Inside Dirt - Issue 3: MX Nationals by MX Nationals

TRAINERS CORNER RACE REFLECTION WHAT TO DO

MW PLUG CHOP CRAIG DACK INTERVIEW

pg. 22

pg. 45

MYTH BUSTERS 2 STROKE VS 4 STROKE

AUSSIES ABROAD HOW ARE OUR EXPORTS DOING

pg. 39

pg. 60

THE JOURNEY TO THE TOP “FORMER MX NATIONALS RIDER TOBY PRICE SHARES HIS MEMORIES OF RACING ON HOME SOIL BEFORE STEPPING ONTO THE WORLD STAGE” pg. 75

RIDER LISTS // SCHEDULE // AORC RECAP // 6 QUESTIONS // RADAR // HIT AND MISS // AND MORE!!

ROUND 8 NOWRA

MX NATIONALS

ISSUE 3 2.8.2015

KNOW W H AT IT TA K E S 2016 GEAR YOUR ADVANTAGE IS DROPPING THIS AUGUST.

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MX Nat ionals 2015 Venue | | Nowra

Even t da te || 2nd A ugust 2015

Here you have it, the third action packed issue

the moment, Toby Price, about his big career

of Inside Dirt. In the last issue, we continued to

move into full time rally racing, and as usual we

spread or dirt bike wings, and brought you Hattah

will look at all of the action from round seven of

highlights, we gave you the low down on how well

the MX Nationals.

our Aussies are performing on the international stage, and as usual we brought you all of the

As always, you can expect hard-hitting columns

action from the MX Nationals.

from all of our industry specialists, including a piece surrounding motorcycling’s great debate –

In this issue, we have even more to jam pack into

Two Stroke VS Four Stroke.

more that 100 pages of digital dirt bike content. So, if you love dirt bikes you have found yourself In issue three, we will be bringing you all of the

in the right place. Inside Dirt is your one stop

results and highlights from round nine and ten

digital destination, bringing you your daily fix of

of the Australian Off-Road Championship, we’ll

all things MX, SX, Enduro, and more!

chat to Australia’s biggest motorcycling icon at

Get scrolling people....

e w S o ut h W ale N , a r s Now ||

WHO

WIL

L W IN

DOWN TH G E IN

N E

N ROU

NOWRA. Round 8 will see the series make its way to Nowra New South Wales. This track will become very technical and riders will certainly be tested. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always great to have a new track added to the series and the Nowra track will be at itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best for round eight. Nowra is currently undergoing a complete overhaul for the event, and riders will be excited to see what the venue has in store for them.

CONTENTS Click the page number to visit that page

10 18 29 36 45 60 72 80 87 95 102 112 120

Behind the Gate

NRGTV On Demand Videoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Hit and Miss

Thor Offtrack Experience

MW Plug Chop - Craig Dack

Aussies Abroad

6 Questions with Maddy Brown

Monster Energy MX1 Rider List

Round 7 MX2 Throwback

Round 7 MXD Throwback

Yamaha Womens Rider List

We Chat to Toby Price

16 22 34 39 52 65 75 83 92 100 104 118

Team Profiles / Race Recaps

Schedule

Trainers Corner

GoPro Gallery

Myth Busting - 2 Stroke vs 4 Stroke

Becoming Professional in the eyes of the media Radar

Round 7 MX1 Throwback

Race Recap - Kade Mosig

Motul MX2 Rider List

Pirelli MXD Rider List

AORC Race Recaps

Social Media Hashtagged

“They say you’re only as good as your last race, and in my case this is motivation to make sure that the final three rounds of this years series exceed expectations.”

S H EPPAR TO N INS I GHT As most would know by now, at round seven of the

this occur, and without making any excuses, this has

MX Nationals, our defending champion Matt Moss

rocked our team to the core.

collided with a bobcat during SuperPole, making Sunday July 19 one of the most memorable days in

WEM employs close to 40 staff and relies on up to

Australian motocross for all of the wrong reasons.

60 volunteers at each round of the MX Nationals, and although we continually strive to minimize any

First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity

human error at our events, at round seven human

to publically apologise to both Matt and Sophie Moss

error occurred.

for the incident that occurred. By no means am I attempting to hide away from what has happened,

From here on, all we can do is focus on Matt’s

but before I publically spoke about the incident, I

recovery, look at our processes and procedure to

wanted to offer my sincerest apologies to Matt and

ensure something like this never happens again,

his wife personally, out of respect for the couple, and

and make the promise to our teams, riders, fans and

what they have had to go through.

supporters that for the remainder of the MX Nationals series, we will offer a safe and secure environment

In addition, I would also like to apologise to the fans

for our professional athletes.

and spectators who were witness to the incident at round seven. Our goal at the MX Nationals is always

They say you’re only as good as your last race, and

to put on a show for those who attend our events,

in my case this is motivation to make sure that

and by no means would I, or any of the WEM team

the final three rounds of this years series exceed

have wished for anyone to see what they saw at

expectations. In saying that, it is also an expectation

Shepparton.

of mine that we will need to regain the trust of our fans and supporters - and myself and the entire WEM

Through the course of running 306 events, Williams

team will be working as hard as we possibly can to

Event Management has never had an incident like

achieve this before the series concludes in Coolum.

M X 1 L e a d er Kirk Gibbs

M X 2 L e a d er Jay Wilson

M X D L ea d er Wilson Todd

ACT IO N PAC K ED R ACI NG! With that said, my ‘Behind the Gate’ in this issue will

at Shepparton, we can definitely concur that the

be short and sweet.

future of the sport is in very good hands.

In the Motul MX2 Class I would like to offer my

Before closing off, I would also like to commend our

congratulations to Takeshi Katsuya for his race win at

former MX Nationals athlete Toby Price on his newest

Shepparton, and also to Caleb Ward for his continued

venture with the KTM Factory Red Bull Rally Racing

form and four overall win’s in a row.

Team. It is always very heart warming for me to see anyone within the motorcycling industry performing

In the Monster Energy MX1 class I was thrilled to see

on the world stage, and to have had the opportunity

Victorian Kade Mosig (CDR Yamaha) take the round

to see Toby grow and develop into such an inspiring

win, especially at our final Victorian appearance for

Australian motorsport icon is very special. I hope

2015.

everyone enjoys hearing where it all started in our Inside Dirt Toby Price feature, and on behalf of myself

And finally in the Pirelli MXD class it was fantastic to

and the MX Nationals team, we wish him all the

see such promising talent in KTM’s Jayden Rykers.

success in the world as he embarks on this exciting

After winning both races and taking the round overall

new chapter in his career.

R O UND 8 Now, as we move on to round eight of the MX Nationals series, I hope that everyone enjoys and takes in all of the content from our motorcycling world in issue number three of Inside Dirt.

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SCHEDULE START

CLASS

DURATION

8:30am

MX2 Practice / Qualifying

25 Min

9.00am

MX1 Practice / Qualifying

25 Min

9.30am

Go Pro Super Pole

5 Min

9:40am

MXD Practice / Qualifying

20 Min

10.05am

Womens Practice / Qualifying

15 Min

10.20am

Official Opening

15 Min

10:40am

MX2 Moto 1

30 Min Plus 1 lap

11:25pm

MX1 Moto 1

30 Min Plus 1 lap

12:10pm

MXD Moto 1

20 Min Plus 1 lap

12:35pm

Lunch

50 Min

1:25pm

Womens Moto 1

15 Min Plus 1 lap

1.55pm

MX2 Moto 2

20 Min plus 1 lap

2.35pm

MX1 Moto 2

30 Min plus 1 lap

3:20pm

MXD Moto 2

20 Min Plus 1 lap

3:55pm

Womens Moto 2

15 Min plus 1 lap

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

SHEPPARTON ROUND 7 - FIRST MOTOS

MX1 Moto 1 Monster Energy MX1 19th July

View On NRGTV >

MX2 Moto 1

MXD Moto 1

Motul MX2

Pirelli MXD

19th July

View on NRGTV >

19th July

View on NRGTV >

SHEPPARTON ROUND 7 - SECOND MOTOS

MX1 Moto 2 Monster Energy MX1 19th July

View On NRGTV >

MX2 Moto 2

MXD Moto 2

Motul MX2

Pirelli MXD

19th July

View on NRGTV >

19th July

View on NRGTV >

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COMPARISON RATE FINANCE

SELF REFLECTION Hello everyone and welcome back to the Trainers Corner for round seven of the 2015 MX Nationals. How important is it for a rider to reflect on each race performance? Is it best for a rider to simply move forward after a bad race or take the time to review race day performance, be critical of mistakes and pick the positives to get a detailed picture of not just how everything happened on the day, but WHY and what you can do to not repeat those same mistakes? Well to me this question is a no brainer and a huge YES, every rider should review their performance after each event. However the steps and environment each rider does this in should be a very individual process as every riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mental triggers to performance are different and in no way can this be a one size fits all.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW For the factory teams a race review happens in

set up issues are a phone call away usually on the

many different conversations. A rider will talk to his

following week to discuss suspension settings and

mechanic, suspension technician and motor technician

any adjustments, the same goes for the motor etc.

to review the bikes performance. As a team these

Typically Dad is the mechanic on race day, along with

individuals sole responsibility is to make the rider and

mentor, trainer, sponsor and funding along with truck

happy on the bike, so a rider will offer his input to how

driver and anything else on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;to do listâ&#x20AC;?. This is

the bike felt during the race or weekend and the team

where the process gets complicated for privateers and

will go to work from there on maybe tweaking settings

I see so many families making mistakes in regards to

or maintaining a good feeling bike set up. From there

approaching race day performance review.

the technicians will talk to the team manager, as will the rider and a team effort will have been completed to compare rider performance and feel of the bike as to the expectations of the team moving forward. It seems a simple enough procedure and the one thing riders who are on professional race teams must understand is that they have been hired for a reason (to win or be up front at each event) and anything less than that means they have to take on board a lot of constructive criticism after a bad performance. The strongest riders mentally do not take this personally and welcome the feedback to make their next performance stronger. For a privateer and family team environment the race performance evaluation process becomes a little harder. Logistically, a privateer does not have a professional technician for suspension, motor and as a mechanic with him at the races. So any bike

I see so many privateers making mistakes in regards to performance review 23

WHAT TO DO

THE BROADFORD RUTS WHERE EASY FOR KIRK GIBBS, HE NAVIGATES THE CORNERS

Rule number one for me as a coach and trainer in this

WITH PERFECT RUT TECHNIQUE.

sport is.. DO NOT DISCUSS PERFORMANCE IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT. Obviously between motos is a different story and a short pep talk can do wonders, but evaluating a poor weekend’s performance takes far more time and detail. From the factory teams to the privateers, the best way in my opinion is to let a rider download his own performance in his head before commencing talks with the people in his corner. You have to navigate the emotional attachment a rider might have to the events that have just taken place and objectively this is hard to achieve in a few hour window after the event. Monday morning or evening, on the following day, a rider has often calmed down and detached himself from the weekend’s events emotionally and from there progress can be made talking calmly about how to improve performance and eliminate mistakes. For factory team managers such as CDR Yamaha’s Craig Dack, navigating an event between two team

mates such as the Broadford collision of Dan Reardon

act by Dacka and CDR in race review, evaluation and

and Kade Mosig is a delicate situation. Dacka certainly

implementing a game plan to avoid more mistakes in

voiced his opinion on race day about the incident to the

future racing.

riders, however it was not until Monday that the team called and sit down and talked to the riders around

Where many young racers and family backed privateer

into a game plan and set of steps moving forward

teams go wrong comes from the financial stress on

to eliminate the same things happening again. The

the family and the necessity for performance by a

riders have been given time to reflect along with the

rider in order to keep attracting sponsors and industry

team members, relationships were patched up and

support. When the family sit down for a performance

to date there has been clean racing between CDR’s

review, it is more in the form of a personal attack on

championship contenders ever since. This was a class

the rider. Even if this is not the intention by the family,

A teenager taking harsh words from his Father is never a good recipe for listening and actually taking on board the advice. a teenager taking harsh words from his Father is

delicate balancing act all privateers must negotiate on

never a good recipe for listening and actually taking

their journey to making it to a signing with a factory

on board the advice. Usually the â&#x20AC;&#x153;performance reviewâ&#x20AC;?

race team.

takes place directly after a bad moto, when emotions are running high and a shouting match can negatively

My advice to all privateers and families chasing the

affect the rest of the days racing. Often Dad knows best,

racing dream is often to employ the use of a professional

and the young racer must learn to either deal with the

riding coach and mentor who can be objective and up

consequences of poor performance or learn to better

front with the rider about performance without the

explain to someone who is not a professional coach,

emotional attachment of being a family member (along

mechanic or technician as to why his performance

with accessible suspension and bike technicians who

was poor and what they can do to move forward. It is

are available to help over the phone or in person at your

MOVING FORWARD selected race series). It helps maintain the father/son relationship and allows the young rider an opportunity to learn how to download and feedback his performance to somebody other than mum and dad. This is a vital tool to learn if any rider wishes to get signed by a factory race team and be treated as a professional racer in the future. Secondly, when reviewing a weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race performance it is vital to remember the goal is to offer constructive criticism and progress as a team unit for the next round. Motocross is an individual sport but no rider can compete at the elite level of the MX Nationals without many people in his/her corner. A rider needs to feel his team /family has his back and is trying to help and are not attacking his performance personally in order to progress as a better individual and racer. I hope this helps you all with your race performance review process and how you can help yourself or the riders you work with to improve relationships and performance long term.

Feel free to hit me up with your training and coaching questions, joe@madsptc.com and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to tune into NRGTV for race day coverage with myself and Brendan Harrison!

C H I

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

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HIT AND MISS Round TWO

TAKESHI KATSUYA After threatening to claim a win all season, Taka Katsuya finally broke through for a hard-earned victory in the opening moto at Shepparton. The Kawasaki-mounted Japanese import put his years of experience to good use when he showed the rest of the field some incredible line choices as he sliced his way past Luke Arbon and series leader Jay Wilson, then held a hungry Caleb Ward at bay on his way to a memorable win.

KADE MOSIG

Mosig had a cracker of a round with his 1-3 result enough to claim his second overall victory of the season. Even though he gained both MX1 holeshots, his results didn’t come easily. He had to fight hard against his teammate Dan Reardon in both races, as well as Lawson Bopping and a great stoush with his good mate Adam Monea in the second moto. After putting his lads on notice earlier last week, team boss Craig Dack must’ve been well pleased to see his team back on top of the box. < CALEB WARD This kid. Man, we have so many ‘what if’ questions surrounding Ward after his horror start to the season. But since his return he’s clocked up four round wins on the trot and is sky-rocketing up the leaderboards as a result (he’s now seventh overall despite missing two early rounds with injury). Normally known as a sand specialist, the Queenslander has proved he’s just as strong on technical hard-pack tracks. That’s gotta have everyone worried.

SAM MARTIN

Sam Martin usually circulates around the top 10 mark, but Victorian rider had a shocker on the weekend (DNFDNS) in one of few appearances to date. After starting positively with a 13th in qualifying, half of his boot sole came off during the opening race and the flapping thing caught in a rut and injured his ankle. He underwent an MRI yesterday, but the results aren’t known yet.

< HONDA REPRESENTATION It’s staggering that despite the red wing dominating dirt bike sales in Australia – the CRF250R is first and the 450R second – there were only five red machines represented across the three premier classes at Shepparton. That’s just five Hondas out of 80 starting riders. Those machines were piloted by Cody Cooper, Joel Wightman, Geran Stapleton, Sam Davie and Trent Wheatley.

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MYTH BUSTING 2 STROKE VS 4 STROKE In a sport where the ultimate combination of man and machine can separate champions from the “could’ve beens” by only milliseconds and millimetres, a rider needs to have all aspects of their regime working perfectly to have any opportunity of ever becoming a champion. One major piece of their competitive program is their bike type and setup. There are a lot of mathematical ratios thrown around the pits when it comes to discussing the importance of rider to bike influence. Some people believe the bike is as important as the rider in achieving success, and that is what we call a 50/50 split. Others believe it is an 80/20 relationship, where the motorcycle only plays a small part in a rider’s success. I believe it is a dynamic situation and therefore the influence on every rider differs slightly.

When it comes to the great “Two Stroke versus Four Stroke” debate, I honestly believe this dynamic situation

we see them perform. On top of this power advantage

applies. You cannot expect every rider to get on a two

is the obvious lower cost in maintaining the simplistic

stroke machine and perform exceptionally, but then

engine, which is a huge attraction for privateer riders.

again you also have riders that can’t make an effective transition to the modern four stroke machine. In saying

On the other side of the coin are the disadvantages of

that let’s look at the hard pros and cons of each bike so

the two stroke machine. Now, it is only logical that with

that you can determine which you prefer.

increased power comes an increased complexity in controlling the bike. When tracks become hard packed,

The obvious advantage for a two stroke in both the

or square edge rough it is much more difficult for

MXD and MX2 class is the blatant upper hand in power.

riders to get “the power to the ground” in a controlled

The two stroke machines can carry anywhere between

manner, which for pilots of the aggressive two strokes

10 to 25 horse power more than their four stroke

can easily lead to mistakes and crashes. On top of

counterparts depending on the amount of engine work

the importance of throttle control comes the physical

completed on either bike. This gives the two stroke

requirement of being able to maintain high intensity

riders a substantial upper hand on starts, soft terrain

work for the entire race duration without fatiguing as a

tracks and wide-open circuits, which is typically where

result of the rapid power delivery. 39

Turning our attention now to the four

bike, these riders also have a greater

stroke machine, right away the two

amount of experience competing on

greatest disadvantages of their use are

four stroke machines at an elite level,

the cost of maintenance and lack of

so when it comes time to step up to the

power. These two aspects come hand

MX1 class their transition should in

in hand, as riders willing to spend large

theory be much more efficient.

sums of money on developing their engines will have competitive bikes, but

If we now analyse some of the big

for the majority this is not a financially

name riders to swap between the two

viable option. On top of this is the

machine types over the past few years,

increased cost of general maintenance

a true understanding of the variation in

on the four stroke, and the final blow

rider adaptability becomes apparent.

to the four stroke machine is their additional weight. The four stroke are

The previous three MXD championships

considerably heavier than the two stroke

have all been won by two stroke

machine, and with all of the current

mounted

weight reduction methods being used,

Hamish Harwood, and Egan Mastin.

this does play into the minds of some

Looking at Lamontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MX Nationals

riders.

career, he won the MXD title aboard a

riders;

Kayne

Lamont,

two stroke in 2012, then in 2013 riding Finally, we come to the benefits of

for Choice Motorsports on a 250F it was

competing on the lower powered

obvious that he struggled. The Kiwi

four stroke machine, which sounds

then swapped back to a Husqvarna

paradoxical in itself. Basically, riders

two stroke last year and was the most

competing on four strokes have a

dominant rider in the first half of the

greater range of modifications available

year (prior to his season ending injury).

to them as a result of their modern

Turning

engine and chassis development. Away

Harwood and the two stroke mounted

from the physical performance of the

MXD champion of 2013 continued his

our

attention

Hamish

excellent performance last year whilst still aboard a

four stroke machine for his rookie assault on the Lites

‘dinga’, finishing second in the MX2 championship as

field this year. Excluding the shoulder and rib injury

a rookie. Fast forward only 12 months, and although

he suffered earlier in the season, Crawford has shown

is now absent from the series, we didn’t see Harwood

great speed in his debut season and consistently finds

crack the top five once during the opening six rounds

himself battling inside of the top five aboard his new

of the season – whilst aboard a four stroke. Trend or

weapon of choice. Finally, we move onto the most

coincidence?

winning MX2 rider of 2014 and now the most winning rider of 2015, Caleb Ward. Ward’s four stroke ability

If we now turn our attention to the current MX2 class,

was widely questioned entering 2015 after such a

just to throw a spanner in your mental work it should

successful season aboard the two stroke last year. He

be noted that since the reintroduction of the 250 two

was able to win races when starting at the front of the

stroke to the MX2 class in the last five years, not one

field, but struggled in races where he had to negotiate

championship plate has been taken away from a four

his way through the pack, so many wondered if he

stroke rider. Back to the action though! Focusing on

would be able to get out front without the power head

riders like Nathan Crawford and Caleb Ward, who have

had on tap last year. Well, in the last four rounds of

both achieved great success on both the two and four

racing, Ward has already racked up four moto wins

stroke machines, it is obvious that the rider adaptability

and taken every overall since his return from injury,

spoken of earlier plays a huge role in their success.

confirming he is a bad ass on a dirt bike either way.

When speaking of Nathan Crawford, the rider who

So, all in all at this point in time the two stroke is here

aboard a two stroke finished on the overall podium in

to stay and all of the die hard moto fans seem pretty

MXD and took a wild card round win in the MX2 class

happy about it! Oh, and I’m a die hard moto fan too,

last year, he made the decision to step over to the

so.... Let the great debate continue!

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TA R G E T :

C R A I G

DAC K

Dack Talks Results, Rifts, Wright, And Head Hunting

With seven rounds under the belt for CDR Yamaha, we catch up with Team Manager Craig Dack, to delve deep into the inner workings of one of the most successful race teams of all time. The first half of the season has been unusual for CDR Yamaha, how are you feeling about 2015 so far? Look, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster really. Firstly with Jacob getting on top of things and riding very well leading into the start of the season, and then blowing his knee out. That was a big blow for us. But luckily we made the decision to put Reardon (Dan) on, which was a positive. You know, the start of the championship was very good, but then unfortunately the Broadford round and what happened with Kade and Daniel, it was sort of a catalytic moment for the future of the year for us, and it sort of changed the context of the whole championship for us. Our Superpole efforts have been inconsistent, and it’s been the same with the races. We have seemed to have a bit of bad luck along the way, and we have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but ultimately the riders have shown good signs of speed, but they haven’t yet been able to put this championship together correctly. There have just been silly mistakes that shouldn’t be made at this level.

Kade and Dan obviously had that incident at Broadford where they came together, and their relationship seems to have mended now, but how hard was that situation to handle from a team manager’s point of view? Well first of all, I had to settle myself down – I really had to be careful of myself, so the first work I had to do was counsel myself for several hours after the whole thing. In terms of race team owners, it’s sort of the number one thing that you don’t want to happen. You encourage your riders to race hard, and not give each other any room, but in the context of how that situation was, they were ten minutes in to a 30-minute race, and both riders were pulling away from everybody by a second a lap. Kade was clearly faster than Daniel, so he sort of had to wait for the right time to go past him and it was looking like we were going to dominate that moto. It was probably the worst whack across the chops I’ve ever had. It was tense for the first day but we had a test day on

the Tuesday and I don’t usually go but I went and had a meeting with both of the riders and I made it very short, sharp and sweet. All that was said was it’s the start of the year, no one is happy, we want to wipe this out of our heads and we don’t even want to talk about it again. To both of their credit they were both mature enough to rise above it, and we’ve all moved forward. Both Kade and Dan this year, generally have one great moto and one poor moto at most rounds. How frustrating is that for you and is this something that the team is working on specifically? The answer is yes. And to be completely and brutally open and honest with you, at this level it just shouldn’t be happening. Things happen from time to time, we are all human but really when you look at Dan and his experience, and Kade who has been around a long, long time too, they should be on top of this sort of stuff. We can do everything we can, put good

equipment around them, have chats to them, and all of that sort of stuff to make their lives easier, and the results better (which we do, do) but that part of it is ultimately up to them. It’s their responsibility to make the right decisions at the right time and that just hasn’t been happening. On the positive side though, I suppose it is more frustrating because they can both win races – they’ve proved it. How is Jacob Wright’s recovery going and when should we expect to see him back this year? He’s going very well. I actually spoke to Jacob just before and his rehab has gone exceptionally well. He’s grabbed the recovery and the rehab by both hands and he’s done a tremendous job. He’s had an ex Melbourne Storm physician working with him and he’s due to get back on the bike in about three weeks. He should have a solid two months build up to Supercross – He could probably come back for the second last or last round of the MX Nationals but why would we risk it? Silly season is starting to fire up and you have three good riders in your corner already, what are your thoughts in terms of team set up for 2016? Ultimately as a pureblooded sports person, and as a passionate motocross person, I would like to have the guy who can win the championship and then the development guy – in it’s purest forms, that’s how I’d like to put the team together. But, if I have good backing, and some good dollars with sponsorship then that can change. The thing with sponsors is they want results straight away, so I will always put on the two best guys I can afford at the time. But I mean you fly between two positions. You look back to a few years ago and we had Jay Marmont and Josh Coppins, and they were fighting like cats and dogs for a championship for two years. You go through different eras and stages with your race team where you need certain results for

different reasons. I can tell you one thing for sure, CDR needs to win. That is the number one priority, and we are going to do whatever it takes. We had that intent this year, and it’s the same every year, but when you look at the last eight years of the MX Nationals Championships, CDR has won five of those, and finished third the last two years. If things keep sliding the way they are at the moment, we are looking like we are going to have our worst year in eight years. But in saying that, there’s still a long way to go in the championship and we will keep fighting. In terms of who we are going to choose, with what we want to do next year I completely haven’t got my head around it yet.

expect him to be your winner in the first year on a 450. Who would you say is Australia’s new rising talent? I think there are a few. I was glad to see Kawasaki get Dylan Long. He was someone who was impressing me, but I had all my positions full. I think Jacob Wright is an untapped talent, and we haven’t seen the best of him yet, and he’s done huge things in a short time already. And then Caleb Ward, he’s got some nice attributes about him. I don’t know him, I don’t know his background, what his attitude is like, or how much he puts into training, but technically he’s a really nice rider.

When you are head hunting/scouting where do you look? Is it only the MX1 class or do you keep your eye on the MX2 guys aswell?

Do you currently have your eye on anyone for 2016?

I look at everything. Usually its very rare if you want someone who can win a championship that you’d pick someone who’s dominating the MX2 class, and

Yes. Lots of riders, lots of options and lots of ideas. As I said, reading between the lines of what I’m saying, I’ve got huge wraps on Jacob, and it would

be hard for anyone to claw him away from me. But who the other guy or guys are, I’m not sure of that at the moment. My mind is very open. Do you think we will see CDR finish on the championship podium this year?

riders to identify why that is. It’s not the equipment, so it’s fundamentally something that’s happening with them. The championship over the last few rounds has gone off-track, so we’re trying to put it back on track so we can at least achieve a podium for 2015.

That is a hypothetical question that I can’t answer, but the intention and the drive internally within CDR Yamaha is to make that happen. We don’t want to not be on the podium at any stage, let alone off the top step at the end of the year. Our Championship has gone a bit haywire – we’ve been talking with the

STEPHEN GALL BECOMING A

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE IN THE EYES OF THE MEDIA A professional sport is a career. Once

employees of the business and it is

you turn pro, you are essentially

through the media and their own

beginning your full time job. Much like

results that they promote their brands

a person starting any job, the athlete

and their sport.

must fulfill the expectations and goals Dirt bike racing is certainly on a

that are given them.

much smaller scale to the likes of We see all to often in the mainstream

AFL and international cricket, but

media

tennis

essentially the concept is still the

players and cricketers have their lives

same. Riders represent their team,

dissected and analyzed, especially

their manufacture and their sponsors.

when

They must perform on the track, but

where

they

footballers,

something

they

they must also be capable of handling

shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

any questions or requests that are Some people may claim this is unfair,

given by the media.

but the bottom line is, that when you sign up to be a professional athlete,

This is why media training is a great

part of the job description is to

idea for young riders. The better they

represent your sport and your brand

are at handling themselves in front

and be a role model to any youngsters

of the media, the more marketable

out there hoping to follow in your

they become. Marketable athletes are

footsteps.

highly sought after. It is one thing to win, but it is another thing to be able

Professional sport is a business

to spread a message to wide-reaching

and its purpose is not only to act as

audience.

a vessel for advertising, but also to entertain spectators in the hope they

I want to give the readers some tips

will spend more money to watch and

on how best to handle the media. You

be a part of that particular sport.

need to be able to stay cool, calm and collected, to shut out nervousness

The athletes are essentially the

and speak clearly and concisely.

Preparation Like anything, preparation is key. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect and it is imperative that you go into a press conference, interview or video production with the best possible preparation. You can conduct mock interviews with family and friends, practice in front of a mirror or electronic device, have family members record your interviews for review and ask friends and professionals for advice. It is also important to learn more about your sponsors and remember them all. Next time you are up on the podium, you need to make sure that you thank every sponsor and ensure they get the coverage that they are paying for. Major sponsors should always be mentioned first, but you can take a systematic approach for the rest. For example, you could go from head to toe; helmet, then neck brace, then jersey/pants, boots etc. Another good thing to do is watch other professionals on TV/ Webcast/YouTube and learn what they do. How do they present themselves? And what can you do better?

Body Language Body language is also highly important. Relax, breath and smile. Remember to do all those three things and you’re halfway there! Also maintain good eye contact with the interviewer and crowd. You should also be enthusiastic, keep an open friendly face, avoid looking into direct sunlight which will make you squint, use control your mannerisms and nervous expressions (i.e moving your arms and hands wildly, folding your arms, using words such as ‘um’, ‘ah’, ‘yeah’ and ‘you know’, and fiddling with your hair. Also try to avoid constant movement. Sit or stand still while still looking relaxed and calm.

Appearance

answers and avoid rambling. Pausing to take a breath between

You want to make sure you look

sentences allows you to gather

presentable. Dress to suit the

your thoughts.

occasion and make sure you fulfill any sponsor/team obligations in

Speak

terms of uniform. Avoid wearing

speaking too fast or too slow.

loud patterns, horizontal stripes

Use the volume of your voice to

and chequered clothing. Also

emphasize certain points and

avoid

articulate your words properly.

sunglasses

and

large

clearly

and

avoid

You should also be as honest as

course you have sponsorship

possible, but be careful what you

obligations.

say and avoid saying anything

chunky

jewellery,

unless

that will get you into trouble with

During the Interview

your team or sponsors. It’s okay to be nervous; just try to relax and

Think about what you are going

pretend you are simply talking to

to say. It is a good idea to think

a friend or family member.

about this before the interview as well, but when you are asked

Podium Interviews

a question, think about your answer before you say it out

If you’re a regular top-three

loud. Also listen to the question

rider, then naturally you are

carefully to ensure you answer

going to get pretty used to

it correctly. Give short concise

podium interviews. But if you

HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL

have just broken through for

little direction and some sample

your first one, it can be pretty

questions. Also determine the

daunting getting up on the stage

length of the interview; if you

to speak in front of a crowd. Use

only have a short amount of

the tips above; speak concisely

time, get your important points

and clearly, think about what you

across first.

are going to say and be confident and relaxed. It is important to

Another thing you can do, in pre-

ensure to mention your sponsors

recorded interviews, is to stop

up on the podium. The podium

and do a re-take if you are not

is one place where all eyes will

happy with something. Keep your

be on you, and this is where

answers short and concise and

sponsors love to get a mention.

pause between sentences. This

You can have a family or team

will help the film/tv crew in the

member hold in view a pit board

editing phase. You can organize

if you have trouble remembering

the interview to your advantage.

your sponsors.!

Maybe you can position your bike, truck, tent, track signage

TV/Trackside Interviews

or sponsors products so they appear in the shot. This gives

TV and trackside interviews are

them maximum exposure.

just as important as podium interviews, but they allow you to

Look at the reporter and the

be just a little more prepared.

crowd, and not the camera. Also

Before the interview you can

ask to avoid directly looking into

brief the journalist and let them

the sun. And remember, if you

know what questions you would

work well with the film/tv crew,

like them to ask, and which ones

they will be happy to work with

not to ask. Some journoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s may

you again in the future.

not be familiar with the sport, so if thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the case, give them a

HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL

Radio/Web Interviews When taking part in a live recording, take the time to answer the questions and think before you speak. Make sure you speak slowly and concisely and always make sure your microphone is on/off prior to the interview and also during any breaks. Be careful not to say anything wrong while the microphone is on! Like TV crews, some radio hosts may not understand the sport, so work with them and help them out. This will help you get your message across.

A Good Example Moto GP champion, Marc Marquez, is a great example of a modern motorcycle rider who excels both on the track and off it. He is only 21 and is the youngest Moto GP champion ever, but he knows how to handle the media and represent his team and his brands to the best of his ability.

A lot of money goes into getting Marquez

he wears his Oakley sunglasses and his

in a position to win races. Due to his

tyre sponsors cap, he also carry’s his Shoei

success, sponsors are forming a long line

helmet and a Red Bull can.

to associate their brand with his image. As a result, Marquez has to ensure he gives

This routine is critical to keeping the

the sponsors what they want to keep them

sponsors happy and ensuring that their

coming back. He must do this on and off

investment does not go unrewarded. The

the track.

same rules apply for even the lowest levels of competition. If someone has invested

The sponsors need to get value for their

time and money with you, you need to

sponsorship money and the Marquez

make sure you are giving back to them and

team includes people who ensure every

giving them value.

sponsored product is correctly placed. Next time you watch Moto GP on TV take

Always keep a fresh new riding shirt,

notice at what happens after Marc comes

goggles, helmet, towel, etc, just for

back to the pits after the race. His assistant

publicity work and podium interviews. If

has his sponsor’s product ….sunglasses,

the sponsors see you making an effort,

cap etc at the ready and prepares him for

then they will keep coming back!

the barrage of live TV interviews, camera shots and then the trophy presentation. When Marc stands on the top step of the podium he has his leathers fully zipped up, he is wearing his Lotus watch fully visible,

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#111 D E A N F E R R I S

AUSSIES ABROAD

#47

W E

T O D D

A U S S I E

W A T E R S

T H E

C A T C H

U P

W I T H

R I D E R S

W O R L D

B Y

T H E

T A K I N G S T O R M

MXGP Round 13 Overall - Czech Republic P.

Name

Points

461

Febvre, Romain

777

Bobryshev, Evgeny

Desalle, Clement

Strijbos, Kevin

Van Horebeek, J

Simpson, Shaun

Paulin, Gautier

259

Coldenhoff, Glenn

Rattray, Tyla

991

Watson, Nathan

Charlier, Christophe 19

100

Searle, Tommy

Butron, Jose

Waters, Todd

111

Ferris, Dean

MXGP Championship Results

Photos: J.P. Acevedo

Name

Points

461

Febvre, Romain

507

Paulin, G.

419

222

Cairoli, A.

416

777

Bobryshev, E.

389

Nagl, M.

360

Desalle, C.

331

Simpson, Shaun

306

Van Horebeek, J.

294

259

Coldenhoff, G.

266

Strijbos, K.

257

Waters, Todd

250

111

Ferris, Dean

189

Philippaerts, D.

185

Rattray, Tyla

181

de Dycker, Ken

155

Photos: J.P. Acevedo

#111 D E A N F E R R I S

Photos: J.P. Acevedo

“I was really looking for more this weekend, especially after my strong results at the GP of Sweden.” Ferris said. “The first race was really one-lined, which made it hard to pass. “I started ok but near the end of the moto I dropped some position. The second moto was kind of the same. I was sixth, but dropped to 10th. My speed was good but that didn’t translate into results this weekend.”

Photos: J.P. Acevedo

#47 T O D D W A T E R S “The team’s been working really hard in preparation for this GP – my first on the 2016 Husqvarna. I felt great on the bike and had a good Saturday qualifying race. I didn’t get a great start in the first moto, but was coming through ok. The track was really slippery, so it was easy to get caught out. I was taking my time to get passed riders, and then a rider jumped in front of me. I crashed really hard, that was it for the first moto. I didn’t feel great in the second race after that crash. I fell a few times and ended 13th. It’s disappointing Photos: J.P. Acevedo

but I’m looking forward to racing in Belgium next weekend.”

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UNSUNG PERFORMERS FROM SHEPPARTONS’S SEVENTH STOP OF THE SEASON.

KIRK GIBBS

ROSS BEATON

MATT RYAN

KIRK GIBBS

MX1 3rd OVERALL K TM RACI NG

It’s no surprise to see Gibbsy on the podium once again, however it’s almost flown beneath the radar altogether that the current championship leader braved the pain of a fractured shoulder-blade on Sunday! It was a heroic performance that will make this year’s crown all the more special if he can clinch it, which by all indications looks like he will before we get to Coolum’s finale next month.

ROSS BEATON

MX1 11th OVERALL DPH YA M A HA

After a longtime on the sidelines, plenty were happy to see Ross Beaton return at round six for the second half of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MX Nationals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; his last full season came as an MXD rider in 2010! So when Beaton raced to 11th overall on Sunday at Shepparton it was a really positive storyline to follow, especially his solid 10th place finish in the second moto. Some further strong results across the final rounds will go a long way toward next season for the Victorian. 67

MATT RYAN

MX2 14TH OVERALL PROFO RM A NCE K AWA SA K I

Expectations were high for Ryan in his home race on the calendar and he started out strongly by qualifying in eighth, just a second outside Jay Wilsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pole position laptime. A top three start in moto one delighted his local fans until some late errors dropped him to 12th, before the second moto was even tougher in position 17. Still, he showed his potential after limited starts this season and you can only expect him to improve from this point. 68

Performance. Perfected.

2015 RAPTOR TITANIUM FOOTPEG RIDERS

RYAN DUNGEY

FORD DALE

CODY COOPER

ADAM MONEA JAKE MOSS

LUKE ARBON

JESSE DOBSON

DANIEL MCOY

DYLAN LONG

COOPER WEBB

MARVIN MUSQUIN

ANDREW SHORT

JASON ANDERSON

JEREMY MARTIN DEAN WILSON

JUSTIN BRAYTON

BRETT METCALFE

TAYLOR POTTER

MARTIN DAVALOS

RYAN VILLOPOTO

ANTONIO CAIROLI TYLA RATTRAY

TOMMY SEARLE

KEN DE DYCKER

SHAUN SIMPSON JORDI TIXIER

DYLAN FERRANDIS JULIEN LIEBER

VALENTIN GUILLOD

ZACH OSBOURNE

MAINMOTO.COM

2015 series calendar Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5

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February 19 - 22 April 10 - 12 May 22 - 24 September 4 - 6 October 2 - 4

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Motorcycling Victoria

15-16 Aug Chmx Series Rd 3 – Clermont

1- 2 Aug Junior MX Champs Rnd 4, Blue Rock

15-16 Aug Seq Junior Mx Series Rd 2 – Kilcoy

8 Aug Northern Mx Series Rnd 8, Swan Hill

15 Aug Fnq Development Series Rd 4 – Mareeba

8- 9 Aug Gippsland MX Rnd 6, Traralgon

22 Aug Enduro X Yeppoon

16 Aug Classic MX Interclub Series Rnd 3, Yarram

23 Aug Tnqmx Series Rd 4 – Tully Mcc

16 Aug Moto-Trials Championship - Sedgwick

29 Aug KTM Pony Express Round 3 – Qmp

22 Aug Dirt Track Junior Day Broadford

29 - 30 Aug Chmx Series Rd 4 – Dysart

22- 23 Aug Off-Road Champs Rnds 11 & 12 Motorcycling WA

29 Aug Mega Mx Ride Day Broadford

8 Aug King Of The Cross Jnr Open - Southern Cross Motorcycling NSW

9 Aug King Of The Cross Snr Open - Southern Cross

1-2 Aug Jnr Dirt Track Champs Barleigh Ranch

16 Aug Senior State Mx Champs Shrubland Park

1-2 Aug Amcross Rd 5 Bega

23 Aug Junior State Mx Champs Shrubland Park

2 Aug North Coast Series Round 1 – Cessnock

30 Aug Kid Of The Sand Junior Open Pinjar Park

8-9 Aug Nsw Motocross Champs Macarthur 15-16 Aug Rd 7& 8 Nsw Off Road Champ Monkerai

Motorcycling NT

23 Aug North Coast Rnd 2 – Hastings valley

2 Aug Kununurra Tri Series Moto X 2 Aug Asmcc 12 Hr Enduro Off Road Club

Motorcycling SA

9 Aug Dmcc Pony Express Rd 2 – Location Tbc

2 Aug Off Road Champs Round 6 Keyneton Mcc

12 Aug Asmcc Motox Ilparpa Mx Complex - Rd 4

2 Aug Mra Gillman Mx Club Day Rd 5

16 Aug Kormsc Moto X Kormsc Complex - Rd 5

8 Aug Ttg Mxc Club Day Rd 3

22 - 23 Aug Dmcc Boulderdash Enduro Adelaide

8 Aug Dirt Track Title Mud N Tars – Victor Harbour

22 Aug Temcc Mini Bikes Mx Campbell Park Rd 4

15 – 16 Aug S.A Mx Championship – Rd 4 Riverland

22 - 23 Aug Territory Quad Titles, Jnr/Snr Micketts

23 Aug Off Road Champs Round 7 Gawler

23 Aug Temcc MX Campbell Park Complex - Rd 4

30 Aug Copleys/Bushys Enduro R2 Mud N Tars

30 Aug Asmcc Natural Terrain Moto X Ilparpa

Motorcycling QLD

Motorcycling Tas

1 Aug Fnq Development Series Rd 3 – Tully

9 Aug Grasstrack Bridport

8 Aug King Of The Goldfields Gladstone

16 Aug Club Day Blackwood Park, Penguin

8 Aug Cq Clubs Off Road Series Round 3 – Turkey

23 August Practice Day Santarena Park, Bridport

9 Aug Ktm Pony Express Rnd 2 – Roma, Euthulla

30 August Club Day Interlaken Road, Oatlands

QUESTIONS WITH MADDY BROWN

Tell us about your support from Yamaha this year. Well at the beginning of the year I was getting support with parts and bikes from Yamaha direct, and then DPH Motorsport came and board and has sort of taken care of all of that for me now. My dad is still my mechanic and takes care of the bikes and stuff during the week, and then Dale and the guys from DPH help out when they can too. It’s a pretty cool thing being able to race under a team truck, and I would love to see other girls get the same opportunities as me too. Most embarrassing racing moment? When I was on an 85 at Blue Rock one year I went over the finish line at the Vic titles and I got throttle stick. I went fully vertical in the air and flipped off the back, but I finished the race. I slid down the down ramp on my butt and landed straight in a puddle. It was pretty embarrassing at the time, but it’s funny now. First car? Well I’m only 20 and I’ve already had three cars and only had my licence for three years. First one, was a Toyota Hiace white van, then I had a Ford XR6 Ute. Then I made the mistake of getting rid of that fast car for a slow Mercedes Vito. I needed to save some money for my trip overseas and honestly the vans a so much easier. I can just go riding, lock everything up and I’m sorted.

Favorite Australian track and why? I have two. I love Swan Hill and Ride Park in Victoria. Ride Park is sick because it actually has some big jumps and the dirt there is awesome. When they’re ripped and prepped properly both of those tracks are easily my favorites. Last song you listened to on your ipod? I just listen to radio music haha. But the last song I had on was pretty cool, it was ‘Powerful’ featuring Ellie Goulding. Least favorite rider to race? I think probably my biggest rival is Emma Milesevic. Even though we are rivals though she is good to race because we do push each other and have some good battles out there. So I wouldn’t say she’s my least favorite to race, but she’s definitely

ROWBA CK TH #

ROUN D 7

S HE PPA R TO N #

K F L A S H B A C

KADE

MOSIG

V I C T O R I A N D O M I N AT I O N F O R C D R Y A M A H A’ S M O S I G I N S H E P PA R TO N 75

ROUND 7

BR EA K D OW N S H E P PA R TO N

CDR Yamaha’s Kade Mosig has returned to the podium in Shepparton today, taking the number one position, in what was an eventful round seven for the Monster Energy MX1 Class. With riders forced to brave below freezing conditions, the MX1 class tackled the Shepparton circuit, in what formed up to be one of the most technical tracks on the 2015 calendar. In moto one, it was CDR Yamaha’s Dan Reardon who claimed the first hole shot of the day, before going head to head with team mate Kade Mosig in what looked to be a repeat of round three. Reardon, who looked comfortable in the number one position early in the moto, held the race lead until the charge of DPH Motorsports Lawson Bopping proved too strong – taking the race lead from Reardon, leaving the CDR team mates to battle for second.

Kade Mosig (1st - 3rd) 1st Overall 65 Points “I just did what I had to do today, and a one, three result is my best result in this class, and we’re taking steps forward,” he said. “I’m really happy with the result and we’re working towards going one, one and having a perfect day. “We made some good championship points this weekend, and I’m really happy. “The whole team – Dacka, Brad, Mike, they work really hard and they give me an awesome package so it’s day’s like these that it’s awesome that I can reward them with a win.”

However Mosig and Reardon’s respect for each other

of KTM Motocross Racing Team duo Luke Styke and

was showcased in moto one, Mosig inheriting second

Kirk Gibbs who took second and third respectively.

place when Reardon went down after the 15 minute mark.

In race two, the battle of the day was had with NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Monea and CDR

With a clear track ahead of him, Mosig set his sights

Yamaha’s Dan Reardon.

on Bopping and in one swift move the lead was his. Mosig then carried his confident momentum to the

With six changes to the race lead across 30 minutes,

finish line, claiming the opening race honors ahead

Monea managed to get the job done for the Victorians, eventually crossing the line first ahead of Reardon – in what was a performance for the fans. With Reardon finishing in second place, third was collected by teammate Kade Mosig. When the overall points for round seven were calculated, CDR Yamaha returned to the podium with Mosig collecting his second overall win for 2015 ahead of NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Monea, followed by series leader Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team) who finished the round in third.

T H E R E S U LT S Monster Energy MX1 round seven overall points: 1) Kade Mosig 65 2) Adam Monea 60 3) Kirk Gibbs 58 4) Luke Styke 57 5) Daniel Reardon 54 6) Jesse Dobson 52 7) Lawson Bopping 51 8) Dylan Long 47 9) Cody Cooper 46 10) Kale Makeham 41 Monster Energy MX1 championship points: 1) Kirk Gibbs 471 2) Luke Styke 408 3) Kade Mosig 397 4) Adam Monea 394 5) Lawson Bopping 375 6) Daniel Reardon 340 7) Jesse Dobson 338 8) Dylan Long 331 9) Cody Cooper 313 10) Kale Makeham 262

PRESENTS

MX1 RIDER LIST #

Name

Manuf.

Sponsors

Adam Monea

Kawasaki

NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki Hitachi

Kirk Gibbs

KTM

KTM Motocross Race Team - Motorex KTM Race Team

Kade Mosig

Yamaha

CDR Yamaha

Cody Cooper

Honda

Penrite Honda Racing

Aaron Tanti

Husqvarna

Craig Anderson Husqarna Racing , Michelin Tyres , Scott , M2R helmets , Belray oils

Luke Styke

KTM

Simon Jobson

Honda

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Daniel Banks

KTM

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Yamaha

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Oliver James

Honda

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Daniel McCoy

Yamaha

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Daniel Moore

KTM

JRC Development - D.A.M Structural Steel

Lawson Bopping

Yamaha

DPH Peter Stevens Yamaha

Daniel McEntee

Kawasaki

Southern Highlands Motorcycles - Factory spec - motul - Tee n Cee graphics

Kale Makeham

Suzuki

Team Motul Suzuki

101

Ben Townley

Honda

Carlton Dry Honda Racing Team - Penrite Oils - Pirelli - Pro Circuit - Dragon - Pedders

117

Dylan Long

Kawasaki

NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki Hitachi

122

Daniel Reardon

Yamaha

CDR Yamaha

264

Izak Maule

Yamaha

AAA Parts - Ipone - Fox - Yamaha - Northern motorcycles - Rapid MX

347

Scott Green

KTM

Diesel Specialists

410

Darcy Jones

Yamaha

Gladstone Motorcycles - Yamaha - Axis Motor Sports - Nine Two Decals - Dunlop

414

Jesse Dobson

Husqvarna

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RACE RECAP - KADE MOSIG Shepparton MX1 winner makes it two overalls for 2015 - Powered by motoonline.com.au

Kade, another good win for you today and two holeshots to boot. That’s a good day in the office.

Yeah two from two [holeshots]; it doesn’t get much better than that, does it!? It’s something I haven’t really done this year so it was good to get out in the fresh air and not have to deal with the pack. In the first moto I got into a battle with my teammate Dan Reardon, who passed me early on. I was patient and stuck with him for a bit, then Lawson Bopping came through and passed both of us with some good lines that he was using. I composed myself and in the later stages of the race I put in a charge and got into the lead with four or five laps to go and started sprinting to build a good buffer so I could ride smart to the win. The past few rounds have been a bit of a struggle with one good moto, then one bad one, so it was good to bounce back and get myself into a good position again at the start of the second moto. I got into a tight battle with Adam Monea straight up – he was riding fast – and it was sort of a flashback to our junior days battling again. Dan put a charge on too and got by, but I knew I was in a good position for the overall and didn’t want to take any crazy risks, so I just ticked off some clean laps and got the job done.

KADE MOSIG

RACE RECAP

The track got surprisingly gnarly. Was it as tough as it looked?

Probably gnarlier! I walked it on Saturday and it had a dry crust on top, I think they prepped and ripped it nice and deep a few weeks in advance, and it then soaked in a lot of rain as it’s been pretty wet in Victoria. It made for a gnarly track that was motocross at its finest – if you know how to ride technical ruts then your skills shone. There were multiple lines in every turn and sometimes the insides worked well, then sometimes the quickest line was on the outside. You had to pick the best lines for the right areas of tracks, carry momentum and flow as best you could, even if it meant having to just let the bike float along a four-foot deep rut. It was also good to see the championship mix it up and use a concrete start this weekend. That was a cool, different element we don’t usually get.

Probably the biggest talking point of the weekend was Matt Moss’s collision into the bobcat during Super Pole. Did you see it happen? Kinda. We were quite far back from the finish line and the straight he crashed on went two-threetabletop. By the time you hit the table you were carrying some real speed and in third or fourth gear. I seen him jump and he changed his body position and was carrying his front wheel high and I thought ‘that’s a bit weird’, then we just heard the engine stop with a crunch and the radiator explode, then saw the bobcat back out. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing; I was in a panic just hoping he was okay. It blows me away that something like that could happen at this level. I’m not pointing fingers, but we all know it shouldn’t happen and I’m just glad to see he’s okay for what could’ve been really serious. He hit so hard he shunted a two-tonne digger sideways, punctured its tyre and dented its rim. That’s f**king gnarly. Mossy was the first guy to go out for Super Pole and after that we all decided we weren’t going to finish it.

KADE MOSIG

RACE RECAP

You kind of touched on it before, but at the start of the first moto you had a pretty cracking battle with your teammate Dan Reardon. Were flashes of Broadford going through your mind at all? Not really. I take each race as it comes and we’ve put all the shit behind us now. People still talk about what happened at Broadford, but I’m a racer and I want to put myself in the best position to win races. I had what it took on the weekend and it showed with my results.

This week Craig Dack made no secret of the fact that he’s keeping an open mind about who he signs next year, with no-one guaranteed to be re-signed. What are your thoughts on that? To be honest I didn’t read the interview, but it doesn’t change things for me. I’m taking each race as it comes, working hard, improving and putting everything into winning races. I love working with the team, it’s my first year at CDR and I hope to grow and learn from the guys. They carry a lot of great experience and they can help me towards my goals of winning championships, then one day taking my career overseas. I’ll just keep winning and tick the goals off one by one.

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ROWBA CK TH #

ROUN D 7

S HE PPA R TO N #

K F L A S H B A C

CALEB

WARD

WA R D M A K E S I T FO U R I N A R OW I N S H E P PA R TO N

ROUND 7

BR EA K D OW N S H E P PA R TO N

KTM Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Caleb Ward has collected four overall wins in a row after today, proving once again he is close to unbeatable, at round seven of the MX Nationals in Shepparton. After starting the morning in freezing conditions the Motul MX2 class were the first riders brave enough to take to the track for round seven, in what shaped up to be an action packed day of racing in country Victoria. In moto one, series points leader Jay Wilson (JCR Yamaha) scored the first hole shot for the round, before SD3 Husqvarnaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Luke Arbon applied the pressure on the red plate holder for the race lead. However it would be neither rider who would take the opening moto win.

Caleb Ward (2nd - 3rd) 1st Overall 62 Points “It’s awesome to get another overall that’s for sure,” “In that second race, I actually didn’t realise I was in third position and I hadn’t been reading my pit board so I was a bit surprised when I came in. “The track was really tough today, it got really technical out there so I’m happy to come away with the overall. “I have to give a massive thanks to KTM and all of my sponsors for helping me out, I can’t thank them enough for today.”

After coming from an eighth place start,

MX Nationals race win, ahead of KTM’s Caleb Ward and

Kawasaki

Husqvarna’s Nathan Crawford, who took second and

Australia’s

Takeshi

Katsuya

managed to pass the likes of Wilson and

third respectively.

Arbon, before moving into the race lead – one in which he did not relinquish.

In race number two, it was once again the red plate holder Jay Wilson who scored his second hole shot of

The 35 year old former Japanese champ,

the day, before Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout launched to

checked out on the field, allowing any battles

the race lead, setting the pair up for one of the greatest

to happen behind him – collecting his first ever

battles the class has dished out. For 20 minutes, former teammates Clout and Wilson went head to head, and when the chequered flag flew, it was Clout who had the winning determination required – crossing this line ahead of Wilson, followed by KTM’s Caleb Ward who claimed third, on one of the most technical circuits on the MX Nationals calendar. When points were tallied, a mere five points separated the top five for the round overall. Ward once again proving he has some serious momentum, taking round seven honors ahead of Kawasaki mounted Takeshi Katsuya in second, and JCR Yamaha’s Wilson who rounded out the podium in third.

T H E R E S U LT S Motul MX2 round seven overall points: 1) Caleb Ward 62 2) Takeshi Katsuya 61 3) Jay Wilson 60 4) Luke Clout 59 5) Nathan Crawford 58 6) Jed Beaton 49 7) Dylan Wills 49 8) Luke Arbon 48 9) Riley Graham 43 10) Wade Hunter 41 Motul MX2 championship standings: 1) Jay Wilson 403 2) Luke Clout 397 3) Takeshi Katsuya 384 4) Jed Beaton 349 5) Wade Hunter 329 6) Luke Arbon 327 7) Caleb Ward 311 8) Nathan Crawford 292 9) Geran Stapleton 277 10) Dylan Wills 273

PRESENTS

MX2 RIDER LIST #

Name

Manufacture

Sponsors

Luke Clout

Yamaha

serco yamaha - hinson - answer - pro taper - yoshumura - pirelli - Etnies - YMI - YMF

Hamish Harwood

KTM

CMR KTM REDBULL MOTOREX - Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park - target mx

Jay Wilson

Yamaha

JCR Yamaha

Jack Simpson

KTM

Davey Motorsports - Motorex - pirelli - Tune Tech Suspension - fox - Shift - donjoy

Peter Ferguson

Kawasaki

Mega Motorcycles

Ricky Latimer

Yamaha

TLR - Fuchs Silkolene - Pirelli - Thor - Goodridge - Spy - RK Chains

Jed Beaton

Yamaha

Serco Yamaha - YMI - YMF - Hinson - Answer - ProTaper - Yoshumura - Pirelli

Geran Stapleton

Honda

Penrite Jetpilot Honda - Penrite - Honda - Jetpilot - Wilsons - Dunlop - NRG TV

Luke Wilson

Honda

Penrite Jetpilot Honda - Penrite - Honda - Jetpilot - Wilsons - NRG TV - Dunlop

Caleb Ward

KTM

KTM Racing Team - Axis Motorsports - Alpinestars - Bell - Scott - Motorex - Kustom

Wade Hunter

Yamaha

JBC MOTORSPORT - Yamaha - Dunlop

Brody Cassidy

Suzuki

manjimup motorcycles - motorcyle engineering - reize energy drink

Joel Wightman

Honda

CRF HONDA RACING - Honda Motorcycles - Honda Genuine Oils - Honda Genuine

Cody Mackie

Kawasaki

Kawasaki CM33 Coaching, Lusty Industries.

Boyd Hocking

Yamaha

DPH Peter Stevens Yamaha

Alex Morris

Kawasaki

Proformance Kawasaki Race Team - Kawasaki Motors - Bulk Nutrients - Kawasaki

Riley Graham

KTM

Ram Racing Trailers - Outlaw Coatings and Conveyors - Bills Suspension - Bolton

Luke Arbon

Husqvarna

SD3 HUSQVARNA - OAKLEY - PIRELLI - RAPID MX - GLOBE

Dylan Wills

KTM

KTM Newcastle - Alpinestars - Bell Helmets - Oakley - Pirelli - Motorex - Willmax

Mathew McEntee

KTM

teencee graphics

117

kurt gow

Yamaha

Terry Hays Shock Treatment - Ficeda Accessories - Yamaha - Parrish plumbing

127

Dylan Gosling

Husqvarna

144

Keiron Hall

Yamaha

City coast motorcycles - MOTUL - SPY Goggles

188

Tomas Ravenhorst

KTM

TR Motorsports - marroits ktm - grey army - kickstat industries - savage mx - svg

199

Nathan Crawford

Husqvarna

Husqvarna - Husqvarna Racing Team - Motorex - M2R - Custom MX - Asterisk

265

Jamie Harvey

Suzuki

Raceline Performance

430

Dean Porter

KTM

Berry Sweet Strawberries - TRS racing. - Berry Sweet Strawberries - Mandurah City

432

James Jafer

Suzuki

TATTOO RACING AUSTRALIA - Krooze Tune - moto mahyhem

888

takeshi katsuya

Kawasaki

sony action cam kawasaki racing team - JB export - Kawasaki Australia - Mr Seki

953

Matt Ryan

Kawasaki

Proformance Kawasaki Race Team - Kawasaki Motors - Bulk Nutrients - Kawasaki

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ROWBA CK TH #

ROUN D 7

S HE PPA R TO N #

K F L A S H B A C

JAYDEN

RYKERS R Y K E R S TA K E S C L E A N S W E E P I N S T E L L A R P E R FO R M A N C E AT R O U N D S E V E N 95

ROUND 7

BR EA K D OW N S H E P PA R TO N

KTM Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jayden Rykers put on a stellar performance in Shepparton today, taking two race wins, and collecting the overall in the Pirelli MXD class, at round seven of the MX Nationals. With the track forming up to be the most technically challenging so far this year, the young guns of the MX Nationals took to the circuit like true professionals, putting on a show for the hundreds of fans and spectators who flocked to the event. In race number one, it was the KTM machine of Jayden Rykers who took the first hole shot in the Pirelli MXD class â&#x20AC;&#x201C; launching himself in to the race one lead, one which he would hold on to for the entire moto. With Rykers out in front and with a comfortable race

Jayden Rykers (1st - 1st) 1st Overall 70 Points “I’ve been working on my starts a lot, and I just tried to put myself in good positions all day so I could get a good result,” he said. “I made up a few points today which was good – I just need to carry that momentum and keep trying to chase down that red plate. “I’ll go away now and watch the footage back and see what I need to work on, and keep charging from now until Coolum.”

lead, the attention shifted to the battle for positions

After holding a solid second position for the entire

behind him.

moto, Evans crossed the line in second ahead of Husqvarna’s Connor Tierney who collected third, while

With red plate holder Wilson Todd (GYTR Yamaha)

race one honors were handed to Rykers.

starting outside the top ten, and suffering a 10 second penalty for riding inside a track marker, teammate

In race two, Rykers once again took the race lead.

Mitchell Evans proved in race one that the young gun

While Yamaha mounted Todd was out for redemption,

is back to form.

his assault on Rykers proved not to be strong enough. Although the pair battled for a good portion of the moto, with Wilson leading for a period of time, Rykers was able to cross the line in first position and hold off the MXD series leader Todd, who finished second, followed by his team mate Mitchell Evans who finished race two in third. At the conclusion of the day, Rykers recorded a perfect round seven result, going 1-1 in both motos and claiming the top step on the Pirelli MXD podium. GYTR Yamaha filled all remaining positions on the podium in Shepparton, with Mitchell Evans collecting second, ahead of teammate and red plate holder Wilson Todd who finished in third. 97

T H E R E S U LT S Pirelli MXD round seven overall results: 1) Jayden Rykers 70 2) Mitchell Evans 62 3) Wilson Todd 58 4) Connor Tierney 58 5) Bailey Coxon 50 6) Lachlan Davis 47 7) Zak Small 44 8) Lochie Latimer 44 9) Toby Stevens 43 10) Blake Parker 42 Pirelli MXD championship points: 1) Wilson Todd 387 2) Connor Tierney 377 3) Jayden Rykers 363 4) Jesse Madden 320 5) Bailey Coxon 311 6) Lachlan Davis 257 7) Jordan Hill 254 8) Jonte Reynders 243 9) Kaleb Barham 243 10) Toby Stevens 241

PRESENTS

MXD RIDER LIST #

Name

Manufacture

Sponsors

J05

Jesse Madden

Kawasaki

Raceline Suzuki - Pro Circuit - ARC Levers - Funnel Web Air Filters - ODI Bars

Connor Tierney

Husqvarna

Craig Anderson Racing - Husqvarna - Goldfields People Hire - Tierney Contracting

Kaleb Barham

KTM

KTM Australia, KTM Powerparts, Motorex, SHIFT, FOX, QB4 Toowoomba, MPE

Bailey Coxon

Yamaha

JBC MOTOS - SHELL ADVANCE - FINCO - MXRP

Lachlan Davis

Kawasaki

WBR Motorcycles - Waltanna Farms - Williams Full Tilt Racing

Jayden Rykers

KTM

KTM Australia - Mandurah Ktm - Fox Industries - Motorex Oils - Moss Institute

Brad Polsoni

Husqvarna

Throttle Riders - Choice MX Coaching - Waterwise Plumbing - MPE Suspension

Wilson Todd

Yamaha

GYTR Yamaha

Mitchell Evans

Yamaha

GYTR Yamaha - Yamaha

Toby Stevens

Yamaha

PSC Yamaha Racing

Zak Small

Husqvarna

Mega Motorcycles Bundaberg - Husqvarna Australia - Fox - Motorex Oils - Pirelli

Ryan Shadbolt

Kawasaki

WBR Racing Team

Jordan Hill

Yamaha

Yamaha - BP ultimate - F0X - Amsoil - Pirelli - Airfast - Funnel web filters

Levi McManus

Suzuki

Deakin Motorcycles - Fly - WillMax Graphics - Ryno Power - Power Plus Racing

121

Tyler Bullen

Yamaha

Rebelex compound - Grip industries - WRM

168

Zhane Dunlop

Yamaha

Top Gun Motorcycles - Top Gun Motorcycles - Fox - Fox - M2R - M2R Helmets

188

Trent Wheatley

Honda

EDH Service - Mathews Motorcycles - Zero Mx Graphics - Pro-Moto Suspension

198

Luke Abela

KTM

NT MotorCycle Centre - Motorex - EK Chains,Super Sprox - SPMX - Dreamers

205

Ryan Findanis

Husqvarna

McWatters Competition Development - Precision Turbochargers - teencee graphics

223

Tristan Owen

KTM

KTM - Nt motorcycle centre

227

Zac Williams

KTM

southern highland motorcycles - gateway automotive

233

Blake Parker

Yamaha

honey ink tattoo studios - Crossfit Maitland - BMC spec suspension - VTS apparel

288

Josef Pabis

Suzuki

MxStore/Chiropractic Health and Wellness Centre - Thor - Rival Ink - Michelin

500

Jimmy Griffin

Yamaha

Mick Cole Motorcycles, Yamaha Australia, Singleton Motorcycles, Scott, Bear MX

602

Lochie Latimer

Yamaha

TLR - Fuchs Silkolene - Pirelli - Thor - Goodridge - Spy - RK Chains

100

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WOMENS RIDER LIST #

Name

Manufacture

Sponsors

Maddy Brown

Yamaha

DPH, Peter Stevens, Yamaha - SPMX, MAD, Fox, dirtybits

Hannah Jobson

Honda

Jobson motor sports

Courtney Whyte - Dennis Yamaha

Peter Stevens Motorcycles - Kenny Racing Australia - TJ Performance

Samantha Beecroft

Yamaha

First Class Motorcycles Lilydale - Stealth MX race team - NGK

276

Ashleigh McCormick

Yamaha

Teencee Graphics, Race Pace MX, FActory Spec, MCD, Fox

471

Jennifer Hogan

KTM

Highway Performance Bikes Offroad Team

711

Jenna Lupo

Husqvarna

Automotive iQ - Turbo Tas

712

Tayla Jones

Yamaha

Yamaha - Yamalube - GYTR - Waratah Lawn Care - Teencee Graphics - MCD

102

Round 7 - Shepparton

Fan Of The Week

HAYDEN AUSTIN - ROUND 7 FAN OF THE WEEK

What do you get when you cross the official retro

seven was nothing short of simple.

round with four dudes with mullets, old school jerseys and a purple and pink KXF? The MXstore

Once Misty found Hayden Austin and his buddies,

Fan of the Week!

the MXstore $100 cheque was his. What can we say? The picture pretty much says it all.

With Shepparton showcasing all sorts of retro throwbacks, tracking down a mega fan for round

103

ROUND 9

HOLLIS ENDS PRICE D O M I N AT I O N IN AORC

Hollis, who hadn’t claimed an

leader clawed his way back with

outright round win in exactly

the quickest time in three of the

two years (Round 9, 2013 was

last four tests.

his last) leading up to Saturday, five-round

The win gives Hollis and the CDR

winning streak which had been

Yamaha team a significant boost

uninterrupted since Round 4 in

heading into the final rounds

Hedley.

of the season, after enduring

ended

Price’s

a campaign that has been less The win to Hollis came after

successful than they might have

Saturday’s Cross Country for

hoped up to this point.

the seniors was cancelled and CDR Yamaha’s Chris Hollis

instead replaced by sprints due

Rounding out the top five was

finally broke the winning

to rain overnight playing havoc

Price’s fellow Motorex KTM

run of Motorex KTM Off-

with the planned tracks.

Off-Road

Racing

in Daniel Sanders and Tye

Road Racing Team’s Toby Price in Round 9 of the

Despite the soggy conditions,

Simmonds,

2015 Yamaha Australian

Hollis (also the E2 class winner)

Husqvarna

Off-Road

burst out of the blocks early to

Lachlan Stanford.

(AORC) Saturday.

Championship in

Kyogle

teammates

followed Off-Road

by Team’s

lead by over 13 seconds after three tests, before the series

104

Active8 Yamaha’s Josh Green

had a slightly disappointing day in the overall

in the Masters’ class, while Yamaha Racing’s Kirk

scheme of things (seventh outright on Saturday)

Hutton made it nine in a row in the Veterans.

after entering the round in second place, but still did enough to take out the E1 class.

In the juniors, Husqvarna rider Fraser Higlett (J4) and Kawasaki Junior KX Squad’s Mitchell Brierley

In the Transmoto 19 & Under class, Bolton’s KTM

(J2) again extended their lead in the outright

rider Tom Mason made a successful return to the

standings with wins in their respective classes.

AORC series after missing the Aratula rounds last month with a broken collarbone.

But the overall junior honours went to New South Wales rider Michael Driscoll, who stunned J3

Mason took out the round (and now subsequently

class leader Josh Brierley to win the section by

leads the class outright) ahead of Lyndon

over 20 seconds.

Snodgrass (Kawasaki Junior KX Squad) and Wil Ruprecht (MX1 Australia Suzuki Off-Road Team).

1. Chris Hollis (CDR Yamaha, E2) 2. Toby Price (Motorex KTM Off-Road Team, E3)

In the other classes, the Women’s top three

3. Daniel Sanders (Motorex KTM, E3)

mirrored the results from the previous two

4. Tye Simmonds (Motorex KTM, E2)

rounds, with Yamaha Racing trio Tayla Jones,

5. Lachlan Stanford (Husqvarna, E2)

Jemma Wilson and Emelie Karlsson again

6. Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna, E3)

making up the podium.

7. Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha, E1) 8. Scott Keegan (Husqvarna Privateer, E3)

MX1 Australia Suzuki Off-Road Team’s Trent

9. Stefan Granquist (Yamaha Privateer, E3)

Lean secured his fourth round win for the year

10. Geoff Braico (KTM Privateer, E2)

105

ROUND 10 The

Motorex

Racing

PRICE WRAPS UP FIFTH AORC TITLE

Team

KTM rider

Off-Road

squad from next season.

claimed

his fifth AORC crown with two

Rounding out the top five was

rounds remaining in the series,

Price’s

courtesy of his win in Round 10.

Road Racing teammate Daniel

Motorex

KTM

Off-

Sanders and Husqvarna OffPrice (who also took out the E3

Road

Team

Class) entered Sunday’s round

Kearney.

veteran

Glenn

only needing to finish ahead of Active8 Yamaha’s Josh Green

In the Transmoto 19 & Under

(E1 Class winner), who ended up

Class,

third outright behind Saturday’s

result was reversed with MX1

Round 9 winner, CDR Yamaha’s

Australia Suzuki Off-Road Team

Chris Hollis (E2 Class victor).

rider Wil Ruprecht improving on

An eighth outright victory

Saturday’s

top

three

his third place to take out the

for the season has seen

Price’s fifth AORC title caps

Toby Price secure the

off what has been an amazing

2015 Yamaha Australian

fortnight for the 27-year-old,

Ruprecht swapped spots on

Off-Road

Championship

following the announcement of

the podium with Bolton’s KTM

(AORC) title at Kyogle on

his two-year deal with the KTM

rider Tom Mason (third), while

Sunday.

Factory Red Bull Rally Racing

Kawasaki Junior KX Squad’s

106

round on Sunday.

Lyndon Snodgrass claimed his second runner-up

In the juniors, Saturday’s winners backed it up

placing for the weekend.

again, with Husqvarna’s Fraser Higlett (J4), Yamaha’s Michael Driscoll (J3) and Kawasaki

Yamaha Racing’s dominance in the Women’s

Junior KX Squad’s Mitchell Brierley (J2) all

Class continued with their fourth 1-2-3 result in

making it two from two for the weekend.

succession. The

2015

Yamaha

Australian

Off-Road

Tayla Jones took another step closer to claiming

Championship now heads to its final destination

her first season AORC class championship with

in Monkerai, New South Wales on August 15 and

win number ten for the year, while Jemma

16 for Rounds 11 and 12 of the series.

Wilson and Emelie Karlsson again completed the remaining spots on the podium.

1. Toby Price (Motorex KTM Off-Road Team) 2. Chris Hollis (CDR Yamaha)

Kirk Hutton had already wrapped up the Veterans

3 Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha)

title coming into the weeked, but like Jones he

4. Daniel Sanders (Motorex KTM Off-Road Team)

also pushed his class victory tally into double

5. Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna Off-Road Team)

figures for the year. In the Masters, MX1 Australia

6. Beau Ralston (Active8 Yamaha)

Suzuki Off-Road Team’s Trent Lean will head into

7. Tye Simmonds (Motorex KTM Off-Road Team)

the final two rounds of the AORC at his home track

8. Lachlan Stanford (Husqvarna Off-Road Team)

full of confidence following his double success in

9. Scott Keegan (Husqvarna Privateer)

Kyogle.

10. Stefan Granquist (Yamaha Privateer)

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JESS W EARS EA RS : DAYD REAM Z I P TH RO U G H

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PRIVATEERS CUP MOTUL MX1 SOUTH PRIVATEER CUP ROUND 4 - SHEPPARTON

CONGRATULATIONS DANIEL BANKS 1ST PLACE SCOTT GREEN 2ND PLACE

1ST PRIZE Value: $188.90

L150187

2ND PRIZE Value: $69.90

PRIVATEERS CUP PIRELLI MX2 SOUTH PRIVATEER CUP ROUND 4 - SHEPPARTON

CONGRATULATIONS RILEY GRAHAM 1ST PLACE TOMAS RAVENHORST 2ND PLACE JAMES ALEN 3RD PLACE

1ST PRIZE Value: $235

2ND PRIZE Value: $129

3RD PRIZE Value: $129

L150188 FEEL THE CHAMPIONS’ INSTINCT

I N T E R V I E W

WE CATCH UP WITH

TOBY PRICE FORMER MXN RIDER AND NEWLY SIGNED RALLY RACER

First bike?

Honda CRF450 and rode there.

The first bike I ever owned and

Then two weeks later I went and

rode was a JR50, a Suzuki.

raced the second round of the MX Nationals. I went and bought

First championship?

a Kawasaki KX450.

I think it was a New South Wales First desert race?

state motocross title on a 60.

It was Finke it 2010, and I won First factory ride?

the first year there.

So when I turned 16 in 2004, I got a factory ride with the Kawasaki

Broken bones?

Motocross and Supercross team.

I think I’ll have to write a list and send you an email (laughs)

Favorite bike?

Four left broken wrists

It’s probably the last two years

Three right broken wrists

on my KTM 500 desert bike.

Broken femur Broken shoulder

First pro race?

Broken collar bone

My first pro race was in the

Broken foot

Sydney

Broken 3 vertebra in my neck

Superdome,

for

the

first round of the Supercross

Broken numerous ribs

championships in 2004 and I got

Broken toe

landed on (laughs).

Broken nose Broken finger

First off-road race? That was in 2008 in Port

What else have I done? I think

Macquarie. I had just come

that’s about all I can remember

back from my femur injury and

at the moment..

I actually borrowed a mates

(laughs)

112

113

Marcin Kin©

Favorite memory from racing

Why Dakar?

the MX Nationals?

Umm, pretty much once I started doing desert racing, well probably

Best memory was racing in

around 2011 or 2012 I started having a little bit of interest and started

Raymond Terrace. One of the

watching the Dakar event. Also having my team manager Ben Grabham

national rounds there I had

racing in it, I watched when he was competing over there. I just got a bit

a pretty good weekend and

of an interest for it and the opportunity came up this year to do a couple of

finished in fourth and fifth in my

rallies and race Dakar and I took it on board and thought I’d have a crack

two races and I think that gave

at it. I definitely enjoyed it, it’s a good adventure but it definitely two weeks

me fourth for the day I think it

of torture too and the body shuts down pretty hard after it. But I’m looking

was. That was back in 2008.

forward to going back and putting myself through all of that again!

Hardest part about Dakar? It’s just being consistent – that’s the hardest part about that rally. You have try and make sure that you stay on top of all of your navigation and not make mistakes, and make sure you look after the bike. That’s the hardest bit. You are going through such tough terrain and crossing high altitudes where the bike doesn’t run properly so you have to look after everything and stay focused all the time. The physical part is definitely hard too, but just trying to stay on top of those maps and make sure you’re heading the right way is really important. If you start heading 20 minutes or 30 minutes out of the way or making massive mistakes, you’re putting in an extra two or three hours on the bike that you don’t need to be. How do you prepare to race Dakar? This year, I didn’t really know how to prepare for it. I just took it as each day came. Now we’re going to go and do some more navigation training and some altitude training, so we’re putting a lot of hard work and effort into that now. You have to keep making sure you’re keeping up with the fitness and doing long days on the bike. Once October and November rolls around I’ll start doing some big rides every day. Then I’ll have a bit of a break before Christmas, then head over and get back into it again.

Marcin Kin©

115

Best part about being a professional racer? I think it’s I get to wake up every day and do what I love to do, that’s the best part about the job, I get to ride a dirt bike and travel the countryside. It’s good fun, but there are some points there when you wake up and you might be lacking a bit of motivation. When you want to win races though, there’s always something inside you that keeps you getting up and pushing to go forward. Hardest part about being a professional racer? It’s the behind the scenes things that people don’t really get to see too much. There’s lots of training off the bike, and the weeks leading up to events and things like that. Some people might think that you just rock up on the weekend and start racing and cruise along and have fun. It’s definitely fun but you have to put those hard yards in behind the scenes. The other hard part is just the injuries – they really suck, and they drag you back when you have them.

Marcin Kin©

116

Are there any other events you would like to do?

To see what that guy’s done, and now that I’ve

I’d love to do any event that I can do! At the moment

competed at Dakar and seen how hard it is to win

Dakar is what I’m working on, and even though I’ve

five Dakar titles, it’s pretty amazing to see how hard

raced it before, you can always do better. I think

he’s worked for it, and to achieve those goals.

getting a win at Dakar will take a few years, it’s definitely not going to come straight away, but that’s

Advice to anyone planning on racing Dakar?

what we’re aiming for – to be the first Australian to

Be prepared for a long flog of riding. At the end of the

win Dakar. I think in my ten, maybe 12-year time slot

day it’s a lot of fun, and you get to go on a pretty mad

that I’ve still got racing that it’s possible. Another

adventure. As long as you don’t get too lost, or fall

event I’d like to race would be Erzberg – I think I’d

too far behind you’ll really enjoy it. You just have to

really struggle there hard, but I’d love to do it to see

make sure you put the time in on the bike, and make

what it’s like, and be there for the atmosphere!

sure you go over prepared with spare parts and tools that you need. Warm clothes and get clothes that

Your favourite rider?

are fairly aerated, so when it’s 48 degrees you have

It’s a bit of everyone really (laughs). There’s a few

riding gear that suits those conditions too. The main

different guys for me because I like to do so many

thing when you get over there is just have fun with it!

different races. At the moment, it’s Marc Coma. 116

E OW

RS!

RID

NS , M H A S M R H A EC U T R O A H G A G TO N A IC T G T U S O E S N FO

IK S

# mx n 2 0 1 5 & @m xn a ti ona ls We di s pl ay our favour ite images in every issue. H appy hashtagging!

@ringmasterimages

@cdr_yamaha

@m2rhelmets

@jeffcrowphoto

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ING THE P W O RO L L ’S FO W E ARE WATCHI N G W E SHA R E T HE B E ST POS TS F ROM OUR PRO RIDERS !

@mosig8 - Tippin it in!

@dmc_65 - Marlboro Yamaha retro for this weekend.

@caleb_ward17Had a good weekend riding my bike.

@mossy102 Retro round! What’s everyone think of my setup

@styke26 - just seeing if @ boppo70 had the flash on mid Moto !!!

@_nathan199 - This picture says it all! How awesome do my @alpinestarsaus boots look!

119

Team Manager: Craig Dack

DAN REARDON Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

29 Gold Coast Aiden Meltzer Win the Australian Championship 4 x National Titles Surfing, Shooting

YAMAHA YZ450F

FOLLOW CDR

CLASS: MX1

/cdryamaha

@cdr_yamaha

KADE MOSIG Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

25 Pearcedale Mike Landman To be the Australian MX and SX Champion 3rd 2008 MXN, 3rd 2012 SX, Rd 7 winner 2014 MXN Surfing, Cycling, Fishing

YAMAHA YZ450F

FOLLOW CDR

/cdryamaha

CLASS: MX1

@cdr_yamaha

CDR YAMAHA MOSIG SNARES SECOND MX NATS VICTORY OF 2015 AT SHEPPARTON

CDR Yamaha racer, Kade Mosig, claimed his second round victory of the 2015 season with an impressive performance at round seven of the MX Nationals held in Shepparton, over the weekend. After enduring a tough previous round where small mistakes proved costly, the team emphasis on consistency proved to be the difference today as Mosig put together 1-3 results to take the round win and move into third place of the premier MX1 championship. Mosig moved to the front quickly in race one on the rutted and technical Shepparton circuit. It was a lead he would never relinquish as he worked hard for 30 minutes to keep Australia’s best at bay. Race two and again Mosig was in the heat of the battle but using some race savvy and the words of team owner Craig Dack ringing in his ear about putting two races together, Mosig rode to third place and with it the round win. “I couldn’t be happier,” Mosig said from the podium. “The last few rounds have been up and down and it had really effected our results so today the focus was on limiting the mistakes and getting the best result possible out of each race. “It was a tough track today as the ruts were long and deep with plenty of soft spots in them so you had to be patient and not over ride it. The CDR Yamaha team had the bike working great and it’s good to get back up here on the box and put this team up where it belongs,” Mosig signs off.

one another for nearly 30 minutes but Reardon wasn’t able to make a pass and had to settle for second. “Coulda, woulda, shoulda! It’s been the story of my season so far and I need to stay focused and put a full day of racing together,” Reardon explains. “The frustrating thing is that I’m putting myself in the right positions to do well, only to make a mistake and throw it all away. We have three rounds left and my goal is to have all remaining six races inside the top three.” The round win by Mosig put a smile on Craig Dack’s face and left him buoyed for the final rounds of the championship. “It was pleasing to see Kade took on board our thoughts and was rewarded with the round win. I have no doubt we have two riders fit enough and fast enough to win races but we needed to reduce the small mistakes. Kade did that today and deserved his round victory. “Dan just had the issue in race one otherwise both riders should have been on the podium. I can sense his frustration as he is trying so hard to win but he is a smart racer and he will get it sorted for the remaining rounds.”

While Mosig cashed in on his consistency, team mate Dan Reardon suffered from his inconsistency. Reardon finished fifth on the day with 9-2 results and he was left lamenting what could have been. Reardon was up the front in moto one and right on the pace when he fell in a rutted turn and lost several positions as he remounted and got back in the race where he crossed the finish line in ninth place. This time with no mistakes, Reardon was again right up front and engaged in a race long battle for the lead with Adam Monea. The pair raced within an arms-length of

121

Team Manager: Gavin Eales

LUKE CLOUT Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

YAMAHA YZ250F

FOLLOW SERCO YAMAHA

20 Sydney, NSW Peter Rab Jones Win the Lites MXN and ASX championships 1st 2014 MXN, 2014 Mx of Nations Riding , Cross Training, BMX

CLASS: MX2

/SercoYamaha

@SercoYamaha

JED BEATON Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

YAMAHA YZ250F

FOLLOW SERCO YAMAHA

17 Taralgon, VIC Stoppa To Win The Lites Championship in Rookie Year Junior Australian Champion Mountain Biking

CLASS: MX2

/SercoYamaha

@SercoYamaha

SERCO YAMAHA CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE LOOMS FOR SERCO YAMAHA

The Serco Yamaha team had a mixed day as they contested round seven of the MX Nationals. Yamaha’s factory supported MX2 team of Luke Clout and Jed Beaton continue to fight on in a very tight championship battle and the Shepparton round show cased both riders fighting spirit. Luke Clout started his day immediately behind the eight ball when he fell in the opening stages of race one and was left to scramble for any points on offer. Picking up well down the field and outside the paying points, Clout hauled himself all the way back to seventh place by the end of the moto which limited the points’ damage. But the disappointment of race one meant Clout was a man on a mission in race two and hunted down the race leader, Jay Wilson before making his way by. The pair then locked horns for the rest of the moto and distanced themselves from the chasing pack with Clout just hanging on for the race win and to bounce back from the frustration of race one.

Despite the tough day, Beaton still maintains fourth place in the championship chase. “I’m having a bit of a tough time at the moment, but its only making me more determined,” Beaton said. “I have to keep working hard on my riding and my training and I know the wheel will turn and I will be right back up the front again but I can tell you it’s pretty frustrating at the moment. “We have three rounds to go and I really want to get a few race wins on the board before the season is over,” he ends.

“Considering where I was on the opening laps of race one, it turned out to be a reasonable day and I’m still only six points from the championship lead,” Clout said. “I hit me head pretty good in the crash and it took me a heap of laps before I started to shake off the effects and get some decent speed. “The second race might not have been pretty but I just had to get it done and get things back on track. Thanks to the Serco Yamaha team for their support and I can’t wait to get to Nowra for the next round.” Jed Beaton battled roost, rocks and mother earth all day on his way to sixth place for the round. Beaton was near the front of race one before he fell and lost vital positions early in the race. He managed to get things rolling again and made his way back to sixth place. Race two was almost a carbon copy of race one for Beaton who again fell after being in a promising position on the opening laps. Again, he was forced to fight his way forward and made his way back to seventh before the race was over.

123

TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Dale Hocking

LAWSON BOPPING

#70

Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

25 Braidwood, NSW Jarrod Pyne Solid all year & win as many races as possible Representing Australia at MXoN in 2012 Mountain Biking & Flying UAVs

BIKE: YAMAHA YZ450F

FOLLOW ME

CLASS: MX1

/dphmotorsport

@boppo70

ROSS BEATON

#43

Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

24 Churchill, VIC Dale Hocking Give every race 100% & improve each round Runner-Up 2010 U19â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MXN Championship Mountain Biking

BIKE: YAMAHA YZ450F

FOLLOW ME

CLASS: MX1

/dphmotorsport

@rossbeaton4

CHEYNE BOYD

Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

33 Botanic Ridge, VIC Cam Barber Have fun & enjoy racing again Representing Australia at MXoN in 04 & 06 Cycling & Boxing

BIKE: YAMAHA YZ450F

FOLLOW ME

CLASS: MX1

/dphmotorsport

@cheyneboyd4

Team Manager: Scott Bishop

WILSON TODD Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

17 Atherton, QLD Cory Hillsley Win MXD and secure Factory MX2 ride for 2016 Multi Aust jnr MX Champion, 4th MXD 2014 Downhill MTB, BMX

YAMAHA YZ250F

/wilsontodd

@wilsontodd41

MITCH EVANS Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

YAMAHA YZ250F

CLASS: MXD

16 Cairns, QLD Darren Thompson Continue to develop as a racer, Top 3 MXD Aust jnr 125 and 250cc Champion 2015 Water-Skiing, Wakeboarding

CLASS: MXD

/mitchevans

@mitchevans43

GYTR Team Members: Scott Bishop, Mike Ward, Darren Thompson, Cory Hillsley

GYTR YAMAHA EVANS AND TODD PODIUM FOR GYTR YAMAHA

For the second round in succession, both GYTR Yamaha riders of Mitch Evans and Wilson Todd, stood on the podium as they pulled down second and third respectively in the MXD division, at round seven of the MX Nationals held over the weekend. On the tight, rough and tough Shepparton circuit, in Victoria, both riders again showed good speed and fitness to keep the team momentum rolling. Mitch Evans made the podium for the second time in 2015 with second place overall, bettering his third at the previous round at Raymond Terrace. Evans shadowed the race leader in moto one all the way to the finish line but could never find a way past as the pair streaked away from the pack. Race two and after a couple of quick passes on the opening laps, he settled into third place and remained there until the completion of the event. His 2-3 scores landed him in second for the round as he continues to gain momentum from his 11 week layoff from injury. “Today I felt a bit better than last round as I was able to get a little more riding in. After Raymond Terrace my leg was sore, but the week leading into this race I got on the bike a few times and I felt much better. “Finishing second was a good result and it was nice to be in a battle for the lead. I couldn’t really find the right spot to make the pass and Jayden was riding well. In the second race, by the time I got to third, the front two had gone and while I put in a bit of a charge, I was never going to catch them so I stayed in third and finished up second overall,” Evans ends.

Out for redemption in race two, Todd chased down a six second gap on the race leader and made the pass for the front at the halfway point. He continued to lead the race until a small fall on the last lap and half let the lead slip away but he quickly remounted in second place which is where he stayed until the race end. Despite the drama, he championship lead remains at 10 points with three rounds remaining. “I wasn’t really happy after that first moto as the opening laps were so frustrating with bikes and riders going everywhere. I had riders get cross rutted in front of me, others fell of and hit me and I was just losing positions just trying to stay upright and out of the way. “My start was better in race two and I was inside the top five pretty quickly. I moved into second and saw that Jayden had a good gap so I put my head down and tried to make up the time. I managed to reel him in but he was able to pick up where I was faster and he stayed right with me until I fell with just over a lap to go. “Still with all of that going on, the points gap stayed the same in the championship and I felt like my riding was pretty good so I was able to make the most of my situation which is good in a championship chase,” Todd explains.

Wilson Todd overcame a dramatic first race to take third for the round and keep his championship leaders’ red plate. With a very ordinary start in race one, Todd was involved in all sorts of issues on the opening lap as the field jostled for positions. He picked his way forward only to fall and drop back outside the top 10 again. Never to give up, he kept on fighting and finished the race in fifth place.

127

Suzuki Add

A L P I N E S TA R S OFFICIAL BOOT M X N AT I O N A L S

TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Jay Foreman

MATT MOSS Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

26 Sessex Inlet Jess Foreman Win the MX1 Championship 2013-2014 SX1 and MX1 Champion Fishing

BIKE: SUZUKI RMZ-450

FOLLOW ME

#96

CLASS: MX1

/Matt Moss

@mossy102

KALE MAKEHAM Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: SUZUKI RMZ-450

FOLLOW ME

21 Koondrook Brad Redman Get on the Podium and learn from this year. 2012 U19 SX Champion, 2nd 2013 MX2 Pro-Lites Wakeboarding, Jetski, Mountain biking

CLASS: MX1

/KaleMakeham96

@kalemakeham96

@Mossy102

M0TUL SUZUKI

131

Team

TEAM LOGO

TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Chris Tisdale

#33

RHYS CARTER Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: SUZUKI HONDA CRF250R RMZ-250

FOLLOW ME

#J05

25 Mount Munganui New Zealand Jesse Wallace To Be On The Podium And Get Race Wins Top 3 In NZ MX2 2011, 2012 Mountain Bike, Golf

CLASS: MX2

/rhys.carter.58

@rhyscarter__

JESSE MADDEN Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

19 Mudgeeraba, Queensland, Australia Jesse Wallace Podium Finishes 15th 2014 MX Nationals Racing Bikes

CLASS: MXD

BIKE: SUZUKI RMZ-250

J05 5 0 J FOLLOW ME

/jesse.madden.52438

@jessemaj05

Team Members: Chris Tisdale, Chris Woods, Jesse Wallace, Rhys Carter, Jesse Madden

RACELINE SUZUKI RACELINE PIRELLI SUZUKI PUTTING ROUND SEVEN BEHIND THEM

Raceline Pirelli Suzuki will put the weekend behind them, after their toughest outing of the season at round seven of the MX Nationals at Shepparton in country Victoria. Despite arriving prepared and optimistic, the Suzuki backed effort struggled with the difficulties the track dished out, and went in to damage control in order to salvage vital championship points. In moto one, MXD pilot Jesse Madden got to a flying start before going down twice during the race – unable to find the flow required to handle the technicalities of the track, eventually crossing the line in 16th position. In moto two, Madden once again got to a reasonable start, however lack of experience in riding the conditions, forced the Suzuki mounted rider to lose positions, eventually finishing in eighth when the chequered flag flew.

quickly,” he said. “We are a fair way back on third, but there is still a lot that can happen, and we still have time to make something happen before we get to Coolum. “Jesse is getting great starts – he’s still inside that top five at the beginning of the moto, but on the weekend there really wasn’t anything you could do to prepare for how technical that track was. “All negatives aside, the new team and the new crew worked very well together on the weekend, and we have a good system going. “The bikes are working well, the team is working well so Jesse just have to put it together now himself, and take the opportunity and go after it.”

At the conclusion of the round, Madden walked away healthy and with 13th overall and despite any disappointment, still holds fourth in the Pirelli MXD championship standings with three rounds remaining. Jesse Madden – MXD – 13th Overall – (16th, 8th): “The weekend was really tough – I found it really difficult to get my head around the conditions,” he said. “Up in Queensland we really don’t have tracks that are anything like what we rode at Shepparton – it was rough and rutty and like nothing I have ever raced on before. “The conditions were definitely hard to adjust to, and I don’t think anyone out there could have been prepared for what Shepparton dished out. “Although the results don’t show it, I learnt so much on the weekend, and I feel like I have some good things to work on for the next round, so it’s back into training and aiming for a better result at Nowra.” Chris Woods – Raceline Pirelli Suzuki Team Manager “We’re obviously pretty disappointed, we’re running out of rounds and we’re running out of motos pretty

133

TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Yarrive Konsky

FORD DALE Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: HONDA CRF 450R

FOLLOW ME

#10

CLASS: MX1

/ford.dale.98

@fdnine

CODY COOPER Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: HONDA CRF 450R

FOLLOW ME Team Members:

25 Sunshine Coast Daniel Kersnovske Finish every race and Win a Championship. 2012 Australian MX2 Champion Enjoy training and playing with my son.

30 New Zealand, Taranga Blair Myer Finish every race and Win a Championship. Multiple New Zealand MX Championships Cycling and enjoying the lifestyle in NZ

CLASS: MX1

/Cody Cooper

@codycooper10

Steve Powel - Blair Myer - Daniel Kersnovske - George Rawling - Robert Wayne Hacker Martine Cousins - Darlene Van Slooten - Kasie Powel

PENRITE HONDA

137

TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Neale Wilson

#15

LUKE WILSON Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: HONDA CRF250R

FOLLOW ME

#14

25 Gold Coast JCR Top 10 Finishes 9th 2014 SX, 15th 2014 MXN, 2nd Indonesian SX Skateboarding and Wakeboarding

CLASS: MX2

/luke.wilson.5876

@__lukewilson15

GERAN STAPLETON Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: HONDA CRF250R

FOLLOW ME

22 Cape Schanck JCR Podium Finishes 2nd P.Island SX 2012, 2nd 08 junior Aus titles Racing Bikes

CLASS: MX2

/geran.stapleton

Team Members: Luke Wilson, Geran Stapleton, Jason Corney, Matt Wilson

@geran14

WILSONS HONDA PENRITE HONDA WILSON MX’S STAPLETON SEARCHING FOR THE POSITIVES AFTER ROUND SEVEN

Penrite Honda Wilson MX has walked away from Shepparton hopeful of turning things around, after a tough outing at round seven of the MX Nationals over the weekend. With late confirmation that Luke Wilson would sit out the round, opting to rest his broken thumb, the Wilson MX flag was flown by a solo Geran Stapleton who struggled to gel with the challenging Shepparton conditions. With the morning kicking off in minus four conditions, Stapleton was one of the first riders on track, qualifying in 12th position, setting himself up for what was a challenging day. In race one, Stapleton came together with Caleb Ward off the start and was forced to the back of the pack. After getting caught up outside of the top ten, Stapleton was unable to find the speed required, crossing the line 15th after 30 mintutes. In race two, Stapleton was once again caught up in start straight issues – forced to dodge a crash, Stapleton was in dead last after the first lap and forced to make his way through the pack. Despite putting in a solid 20-minute charge, Stapleton finished race two in just outside the top ten in 13th.

“The track was actually a lot of fun, and I just wished I could have had the results to match it. “We’re all just going to put the weekend behind us, and focus on Nowra and getting a better result there.” Neale Wilson – Wilson MX Team Manager – “It was a pretty tough weekend for us. Everything was set up and ready to go, but Geran just couldn’t come to terms with the track – it was that way for a lot of riders to be honest,” he said. “Geran said to me that he could just not gel with the track, and to be fair it was one of the most technical circuits I have ever seen. “Normally Geran is great in the ruts, but he’s been sick and unable to have a lot of bike time so it’s understandable that it was a tough round for us. “The positive though was that the bike handled the conditions perfectly, and although it was a tough round for us, our setup was very good, which we were happy with. “I’m sure we will bounce back at Nowra and we’ll hopefully have Luke back on board too, so we’ll just put this one behind us.”

At the conclusion of the round, Stapleton suffered one of his toughest outings of the season – finishing in 13th overall at one of the most technical tracks of the season. Geran Stapleton MX2 – 13th Overall – (15th, 13th) “I don’t really know how to feel about the weekend to be honest, usually I love riding tracks like that, but I just couldn’t find a good rhythm on the weekend,” he said. “I had a bit of bad luck coming together with riders and having to dodge crashes, but I just seemed to get caught up in the speed of the other riders I was around at the time and couldn’t get out of there.

139

TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Rob Twyerould

KIRK GIBBS Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: KTM 450 SX-F

FOLLOW ME

#26

26 Mt Gambier SA Kyle Blunden Stay fit, healthy and get the MX1 plate Runner up MX1 2014 MX Championships MTB, Paddle board, Beach

CLASS: MX1

/KTMAustralia

@KTM.Australia

@KTMAustralia

LUKE STYKE Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: KTM 450 SX-F

FOLLOW ME

23 Jervis Bay NSW Jordan Yeo Top 3 MX Championship MX2 MX & SX Champion 2013 Golf, Fishing

CLASS: MX1

/KTMAustralia

@KTM.Australia

@KTMAustralia

Team Members: Rob Twyerould, Kirk Gibbs, Luke Styke, Kyle Blunden, Jorden Yeo, John DiStefano and Gary Bradford

KTM RACING KTM STRONG MAN GIBBS BRAVES THE PAIN AT SHEPPARTON, WINS FOR WARD AND RYKERS

In the weekend’s retro round of the MX Nationals at Shepparton, Kirk Gibbs’ greatest display may have been one of old-fashioned toughness. Incredibly, Gibbs dug a podium finish out of yesterday’s round despite riding through the substantial pain of a fractured shoulder blade, which he suffered in a practice crash early last week. Gibbs had medical advice that he could ride without harming the fracture or its recovery, but that it would hurt – a lot. With the ongoing support of Race Safe medicos on the day however, and a good deal of teeth gritting, he somehow helped himself to third behind Kade Mosig and Adam Monea, and actually extended his lead in the championship by three points. Team mate Luke Styke took fourth on the day after beginning in brilliant style with a second in the opening Moto. He was unable to garner the finish he deserved however, after he was taken out not once, but twice by other riders during the second moto, on his way to sixth overall and forth on the day – enough to maintain his championship second position in what has been a stellar premier class debut year. Both boys are still first and second in the championship, and two weeks will make a huge difference to Kirk, he’ll feel a lot better at the next round.” Kirk Gibbs – “That’s probably the toughest day painwise that I’ve had – ever, probably. That first moto nearly had me in tears at the end of it, that’s how bad the pain was. I just thank God for the adrenaline – once it kicks in. I could have done a lot better today, it was the sort of track that suits me with big deep ruts and all that. But in the condition that I was in, I’m easily happy to come away with third overall today. Now I just want to go away and get this thing back two 100% and just come out at Nowra injury-free and have a good go.” Luke Styke – “I was riding real good today, it’s a shame the result doesn’t show it. I was really happy with the first one, I passed all the good guys for second and

made a good late charge at the end of the moto. I had a terrible second race though; I got a good start but then I got cleaned out in the first turn and pushed off the track. I came from dead last, only to have some turkey T-bone me half way through the moto. A lapper too! I would have gotten a fifth, and that would have given me the podium for the day.” But we are healthy and we are rolling out, and I’ve got my home track for the next round.” In MX2 Racing: KTM Factory Support rider Caleb Ward stacked up his fourth consecutive round win at Shepparton aboard his KTM 250 SX-F. He didn’t do it easily though, with 2 – 3 finishes in what was a very tightly stacked top five finishers and class. Caleb Ward – “The track was pretty technical with a lot of different lines and stuff, pretty rough. First moto I spun on the concrete a bit, and I think I was in 12th on the second lap. I made my way through to second, up to Takka, and I was going for the pass for the lead, and I sort of dropped it in the corner. I managed to get back up for second, but Takka was gone. Second moto I got off the concrete okay, but when I hit the dirt I wheelied a bit and had to pull the clutch in. It took me longer to make my way through the pack in that one, but it turns out that was good enough for the overall win, by one point, so I can’t really complain.” In MXD racing, a relieved KTM Factory Support racer Jayden Rykers took the very first MXD win of his career in demonstrative fashion – with a pair of race wins giving him overall honours ahead of Mitchell Evans and Wilson Todd. Jayden Rykers – “I’ve always known I could win, it’s just been a long time coming with little things on my behalf that have prevented it from happening. Good starts made it a little bit easier! I qualified well and I got two good starts, and finished 1, 1 on the day. The first one I made a pass, and then had another guy on my tail the whole race pressuring me, then in the second one I got into first, and another guy he came past me, but then I put some pressure on him and ended up getting by on the last lap when he went down.”

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JORDI TIXIER

2014 MX2 WORLD CHAMPION

250 SX-F

KEN ROCZEN

2014 AMA 450MX CHAMPION

450 SX-F

TONY CAIROLI

2014 MX1 WORLD CHAMPION

350 SX-F

The master, Tony Cairoli held his MX1 World Championship title for the 4th in a row on the KTM 350 SX-F. French sensation, Jordi Tixier raced the KTM 250 SX-F to be the MX2 World Champion. So count ‘em down 4,3,2, all 1 » KTM, we are... READY TO RACE!

KTM Group Partner

Photos: Taglioni S, Cudby & Mitterbauer

2014 Domination by KTM. Ken Roczen piloted the KTM 450 SX-F to be crowned AMA 450MX Champion.

www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com

Continue the

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of victory The 2015 Husqvarna motocross range is the pinnacle of 110 years of motorcycle production history. Agile handling complements class-leading performance, allowing riders to go faster for longer. Compact powerplants rest in nimble chrome-moly frames, delivering exceptional handling thanks to the latest WP Suspension system. Top end equipment as standard which includes hydraulic clutch and crash-resistant composite subframe featuring tool-free air filter access. The tradition of victory is built into the 2015 Motocross range to give you the technical edge.

www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com.au

2 Strokes MY 2015 TC TC8517/15 TC TC8519/16 TC TC125 TC TC250 4 Strokes MY 2015 FC250 FC350 FC450

TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Tam Paul

JESSE DOBSON

#414

Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

18 Brisbane QLD Mick Dobson Podium MX Nats & SX 5th SX1 2014 Rookie year Gym, Cycling and MTB Riding

BIKE: HUSQVARNA FC 450

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CLASS: MX1

/Husqvarna Motorcycles

@jessedobson414

NATHAN CRAWFORD

#199

Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

17 Brisbane Mick Crawford MX2 Champion 2015 MX2 Wildcard win at Swan Hill 2014 Fitness Training & Jetski

BIKE: HUSQVARNA FC 250

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CLASS: MX2

/Husqvarna Motorcycles

LUKE ARBON

#54

Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: HUSQVARNA FC 250

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@_nathan199

Team Manager: Stephen McKinnon

22 Gawler SA Andrew Pringle Win the MX2 Championship 3rd MX2 2014 MX Nationals MTB & Travelling

CLASS: MX2

/Husqvarna Motorcycles

@lukearboon54

HUSQVARNA HUSQVARNA RIDERS REAP THE POINTS AT SHEPPARTON

Husqvarna’s Factory Support squad riders all brought home solid points as the 2015 Monster Energy MX Nationals wound its way for the first time to Shepparton in north-east Victoria for the seventh round yesterday. MX1 contender Jesse Dobson rode to a pair of top five finishes in the premier class, which went to Kade Mosig ahead of Adam Monea and Kirk Gibbs. Dobson and his Husqvarna FC 450 were credited with sixth place on the day. Craig Anderson racing’s Aaron Tanti claimed 13th overall, the Husqvarna FC 350 pilot currently sitting 11th in the championship. Nathan Crawford powered his Husqvarna FC 250 into third and fourth places on a very tightly packed MX2 leaderboard which only offered him fifth on the day, but it was a positive step for the exciting youngster who has endured some difficult rounds of late. Similarly-mounted teammate Luke Arbon battled to eighth on the day despite severe arm pump, yet still maintained sixth in the championship chase. In the MXD ranks, championship second-placed Craig Anderson racing rider Connor Tierney took a podium and a fourth from the two points-paying motos. The Husqvarna TC 250 rider’s result meant that he broke even against the championship leader for the day, and the exciting Western Australian rookie remains a tantalising 10 points away from first place with three rounds remaining. Jesse Dobson – FC 450: “It was a good day but the result there doesn’t really show that. In the first one I think I was a little bit too patient, I was behind Stykey for a bit, and I just kind of had my skirt on a little bit. So I was disappointed about that. An the second one I was up there but I had a crash and hit my head pretty hard and it took me a little bit to recover – I felt like I was riding cross-eyed for about half a lap! After that I just kind of chipped away at it. I was riding good but I just lost a bit of intensity on the boys. I’m a bit disappointed

in the overall result, I thought it would have been a little bit better, but I feel that we’re making progress and I’m happy with that.” Luke Arbon – FC 250 “Pretty bad really, I just struggled all day with arm pump. I got a good lap in at the start of practice which helped. Fifth is like qualifying first to me, I normally suck at it! First moto I came out second behind Jay and felt like I could win the moto, but after about four laps I pumped up real bad, and was just trying to stay on the bike, pretty much. It makes it so hard when you pump up, it’s like someone else steering the bike. I tried to regroup for the next moto but I got a terrible start. I got into third eventually, but around the 10 minute mark I just tightened up a little bit, made a couple of poor line choices and I dropped back to 6th. Better, but it’s not what I’m capable of so it’s pretty frustrating. The speed is there when the arms are there.” Nathan Crawford – FC250 “Fifth wasn’t too bad for me today. A better weekend than the last couple I’ve had that’s for sure, but I guess I definitely wanted to be on the box. The points on the day were pretty tight, so third and fourth was okay. It was pretty rutty and technical here, but it was something different and I adapted pretty quickly. The concrete start was a bit of a challenge but my start a pretty decent. That was good in the first Moto, I felt like I could maybe have done better in the second Moto but we’ll take the positives and move on.” Connor Tierney – TC 250 “Finishing 3, 4 wasn’t the day I was looking for, but I didn’t actually lose any points in the championship, so I can’t complain really. I got the holeshot in the first one and then in the second one got a really bad start and had to make my way through. Shepparton was different, I’ve never seen anything like it, they ripped it so deep, I struggled a little bit with it. But it’s all a bit of a learning experience this year so you’ve got to take the goods with the bads, and go back to the drawing board for the next round.”

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TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Troy Carroll

ADAM MONEA Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: Kawasaki KX450F

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#117

Team Members:

CLASS: MX1

/KawasakiAustraliaMXRacingTeam

DYLAN LONG Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: Kawasaki KX450F

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26 Koo Wee Rup, VIC Paul Teasdale Win MX and SX Championship 2014 2nd Aus SX, 2014 4th MX Nationals Cycling

20 Benalla, VIC Aaron Clout Place within the top 5 overall in the MX Nationals 2009 3rd FIM World Championship 85cc, 2012 2nd MXD Filming and riding BMX

CLASS: MX1

/KawasakiAustraliaMXRacingTeam Troy Carroll (Manager), Michael Marty (Crew Chief)

N P S M O N S TER K AWA SA K I ADAM MONEA WINS FOR NPS MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI RACE TEAM

Adam Monea proves his skill and speed aboard the factory Kawasaki KX450F with a race win while new team mate, Dylan Long, progresses with top 10 results at Round 7 of the 2015 MX Nationals motocross series. The NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team braved the cold temperatures in Shepparton over the weekend as they took to the gates in the first MX1 moto. Following a 6th place in the first moto, Adam and the team regained confidence with a race win in moto two. A fantastic start gave Adam an advantage in the second race where he battled Daniel Reardon for the top spot. Adam managed to gain reasonable space between himself and his closest threat, only to fall, allowing Reardon to catch-up again. The thrilling crusade continued with 6 lead changes in only 10 minutes. Not to be outdone, Adam crossed the finish line in 1st place. “I was so determined for a good result after the first race. In the second race I started off well and I picked up the pace by finding a couple of good lines. I just had to keep calm and ride some clean laps. I tipped over though and made it harder for myself, but I finished on top in the end. After the first moto I was a bit over not getting a podium so to come out like that in the second race, it was great to prove to myself again that I can do it. I couldn’t have done it without the team and everyone involved including the fans and my family who all made the effort to come out, especially my mum who makes the most noise and is my number one believer.”

with my starts and the track getting rougher as the day went on, but that’s about it. It definitely was a tough track and I am still getting used to the bike. The ruts were crazy, the bottom of my forks and pegs were hitting the sides in the second moto so I had to adapt to that. Otherwise I am still aiming for top 10 and that’s where I was today.” The likeable 20 year old Victorian is enjoying his first time racing with a factory 450cc motocross team saying, “the fans have been awesome today. Kawasaki has a lot of followers who have welcomed me with open arms and I’ve got a couple of fans myself, especially here in Victoria.” Team Manager, Troy Carroll, said “It was a great round, we had the pace in the first moto but didn’t get the result so we analysed a few things before the second race and adapted to the track to come away with the win. The team is working really well this year and it was good to see one of Dylan’s strongest rides today which is encouraging seeing as it is only his second round on the factory Kawasaki KX450F. We are looking forward to the improvements from him in every round and the team is really happy for him.”

“The win has given a great boost of confidence in myself and the team who made the right decisions with adjustments made to the bike for the second moto,” Adam commented. Team mate, Dylan Long, reaffirmed his ability to keep up with the fastest riders in the series after only his second appearance on the factory Kawasaki KX450F over the weekend. 8th place overall for the round was a result of 8th position in the first moto and 7th in moto two. “Overall I am happy with how I went today. I struggled

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K AWA S A K I R ACI N G TEA M TAKESHI KATSUYA SECURES RACE WIN AT ROUND SEVEN OF THE 2015 MX NATIONALS

Four time Japanese Motocross Champion, Takeshi Katsuya, took out the first MX2 race in the MX Nationals over the weekend on his Kawasaki KX250F. Takeshi demonstrated his experience as he chose favourable lines and rode consistently to creep past the race leaders after starting the first moto outside the top five. In the final laps, Takeshi unleashed his KX250F and charged across the finish line in first place for the first time in the 2015 MX Nationals series. “It was hard for me today. In the last round at Raymond Terrace I went down in the second race and hurt my ribs, so for me to come out here and get a win is a real achievement. In the first race I had better lines than everyone else and I told myself to keep calm and stay on track with my game plan,” Takeshi commented. Takeshi was unable to replicate his race win in the second moto as he navigated through the deeply formed ruts. 5th place in the second moto resulted in a triumphant 2nd place overall for the round. “The results in the second moto weren’t what I was looking for after a win in the first race. The track was pretty rough out there so I struggled getting the same lines as in that first race. The ruts were getting too deep so I was more just trying to stay on the bike than anything else. But you know, I’m still comfortable with where I am overall and how I’m performing and I got a second place overall, so I’m happy with that. We’ve got 3 rounds to go so I just want to keep on the bike and stay consistent,” said Takeshi Katsuya.

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TEAM PROFILE Team Manager: Travis Whitten

#35

ALEX MORRIS Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: Kawasaki KX250F

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#953

CLASS: MX2

/ProformanceKawasaki

@proformance_kawasaki

MATT RYAN Age: Hometown: Bike Mechanic: Goals for 2015: Past Achievements: Other Hobbies:

BIKE: Kawasaki KX250F

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23 Yarram, VIC Derek Steen Have Fun, Top 10 Finishes 2009 Under 19s VIC Champ Keeping Fit

24 Kyabram, VIC Derek Steen Podium Finishes 3rd Under 19s Series Snowboarding, Wakeboarding

CLASS: MX2

/ProformanceKawasaki

@proformance_kawasaki

Team Members: Travis Whitten, Nathan Whitten, Derek Steen, Daryl Hurd, Peter Whitten

P R O FOR M A N CE K AWA SA K I PROFORMANCE KAWASAKI UPDATE – SHEPPARTON

Shepparton our closest round of the series was a great weekend. The sun was out and a large crowd gathered at the track. This was a special round for us and also a round that took a lot of effort. All loaded up and ready to head to the track for park up on Saturday, I paused and had a think about what we had on board, x2 trucks the Proformance team truck and also our old Whip truck to do Merchandise out of, x12 bikes for display and race bikes, x9 quick shades and also the awning of the truck to setup, as well as countless other equipment, chairs, tables, food, spares, etc. It was safe to say Rd7 started well before the weekend for us to have everything organised.

Matt was moving forward fast until a rider he was trying to pass made a mistake and come across Matt’s line putting Matt on the ground and along way down the field. Matt ended the day 14th overall which was good considering the crashes.

Race day came and we had Matt and Alex ready to go also at this round we were supporting Lachie and Ryan in under 19s and Lachy Steen in the support class. The merch tents were firing with our staff handling the LKI/ Official MX Nationals merchandise and also the Kawasaki Merchandise stand. To make the event a little more special we gave away 12 tickets and invited VIP guests from around our local area to join us at the event for lunch and check out the action which went very well introducing some people to the sport who had little knowledge about it before the day. Race one and the team was keen for a good showing. Matt jumped out of the gates and completed lap one in 3rd position, Matt struggled with the track being the first time he had ridden ruts like this in a few years after coming back from injury, Matt dropped back to 7th and with two laps to go it was looking to be a solid moto one until a small mistake and a crash which put Matt 12th by the end of the Moto. Alex was the opposite with a mistake after the first Lap he was way back in 20th place but rode great and charged all race to finish 11th. It was a decent start to the day and everyone was fired up for race two. It wasn’t to be Alex had a massive crash down the start straight which ended his day and Matt almost got tangled in it and caused him to be back in the field.

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