports in their proposal e.g. tennis, athletics, and swimming.

Those sports listed are late specialisation sports, whereas motocross is an early specialisation sport, and as a result it involves a different model for long term athlete development.

Those sports listed are late specialisation sports, whereas motocross is an early specialisation sport, and as a result it involves a different model for long term athlete development, which is a four-stage model explained below: Stage One: Training to train – athletes learn how to train, and ascertain the basic skills of their specific sport, as well as being introduced to ancillary capacities such as warm up and cool downs, mobility, nutrition and hydration, mental preparation, precompetition routines, post competition recovery, and injury rehabilitation. During this stage it is advised that athletes utilise a general training to competition focused training time ratio of 3:1 (i.e. three hours of general training to every one hour of competition focused training). Stage Two: Training to compete – in this stage athletes should spend half of their training time completing technical, tactical and fitness training, and the other half of their training time devoted

to competition specific training and competing in the event itself. Therefore the training to competition time ratio shifts to an equal 1:1 (i.e. one hour of general training to one hour of competition specific training or the competition itself). Stage Three: Training to win – in this stage athletes have established their physical, technical, tactical, mental and ancillary capacities, so their focus now shifts towards the optimization of their competitive performance by peaking and tapering through monitoring training loads. As a result the general training, to competition specific training or competition itself time ratio shifts to 1:3 (i.e. one hour of general training to three hours of competition specific training or the competition itself). Stage Four: Retention – less relevant to this article as it refers to the activities performed after an athlete has retired from competition permanently.

PHOTOS BY: JOHN SMITH

MYTH BUSTED? SHARE YOUR OPINION

In summary, as the initial stages of athlete development are the most critical to long-term athlete development, we should not be looking to de-status national championship classes that only roll around once a year and provide a great opportunity for growth, learning and responsibility. Instead we should be putting a much greater focus on youth coaching and working with parents to help develop their children over the long term, rather than 38

aiming for early success. This is crucial, because if incompetence in any of the fundamental areas occurs during the early stages of development, these initial errors can never be fully repaired in later years, regardless of the amount of remedial programs the athlete is put through. So parents, get your kids out into the hands of proven coaches who have the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best long-term interests in mind. Until next time guys â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ride hard and stay safe!

JE SSY NEL SON

OVER

Photo by: Jessy Nelson

MOUNTS

ACCESSORIES

#BEAHERO

Get into your specialist Honda dealer today and ask us about the full range of Honda Generators. Call 1300 1 HONDA or visit powerequipment.honda.com.au Subject to availability, all prices include GST. *4 year warranty applies for domestic use only and does not apply to engines sold as separate units. Savings on selected models.

T S E G R A L S ’ A I L A R T AUS E G N A R N O I T C E T O & PR

FREE SHIPPING

ON ORDERS OVER $20

SAFE & SECURE SHOPPING

EXPLORE RANGE

102

TA R G E T:

MAT T

National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Matt Moss burst back on to the Motul MX Nationals scene at round one, and despite carrying an illness managed a top five finish at round two in Appin, and Matt now trails the championship points leader by a mere ten points. We caught up with the controversial character to chat about everything from race results, to becoming a dad, and find out exactly what he’s planning when he hangs up the boots one day!

MOSS

You entered Round 2 holding the red plate, and on a new wave of confidence – We heard you were sick at Appin what was the deal there? Oh I was really sick at Appin. I was crook in the stomach and I was even contemplating not even racing I was that unwell, and I just didn’t feel good at all. I couldn’t really see much and I was just struggling – that whole day is still a bit of a blur to be honest. But considering how I felt I had a really good round I guess.

M M1 0 2 Regardless of being sick, you actually still got some pretty impressive results with two fifth places, were you happy with that given your circumstances? I am really happy with how I rode, especially considering I was so sick. I obviously didn’t want to finish fifth – I would have loved to have won races, but it’s a long championship and at the end of the day I did what I needed to do to stay in the championship hunt. It must have been so frustrating to feel like your old self, and then to have something like being sick which is completely out of your control effect your performance at Appin. It was a bit frustrating I guess, because I know how much work I do during the week and to get sick on the weekend wasn’t too good, but I feel like I did everything right. I still feel as if my starts are great, my bike is great and we are still looking forward. Are you difficult to deal with at home when you’ve had a bad round? Well I don’t think I’ve had one yet, last round I wouldn’t consider a bad round at all. But to be honest I’m hard to deal with when I’ve had a good round, I’m pretty much hard to deal with all the time (laughs) 44

You’re only ten points off the championship lead, are you confident that you will have the red plate again? Definitely. I definitely believe that I’ll have it again, but at the end of the day it’s about having it at the last round. I think it’s going to be a great year racing between all of us, and it’s just going to be about who can get through best on their bad days and that’s exactly what I did at Appin. On top of racing this year, you’re also going to be a father, what’s it like having that in the back of your mind? I wouldn’t say anything has changed, but I look at things more as if people are taking food out of my kids mouth if I’m not up there winning – if you think about it like that, it gives me even more motivation to do well. I’ve been training my butt off and I feel like I’m in a really good position, so I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully everything goes to plan and the bub doesn’t come early. Fingers crossed the baby comes after Coolum! Will becoming a dad make racing at this level any different do you think? It definitely won’t be making me more conservative, I will want to win even more. That’s what every parent wants to do – provide for their family and show

their children what they’re capable of. It’s one of those things that I remember from when we were kids, dad was always pushing himself, and then that made us want to prove that we were worthy and as hard working as him too. I hope that I can do that for my kids – that you have to work for what you want in life.

Will your kids be riding bikes or getting coached at the Moss Institute? Ohhhhh that’s a hard one. Obviously I would love to see my kid being coached by my dad, but at this stage we don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy! At the end of the day I’d really prefer my kids to just go racing for the fun of it. If it eventually turns in to something more than that then so be it. I know the lifestyle and the sacrifices you have to make to be a professional racer, and I’m not sure if I want my kids going through that. This job is very rewarding, but it has its challenges too.

How much involvement has your dad had in your career since turning pro? Dad’s involvement has been immense in my career so far. He still helps me, I was actually riding with him yesterday. Dad’s help is sort of behind the scenes – I don’t really let people know what I’m doing What will you do once you finish racing? but he’s been in my corner for my whole I have plans in my mind about exactly career and always will be. what I want to do, and Soph and I have

talked about it. But at the end of the day, I will dedicate myself to whatever I do. Whether it be my plans for when I finish racing, or racing professionally, whatever I do, I do it whole heartedly. I have started thinking about it, but I’m not going to venture out and start something while I’m still racing – it wouldn’t be fair on my team or on myself and my current career. What I have in mind though is going to be big, but I want to wait until racing is completely over before I put time or energy into anything else.

Any clues on what you’ll be doing? I’ll definitely still be in the industry. I feel that there is something lacking in Australian racing that I believe I can fulfil. Something that makes people more competitive and more professional in the way that they can do everything, all in the one spot - but we’ll see how we go! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store! Thanks for the chat Matt. No worries, thanks heaps!

FACTORY

DRIVEN

LIGHTWEIGHT PERFORMANCE •Lightest Sealed Ring Chain On The Market •20% Longer Wear Life Over RK KZU Chain •Teflon UW-Ring Provides No Power Loss With Amazing Lube Retention •Ideal For MX Race Application 125-500cc

L150117

Imported & Distributed by:

Photo By: Kam Williams

A SURPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOUR PACKAGE MOTO LADS, SUBSCRIPTION UNDERWEAR IS HERE. START SUBSCRIBING TO THE MOST BLOODY COMFY AND EPIC LOOKING, MOISTURE WICKING JOCKS. A NEW LIMITED EDITION DESIGN DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR EACH MONTH FOR JUST $22! - CHOOSE MONTHLY OR BI-MONTHLY - NEVER GET THE SAME DESIGN

- NO COMMITMENT. CANCEL ANYTIME - FREE SHIPPING AUSTRALIA WIDE

TRY THE CLUB HERE

WWW.KNOBBY.COM.AU ONE LAST THING... WE’LL EVEN THROW IN OUR NEW BLACK STAINLESS CREDIT CARD BOTTLE OPENER. CRACK A BEER GENTS, SHIT JUST GOT SERIOUS!

WE’RE AUSTRALIAN AS A MEAT PIE AND A 6 PACK. WE SUPPORT WORLDWIDE - MOTOCROSS • BMX • MTN BIKE • SURF • SNOWBOARDING • BASE JUMPING • CROSS TRAINING • PUB CRAWLING • SLEEPING

hitachi-powertools.com.au Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.

TECH TIPS POWERED BY SPMOTOSPORT.COM.AU

HOW TO REPLACE YOUR CLUTCH This edition’s tech tip is replacing clutch fibres and springs on a two wheel motorcycle. This job requires minimum tools and tools most people will have at home in their toolbox. You’ll need a set of Tbar’s, a container big enough to put the plates in and a small screw driver to lift the plates from the basket.

Remove all clutch fibres, steels and springs from the packet and soak them in a container of the recommended oil for your motorcycle. Let them sit for at least 10 minutes to soak through the fibres. While these are soaking, refer to your manual for the clutch spring length and fibre and steel thickness as some models the orientation of fibres and steels may be in a different order then what you may be used to (check twice, fit once). Drain oil from the engine, its always a good idea to know the approximate amount of oil that should be in your crank cases so that after draining the oil we can measure to ensure that we have removed all the oil. Some models have split crank cases or two sump plugs that need to be removed to ensure that all of the oil has been drained

“LIFT THE CLUTCH PACK OUT ONE BY ONE INSPECTING EACH FIBRE AND STEEL AS YOU’RE TAKING IT OUT” STEVE POWELL - SPMX

from the crank cases. Next, gently push the rear brake caliper to spread the brake pads. Push the rear brake pedal down as far as it goes and then use a 17mm (or thereabouts) socket in the frame where the swingarm pivot is located. This will hold the rear brake pedal open. We do this to help access the clutch inspection cover and mounting bolts. Take your TBar and remove all inspection cover bolts to access the clutch basket. Now you”ll need to remove the clutch pressure plate. This will be held on by a series of approx. 4-6 bolts. Remove these bolts and lay in order on a clean bench top. Lift the pressure plate out the clutch box, be careful with separating the clutch pressure plate from the clutch plates as there maybe thrust washers that may stick to the pressure plate and are easily misplaced. Begin to lift the clutch pack out one by one inspecting each fibre and steel as you’re taking it out. Some of the things to look for will be burnt or discoloured steel plates and wear and under sized fibre plates. Also at this time we like to take a good look at the fibre plate and its contact area to the clutch

basket fingers. If there is deep groves in the clutch basket there will also be wear on the fibre plate. In this case the clutch basket will also need replacing as one of the common problems of a burnt clutch and/or poor functioning clutch can be that the fibre plates cannot slide to engage and disengage because of the ridges and deep groves of the clutch basket. On inspection of the basket, a final check of the pressure plate surface. This will need to be flat and minimal deep groves. If it is grooved up it will need to be replaced as this is a very important part of our clutch pack. Undersizing of this component will result in premature clutch life. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to install the new clutch pack! (refer to manual for correct arrangement of clutch fibres and steels). Simply install each fibre and steel back into the clutch basket making sure that the clutch fibre and steel line up and 54

pack down on top of each other. All of the fibre plates should be in line with each other with a steel in between each fibre. Once all the plates are installed, refit pressure plate, install new springs and tension the mounting bolts down to manufacturers specification. Reinstall the clutch inspection cover also tension to manufacturers specification. Remove socket from the swingarm pivot, remembering to pump up the rear brake. Check all oil drain bolts for tension before installing the correct viscosity and amount of oil as per your manual. Fill engine with oil and always recheck the clutch lever freeplay after assembly. We like to run 2-4mm of lever freeplay at all times (this may need to be adjusted after or during riding). For hydraulic clutches, always check the amount of clutch fluid after installing a new clutch. Happy Riding Guys!

I HARD HITTING, LOW MAINTENANCE TWO-STROKE POWER I TWIN CHAMBER SPEED SENSITIVE KYB FORKS (125 AND 250) I HOT PLASTICS, GRAPHICS AND MORE…

*Race kits are based on Yamaha’s successful Australian GYTR race team bikes and vary between models, see www.yamaha-motor.com.au/twostrokes for details. Offer for a limited time only, while stocks last, conditions apply.

k a i n z o Cooper P

IN THIS EDITION OF THE MXSTORE PRIVATEER SPOTLIGHT WE CATCH UP WITH THE YOUNG MXD ATHLETE FROM NEWCASTLE COOPER POZNIAK. READ BELOW & WATCH THE SHORT FILM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COOPER AS HE TAKES ON THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS IN 2016.

MXstore: How are you feeling about the opener of the 2016 MX Nationals at Horsham? Coop: Really good, I've been training my ass off for the first round. I just want to go in and see what happens, I’m aiming for around a top 10 and then I want to work my way up from there. MXstore: Is it just you and your Dad putting your bike together and driving to the races? Coop: I'm getting some help from KTM Newcastle with bikes, parts and what not but it’s basically just my Dad and I working on my bikes, putting them together. Dad’s driving to most of the races and then I'll drive home with him. MXstore: Do you currently work or go to school during the week? Coop: I'm flat out riding Motocross, training basically every day of the week and just working from there. MXstore: What are your future plans in the sport? Coop: I want to win an U19 MX Nationals championship over here in Australia first and then I want to head to America and see what happens over there. What do you do for fitness training? I’m actually sponsored by a crossfit gym so I go there 4-5 days a week, in between that I do a bit of mountain biking and cycling. Is there anyone you would like to thank? I’d like to thank KTM Newcastle, Mum and Dad, Lusty Industries, All Pro Racing, Willmax Graphics, CFX Seats & Fasthouse.

COOPER PLACES 2ND AT RND 1 IN HORSHAM AFTER HAVING HOPES OF A TOP 10 PERFORMANCE AT ROUND 1 OF THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS IN HORSHAM, COOPER CAME OUT OF THE ROUND WITH A 2ND OVERALL! IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT HE WILL BE A CONTENDER FOR THE TITLE IN 2016.

y e l t a e h Trent W

IN THIS EDITION OF THE MXSTORE PRIVATEER SPOTLIGHT WE CATCH UP WITH THE MX2 ATHLETE FROM DUBBO TRENT WHEATLEY. READ BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRENT AS HE TAKES ON THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS IN 2016.

MXstore: How are you feeling about the opener of the 2016 MX Nationals at Horsham? Trent: I feel good! Working full time I don’t have as much time to ride as I did last year. I’ve been working for a plumber in town and I'm 1st year apprentice there! I didn't actually decide to do the first round until about February, I’m just keen to see how I go and do a few other rounds during the year. MXstore: Is it just you and your Dad putting your bike together and driving to the races? Trent: Yeah Dad and I are doing all of the bike work, but Mum & my girlfriend come as well too see what goes on. MXstore: What are your future plans for the sport? Trent: Everyone would like to be a pro and all that but realistically I’d be really happy if this year and over the next couple of years I could get some top 10’s. The depth of field here in Australia is getting so deep it’s almost too hard to expect anything out of it. MXstore: What do you like to do away from the track? Trent: Away from the track I like to do a bit of shooting, hunting and riding my bmx. I really enjoy the bmx, it helps keep my flow and style up when I get back on my dirtbike. MXstore: Is there anyone you would like to thank? Trent: I’d like to thank Mum and Dad for helping me out through the years, Zero MX Graphics, DNC Body Graphics, Custom Plumbing & Gas Fitting and Mathews Motorcycles.

WHEATLEY PLACES 21ST IN MOTO 1 AT HORSHAM TRENT QUALIFIED IN 30TH AND PLACED A SOLID 21ST IN MX2 MOTO 1 OF THE HORSHAM MX NATIONALS. UNFORTUNATELY ON THE FIRST LAP OF THE SECOND MOTO TRENTS BIKE BROKE DOWN AND WAS UNABLE TO FINISH THE SECOND MOTO.

c i v e s e l i Joel M IN THIS EDITION OF THE MXSTORE PRIVATEER SPOTLIGHT WE CATCH UP WITH THE MX1 ATHLETE FROM VICTORIA JOEL MILESEVIC. READ BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JOEL AS HE TAKES ON THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS IN 2016.

MXstore: How are you feeling about the opener of the 2016 MX Nationals at Horsham? Joel: It hasn’t really gone to plan so far, I’ve been struggling with a bit of ﬁtness. I haven’t been riding at this intensity for a while now but besides from that it’s better than what it could be & I can learn from how I’ve gone today. MXstore: Is it just you and your Dad putting your bike together and driving to the races? Joel: Me, my Dad and my mate Ben who is my mechanic. My major sponsor is Maddalon Motorsports and I work for them and they’ve bought me a race bike which I cant be happier about! But everything else is out of my own pocket, so it’s been a bit of a struggle really. MXstore: What’s your setup like? Joel: Pretty basic really we just come to the track and race out of a van, I haven’t even got a pit tent! Im just running a standard bike with an fmf on it & Full Force are doing my suspension which is really good. MXstore: Do you currently work or go to school during the week? Joel: I work at a site out in Melbourne driving a dozer all day so it’s a bit of a struggle with no air con and all that and doing 45+ hours a week so it’s not that easy. But no excuses I’ve got to do it to get to the track and if I don’t I won’t be racing so it’s as simple as that. MXstore: Is there anyone you would like to thank? Joel: I’d like to thank all my family, Adrian & Anthony from Maddalon motorsports, my mate & mechanic Ben, Full Force Racing, Golden Tyre Australia, SK designs. I just want to make them all proud!

MILESEVIC PLACES 13TH AT RND 1 IN HORSHAM JOEL PUT IN A VERY SOLID PERFORMANCE AT ROUND 1 OF THE 2016 MXNATIONALS AT HORSHAM FINISHING IN 13TH OVERALL JUST BEHIND THE FACTORY RIDERS OF THE CLASS. HE HOPES TO IMPROVE ON HIS RESULT COME ROUND 2 IN APPIN ON SUNDAY THE 17TH OF APRIL.

T S E G R A L S ’ A I L A R T AUS

E G N A R S E I R O S S E C AC

SHOP OVER 45,000 PRODUCTS ONLINE OR INSTORE

FREE SHIPPING

ON ORDERS OVER $20

SAFE & SECURE SHOPPING

EXPLORE RANGE

MOTOCROSS

ENDURO

COMPETITION

BREAKING NEWS | RACE COVERAGE | BIKE TESTING | LATEST PRODUCTS

BREAKING NEWS | RACE COVERAGE | BIKE TESTING | LATEST PRODUCTS /motoonline

/motoonline

@motoonline

RACE RECAP

DEAN FERRIS CDR Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MX1 round winner on the Appin MX Nationals.

The Appin stop of the Motul MX Nationals season was a good one for CDR Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dean Ferris, winning the opening moto yet again and going on to capture his first overall of 2016 upon return to Australia. MotoOnline.com.au spoke to Ferris post-race to get his take on the weekend, among other related topics. And next time we see him, Ferris will be wearing the red plates aboard his factory-backed YZ450F. 63

CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris, the overall winner at Appin’s round two of the MX Nationals, red plate now holder as well. A good day! Yeah! It’s a good day to come away with a win and a red plate, can’t ask for much more. Stoked I took a red plate, I did it here five years ago and it was also round two at Appin, so whether that means anything, I don’t know. I had good memories here, so yeah stoked with the outcome. I still feel like I could ride a bit better, these first couple of tracks are a little bit tight and it’s something I haven’t raced on for a long time, so I’m still adapting to that, but all in all it was a good day.

That first moto was a good battle between yourself, Gibbs and Waters as well. You made it happen there in the final stages, got into the lead on the last lap, so talk us through that one… Yeah, we had battles all day long, us three. But the first one I was just really tight and they came by me because I was in the lead and I only just hung onto them. The last few laps were really good for me and I pasted Todd second last lap and Gibbs on the last lap, made it happen. I wasn’t that satisfied with my riding, I still won, but I was a little bit tight and I could see Todd riding tight as well, but anyway, stoked with that! 64

Was there anything in that move on Gibbs at the top of the hill that final lap? A couple of people mentioned it and I did see it from a distance, but was there anything in it from your perspective? I mean yeah, we both jumped to the outside rut that we wanted and we connected. Gibbs isn’t one person I want to hit, he’s a really nice guy and rides clean, so appologies to him, but we didn’t come down so that’s the main thing.

Moto two you were third, talk us through that one from your standpoint.

In moto two I rode really tight in the beginning again and the other boys were just a bit quicker. I was in fifth for a long time and again, just towards the end, I found some I don’t know, wouldn’t say lines, but confidence in the track and I came through again. I got Gibbs again, but it was a little too late to get Todd. We reeled in Metty as well, so I don’t know what the deal was there, but the last few laps with Todd and I were pretty good. I was more happy with them few laps at the end than any other lap I did all day. 65

How are you finding CDR Yamaha, now that you have been with them for two rounds? It’s obviously a greatly respected team, been around for a long time with a lot of success, so are you enjoying it so far? Yeah, loving it! The guys are really professional and, you know, it’s a team that I really wanted to get on. But for whatever reason it never worked out and obviously I was gone for four years overseas and I got in early and made it happen this time. So yeah, stoked to be on board and I know I made a really good decision to come home and ride for these guys. So far so good, they have been putting in and I have been putting in – that’s all I can ask for. Thank you!

No worries, well done and looking forward to the next one.

Thanks!

QUESTIONS WITH

JAY WI L S O N Tell us about your deal with the Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team for 2016? Well after last year if I was in Australia I was always going to step up to the MX1 class. It was really important for me to continue to develop as a rider and I felt like after winning an MX2 championship that was the next step for me. Paul Free who runs the Honda Road Racing Team took on the motocross team for 2016 and was interested in putting me on, so we met and from there it pretty much all fell in to place from there. With Pip Harrison involved it was pretty much a done deal for me, and now here we are! Motocross or Supercross? Supercross for sure. I have always loved Supercross, and every time I’ve actually had the opportunity to race it, I’ve done quite well. I feel like I’m more of a technical rider and I just enjoy it a lot. Even when I was a kid I used to race the stadium cross events and there’s always been something about it that I seem to enjoy more. First car? It was a Mercedes Vito. Oh, actually no it wasn’t it was a Toyota Corolla paddock basher when I was 12. It was a mustard yellow sort of color and we used to have a flat track down in the paddock at Glen Innes, and we used to drift it. My mate wrote it off though, he drove over the top of a big rock and put a hole in the bottom of the floor and that was the end of that.

Favorite Australian track and why? It’s probably Moree. I always loved that track and growing up it was my home track too which was pretty cool. Now that I’m older it’s probably Toowoomba. I seem to always have pretty decent results there and it’s a track I enjoy going back to. It’s elevated and it’s more of a natural track than a lot of the Aussie venues these days. It also gets really rough and rutty and it’s very technical. Most embarrassing racing moment? Oh honestly it probably nearly getting lapped in moto two at Appin the other weekend (laughs). I binned it a couple of times and I ended up way back so that was pretty embarrassing. I’m pretty sure when I was younger I flipped my KX60 on the line or something, but everyone does that right? (laughs) Least favorite rider to race? Probably Dan Reardon (laughs). But seriously, he’s like 30 now and he’s passed me at both rounds so far. Plus when he passes me I swear he nearly cleans me out, or maybe I’m just not used to how these old dudes ride (laughs)

E K I B L A I C I F F O THE

S L A N O I T A N X M WASH OF THE

R A C E L I N E . C O M . A U

DUAL PIVOT SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR GREATER MOBILITY

FULLY ADJUSTABLE STRAPS FOR ALL LEG SIZES & SHAPES

PERFORATED AIRPRENE & ARMOR FOR IMPROVED VENTILATION CE APPROVED IMPACT PROTECTION

(CERTIFIED UNDER EUROPEAN SAFETY STANDARDS EN 16211:2012 WITH A LEVEL 1 IMPACT RATING)

For your nearest THOR stocklist, contact: Gas Imports Australia Pty. Ltd. Ph: 03 8331-0300 Fax: 03 9331-5816 Email: info@gasimports.com.au www.gasimports.com.au

TOTALFLEX FORCE XP KNEE GUARD

THORMX.COM

LIGHTER, SLIMMER & MORE RIGID FRAME FOR SHARPER HANDLING & FEEL UPDATED ENGINE DESIGN IS EVEN LIGHTER & MORE POWERFUL REVISED SEAT, TANK & RADIATOR SHROUDS FOR EASIER BODY POSITIONING NEW REAR INTAKE DUCTS IMPROVE AIRFLOW & THROTTLE RESPONSE DIGITAL FORK AIR PUMP AND NEW HANDHELD KX CALIBRATION KIT ACCESSORIES PROVIDE THE SAME PRECISION TUNING AS KAWASAKI FACTORY TEAMS RACE READY SSF-AIR TAC (TRIPLE AIR CHAMBER) FORKS I LAUNCH CONTROL FOR THE HOLESHOT ADVANTAGE PLUG-AND-PLAY DFI COUPLERS FOR EASY ENGINE TUNING I ADJUSTABLE HANDLEBAR AND FOOTPEG POSITIONING

kawasakiaus

www.kawasaki.com.au

HIT& MISS MotoOnline.com.au pulls out the microscope and dissects some of the standouts and disappointments from an action-packed second round of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals at Appin, New South Wales.

HIT. THE HIGHS FROM ROUND 2 OF THE 2016 MX NATIONALS

“I DIDN’T FEEL ULTRA COMFORTABLE BUT I THINK THAT’S JUST THE WAY THE APPIN TRACK IS... TECHNICAL AND SQUAREEDGED BUMPS” - BRETT METCALFE

Dean Ferris: It’s fair to say CDR Yamaha’s new recruit Dean Ferris has well and truly arrived as a massive MX1 championship threat. After a disappointing (by his standards) third overall result at Horsham, the former MXGP racer more than made amends on Sunday. Not only did he storm from third to pass Kirk Gibbs and Todd Waters for the lead in the dying laps of the opening moto, but he backed it up with a valuable third in the second race to claim the day’s overall and pick up the coveted red plates in the process.

fourth in moto one with an inspired win in the second MX1 outing, holding off a hungry Dean Ferris and Kirk Gibbs who would’ve been quick to pounce on any mistake he made. None came, though, and Metty claimed his first-ever MX Nationals race victory. Kale Makeham: It’s been bloody ages since we’ve seen Kale Makeham at the front of the pack and it was a great to see him break his win drought with a well-earned victory in the second MX2 moto. The Proformance Yamaha rider might’ve lost a factory ride and opted to step back to the MX2 class this year, but it’s a change that’s suited the Victorian to the ground. A win like this will be a shot in the arm for Makeham and it’ll give him the confidence that he does belong on top of the podium. That could spell danger for other title hopefuls.

Brett Metcalfe: Former Canadian national motocross champion and SD3 Husqvarna guest Brett Metcalfe is another guy who enjoyed a surge of form at Appin. Backing up his sixth overall at Horsham, Metty pulled out all the stops for round two. The South Australian-born racer backed up his

MISS. THE LOWS OF ROUND 2 OF THE 2016 MX NATIONALS

second quicker than series leader Caleb Ward. He then led moto one early on before finding himself losing positions to Ward, Jake Moss, Jayden Rykers and Luke Arbon. In the second race the 2015 MXD champ could only finish 12th, meaning he’d dropped to ninth overall by the time he crossed the line. Crankt Protein Honda Racing: After a complete team makeover over the off-season and signing two of the most talented riders – Jay Wilson and Dylan Long – the new-look Crankt Protein Honda Racing team entered 2016 with no small amount of interest pointed their way. However, it’s been a slow start for both Long and Wilson, who both just scraped into the top 10 at Appin with a ninth and 10th overall respectively. Both have the speed and talent to finish further up the chain than that and they’ll be looking to build on two ho-hum rounds and improve at Broadford. Wilson Todd: Queenslander Wilson Todd will look back on Appin as an opportunity lost after failing to capitalise on an incredible start to the day. In qualifying Todd set a blistering laptime that was more than a

Dylan Wills: With Appin being the home round of Raceline Pirelli KTM’s Dylan Wills, we were looking forward to him putting a horrible round at Horsham behind him and making up some championship ground. There was no such luck though, as the negotiated the technical, rutted circuit for ninth in the first MX2 race, then binned it in the second moto while in a muchimproved fifth place. After remounting he crossed the line in 14th for a frustrating 12th overall.

“THAT’S THE SPEED I CAN RIDE AT BUT ARM PUMP MEANT I HAD TO BACK IT DOWN TO STAY ON THE BIKE.” - WILSON TODD

Welcome to the Naturally refreshing Sunshine Coast

Official holiday destination for the MX Nationals

visitsunshinecoast.com

Make a Sunshine Coast event part of your next holiday Highlights include the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, the Hawaiian Airlines Va’a World Sprint Championships, International Rally of Queensland, World IRONMAN 70.3 Championships, Wanderlust and the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games.

In 2016 the Sunshine Coast will play host to its largest portfolio of events ever. With a range of national and international events in addition to our already impressive events calendar there is sure to be an event that you will want to be part of. From major events that are all about the surf or sporting participation, to tantalising food and iconic music festivals, you’ll always find a fun and exciting event to include in your holiday plans.

Maleny Wood Expo

APR

MAY

30 April - 2 May Maleny Showgrounds

There is no doubt The World is coming to the Sunshine Coast in 2016. You should be here!

Australian Outrigger Aussie Aito Noosa Food & Wine 2016

20-22 May Noosa Heads

20 May Mooloolaba

JUN

57th Australian National Square Dance Convention

Downunder Beachfest

26 June -4 July

9-13 June

University of the Sunshine Coast Sports Centre, Sunshine Coast Square Dance Centre and Mantra Mooloolaba

Caloundra and Hinterland

Queensland State Club Gymnastics Championships and Border Challenge

Etchells Australasian Winter Championships 9-12 June Mooloolaba

Va’a World Outrigger Sprint Championships 5-15 May Lake Kawana

Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - The Aussies

16-24 April Maroochydore, Alexandra Headlands & Mooloolaba

Australian Outrigger Marathon Titles

21-22 May Mooloolaba

Pumpkin Festival 29 May Goomeri

Noosa Ultimate Sports Festival 28 May Noosa Heads

Sunshine Coast Winter Bowls Carnival

International Rally of Queensland

28 May-27 July

17-19 June Maroochy River, Beerwah, Kenilworth, Imbil

JUL

AUG

SEP

Open Cockpit Weekend

MX Nationals Round 10

Maroochy Music and Visual Arts

2-3 July

27-28 August

Queensland Air Museum Caloundra

Coolum Beach

24-29 June Caloundra Indoor Stadium

Gympie Music Muster

25-28 August Amamoor State Forest

10 September

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships

4 September Mooloolaba

Horton Park Golf Course

Mitchell Creek Rock 'N' Blues Fest 15-19 September

Queensland Garden Expo

08-10 July Nambour Showgrounds

Northern University Games

Noosa Long Weekend

3-7 July

15-24 July

Sunshine Coast Stadium

Noosa area

OCT

22-24 October

October

Blackall Range

7 Sunshine Coast Marathon

17 July

Conondale

World Series Swims - Swim Queensland

The Blackall 100

Mitchell Creek

MX Nationals Round 7

19-21 August Alexandra Headland, Cotton Tree, Maroochydore

Tin Can Bay Seafood Festival 24 September Tin Can Bay

DEC

NOV

National Outrigger Junior Titles

Trans Tasman Gubbi Gubbi Waka Ama 22-23 September

24-26 September Lake Kawana

Lake Kawana

Christmas lights December

Mooloolaba

Triathlon Pink and Fun Run Pink November

Kawana Sports Precinct / Sunshine Coast Stadium

Caloundra Music Festival

30 September-3 October

Gatorade Qld Tri Series - Kawana

November

Kawana Sports Precinct / Sunshine Coast Stadium

Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival 30 October Noosa Heads

Caloundra

Mary Valley Australia Zoo Scarecrow Festival Festival 31 October - Australasian Police and 21 October - 1 November Emergency Service Games

12 November Mary Valley

Wanderlust Sunshine Coast

8-15 October 13-16 October Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast Stadium Novotel Twin Waters Resort Beerwah

Conscious Life Festival November

Innovation Centre Kawana

Holden Scramble Championship Finals November Twin Waters Golf Club

Woodford Folk Festival

27 December- 1 January Woodfordia

DISCOVER YOUR NEXT DESTINATION INSTAGRAM

@VISITSUNSHINECOAST #VISITSUNSHINECOAST #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia

OR F E

EE R F

D A O NL

Y R E

S IS

W O D

DOWNLOAD THE APP ON ANY DEVICE

MXNATIONALS PROGRAM, RIDER LISTS, PROFILES AND PRESS RELEASES

Broadf

WHO

WIL

L W IN

DOWN TH G E IN

VE U

I TH

N ROU

ord V ict oria

E BROADFORD. Round 3 sees the series back at Broadford, the home of the two world Motocross Grands Prix and at a true motocross track with plenty of elevation. The Broadford track is one of the toughest circuits on the 2015 calendar and with steep up and down hills, its also one of the most demanding tracks. As well as action packed races, the venue has great spectator viewing and top-notch facilities.

SCHEDULE START

CLASS

DURATION

9:00am

MX2 Practice / Qualifying

25 Min

9.30am

MX1 Practice / Qualifying

30 Min

10.05am

Go Pro Super Pole

5 Min

10:15am

MXD Practice / Qualifying

20 Min

10.40am

Amateur Cup Practice / Qualifying

15 Min

11:00am

Official Opening

15 Min

11:15am

Motul MX2 Moto 1

30 + 1 lap

12:05am

Thor MX1 Moto 1

30 + 1 lap

12:40pm

Lunch

50 min

1:30pm

Pirelli MXD Moto 1

20 + 1 lap

2:05pm

Amateur Cup Moto 1

15 Min

2:30pm

Motul MX2 Moto 2

20 + 1 lap

3:05pm

Thor MX1 Moto 2

30 + 1 lap

3.50pm

Pirelli MXD Moto 2

20 + 1 lap

4:15pm

Amateur Cup Moto 2

15 Min

CHAMPIONSHIP POINT ALLOCATION PER MOTO 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

35 32 30 28 26

6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

25 24 23 22 21

11th 12th 13th 14th 15th

20 19 18 17 16

16th 17th 18th 19th 20th

15 14 13 12 11

21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th

10 9 8 7 6

26th 27th 28th 29th 30th

5 4 3 2 1

R N D

M X 1 90

MX1 PRESENTED BY:

DEAN

FERRIS LEADS CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris showed that consistency is the key to success, taking the Thor MX1 overall win at Round 2 of the Motul MX Nationals at Appin in New South Wales today. There was excitement in the air from the minute the Thor MX1 engines roared back to life this morning, and with National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Matt Moss entering the round with the championship lead, the

battles were on. When qualifying got underway this morning, much like at round one, no one was able to separate the talent packed class, and after only two laps of qualifying were in the books, Wilson Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki’s Todd Waters shot to the top of the times (1:41.461), while KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs held down second position with a time of 1:42.286. Thor MX1 red plate holder Moss 91

also finished within the top three, with a 1:42.671 qualifying time. At the conclusion of qualifying, the top five riders Waters, Gibbs, Moss, CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris and DPH Motorsport’s Lawson Bopping, did exactly what was required to progress through to GoPro Superpole. And when each rider had put down their fastest laps, it was Suzuki mounted Waters who took the GoPro Superpole victory with a lightening fast lap time of 1:40.295. When gates dropped on moto one for the Thor MX1 class, thousands of spectators had flooded in to the venue, and it was CDR Yamaha’s Ferris who flew through the first turn, to snatch up the holeshot ahead of Waters, Kawasaki pair Moss and Mosig, Gibbs, as well as Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Jay Wilson. By lap two, the top three riders were all within three quarters of a second of each other -Ferris, Waters and Moss treating spectators to an epic battle for the race lead. And by halfway through lap three, Waters took control of moto one and moved in to the race lead. With Waters out in front and with a 3.2 second gap on the field, the focus then shifted to Gibbs, Ferris, Moss, and Mosig who were all going bar to bar for the remaining podium positions. Despite Water’s having a healthy lead, KTM’s Gibbs began to close in 92

on the Suzuki machine – Gibbs rising to the occasion, and proving that the defending champ won’t be going down without a fight. By the half way mark in the moto, Waters managed to hold on to the race lead, ahead of Gibbs, Ferris, Moss and Mosig, while SD3 Husqvarna’s Brett Metcalfe fought to move in to sixth position, followed by CDR Yamaha’s Dan Reardon in seventh, and Wilson in eighth. By lap nine, Gibbs and Ferris were within a bike’s length of each other, leaving spectators wondering who would be able to edge out the other, and despite Ferris making the pass and moving in to second for a short period of time, Gibbs fought back to reclaim second spot. However, the race was well and truly far from over. With Gibbs on a charge, the 2015 champ lived up to his ‘diesel’ engine name, and snatched the lead away from Suzuki mounted Waters, leaving Ferris and Water’s to battle for second behind him. And battle they did – by the time the last lap board was shown, Gibbs appeared to be ready for victory, while Ferris managed to get by Waters relegating him to third, followed by SD3’s Metcalfe who was having an incredible ride in fourth position. But when the chequered flag flew, it was CDR Yamaha’s Ferris who put in

“EVERYONE IS FAST AT THE MOMENT. WHEN YOU HAVE THE RED PLATE, THE TARGET IS ON YOUR BACK” - DEAN FERRIS

one last fight to get the job done, making a last minute pass on Gibbs to cross the finish line victorious, while Gibbs held on to finish second, ahead of Wilson’s Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki’s Waters who wrapped up moto one in third. When gates dropped for the second time for the Thor MX1 class, Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Dylan Long looked like he was about to snag the holeshot, but it was red plate holder Moss who was through turn one first, shooting in to the early race lead. With one lap in the books the top ten was flooded with talent, Moss continuing to lead from SD3 Husqvarna rider Metcalfe, while CDR Yamaha’s Ferris once again was at the front of the pack in third position. By lap four, Moss looked super comfortable out in front, while Metcalfe continued to impress in second place, ahead of KTM Motocross Racing Teams Gibbs who had gotten by Ferris to move in to third. Ferris then continued to drop positions, with Water’s also managing to get by the CDR rider, and Gibbs to move in to an impressive third place behind Metcalfe. It was in lap seven though, that spectators were treated to the sight 93

they had been waiting for, with Metcalfe making the move on red plate holder Moss, and taking on the moto two race lead. And with that Metcalfe was gone – pulling more than a 3.7 second gap on Moss after only one lap. By the halfway point in moto two, riders had settled into their respective positions, with Metcalfe leading from Moss, Waters, Gibbs, Ferris, and Reardon. As moto two reached its final stages, there was little change to the running order, however it was a race to forget for Kawasaki’s Moss who crashed with only a few laps to go, handing second position to Waters, while Gibbs and Ferris also made up a position due to Moss’s misfortune.

Despite the top four riders bunching up and battling all the way to the finish line, it was a fairy tale ending for Husqvarna mounted Metcalfe, who took his first ever MX Nationals moto victory, ahead of Wilson’s Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki’s Waters, while Ferris put in a late charge to finish in third place ahead of Gibbs. When results from both motos were combined, Metcalfe was just two points shy of the round win, CDR Yamaha’s Ferris doing all that was required to take the red plate and the round two victory at Appin, ahead of Metcalfe who wrapped up round two in second position, while Wilson’s Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki’s Waters rounded out the top three.

T H E R E S U LT S

MX1 Round Results:

MX1 Championship Standings:

1) Dean Ferris – 65 points 2) Brett Metcalfe – 63 points 3) Todd Waters – 62 points 4) Kirk Gibbs – 60 points 5) Matt Moss – 52 points 6) Daniel Reardon – 49 points 7) Kade Mosig – 48 points 8) Jacob Wright – 45 points 9) Dylan Long – 44 points 10) Jay Wilson – 43 points

1) Dean Ferris – 127 points 2) Kirk Gibbs – 125 points 3) Todd Waters – 119 points 4) Matt Moss – 117 points 5) Brett Metcalfe – 115 points 6) Kade Mosig – 104 points 7) Daniel Reardon – 99 points 8) Dylan Long – 92 points 9) Jay Wilson – 86 points 10) Kurt Wightman – 69 points

Dean Ferris after winning Round 2 “I’m stoked to get the round win today, the plan was always just to get through the first round, but honestly I was pretty disappointed not to get the win in Horsham to be honest,” he said. “It’s nice to get the overall win here at Appin, but I’ve got to give a lot of respect to my competitors, everyone is riding very well and it’s great to be back at the MX Nationals. I’m having so much fun riding with the CDR Yamaha team, so

it’s nice to give those guys a good result. “Everyone is fast at the moment, and when you’ve got the red plate you’ve always got a target on your back, but I’ll just keep doing my best to ride well – the first three rounds are critical so we want to be putting ourselves in the best position possible.”

PRESENTS

MX1 RIDER LIST #

Name

Manufacture

Sponsors

Lachy Steen

Yamaha

wbr racing - repco service castlemaine

mitch Drummond

KTM

Antech custom mx - whitehouse motorcycles - zipfix suspension - broken apparel

Luke Passlow

Suzuki

Jordan Lovick

Suzuki

Frucor Beverages - SMA Finance - Cycleworld Tasmania

Brad Polsoni

KTM

KTM - Choice MX Coaching - Waterwise Plumbing - Throttle Riders

Trae Kuehn

Husqvarna

MPE Suspension - Ben Schodel MX Coaching - Crossfit 4551 Caloundra - Spent

Brandon Batson

KTM

Fox - Peter Stevens motorcycles

Kerrod Morrissy

KTM

Qld Bike & 4wd

John Egan

Honda

Kelly body works - Canberra motorcycle centre - Kelley body works A.C.T

Shayne Morrissey

Yamaha

Link international - bikebiz - MCD

Corey Vanderlei

Yamaha

Barry Francis motorcycles - Ride park - Beatle v93 - Trak right

101

tyson osborne

Husqvarna

141

Joel Newton

Suzuki

Davis Bike Worx

147

Colby Campbell

Yamaha

Factory Spec

171

Angus Hitchenor

Kawasaki

WBR Motorcycles, AXIS Motorsports, Burgess Earthmoving, Motoul

190

Dean Edwards

Suzuki

SW & CM Edwards Plumbers & Gasfitters - Vern Graham Suzuki - CFX Seats

227

Zac Williams

KTM

southern highlands motorcycle centre.

296

Daniel Matthews

KTM

Street mx unleashed - Poles apart direct. Com - Dmt visuals

314

Will Campagnolo

Yamaha

WBR Motorcycles

318

Bailey Williams

Yamaha

387

Daniel Webber

Yamaha

Echuca yamaha,Chads off road set ups & C&R Imports

399

Brock Healey

KTM

TUNETECH Racing - MAXEE Racing - AJ'S Motorcycles - Essential MX - CLIKR

400

Nicholas Russell

Yamaha

Amc racing team

494

daniel figueroa

Yamaha

Flightpath Materials - Torque Motorcycles - Dragon Goggles - EZE Race Products

601

Damien Davenport

Honda

988

Zane Wainwright

KTM

W43

Jack Woods

KTM

113

k : Craig Dac R E G A N A F NER / M aha YZ450 TEAM OW m a Y : S E IK B S WON: 37 IP H S N IO P CHAM

#111

FERRIS #111 DEAN Class: MX1 Age: 25 W : Kyogle NS Hometown zer Aiden Melt Mechanic: heel111 IG: @ferrisw

#122

N L REARDO #122 DANIE Class: MX1 Age: 30 t : Gold Coas Hometown man Mike Land Mechanic: ardon122 IG: @danre

FERRIS FIRES TO POINTS LEAD AT MX NATIONALS

CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris has fought his way to the championship lead in the premier MX1 division after round two of the MX Nationals was concluded yesterday at Appin Raceway, near Sydney. Ferris entered the round in third place but ruing some costly mistakes at round one and was determined to make amends at Appin. His day started promisingly when he posted the second fastest lap in the Go Pro Superpole and was ready to rumble when the gate dropped in moto one. Ferris was in a freight train of riders and deep in battle in the ultra-strong MX1 field at the beginning of moto one. He slowly but surely gained ground on the leaders and with two laps to go, it was on. Ferris fought his way into second place then on the last lap made an aggressive move to slip by Kirk Gibbs on the big uphill jumps and take the lead. Ferris took the race win in what was a classic MX1 battle with the big guns of Australian MX. Race two and again Ferris was in the thick of the action but was shuffled back in some frantic moves in the early stages. He dropped several positions before regaining his composure and remounting a charge back towards the front. He clawed his way back to third and in a tense final lap, the top four riders were all within a few bike lengths of one another. Despite his best efforts, Ferris was unable to make a pass on the final lap but his 1-3 results were good enough for the round win, his first for the CDR Yamaha team. “It’s a good feeling to get the win and reward the CDR Yamaha team for their efforts so far this year,” Ferris stated. “I felt I owed them that after Horsham. “I have really enjoyed the opening two rounds and being back in Australia and the level of competition in the MX1 class at the moment is really high with a lot of guys are riding well. The plan was to get off to a good start at the opening to rounds and we have managed to do that but there is a lot of work to do and the only red plate that matters is the one after the final round at Coolum,” Ferris ends. Dan Reardon had a consistent day posting

FACEBOOK: /cdryamaha

7-6 results in the two races despite feeling under the weather throughout the event. Reardon was able to match the speed of the front runners early in the races but fell away to towards the end as he was quickly drained of energy and strength. He rounded the day out in sixth place. Reardon has been ill since the Horsham round two weeks ago and had been unable to ride or train during that period so it was a good race of character for Dan who worked hard in both motos. “It was a tough day but one every rider goes through during their career,” Reardon explains. “I haven’t been feeling well lately and in a fast paced 30 minute moto, there is nowhere to hide or no one to pass the ball to so you just have to fight it out as best you can. Hopefully, I will be back to 100% at Broadford and can start to put some good races together.” The efforts of both riders impressed team manager, Craig Dack, and he applauded their fighting qualities. “I have to say, the weekend saw some of the best MX1 racing I have seen in a long time. The top eight riders are all top quality riders on good equipment and with speed very similar so it is producing some great racing. “Dean showed some maturity on the weekend with the way he thought his way through both races. He kept himself in contention in the early stages, didn’t get flustered under pressure and then made good, decisive passes to get the positions he got. Hopefully, he will take some confidence from this and get on a roll from here. “We are also happy with the way Dan is going. His speed is good, only his health let him down this weekend. He was consistent with no silly mistakes and I think as the championship progresses, you will see Dan work his way to the front. He has all the skill and determination to do it and I think he will hit his straps in the coming rounds,” Dack ends.

INSTAGRAM: @cdryamaha

s : Gavin Eale R E G A N A F NER / M aha YZ250 TEAM OW m a Y : S E IK B IPS WON: 4 H S N IO P M CHA

TODD #2 WILSON Class: MX2 Age: 18 QLD : Atherton, Hometown nes Peter Rabjo Mechanic: todd2 IG: @wilson

#23

HUNTER #23 WADE Class: MX2 Age: 21 D : Cairns, QL Hometown rew Stoppa d n A : ic n a h Mec hunter IG: @wade

SERCO YAMAHA UNABLE TO CAPITALISE ON APPIN TRACK SPEED

Serco Yamaha teamsters Wilson Todd and Wade Hunter again showed plenty of speed but weren’t able to translate that into top shelf results at round two of the MX Nationals at Appin over the weekend. Both riders proved they have what it takes to run at the front of the MX2 field at the MX Nationals, with Todd already claiming a race win at round one, but Appin saw both riders dealt some tough luck and fall short of the results they were looking for. Wilson Todd posted the fastest lap in qualifying taking pole position in the ultra-competitive class. Todd, who won at Appin last year in the MXD category, launched from the gates in moto one and went straight to the front. He put his head down and busted out some blistering speed to stretch his lead to nearly five seconds but just before the halfway mark, his forearms started to blow up and Todd, struggling to hang onto his machine, went into survival mode. With arm pump crippling his speed, Todd dropped back down the field but clung onto a respectable fifth place finish by moto’s end. Race two and Todd found himself on the ground in turn one. He picked himself up and started his pursuit of the 40 rider field knowing that he only had 20 minutes to limit the damage. He sliced through as many riders as possible and eventually ended up in 13th place. His 5-13 scores saw him finish the round in ninth place and he now holds down seventh in the championship after two rounds. “It was a frustrating day today as I had the speed and fitness to win but I couldn’t get it done,” Todd said. “Taking pole and then leading the first moto was good as I know that’s the speed I can ride at but

FACEBOOK: /SercoYamaha

arm pump meant I had to back it down to stay on the bike. “The second moto was just a simple first turn crash. The first corner at Appin is tough and when you are mid field there is a lot of banging and hitting going on. Unfortunately, I ended up in the dirt. But, I will be back at Broadford and will keep trying to up my pace and intensity. All I can do is keep putting myself in good situations and eventually I will be rewarded,” he explained. Wade Hunter had a consistent day at Appin taking 7-8 results to finish up sixth for the round in a solid day at the office. Like Todd, Hunter proved to be fast on the track but couldn’t buy a start on the weekend and meant he was always fighting from the back. Hunter has climbed into the top 10 after a disappointing opening round and now sits in ninth place. “Starts are so important at this track as track position is vital for a good result. With a lot of tight turns and off cambers, passing can be difficult so being near the front at the beginning of the race makes life so much easier. “My bike and my fitness are good and I know I have the speed to race with anyone but I just can’t give my rivals a head start like I did at Appin and expect to run them down. “I will work on starts for the next couple of weeks and hopefully turn them into a strength by the time we get to Broadford,” Hunter ends.

INSTAGRAM: @sercoyamaha

p cott Bisho S : R E G A N F TEAM MA AHA YZ250 M A Y : S E BIK IPS WON: 4 H S N IO P M CHA

#43

EVANS #43 MITCH Class: MXD Age: 17 D : Cairns, QL Hometown y Cory Hillsle Mechanic: evans43 IG: @mitch

#88

N HILL #88 JORDA Class: MXD Age: 17 D : Noosa, QL Hometown Mike Ward Mechanic: hill88 IG: @jordan

YAMALUBE YAMAHA RACING RETURNS TO THE PODIUM

After a horrific weekend at the opening round of the MX Nationals at Horsham, the Yamalube Yamaha Racing duo of Mitch Evans and Jordan Hill were determined to make amends and get their seasons back on track at round two of the MXD (u19) championship, held at Appin Raceway, over the weekend. Both riders started the day strongly with Jordan Hill taking the top spot in qualifying from Mitch Evans with both riders knowing that a good start is crucial for success at the Appin circuit. Jordan Hill blasted to the lead in race one and collected the $100 holeshot money. He led in the early stages of the race before Evans made the pass for the lead. Hill lost some momentum and then fell briefly but was able to gather it back up and hold down third position until the finish of the race. Race two and again Hill blasted his Yamaha YZ250F into the first turn in good position. He sat third on the opening lap, made a move into second and then just after the halfway stage, cut inside of the leader to take control of the race. He was never ended and took his first moto win of the 2016 season and with it the overall round victory with his 3-1 results. “We all left Horsham pretty disappointed because we are far better than the results we got at the first round,” Hill said. “This weekend our focus was to cut out the mistakes and get our championship back on track and we were able to do that. “It was also nice to win here in Sydney. I now live in Queensland but I grew up around here and it was great having so much support here with my family and friends. Thank you to all of them for coming out and to the Yamalube Yamaha Team who continue to support me on and off the track.”

FACEBOOK: /GYTRYamaha

Mitch Evans started his day in great fashion taking an emphatic moto win in race one. Evans moved into the lead early, survived a mid-race lull then raced home strongly to take an impressive 10 second win. The second race was also shaping to be a cracker for Evans as he slotted into fourth on the opening laps and stalked the front trio. Just as he put his head and ready to make his move, Evans got sideways of a jump and landed awkwardly causing him to be flung from his bike. He remounted and got back in the race but the crash had taken its toll and Evans bravely battled back to fourth place. His 1-4 results landed Evans in third for the round but more importantly, showed he belongs at the front of the pack. “I’m not really focused on what the points are or who is where, I just want to win as many races as I can,” Evans said. Moto one was good, although I was a but tight and I was feeling good in race two until I spun on a jump face and got really sideways on landing. It was a heavy landing but I managed to finish and get on the podium. I will rest up and comeback even stronger at Broadford.

INSTAGRAM: @yamalube_yamaha_racing

n yle Blunde K : R E G A N TEAM MA M 250 SX-F T K , F X S 0 45 BIKES: KTM S WON: 20 IP H S N IO P CHAM

BS #1 KIRK GIB Class: MX1 A Age: 27 Gambier, S t n u o M : n Hometow en Kyle Blund : ic n a h c e M bs IG: @kirkgib

E DOBSON #414 JESS Class: MX1 9 1 : e g A QLD : Brisbane, n w to e m o H Jordan Yeo Mechanic: obson414 IG: @jessed WARD #17 CALEB Class: MX2 9 1 : e g A e, FNQ : Ravensho n w to e m o H an Jess Forem Mechanic: _ward17 IG: @caleb #17

#414

KTM’S GIBBS STAYS CONSISTENT AND FAST, WARD EXTENDS MX2 LEAD

KTM Motocross Racing Team rider Kirk Gibbs continues to establish himself as one of the men to beat in this year’s closely-fought MX Nationals championship, following the weekend’s second round at Appin. Despite a couple of setbacks, the 2015 MX1 champion left the venue just two points away from the series lead after finishing the day fourth behind Dean Ferris, Brett Metcalfe and Todd Waters, following 2, 4 moto finishes. Despite a serious late-season injury which wrecked his 2016 pre-season buildup, Gibbs has already proven himself one of the pace-setters across the two rounds thus far. The Queensland-based South Australian qualified second fastest at Appin before finding the lead in both motos yesterday, only to have incident and accident intervene. His team mate, nineteen-year-old Queenslander Jesse Dobson limped into the round with an injury to his leg and glute, and despite being by his own admission only at 60% capacity, attempted to glean points from the round. After impressively qualifying 11th fastest, Dobson, without his usual level of control, stepped off his factory KTM 450 SX-F in the first moto, and the team decided he was better saved for another day, withdrawing Dobson from the second. Kirk Gibbs (KTM 450 SX-F) – “For a day that was full of mistakes it wasn’t too bad but I expect a lot better. I had a little crash on my Go Pro Super Pole lap so I missed an opportunity for points there. First Moto I felt like I should have won the race, but Ferris decided to jump on me on the last lap and I have the tyre mark on my back and side to prove it. Luckily I didn’t go down and was still able to get second. Second Moto I got myself into a good position early in third, but made two really big mistakes and let Todd past and Ferris got around me with two laps to go. Frustrating from my end, but I’m still leaving healthy and right within range of the championship lead.” Jesse Dobson (KTM 450 SX-F) – “I’ve got a pain in the arse. I had a big crash this week and laid in bed a few days and rested, but something’s out

FACEBOOK: /KTMAustralia

somewhere. I was in pain just walking before I even got to the race. As soon as I did my first practice lap I knew it was a case of just trying to get through the weekend – I had no leg strength and can’t hold my leg up in the ruts. I tried my best today and that’s all I could do – it’s disappointing but we live to fight another day and it’s all part of the process. We’ll overcome it and come out stronger.” In MX2 racing, KTM Motocross Racing Team rider Caleb Ward has stretched his lead in the MX2 championship out to 11 points over Husqvarna’s Nathan Crawford after a 1, 3 day gave him the win at Appin. Ward convincingly won the first moto and looked on track to make it a second in race two, but freakishly, encountered a collapsed rut while heavily committed to a corner, and suffered a tumble which cost him several places. The depth of the second tier class continues to push its competitors to strive harder, and KTM Factory Support rider Jayden Rykers (Davey Motorsport) was on track for his first podium of the championship when he jumped off the track to avoid a hay bale and was penalised 10 seconds. The adjudication dropped him to ninth in the moto, fifth on the day, and from a potential third to eighth in the MX2 championship, but the hungry West Australian knows it is only early days, and is far from deterred. Caleb Ward (KTM 250 SX-F) – “I had a pretty good day. First one I started in fifth or sixth and made my way back through the pack slowly and took my time. I ended up passing into the lead with about eight minutes to go and just sort of managed the race. Then in Moto two I came out in second or third, got up behind Mossy and we were going pretty fast at the front for a few laps, then I managed to pass him on lap three or four or something and was in cruise mode doing my own thing when I came around the corner and a rut had collapsed in on itself. I was fully leaned and committed, and hit this massive chunk of dry dirt and my front deflected off and I ended up on the ground. I got back up and salvaged some points and still got enough for the overall so I was pretty happy with that.”

INSTAGRAM: @ktm.australia

Tisdale GER: Chris A N A M M A TE 250SX-F BIKES: KTM

#64

WILLS #64 DYLAN Class: MX2 Age: 20 W : Como, NS Hometown es Josh Smail Mechanic: wills64 IG: @dylan

IRKLAND #5 WADE K Class: MXD ia Age: 16 er, Tasman d n a m a c S : Hometown m Dylan Pilgri Mechanic: dwade IG: @kirklan

RACELINE PIRELLI KTM’S KIRKLAND IMPRESSES, WHILE WILLS MAKES STEADY PROGRESS AT ROUND 2 Raceline Pirelli KTM made further progress at round two of MX Nationals in Appin over the weekend, with Wade Kirkland now in a podium position in the Pirelli MXD Championship, while MX2 pilot Dylan Wills continued to make steady improvements. With the Appin circuit forming up to be rough, technical, and rutty in true MX Nationals style, both Wills and Kirkland took to the track well, with both of their KTM machines performing in challenging conditions. For Wills, who is still recovering from an injury sustained in the pre-season, ninth in moto one was an encouraging result. Then in moto two, Wills looked as if he was back to his old self sitting in fifth place, however a crash just past the mechanic’s area forced him to lose valuable positions, which resulted in the KTM mounted rider finishing in 14th. Kirkland, who is competing in his first year in the Pirelli MXD class, raced from an impressive dead last position to seventh in moto one, while in moto two, Kirkland showed that the valuable track time had paid off, launching to an impressive start to then take 3rd. With two moto results combined, Wills concluded round two of the MX Nationals in 12th overall, while Kirkland wrapped up racing at Appin in 4th. Dylan Wills – MX2 – (9th, 14th) 12th Overall “It was another tough weekend for me, but a step forward from round one,” he said. “The mistakes on my behalf are what killed a good overall but we’ll keep working and take the positives from moto two and run with them. “I’ve got great people behind me, the team are so supportive and understanding, and my family and girlfriend always have my back, so we’ll keep fighting

FACEBOOK: /raceline.liquid.technology

to get back to where we were before round one. “Physically and mentally I feel good, I’m just struggling a little to put it all together, I have faith in my ability and I know I’ll come good!” Wade Kirkland – MXD – (7th, 3rd) 4th Overall “I’m really happy, fourth in both rounds is pretty consistent,” he said. “I’m happy with where I’m sitting. I got pushed wide in the first Moto and had to come back from 20th or something, but in the second race I went inside a bit more and held my line and came out with the holeshot. “My bike is awesome, the mechanics are setting it up really well for me, so we’re happy with how the weekend played out” Chris Woods – Raceline Pirelli KTM Team Manager “All in all, it was a pretty positive weekend for us,” he said. “In moto one for Wade he didn’t hold his line and got swallowed which made his job hard, but he clawed back to seventh which showed that he has plenty of ability. He came back to the truck and we talked about it, and next race it was clear that he had taken everything on board and made some changes, so we’re very happy with that. “Dylan struggled a little bit on the weekend, but it was a big improvement from round one. We know that he’s still carrying a bit of that injury, but moto two even though he went down, was a big step in the right direction. “With Wade now sitting in third in the MXD championship it’s really proved that consistent, solid results do pay off, so we’ll all just keep chipping away at things and look ahead to Round 3 in Broadford.”

INSTAGRAM: @raceline_motosport

SX , KTM 250 F X S 0 5 2 ES: KTM

BIK

SUPPORT RIDERS #17

K ER POZNIA #17 COOP Class: MXD Age: 17 SW odrising, N o W : n w to Home Darren Mechanic: rpozniak17 IG: @coope

RYKERS #3 JAYDEN Class: MX2 Age: 19 A : Byford, W Hometown kers Graham Ry Mechanic: rykers3 IG: @jayden

KTM’S SUPPORT RIDERS HAPPY AFTER TWO ROUNDS

In MX2 racing, KTM Motocross Racing Team rider Caleb Ward has stretched his lead in the MX2 championship out to 11 points over Husqvarna’s Nathan Crawford after a 1, 3 day gave him the win at Appin. Ward convincingly won the first moto and looked on track to make it a second in race two, but freakishly, encountered a collapsed rut while heavily committed to a corner, and suffered a tumble which cost him several places. The depth of the second tier class continues to push its competitors to strive harder, and KTM Factory Support rider Jayden Rykers (Davey Motorsport) was on track for his first podium of the championship when he jumped off the track to avoid a hay bale and was penalised 10 seconds. The adjudication dropped him to ninth in the moto, fifth on the day, and from a potential third to eighth in the MX2 championship, but the hungry West Australian knows it is only early days, and is far from deterred. Jayden Rykers (KTM 250 SX) – “I went (originally) 3,5 which would have given me my first podium, but we got a penalty for jumping off the track to avoid a hay bale, so unfortunately I got put back to ninth with a ten-second penalty. Unfortunate, but I felt pretty good. The first one was good, myself, Ward and Moss were in the top three and I felt quite comfortable with my speed. I’m sitting eighth in the championship now but third place is only six points ahead of me, so third is where I would have been if I never got docked for points. I’ll cop it on the chin and show them what we’re made of next round. No point in getting angry about it.”

FACEBOOK: /KTMAustralia

In the MXD class, Raceline Pirelli KTM Motocross Racing Team development rider Wade Kirkland climbed to third place in the Under 19’s championship with fourth on the day, courtesy of 7, 3 finishes aboard his KTM 250 SX. Seventeen-year-old Cooper Pozniak (KTM Newcastle) was fifth overall at Appin, posting 5, 5 results on his KTM 250 SX-F to maintain his outstanding second place in the championship. Cooper Pozniak (KTM 250 SX-F) – “I’m happy with two fifths for the day. I didn’t get the starts that I wanted to but I’m really happy that I was able to stay consistent. In the first Moto I had my Vortex in the wrong mapping, so I was bogging the bike a little bit. But other than that she was awesome.’” In the Rising Star Rookie 125cc class, KTM Junior Motocross Racing Team rider and former world junior champion Caleb Grothues dominated proceedings on his KTM 125SX, posting a pair of victories to take overall honours from Cody Dyce and Cal Norton.

INSTAGRAM: @ktm.australia

ll : Troy Carro R E G A N A F TEAM M F & KX250 0 5 4 X K i k a as BIKES: Kaw IPS WON: 1 H S N IO P M CHA

MOSS #102 MATT Class: MX1 Age: 27 t, NSW Sussex Inle : n w to e m Ho ale Paul Teasd : ic n a h c e M 102 IG: @mossy

#102

OSIG #8 KADE M Class: MX1 6 2 : e g A le, VIC : Pearceda n w to e m o H Ben Dutton Mechanic: 8 IG: @mosig OSS # 6 JAKE M Class: MX2 7 2 : e g A NSW : Neringah, n w to e m o H ders Luke Saun Mechanic: oss06 IG: @jakem #8

NATIONAL PUMP MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI RACING TEAM CLAIMS STRONG APPIN POINTS

National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team racers came away from the second round of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals at Appin with a solid points haul despite facing a range of challenges throughout the day.

“It was one of those days, really,” Mosig reflected. “I had a really good couple of weeks between rounds, and after winning here last year my confidence was high coming into Appin, but I made a lot of mistakes. “I’m struggling at the moment, so we’ll go

Former two-time motocross champion and round one winner Matt Moss woke up on race day feeling under the weather and pushed his weakened body to the brink all day on his way to fifth in Super Pole and fifth overall on the day. Although he lost the championship-leading red plates as a result, Moss was pleased with his day considering how he felt. “I woke up this morning feeling very crook and lacking energy,” Moss explained. “If I’d ridden how I felt I would’ve been back in 20th, so I’m pumped to have gained some points and still be within striking distance. “In the first moto I hit the wall at the 20-minute mark and I was getting tunnel vision out there. Between races we talked as a team and agreed I’d go out and just see how I felt. “I got a good start on the KX450F and for the first three or four laps I pulled away, but I hit the wall again and from that point it was all about damage control. We’re only 10 points off the lead, so that’s nothing in terms of the championship.” On the hard-pack hillside Appin circuit where he claimed the overall last year Moss’s teammate Kade Mosig had a difficult day on his way to seventh overall.

home, regroup, recharge and change our focus for the next round at Broadford. I need to redeem myself and get this amazing KX450F up on top where we belong.” Meanwhile, in the MX2 class, Jake Moss started the day with an impressive fourth qualifying position aboard his KX250F, then charged to a runner-up result in the opening 30-minute moto. A promising holeshot in the second moto saw him again battling at the front of the pack before he crashed hard and finished the race in 16th and seventh overall for the day. “After getting the holeshot in that second race I felt good and settled into a good groove, then the next second I was on the ground,” Moss commented. “It happened so quickly and the crash moved all my teeth and split my gum, so I’m not feeling that great right now. I’ll have a couple of days off, then get back into it and recoup for the next round.”

FACEBOOK: /KawasakiAustraliaMXRacingTeam

INSTAGRAM: @kawasakimotors

n e McKinno v te S : R E G A 0 TEAM MAN C450, FC25 F a rn a v q s BIKES: Hu

METCALFE #24 BRETT Class: MX1 Age: 31 : California Hometown y24 IG: @bmett

#24

ARBON #54 LUKE Class: MX2 3 2 : e g A : Gawler, SA Hometown on54 IG: @lukearb BARHAM #16 KALEB Class: MXD 7 1 : e g A nd : Queensla n w to e m o H barham_16 IG: @kaleb_

#16

#54

SD3 HUSQVARNA’S METCALFE TAKES FIRST MX NATIONALS WIN

Just three weeks after slinging a leg over his SD3 Husqvarna FC450, Brett Metcalfe has taken his first MX Nationals win, taking victory in the second MX1 Moto on his way to second on the day at round two of the series at Appin, New South Wales. Metcalfe went 4-1 for the round to be second on the day behind Dean Ferris, and ahead of Todd Waters. The riders with the famous crowned ‘H’ on their bikes featured in all four categories on the day, with podium finishes in the MX2 category, MXD and the Rising Star Rookies category for 125cc machines. SD3 Husqvarna rider Luke Arbon registered his first podium finish of the championship with third, after he was officially credited with 4,4 results following a penalty for jumping off the track to avoid a hay bale. Fellow Husqvarna Factory Support racers Nathan Crawford shook off a jarring early dismount to salvage fourth place for the day, the Husqvarna FC250 rider maintaining his second place in the championship behind Caleb Ward, who won the day with Kale Makeham second. The Husqvarna Factory Support MXD riders were again in tremendous form, Connor Tierney’s second in the day behind Jordan Hill extending his lead in the Under 19s championship, while Kaleb Barham holds fourth in the championship after finishing sixth on the day. Brett Metcalfe – “That was nice to come away with a moto win, and almost the overall. It was a good racing and a good day for us all on the SD3 Husqvarna team too. I didn’t qualify that well but that’s going to be a challenge for me anyway because each track is a new track and it’s always very muddy in practice. I didn’t feel ultra comfortable but I think that’s just the way the Appin track is, with hardpacked underneath and a lot of technical and square-edged bumps. I think that was to our advantage today with the Husqvarna’s steel frame that works well in those conditions. In Moto One I got a horrible start with a wheelspin off the gate. I chipped away from 10th and ended up climbing back

FACEBOOK: /SD3-Husqvarna

to fourth, but I knew my pace was good. Then in Moto two things just kind of came together and I was able to get a really good start, and I just sat second behind Matt Moss and was able to get the lead about half way in. I got a little gap, and then as they closed in at the end I just watched my pit board and managed the gap. It was great to bring the SD3 Husky home for the Moto win and second for the day.” Luke Arbon – “I’m happy to be back on the podium – that’s where I’m paid to be. I definitely improved with the way I made passes and didn’t really get passed too much. Felt solid and pretty strong on the bike. I actually got second in the last moto, but they docked me a ten second penalty for jumping off the side of a jump when there was a hay bale there. I slowed right down and got back on the track at the next safest place, but they didn’t want a bar of it. I’m looking forward to round three and hopefully getting a win.” Kaleb Barham – “I feel really good about today, as I’ve said these first few rounds I’m just doing what I have two do as I heal up. We get the best of starts today, unfortunately, and in the first Moto Cooper got around me so I just followed him for the rest of the Moto. In the second one I came from a long way back in the pack and ended up seventh, so I was pretty happy with that. Just trying to keep putting points towards my championship every chance I can while I work back towards full fitness.”

INSTAGRAM: @sd3.husqvarna

sqvarna BIKES: Hu

FC250

RD N CRAWFO A H T A N 9 9 #1 Class: MX2 Age: 18 : Brisbane Hometown n199 IG: @_natha

#199

R TIERNEY #7 CONNO Class: MXD 8 1 : e g A , WA : Kalgoorlie n w to e m o H l_ct7 IG: @therea SMALL #273 ZAK Class: MXD 8 1 : e g A , QLD : Bundaberg n w to e m o H all_ IG: @zaksm

#273

HUSQVARNA’S SUPPORT TEAM PROVE STRENGTH AT ROUND 2

Husqvarna Factory Support racers Nathan Crawford shook off a jarring early dismount to salvage fourth place for the day, the Husqvarna FC250 rider maintaining his second place in the championship behind Caleb Ward, who won the day with Kale Makeham second. The Husqvarna Factory Support MXD riders were again in tremendous form, Connor Tierney’s second in the day behind Jordan Hill extending his lead in the Under 19s championship, while Kaleb Barham holds fourth in the championship after finishing sixth on the day. If there was a hard-man award, Husqvarna factory support race Zak Small would probably have nailed it. He dislocated his shoulder in qualifying, but with it expertly taped up by Race Safe, went out and logged 8, 6 finishes for seventh on the day. His teammate Justin Hart showed sparkling speed and looked set for a great result after fourth in the first Moto but crashed out of the second. Husqvarna Junior Motocross Racing Team rider Calum Norton joined his older brethren in taking to the podium, posting 2, 3 finishes to finish third in the Rising Star Rookies round.

Connor Tierney – “It was a bit of a tough day today – I was pretty tight, I didn’t really feel like I gelled with the track from the start, so I was pretty happy to stay consistent and stay on the box. I was only one point off the lead today so it was good to extend the championship gap. I couldn’t be happier. We’ll try and get a few good weeks training in, and try to keep the momentum going at Broadford.” Zak Small – “I had a crash in practice this morning and dislocated my shoulder, so I was riding in a fair bit of pain today. But I got it strapped up by Race Safe. At was tough but I just rode my own races today, consistent with no more crashes, so it worked out well for me. It’s really sore tonight – I’ve still got it strapped up.”

Nathan Crawford – “Feeling pretty second-hand tonight. In qualifying I had a pretty big crash that started a few dramas and I qualified ordinary. First moto I got a pretty ordinary start, spun off the line, I was coming through and got up to fifth within the first five minutes, and then ended up crashing and had to pass all those riders all over again. Second moto I was running fifth or something, but made a few passes and Arbon got a penalty and ended up getting second. Finished the day off not too bad but it was kind of damage control.”

FACEBOOK: /HusqvarnaMotorcyclesAUS

INSTAGRAM: @Husqvarna.aus

ip Harrison P : R E G A N TEAM MA a CRF450R d n o H : S E BIK

SON #6 JAY WIL Class: MX1 Age: 21 W n Innes, NS le G : n w to Home Daryl Fenn Mechanic: son_6 IG: @jaywil

#117

N LONG #117 DYLA Class: MX1 Age: 21 IC : Benalla, V Hometown g rge Rawlin o e G : ic n a h Mec long IG: @dvlan

PROGRESS MADE AT ROUND 2 OF THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS FOR THE CRANKT PROTEIN HONDA RACING TEAM

The Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team fought until the very end at Appin yesterday, with both Dylan Long and Jay Wilson once again finishing inside the top ten in the MX1 class, at round two of the Motul MX Nationals.

forcing him to lose valuable positions – eventually concluding the race in ninth. In moto two, the Appin circuit had formed up to be tight and technical, and after a middle pack start Wilson wrapped up the final race of the day tenth position.

Despite the pair getting to a slow start in qualifying, when racing kicked off it was a different story, with both Long and Wilson pushing hard in the experienced field to put vital championship points on the board. Long, who despite a tough moto one where he finished in 11thplace, fought to redeem himself in moto two, eventually concluding the race in seventh position. With the two results to his name, Long wrapped up the round in ninth overall aboard his Crankt Protein Honda CRF450 machine. “It wasn’t too bad of a round at Appin. In the first race I really struggled and pumped up a bit, so I didn’t finish where I would have liked to in moto one,” he said. “During the lunch break, myself and the team made some changes, and they worked out really well in moto two, and I came away with a seventh. “It’s sort of not where I want to be, but I’m happy with the direction we’re taking with the bike. The team worked very well together this weekend and we’re making a lot of improvements every round.” For Wilson in race one, the 21-year-old got to a flying start and was riding inside the top five for the opening few laps, however when the race reached the half way point, a small mistake caused Wilson to crash,

“I’m a bit disappointed with today to be honest, I got two relatively good starts, but I just wasn’t able to convert them in to results, Wilson shared. “We made some big changes to the suspension from qualifying to racing, which got the bike handling a bit better but we still have work to do if we want to run with these top guys. “I had the speed to run with the top five for around ten minutes, but after that I dropped back, so we’ll go back to the drawing board and do some further testing ahead of round three. “I know where I want to be, and I’m going to be working hard in the next two weeks to get closer to that goal.”

FACEBOOK: /TeamHondaRacing1

INSTAGRAM: @teamhondaracing

h ark Luksic M : R E G A N MA T: Glen Bell N E M P O L E RIDER DEV a CRF250R d n o H : S E BIK

#30

IGHTMAN #30 JOEL W Class: MX2 Age: 19 NSW ndonbrook le G : n w to Home an Ian Wightm Mechanic: htman IG: @joelwig

#96

ebster #96 Kyle W Class: MX2 Age: 19 A anneroo W W : n w to e Hom Mick Lillis Mechanic: ebster IG: @kylew

CRF HONDA RACING’S WIGHTMAN AND WEBSTER IN THE THICK OF THE ACTION

Round two of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals roared into life at Sydney’s Appin Raceway last Sunday (April 17) and once again saw CRF Honda Racing riders Joel Wightman and Kyle Webster amongst the thick of the MX2 class action. In his best Qualifying performance of the series, Webster nailed down fifth fastest time and carried that form into the first of the day’s two MX2 motos. Utilising a great start in race one, Webster pushed forward from sixth place early to get into third to start to chase down arch rival Jake Moss. But then Webster crashed heavily and was fortunate only to wind himself, allowing him to carry on to finish the race in 22nd place. In the second MX2 moto, Webster suffered a poor start but put his head down and fought through the field, passing more riders than most, to nail down an impressive fifth place finish. “It was another difficult day,” Webster said after the Appin event. “But I learned a lot and plan to put that to good use through the rest of the Championship. I’m getting really confortable on my CRF Honda Racing race bike and my confidence is growing and I’m looking forward to getting closer to the pointy end of the pack.” Wightman also had a testing day at Appin, suffering a shocking start and then a crash in the first moto that left him to claw his way to a 16th place finish. In the second moto he made a better start and posted a tenth place finish. “Overall it was a rough day,” Wightman admitted. “I wasn’t pumped on my results but there were still plenty of positives to take away from

FACEBOOK: /crfhondaracing

the round, so I’m excited to head toward the next round at Broadford and put to good use everything we’ve learned from the opening two rounds of the Championship.” Webster and WIghtman now hold down 13th and 14th places in the MX2 Championship standings and CRF Honda Racing team manager Mark Luksich remains upbeat and is looking forward to the Championship rounds ahead. “Both Kyle and Joel are showing the speed and skills to deliver results better than the scoreboard shows,” Luksich explains. “They just need to keep their heads down and working toward our goals. I know they have it in them and are working hard.”

INSTAGRAM: @crfhondaracing

er vin Crutch e K , n o s il le W y AGER: Nea son Corne a J : IC N A TEAM MAN H F HEAD MEC ki RMZ450 u z u S : S E BIK

#47

WATERS #47 TODD Class: MX1 Age: 25 D : Cairns, QL Hometown Mechanic: aters47 IG: @toddw

#15

WILSON #15 LUKE Class: MX1 Age: 26 QLD old Coast, G : n w to e Hom Mechanic: wilson15 IG: @__luke

PODIUM FINISH FOR WATERS AND WILSON COOLAIR MOTUL FACTORY SUZUKI AT ROUND TWO Despite only fielding one rider at round two of the Motul MX Nationals this weekend, Wilson’s Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki had plenty of reason to celebrate at Appin today, with Todd Waters putting on an impressive performance to wrap up the round in third position on the Thor MX1 podium. From the minute Waters hit the track this morning, it was evident that the combination of his speed, and and the Suzuki machine were going to be a force to be reckoned with at round two. And after qualifying in first position, Waters backed it up again in GoPro Superpole, taking the victory with an incredible 1:40.295 lap time. With first pick of the grid for race one this afternoon, Waters got to a middle pack start, before fighting through and launching into the race lead. After 30 gruelling minutes on the rough and rutty Appin circuit, Waters dropped back slightly to finish in third place at the conclusion of the moto. In race two, Waters upped his game once again, battling hard with his fellow Thor MX1 competitors, to eventually wrap up moto two in an impressive second position. With two podium finishes to his name across the course of round 2 at Appin, Waters wrapped up today’s racing in third overall, as well as making up valuable positions in the Thor MX1 Championship standings, with Waters now sitting in an impressive third place on 119 points. Todd Waters – Thor MX1 – (3rd, 2nd) 3rd Overall “I was a bit bummed with my first race to tell you the truth. I started the day off well taking the win in Superpole so I knew my speed was there, I just needed to get off the line well, but I sort of blew the start in the first moto,” he said. “I pushed my way through and got in to the

FACEBOOK: /wilsonmxaus

lead and I started to settle in there, then Gibbsy got on to the back of me and I sort of just lost my head a bit. “My fitness is super good, and the bike is running perfectly, so in that first race it was all up to me and my headspace. In the second race I regrouped and managed to get on to the back of Brett Metcalfe but I just ran out of time. “Overall I’m very happy. We are constantly moving forward with the bike, and with the team and myself also, so this is what we want – consistent rides, and then hit the halfway mark in the series and put the hammer down. “My Suzuki is working very well, we made a few changes with Jay Foreman coming in to round two, and I’m really happy with the bike at the moment. I’m just going to go home, do my homework and see what I can do at round 3.” Neale Wilson – Wilson Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki Team Manger “Wow, what a day, we really couldn’t be happier,” he said. “Being a new team, we have worked very hard to get our package to where we want it, and its days like this that it really pays off. Todd rode very well in both races – he rode smart, and that’s what wins championships. “We have such a fantastic team to work with, as well as a number of very dedicated sponsors – the list is too long to even mention, so it’s a great reward for them to have Todd finish on the podium, especially in such a talent packed MX1 class. “Next round will be at Broadford, and we’re hoping by that stage we’ll have Luke back racing too, but all in all today we just couldn’t be happier, and we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can achieve at the next round.”

INSTAGRAM: @wilsonscoolairmotulsuzuki

vis Whitten ra T : R E G A F TEAM MAN AHA YZ250 M A Y : S E BIK

AKEHAM #9 KALE M Class: MX2 Age: 22 IC : Echuca V Hometown Darryl Hurd Mechanic: akeham96 IG: @kalem

IE DAVIS #20 LACH Class: MX2 9 1 : e g A VIC : Hamilton n w to e m o H n Derek Stee : ic n a h c e M d20 IG: @lachie MCKAY #46 HUGH Class: MXD 6 1 : e g A n TAS : Launcesto n w to e m o H ay Leigh Mck Mechanic: ckay46 IG: @hughm #46

#20

PROFORMANCE RACING KALE MAKEHAM TAKES A PODIUM AT APPIN

The team was eager to get things underway at Appin as everyone was set to improving from Horsham. Kale had a quiet confidence in his step the morning of the Appin race and proved he will be in the hunt for the championship in 2016. Kale had a great day qualifying 3rd, the only hiccup in his day was a crash in Moto 1 while moving forward early in the race. Kale remounted and started his charge, kale got back to 6th in the moto. The writing was on the wall though as Kale set the fastest lap time of the race and then knew he had what it takes to claim a moto win. Moto 2 Kale rocket out of the gate and got the start he needed to take the race win which gave Kale 2nd overall for the day and he now sits 5th in the Championship. This was a massive achievement for Kale and the team as we all work towards our goals; there certainly were some emotions shown around the camp from the great result. Unfortunately the great news also comes with some bad news as Lachie Davis went down from contact with another ride in the first race and hurt his elbow, Lachie is being treated for the injury and we will know later this week the outcome and extent of the injury. Hugh Mckay had an interesting day, the team was happy with his riding but unfortunately that dint flow into a result with crashes and poor starts hurting his day. The team feel Hugh rode better than Horsham

FACEBOOK: /ProformanceKawasaki

but the cards didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall to well for Hugh. Kale was pumped with his victory in moto 2 and the overall result. Kale has had success in the class before but to do it on a 4 stroke after being labelled a 2 stoke rider for a few years and with the depth of the class was a great accomplishment. Team manger Travis Whitten commented â&#x20AC;&#x153; This is great for kale as he pushes through with his career and towards his goals but it was also such an emotional victory for the team as it was the first time the team had been on the podium in the MX2 class. This is the second year of racing the MX Nationals professionally and to have Kale on the podium and a race win 2nd round into our second year is a great achievement and great reward for the team and all the effort that has gone into this. The team now sets its sights on Rd3 in Broadford Victoria in 2 weeks time.

INSTAGRAM: @proformance_racing

g ale Hockin D : R E G A N TEAM MA aha yz250f m a Y f, 0 5 4 z aha y IPS WON: 0 BIKES: Yam H S N IO P M CHA

#70

G ON BOPPIN #70 LAWS Class: MX1 Age: 26 W idwood NS ra B : n w to Home e Jarrod Pyn Mechanic: 0 nbopping7 IG: @lawso

#12

ATON #12 JED BE Class: MX2 Age: 18 IC : Churchill V Hometown n Ross Beato Mechanic: aton12 IG: @jedbe

DIFFICULT WEEKEND AT APPIN FOR DPH MOTORSPORT

Round 2 of the MX Nationals in Appin proved testing for the DPH Motorsport team with a number of challenges and no podiums results. All three DPH riders were present at Appin with female rider Maddy Brown making a guest appearance in the 250cc class while she is home for a short period in-between competing in the MXGP series overseas. Maddy qualified 36th and placed 31st and 35th in moto one and two respectively to see her placing 28th overall in a class that is heavily dominated by males. Jed qualified 7th and placed 10th and 7th respectively in moto’s to take out 8th position in the

FACEBOOK/dphmotorsport

250cc class. Lawson had an impressive start to the day, qualifying 5th and taking out 3rd in the GoPro Superpole to gain him an additional 1 point in the Championship. With impressive starts and some real pace, Lawson place 10th in moto 1 before a DNF saw him not finish moto 2 and finish in 18th for the round. “I felt terrible on the weekend and wasn’t riding like myself. My energy levels were really low. The positives were that my qualifying times and my starts”. Said Bopping.

INSTAGRAM: @dphmotorsport

T S E G R A L S ’ A I L AUSTRA

E G N A R R A E G S S O MOTOCR

SHOP OVER 45,000 PRODUCTS ONLINE OR INSTORE

FREE SHIPPING

ON ORDERS OVER $20

SAFE & SECURE SHOPPING

EXPLORE RANGE

AORC

OFFROAD

AUSTRALIAN OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESS RELEASES

145

ROUnD 5

AORC 146

With tough, tight racing on the grass sprint format tracks today, competitors kicked their bikes into gear in the hope to redeem championship points and take the top step on the podium at Round 5 of the 2016 Yamaha Australian OffRoad Championship at Murray Bridge, South Australia. With fine weather and a flat track, The Yamaha AORC produced some close racing as over 300 competitors took on the tough terrains today. The record entry numbers bringing in spectators from all over the country to witness the E1, E2, E3, EJ, Vets, Womensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and Masters National Championship classes maneuver over the obstacles and fight through the trees. The E1, E2, E3 and Transmoto 19 and Under classes competed on the Grovescaff test today. E1 E1 competitor and KTM mounted Jack Simpson showed his knowledge and talent on the Grovescaff grass track, much like a Motocross track from Simpsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s background. The young

rising Off-Road star concluded the day with a time of 1:05:43.063 and took out the E1 win ahead of Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team’s Glenn Kearney. Despite his battle with young Simpson today, Husqvarna mounted Kearney couldn’t quite catch the KTM star, only a fraction off his pace, concluding the day with a 1:05:43.803 time. The top four all finished with in the same minute of each other, however it was Riley Graham who rounded out the top three today with a finishing time of 1:05:53.123. “I started off really well this morning, the first test was perfect, but unfortunately in the second test I stalled the bike and came off which made my time poor so I was battling all day to get back up to the pointy end,” Jack Simpson said. “I had a few fast sprints in the middle of the day, and in the last test I thought I threw it away but managed to come out with the win, which is great. “Last round was very difficult

because I hadn’t ridden in those conditions before so it was nice to come down here and change my bike setup to suit the Motocross style more and it seemed to have work, and I felt really comfortable on the bike today,” Simpson concluded. E2 CDR Yamaha’s Chris Hollis was victorious after rounding out today top the time sheet, handing him the Round 5 win and the E2 win despite his misfortunate crash on the last test. Hollis improved his pace and remained unbeatable to snatch up a finishing time of 1:04:19.672, knocking Daniel Sanders (E3) off his winning streak. KTM Enduro Racing Team’s Tye Simmonds (1:04:30.365) playing to his strengths as a previous Motocross rider, wrangled his way around the flat grass track in fine form to bring home second place at Round 5, while Active8 Yamaha Yamalube Joshua Green (1:05:45.492) just couldn’t meet the speed of Hollis and 147

Stanford expressing his thoughts on todays racing was happy to bring home the win in the E3 class, and noted that he is prepared for Round 6 tomorrow. “I am feeling really good, I am happy to have finished the day winning the last test outright,” Lachlan concluded. “I am pretty stoked with my results today and I managed to take Chucky (Daniel Sanders) off the top step so pretty happy with that. “I knew the track was going to be a lot different today with the open grass track so I have been practicing a lot to prepare. Although, the conditions out there were not what I was expecting, it was tough. “The test today was a lot more technical which separated the field more, but I finished on a high today and won’t change anything heading into tomorrow,” Stanford concluded.

Simmonds, finishing third in the E2 class after racing concluded today. “I feeling pretty good after todays results, unfortunately in the last test I had a big crash at the start, which rattled me but I managed to pick the bike up and keep going,” Hollis said. “The boys are working hard now to get the bike ready for tomorrow’s racing. The grass tracks are fun and it was more tight than I expected, and quite long. “I don’t feel any pressure leading into tomorrows racing, I am just going to try and recover from my crash today and with the different track tomorrow it should Transmoto 19 and Under (EJ) be nice, close racing,” Hollis concluded. With seven tests to get the job done today for the Transmoto 19 and Under E3 Playing on the misfortune of his fellow competitors, there was no slowing competitors it was Husqvarna Enduro the athletes as the championship Racing Team’s Lachlan Stanford who points dangled in front of the gunning snatched up the first place in the E3 class competitors. Wil Ruprecht adjusted while Active8 Yamaha Yamalube’s Beau to the track conditions today, working Ralston finished in close second just a hard off his Sherco 450cc machine to finish on top of the time sheets ahead fraction off the pace from Stanford. After just one test this morning of his fellow Transmoto 19 and Under it looked as though the current competitors with a 1:06:53.964 time. championship points leader and Current championship points leader, KTM undefeated KTM Enduro Racing Team mounted Nic Tomlinson finished the day Rider Daniel Sanders couldn’t be beaten, in second place with a concluding time however after a small crash in the second of 1:06:57.211. With less than a minute test for Sanders, and an injury to the separating second and third, Fraser muscles in his leg the KTM mounted rider Higlett rounded out the top three times, battled it out to finish in third (1:05:27.964). finishing with a time of 1:07:49.798.

Vets Despite the dust and the tight track it was Vets competitor Rowan Pumpa who was victorious today, battling off his fellow competitors with consistent times to finish the seven tests in 1:11:34.382 marginally in front of second placed Craig Wease, who finished with a concluding time of 1:14:37.433. Wease wasn’t with out pressure from Leigh Bentley who put his machine to the test finishing only just off the pace with a concluding time of 1:14.56.822. The Women’s and Masters classes today competed on the Yamaha Test. Women’s By the second test of the day it was Jemma Wilson who looked to be undefeated amongst the girls, Wilson holding her form despite pressure from Yamaha mounted Jessica Gardiner. The 2015 ISDE World Champion remained consistent, finding her groove on the bike by the

end of the day finishing with a 1:04:21.315 time. Second placed Gardiner concluded the day with a 1:04:56.224 lap time while Emilie Karlsson (1:06:48.869) performed on her Yamaha to round out the top three times at Round 5. Masters Current championship points leader Jason Salopayevs unfortunately had a crash in the sighting lap this morning seeing him unable to compete in the racing today. Despite a delayed start this morning for the remaining Masters field it was Michael Widdison who couldn’t be beat, adding valuable championship points to the board finishing with a 1:05:51.071. Peter Schaper put in a tough battle to attempt to knock Widdison off the top spot however despite making up time throughout the day he finished second (1:06:34.552) while Adrian Fitzgerald (1:06:41.763) applied himself to finish third at the conclusion of today’s racing.

ROUnD 6

AORC 150

With impeccable weather conditions today over 300 competitors entered the Murray Bridge gates for the kick off of Round 6 of the 2016 Yamaha Australian Off-Road championship, battling through tough conditions that the Murray Bridge terrain had to offer. Today marked the half way point in the championship season and with six tests to get the job done, the seven senior classes went head to head to chase the top spot on the podium, competing on a grass, sprint format track. E1 KTM mounted Jack Simpson took off from the start line this morning, taking his confidence from yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class win to push his bike to the test. Simpson once again was able to launch his bike in front of second place Husqvarna Enduro Racing Teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Glenn Kearney to round out the podium with the Round 6, E1 win finishing with a 42:25.601 time. Kearney (42:37.267) second, was followed close behind by Scott Keegan (43:03.744)

who slipped just off the times from this mornings test to conclude on the third step of the podium. E2 It was a spectacle on track today as Round 5 winner, CDR Yamaha’s Chris Hollis went up against KTM Enduro Racing Team Rider Tye Simmonds to attempt to defend his winning streak from yesterday. However, KTM mounted Simmonds was unstoppable from the get go this morning taking the outright top spot on the time sheets and remained consistent through out the day. Simmonds was victorious taking the Round 6, E2 class win and the outright fastest time for the day with a 41:43.692, marking his AORC career best achievement to date. Hollis putting in a strong fight after recovering from his crash in the last test yesterday, was only seconds behind Simmonds with a concluding

time of 42:16.959. CDR Yamaha’s Tom McCormack joined both Simmonds and Hollis on the podium in third with a finishing time of 42:51.581. After achieving his AORC career best result for the 2016 season the elated Simmonds spoke about topping the times and his struggles out on the grass track today. “I am feeling really good after the results today. I knew as soon as we got to this type of event, where it was a bit more open with room to move I knew I was going to be where I should results wise,” Simmonds said. “We had a ball this weekend, the tracks were good and this layout suits my riding style. It’s nice to be able to bring home the win for my team and myself. “I am hoping to continue with these results and strive for the wins for the rest of the season.

151

“I think the hardest test today was the last two, knowing I had the lead, and just trying to keep it. I was more over the moon, normally I struggle in the first test and today I took the outright time this morning,” he concluded. E3 Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Rider Lachlan Stanford was once again victorious claiming the Round 6 win in the E3 class for a second time this weekend. The Husqvarna mounted rider finished just under 30 seconds in front of second placed KTM Enduro Racing Team’s Daniel Sanders, Stanford concluding the day with a 42:06.854 time. Sanders battling an injury sustained in yesterday’s test, managed to redeem his times to finish in second with a 42:36.257 time, while Active8 Yamaha Yamalube’s Beau Ralston was challenging his times close behind Sanders with a finishing time of 42:41.554.

the podium finishing in second with a 43:27.008 time, just seconds behind. Third place in the Transmoto 19 and Under class was once again Fraser Higglett improving his time each test to round out the top three finishing podium positions. Tomlison was glad to have another win under his belt after a few mistakes yesterday set him back in the times. “I am feeling really good, today was a lot better day than yesterday, I made a lot of mistakes and lost a lot of time, so to be able to redeem myself and get back on the top step of the box is great,” said Tomlinson. “I didn’t feel much pressure coming into today, I just knew I had to put my head down and do what I know I can do, I just tried to focus. “For the next rounds I am going to concentrate on getting more time on the bike and try and get quicker and quicker,” Tomlinson concluded with a smile.

Vets Rowan Pumpa carried over his form from yesterday and was presented with the Vets win at Round 6 of the Yamaha AORC. After battling through the dust and heat the Vets competitor finished with a time of 48:00.339. Anthony Greene (48:52.749) and Leigh Bentley (48:53.833) placed second and third respectively today, all finishing Transmoto 19 and Under There was a change in the front runner within the same minute of each other. today, as Nic Tomlinson managed to deliver on his KTM machine to knock Wil Women’s Ruprecht from the top spot closing the Yamaha mounted Jemma Wilson (51:38.121) was in fine form today as day with a 43:22.124 on the last test. Wil Ruprecht challenged first place she backed up her win from yesterday Tomlinson throughout the day however with another solid six tests to claim the narrowly missed out on the top spot on women’s Round 6 win ahead of second

place Jessica Gardiner. With the Women’s class battling it out on the KTM track today the warm and dusty conditions proved tough however Gardiner put on another consistent performance joining Wilson on the podium with a concluding time of 51:41.296. Sophie Coldicutt redeemed her times from yesterday to manoeuvre her machine around the tight track to round out the top three positions for the Womens’ with a concluding time of 54:23.398. Wilson, was happy to claim yet another win and put more championship points on the board, speaking about the tough competition today battling Gardiner for the win. “Yesterday was pretty cruisy pulling over 50 seconds from Jess (Gardiner) but I think today I went in too confident, but after Jess gained more pace towards my lead, from then the race was on,” she said.

“Today has been some crazy close racing only beating Jess by minute seconds in some of the tests, but I ended up getting the win only four seconds ahead. “The close racing makes it more stressful, of course, but more interesting and it pushed us both along today,” Wilson concluded. Masters As another round concluded for the Masters class today it was Michael Widdison (53:42.394) who was unbeatable yet again capturing the Round 6 win ahead of second placed Adrian Fitzgerald in a hard-fought battle for the concluding time of 54:15.842. Third placed was awarded to Stephen Price with a finishing time of 54:17.999 putting in an outstanding performance out on track to redeem his times and finish on the podium.