Inside Dirt - Issue 8 by MX Nationals

INSIDE UNCUT GROWING UP INSIDE MX

RIDERS TIPS LEARN HOW TO GET THE HOLESHOT

pg. 17

pg. 24

MW PLUG CHOP WE INTERVIEW TODD WATERS

SPMX TECH TIP BLEEDING YOUR FRONT BRAKES

pg. 42

pg. 64

BRETT METCALFE FIRST MX NATIONAL “It’s going to seriously shake up the overall championship , and honestly we can’t wait!” pg. 72

ROUND 1 HORSHAM

MOTUL MX NATIONALS

ISSUE 8 30.3.2016

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

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

Here you have it, our very first issue of Inside Dirt for 2016! Our Digital online magazine concept took off last year, and we are going to keep the ball rolling, making sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re kept up to date with everything motorcycling related in 2016 too! In this issue, we are going to take a look at what the Motul MX Nationals has in store for us at round one in Horsham, and with so much talent crammed in to the Thor MX1 class this year we are pumped to get racing under way this weekend. We also have the wrap from the season opener of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championships at Kikivan in Queensland, as well as a bunch of other exciting content to get you pumped for another big year of racing. This year we will have regular contributions to Inside Dirt, as well as some special guest writers covering everything from junior racing, to nutrition, training, stories from the vault and more. In this issue, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to introduce you to some of the MX Nationals heavy hitters for the 2016 season, as well as give you the run down on who will be taking to the track this weekend. So get reading, we have jam packed this issue with everything you need to know for the epic year of racing ahead! 04

WHATS IN STORE 9

Schedule

Behind the Gate

Inside Uncut

Riders Tips

Top 10 Must see events

MW Plug Chop - Todd Waters

Cameron Taylor - what next?

Catching up with Cody Cooper

SPMX Tech Tip

MX1 Heavy Hitters

Whats on Sunshine coast

AORC Round 1 & 2

Round 1 Riders Lists

MXN Rider profiles

ID ISSUE #8

ON PAGE 17: Aiden Williams takes us on a journey of the highs and lows of growing up inside the motocross scene.

ON PAGE 72: We take a close look at the heavy hitters in the Thor MX1 Class for 2016

84 ON PAGE 24: Joe Stevens gives readers the tips to improve your starts on raceday.

KNOW W H AT IT TA K E S 2016 GEAR YOUR ADVANTAGE IS NOW AVAILABLE.

THORMX.COM

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

Horsham V ict oria ||

WHO

WIL

L W IN

DOWN TH G E IN

VE U

I N E

N ROU

E HORSHAM. Round 1, the opening round of the series will head to the Wimmera region in Western Victoria on April 3rd and will see the newly designed Horsham track set the agenda for the 2016 Championship series. The red clay surface is always very well prepared and will rut up nicely, with several new big jumps. Spectators will be treated to great action and will be able to see the different skill levels across all classes.

SCHEDULE START

CLASS

DURATION

8:30am

MX2 Practice / Qualifying

25 Min

9:00am

MXD Practice / Qualifying

25 Min

9:30am

85cc Cup Practice / Qualifying

20 Min

10:00am

MX1 Practice / Qualifying

30 Min

10:30am

Go Pro Super Pole

10 Min

10.40am

Official Opening

5 Min

10.45am

Motul MX2 Moto 1

30 + 1 lap

11:25am

Pirelli MXD Moto 1

20 + 1 lap

12:05pm

Thor MX1 Moto 1

30 + 1 lap

12:40pm

Lunch

45 Min

1:25pm

85cc Cup Moto 1

15 Min

1:55pm

Motul MX2 Moto 2

20 + 1 lap

2:35pm

Thor MX1 Moto 2

30 + 1 lap

3.20pm

Pirelli MXD Moto 2

20 + 1 lap

3:50pm

85cc Cup Moto 2

15 Min

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

35 32 30 28 26

6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

25 24 23 22 21

11th 12th 13th 14th 15th

20 19 18 17 16

16th 17th 18th 19th 20th

15 14 13 12 11

21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th

10 9 8 7 6

26th 27th 28th 29th 30th

5 4 3 2 1

Cr Heather Phillips, Mayor Horsham Rural City Council

WELCOM

WORDS FROM THE HORSHAM MAYOR

It is a pleasure to welcome participants, officials and families to the frist round of the 2016 MX National Championships in Horsham. Motocross is an international sport that is highly regarded in Horsham, the Wimmera, across Victoria, Australia and Internationally. It is a privilege that Horsham has been chosen to host this event of National significance. The Horsham Rural City Council municipality covers an area of 4,267 square kilometres with a total population of 20,000. The facilities and services that our City has to offer are first-class and we hope that they will serve to make your stay with us a happy, safe and enjoyable time. Please make time during your visit to see the range of unique features and attractions Horsham and the municipality has to offer. These include the natural beauty of the Wimmera River, Mt Arapiles, one of the best rockclimbing areas in the world, the Wartook Valley and the Grampians National Park. It may be the Horsham Regional Art Gallery, our new Town Hall, great local shopping, cafes and restaurants, family friendly attractions or local wineries that attract your attention this visit and make a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; list for future visits. Horsham Rural City Council would also like to acknowledge the hard work of the Horsham Motorcycle Club in preparing the track and facilities for this National event. Whether you are a participant, official or supporter of the 2016 National MX Championships, we sincerely welcome you and hope your visit is a memorable one.

IF YOUR BOOTS DON’T COME UP TO HERE, YOU’RE RISKING YOUR FEET. Wearing the right boots on every ride could make all the difference. Motorcycle boots are best, but any sturdy boots that cover your feet and ankles will help.

WALKING AWAY FROM A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT MEANS PROTECTING YOUR FEET.

Sitting here, only days out from round one writing this, its hard to fathom that 20 years has passed since Williams Event Management ran it’s first event in Smithton, Tasmania in 1997. I was told a very long time a go that if you make your hobby your job and you’re good enough at it, you will never work a day in your life. For me putting together the MX Nationals has made my dream a reality, and I really do love this awesome sport that we are all a part of. Although over the years, there have been some very tough days and weeks, every minute of running the motocross has been worth it, and honestly there have been plenty of highs and lows throughout our

Y Y N O

E A R S W A Y !

20 years as a team. Looking back, I’m very proud of the way the championship has grown. Whilst I have been the captain, I couldn’t have done any of this with out the great people, who over that 20 years have been a big part of the WEM team – or WEM family which we more often call ourselves these days. To my beautiful wife Christine, I thankyou from the bottom of my heart you have been the most amazing person I know. Motocross isn’t in your blood, but you have bled and sweated every high and low, and been there for every step in this 20-year journey. When we first started running the motocross, there were two trucks I think,

and today thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s around 20. Not many will remember, but there were only about three full time staff in the tiny motocross industry back then, today there is over 60. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very excited heading into our 20th year at the helm of motocross; We have a fantastic team of people and partners, and the rider line up this year is simply awesome. The news that Brett Metcalfe will join us for the first four rounds of the MX Nationals is fantastic, and having both Dean Ferris and Todd Waters back from Europe to race our series this year will make for one seriously competitive championship. As we head in to round one, it

is hard to pick who could win the MX1 Championship, and that is very, very exciting. There are no clear favorites, but a huge bunch of guys who have the ability to win races. For motocross fans out there, this could quite possibly be one of the most competitive championships we have ever seen in this country, The MX2 and MXD classes are also stacked with great talent. Both of those classes were very full last year, and produced fantastic racing. With the caliber of riders coming through the ranks, we can expect to see lots of action from the Pirelli MXD and Motul MX2 Classes for 2016. Once again, we are very excited to be able to bring every round of the MX Nationals to life by broadcasting online 14

via NRGTV this year. The production quality in 2015 exceeded all of our expectations, and it’s fantastic that in such a big country like Australia that even when you can’t make it to the races, you can still watch everything live. We are excited to build on what was a great series in 2015, but as always we want the MX Nationals to lift again in 2016 – so we’ll be working hard to do that for the entire 10 rounds. A big thank you to the riders and teams for being a part of the series this year, and also thank you to our partners and sponsors who make putting on a show like the MX Nationals possible. With 20 years in the books, Round 1, 2016, here we come!

INSIDE

UNCUT THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS LIKE ANY OTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HAS SURELY HAD ITS HIGH AND LOW MOMENTS, SOME OF THESE PLAY OUT IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC EYE FOR ALL TO SEE AND SPECULATE ON. SOME MOMENTS HOWEVER REMAIN VERY MUCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, SITTING BACK WITH MY FATHER KEVIN WILLIAMS REMINISCING ON WHAT HAS COME TO BE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS REALLY PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR ME, FIRST HOWEVER, I FEEL I SHOULD SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT MY PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE MXN.

It all started 20 years ago and currently being only 22 years of age I can honestly say I do not remember a life outside of motocross. Whether it be 2004 building mudslides down the Conondale hill resulting in Craig Dack’s boys having to Gerni me off butt naked so I could catch the flight back to school the very next morning, or sitting in a church watching the tears run down my fathers face as he tried to string together the eulogy for the late and great Andrew McFarlane, some things have become very clear for 20 years this has been what my family does for work, however it represents so much more then a job ever could. With such a long time inside the industry, the stories I remember could flow cover to cover and I intend to share most of these throughout the 2016 season through Inside Dirt. The love of motocross is something that has rushed through the Williams blood sice day dot. Little may know my father’s passion has been motocross since he was a young boy himself, racing the entirety of his junior days, and stepping up at only 16 years of age to compete on a YZ490. With such a burning desire to be inside the motorcycling industry, dad started up by commentating at local and state level events - the gift of the gab is something

that always ran strong with him and I guess also myself now, and few will remember around this time it was less about motocross and more about coming down to see (BIG) Kev in the 3gg car. With such a devoted passion, it is needless to say my childhood has been heavily influenced in all aspects, what kid could ever argue getting to remain best friends with his old man and continue to work side by side into my adult life, all thanks to the sport we know and love. My earliest vivid memory of my parents running events would have to step back to the year 2000 for the first ever 500cc Australian Grand Prix, the memories don’t start with the event itself, recalling now the page upon page of fax’s coming through from riders spanning the globe, it became apparent quickly my parents working then as they do now with a two man team has bitten off a great deal more they could chew, however with one of the mottos my dad engrained into me, bite off more then you can chew and learn to chew like crazy they stepped up and tackled the exhausting work and sleepless nights to see a dream become reality. There were a few things that separated this event from anything we had done before, obviously first the pressure of making the first ever 500GP a success against all

“I DO NOT REMEMBER A LIFE OUTSIDE OF MOTO”

JONO PORTER PLAYED A ROLE IN MANY RIDERS LIVES

odds, also that this event would not happen without help and where do you go for reliable help other then your own blood. Coming from a close knit family it was a no brainer that my aunties uncles and grandparents all stepped up and gave there time to ensure the event was a raging success. Whether it be my nan and aunty (who still to this day live next door to me on either side) scrubbing elbows deep in the toilets or my grandfather trying to manage 3 very excited young kids from running everywhere and my other grandfather working relentlessly trying to maintain the bins, they all stepped up without hesitation extensively contributing to the success and the return of the Championship the next year. Going from the hardest days work to the hardest days in life all does truly revolve around motocross. Growing up around this sport has given me many long time friends however it is still to this day hard to compare

anyone to the Late Jono Porter. A true champion in this sport and a true champion in the hearts of my entire family. I would challenege anyone inside the industry to try and think of one bad time or even a bad memory while in jonos presence, the reality however was it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter if you were a seasoned veteran or a five year old boy(in my case) Jono had time for everyone. Recalling the first time I met Jono while playing in a sandpit at a supercross race in Mildura 97 walks up this rider I had never seen, what made this rider stick out and remember 19 years later is that he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just say hi or introduce himself, but take the time to it down with my brother and I and proceed to play with toy motorbikes until he had to quickly rush to the line to race, that was Jono, selfless and loving who got more reward in putting a smile on a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face (as he did so often) then anything motocross could give him. My friendship though only young became extremely strong

over the next 7 years recalling countless times he would stay at our house in Victoria as he was a Gladstone local including picking me up from primary school I saw him then only as I do now, as my big brother. Growing up as a rider myself I understand the mentality that what we do is dangerous and if a racer could choose any way to go it would be in the glory of competing. Trying to justify that however as a 10 year old is all bar impossible, with one thing standing clear in my mind, my father telling my brother sister and I after picking us up from school that Jono probably wont make it. Day by day we held him in our prayers hoping for the miracle that so many new wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to happen. The extraordinary response of get well and caring messages posted on the MX Nationals website

in the 4 days before he passed is still quite amazing, hundreds of thousands of messages coming through from all over the world actually overloaded the web system shutting the page down is a true testament to that boy every mother wanted to take home as her own. It is clear to see even today the love for jono, as you would not have to look at more then 10 riders including myself to find a tribute tattoo for our old friend. In so many years seeing riders and teams come and go allot has changed, the comparison then to now is insane, to go from Hiace vans seeing Ronnie McFarlane spin spanners for Andrew to the rolling spectacle that is the MX Nationals today one thing is clear. This is what we love. This is motocross. Story by: Aiden Williams 21

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RIDERS TIPS GETTING THE HOLESHOT Hi everyone and welcome to my “Riding tips” with coach Joe Stevens articles via the Inside Dirt digital magazine. Along with my position commentating with NRG TV for the 2016 Motul MX Nationals I will be bringing you all these articles and with my career in the Motocross industry taking on a different role this year away from the gym and fitness side of the sport and focusing more on junior rider development, coaching and race preparation camps, changing up my articles for 2016 to revolve around this is something I’m very excited about for this year. So let’s get into it.. With the most stacked and talented MX1 & MX2 fields in recent memory the 2016 MX Nationals series is going to be a very competitive

and tough race series for any rider to stand out in. The Moto’s are long, the tracks are brutally rough and the competition is fast, fit and determined. There is one sure fire way to make your life as a racer easier on race day and that’s starting the season off at the front of the pack in the opening moto’s of the series. That is achieved by securing good track position early from.. you’ve guessed it, a HOLESHOT or good start!! How does a rider maximise his chances of getting a good start at the elite level of the sport? With many factory 450cc machines in the MX1 class and some of the top professional athletes in the world all banging bars into the first corner, finding a way to consistently exit turn number one in the top three

is a highly coveted skill that very few riders can master throughout their careers. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to list some points I feel will be able to help all the riders and racers reading this article improve your start game and lead to a better chance of running up front early in a moto.

1. GATE PICK Nearly all MX Nationals tracks other than Shepparton (concrete pad) feature a dirt start. This means that deep ruts can form either side of the gate depending on the terrain and dirt type. Selecting a gate with the straightest possible rut either side of the gate, whilst not being too deep will help in keeping your bike straight out of the gate. Your gate selection should take into consideration the shortest possible route to the first corner that lines up with the apex (centre of the corner) and gives you the best exit angle into the upcoming section. For a sweeper this is a line with the minimal turn angle meaning you can hold it wide open turning with the rear wheel, or for a hairpin the inside gates will give you control over the rest of the field with the shortest turning angle around turn one.

2. BIKE MODIFICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY There are many products now on the market such as hole shot devices on the front forks and rear linkage, traction control and ignition systems that allow you to program your bikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ECU to an optimal rev range for the gate drop before it switches back to a regular setting for the rest of the race. Although not the focus of my article these great advances in technology should not be taken lightly and I advise all riders to test these systems. The higher the level of riding you are competing at, the more these gadgets will benefit you and the eliminate the issue human error that riders can make off the start under pressure.

In rea li to a g ty the key actua ood start l from y ly comes o down ur hips to you r toes.

“

3. BODY POSITION

4. UNLOCK THOSE HIPS

“Start technique requires you to get your chest forward and hold on” … WRONG!!! In reality the key to a good start actually comes from your hips down to your toes. Your lower body has by far the largest contact area with the bike and therefore the most grip capability. By placing both feet on the ground, with your toes in and a slight back pressure on your footpegs to ensure you can fit your boots in between the shifter and rear brake, a rider can essentially “lock in” his legs to the bottom of the bike. All the way to the knees clamping level with the seat, this is the most effective way to hold onto the bike over the gate.

Following the above leg lock by rolling your hips back on the seat, your spine will bend in a functional manner and give you optimal traction with your butt locked into the seat. This in turn will allow you to leverage your torso weight down onto the handle bars and use your upper back muscles (traps and lats) to engage when you let the clutch out. By doing this you can actually hold on quite loose via your hands and forearms on the bars, leading to better feel via the controls and less chance of blowing your clutch drop or throttle hand. As you are now locked in at the lower, middle and upper parts of the bike and over all points of contact, you can eliminate the need to move your body across the gate. The best starters in the world do not move from the locked in position until after they have grabbed at least one shift of gear and this is achieved by being able to efficiently lock in and weight all points of contact on the bike.

Start technique requires you to get your chest forward and hold on” … WRONG!!! 28

5. REVS, CLUTCH RELEASE 6. CLEAN OVER THE GATE AND AND REACTION TIME SHIFT It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and nerves on race day. With 40 other bikes on the limiter making it very difficult to hear your own rev range on your bike. It is essential to practice starts with other riders and get used to “feeling” your bikes optimal rev range as opposed to hearing it. Because on race day, your bikes engine sound is lost amongst the field of screaming bikes next to you! Take a deep breath when the 5 second board spins around and zone into your gate and the feel of the bike. Blocking out the competition and zoning into your start is a great way to beat your competitors off the line. A lot of riders focus on improving their general brain motor skills to trigger a faster reaction time off the gate. However I feel that race start reaction time is a muscle memory that can only be learned through eliminating bad habits and logging hundreds to thousands of starts in practise. Once your start routine both physically and mentally becomes habit, for better or worse this WILL be your brain’s go to setting on race day and therefore you need to ensure good habit is learned and memorised via coaching and training.

Most riders and engines require a second gear start, this should be tested with gearing and motor settings long before race day to ensure you have your start routine on lock. From here all that is left is the gate drop. Once the gate drops a rider should immediately shift his attention to looking towards the shortest line around the corner we discussed in point number one. Looking ahead early ensures a rider’s bike will not be pulled sideways from the rut across the gate below him and that he does not have any distractions by seeing his competitor’s handlebars or front fenders. From here a clean shift to third gear is essential to maintaining drive. A short shift means a loss of drive, over revving also means a loss in power. Feeling the correct RPM’s and timing the perfect shift will accelerate you into the running for a holeshot. Some riders implement the “toe shift” where they will keep their feet locked into the side of the bike and gently raise their boot to grab a gear. This is very effective in locking a rider’s body in and minimising movement. However this technique requires precision and it is very easy to clip a false neutral during the shift. Do that and your hole shot and track position is all but over!

Whatever technique you choose to shift that all important first gear from the gate drop, ensure it minimises your movement and maximises your traction to the bike and forward momentum! And that’s it folks.. Try to implement all of the above into your starting routine and I can all but guarantee better starts on race day. Oh and there’s one more thing, HOLD IT WIDE and WANT THAT HOLESHOT!! Because all of your competition wants it too! You have to want it more. Thanks for reading everyone, I hope this article can help with your start technique and look for the “Riding tips” articles to help you with all areas of riding technique throughout the 2016 MX Nationals season thanks to Inside Dirt magazine. See you at the races Joe Stevens “M.A.D” MX Athlete Development

C O

A C H I N G

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

T O P

1 0

MUST SEE EVENTS IN 2016 Taking a look at the hottest Australian events scheduled for 2016.

Each and every year Australia showcases a range of world class motocross, supercross and off-road events, and 2016 is set to be no different. For this latest edition of Top 10, MotoOnline.com.au takes a closer look at a selection of those events.

1. AUS-X Open: In its first year the AUS-X Open blew minds, plain and simple. The guys at AME Management truly put together a world class event inside Allphones Arena, and it’s coming back in 2016 for round two, so you would be simply stupid to miss it. With riders such as Chad Reed, Cooper Webb and The GOAT Ricky Carmichael

in attendance, fans were treated with an absolute spectacle in 2015, not to mention to list of talented Aussies such as Lawson Bopping, Dan Reardon and Dan Mccoy getting in the mix. Throw in an amazing freestyle motocross best trick event to top it off and you’ve got one event that’s a definite must-see. 35

2. MX Nationals (Coolum): Coolum’s final round of the MX Nationals championship is a truly awesome event, the vibe at the season finale each and every year is electric. Warm spring weather, located close to the beautiful beaches, a swarm of motocross riders on hired scooters and plenty of action out on the track. Coolum’s circuit is demanding on the riders, the soft surface makes for a gruelling final round before riders can have a well-deserved break. The most exciting part are the championships, every year the championships go down to the wire at Coolum and you have to be there to experience it.

3. MX Nationals (Horsham): The opening round of the 2016 MX Nationals championship, the moment you see all of the new team livery hit the track for the first time, the moment you see who’s been putting in the most work during the off-season, it’s all happening at round one. New rivalries are born, old rivalries continue and championship campaigns begin, who will make a statement and show everyone they mean business? Who will stand out and make an unexpected performance? This is why round one is so great. 36

4. Finke Desert Race: The Finke Desert Race is one event that attracts a vast range of riders from all over the country. Located in the Northern Territory, the annual event pushes both man and machine to their limits with the tough terrain, high temperatures and hours upon hours of racing to contend with. In 2016 Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own Dakar Rally winner, Toby Price, will return to the event to attempt a record five victories with the factory KTM crew. 37

5. A4DE: A staple event on the Australian offroad calendar, 2016 will mark the 38th consecutive running of the Australian Four-Day Enduro. This event attracts the best off-road riders in the country and features a range of challenging terrain for riders to battle through over four days of competition. A truly gruelling event, the A4DE is not for the faint of heart, only the most prepared and talented riders will rise to the top at the end of the fourth day.

6. AORC (Penshurst): The 2016 Australian Off-Road Championship will span across six weekends with 12 rounds of racing to be contested throughout. After battling it out in some of the toughest terrain in the country, each class championship, E1, E2, E3 and Outright, will be decided at this round. The AORC series is considered the premier Australian off-road series, attracting the highest calibre riders and factory-backed teams each and every season.

7. MX Nationals (Conondale): Conondale, the most picturesque venue on the MX Nationals calendar. Missing from the schedule briefly, the Queensland event will make its return in 2016 to the applause to riders, media and fans alike. There’s something unique about the lush greenery combined with a pack of 40 motocross bikes roaring down the start straight, it’s not something you see every day that’s for sure. We can’t speak about Conondale without mentioning that rather large leap can we? The track features by far the largest jump on the Australian motocross circuit, it’s huge, and you really do need to see it in person to appreciate the shear distance and height the riders achieve.

8. Supercross (Queensland): Following a long 10-round series of motocross racing in the glaring sun, brutal conditions, long motos, it’s a refreshing change when the supercross season kicks off each year in Queensland – the lights come on and it’s time for some night time action. Supercross is always a exciting time of the year, it gives riders the chance to show some added style with the jump-filled circuits, which for the fans is awesome. If you’re a fan of close racing, jumps, whips, scrubs and cooler viewing temperatures, supercross is the place to be!

9. Enduro-X (Clipsal 500 V8):

10. MX Nationals (Wanneroo):

Taking place this weekend in Adelaide, the Enduro-X event held alongside the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercars spectacle is something very unique and exciting in our sport. The mixture of enduro, motocross and a hint of trials riding side-by-side around a man made circuit in front of screaming fans is already enough to get you going. Now add in the V8 Supercars element and you’ve got something absolutely awesome happening, fast cars, motocross bikes, jumps, water, logs, tractor tyres, that just has action-packed written all over it.

The rough sands of Wanneroo are known to separate the men from the boys, it’s motocross in its purest form. This event is making a welcome return to the MX Nationals series in 2016 following a brief hiatus from the 10-round schedule, and it’s definitely one you’d be crazy to miss. If you want to see the best motocross racers in Australia battle it out in the most rough, tough and challenging conditions possible, then Wanneroo is the place to be 29 May in 2016.

JE SSY NEL SON

OVER

Photo by: Jessy Nelson

MOUNTS

ACCESSORIES

#BEAHERO

TA R G E T:

TOD D

Returning to Australia for 2016 after racing the MXGP’s in Europe, Todd Waters looks as if he will be a force to be reckoned with at the MX Nationals this year. I caught up with the Wilson Cool Air Motul Suzuki rider to chat about the team he’s put around him for this year’s racing season, as well as pick the friendly Queenslanders brain on what racing in Europe is really like, and of course how Europe compares to his home country, Australia. Tell me about the bike and the team you’ve put together for 2016 - from an outsider’s perspective the Todd Waters camp is looking pretty happy ahead of Round 1! The bike is going great, I’m lucky enough to be working with a good bunch of

WAT ERS

people for 2016. We have Neale who’s really cruisey, and Corn who is a really experienced MotoGP mechanic so he knows his stuff, and then there’s Kevvy Cool Air, who’s always a top bloke to have around, so team wise it’s an awesome set up. My teammate Luke (Wilson) he’s nice and cruisey too, and then to have Jay Foreman backing us with suspension and stuff it’s a no brainer really. I’ve worked with Jay in the past and he’s worked with Suzuki’s forever. That’s really what I wanted to create – a solid group of people around me for 2016. I’ve raced the Suzuki before and we’ve got a really good package. Between the bike and the team I think we’re going to have a really good season.

T W47 Why is the team dynamic so important to you for 2016? When I went over to Europe it was just hard. It was so tough just to do your job. You had people on your case every two seconds, and that’s when I realised that I went and rode for the biggest team in the world and it just didn’t suit me. The bike wasn’t what I wanted and so on. That’s why I’ve come back home and I’ve created a positive team around me. It’s not about just the bike, or being on a factory team, it’s about having good people surrounding you. I now how the best people around me, a good bike, and we know we can do well on it. We aren’t even at round one of the MX Nationals yet, and everyone is already talking about this insane rivalry between yourself and Dean Ferris – Do you think it’s just going to be you two going at it for the MX1 Championship at the MX Nationals this year? Honestly, I think this year is going to be super cool. I raced Dean last year and we raced bar to bar and we did it in New Zealand in the pre season too, so he’s definitely a threat for me - Everyone is saying ‘Oh it’s going to be you and Dean’ and that we’re huge rivals, but in reality that’s not how it is. Realistically that’s just how things have played out over the years. I did races in Holland where I was the only MXGP rider and I was getting my arse kicked by dudes who didn’t even 44

have stickers on their bikes, so my point is that when you’re in your own country and you know the tracks, you’ve got your family around you, and everything is clicking, you ride fast, so that’s what Dean and me are both coming back to this year. We know what we’re doing and so does the rest of the field. With that said then, who do you believe is going to be up there battling with yourself and Dean for the 2016 Championship? This year the depth of guys in the MX1 class is awesome, and I’m really excited to be a part of that. Usually there is one guy who is the favorite going in to the season, but this year there are a good handful of guys out there who can win races. Dan Reardon, he’s just come out of retirement and he’s hungry, and he showed that in Supercross last year. We have a defending MX1 champion Kirk Gibbs and then there’s young guys like Jay Wilson, and Dylan Long. Plus on top of that you’ve got (Kade) Mosig and (Matt) Moss, and there’s just a lot of guys who can win, so I’m really looking forward to this season. The top five is going to be super competitive and I don’t think for a second that Dean and I could run away with it. It’s good though because it keeps me on my toes and everyone I speak to is pumped and just can’t wait to see the MX Nationals get started.

Although you’re back on home soil for 2016, you have expressed your desire to one-day return overseas. What will it take to see Todd Waters back in Europe in the future? If I ever go back to Europe, I’m hopefullgoing to be treated as a guy that is a threat and a guy that belongs over there. You know, Ben Townley has gone back and proved himself and they treat him as the real deal. When I went over there, I was just some young guy, and every person you spoke to was trying to tell you how to ride the bike. I got myself there, I knew what I needed to do – just because Jeffrey Herlings and Stefan Everts did things different to me, doesn’t mean that the way I do things is wrong.

That was the biggest thing for me, is that I had too many people telling me which direction to go in. I thought whatever people told me was right, because after all it’s the biggest championship in the world, I thought ‘man that’s exactly how I need to do things’ but it doesn’t work for me, so as a result I probably wasted a lot of time and energy doing things the wrong way for myself. It’s tough to know whether I’ll go back to Europe at this stage. You know I’m living down at Burleigh, I’ve got my girlfriend, I go surfing in the morning and I do my cycling along the beach, the weather is nice, and I get to go riding with all of my mates like Gibbsy (Kirk) and Wade (Hunter), and I just have so much fun when I’m at home. 45

What is so special about racing in Australia for you then? When people think about what it’s like being a pro motocross rider, when I’m at home in Australia that’s exactly how it is. It’s a great life, and we really do have one of the best lifestyles in the world. We get to travel the country, be really well supported, we have a great series with the MX Nationals and most of all we get to have a ball while doing it. Where as Europe is tough. Man, it really is a job. That was something that I kind of struggled with a bit, because I am a guy who likes to have fun and enjoy what I’m doing. Over there you tell and joke and they don’t even understand you (laughs), but in saying that I do feel deep down that racing in Europe is something that I should be doing. It’s a goal I’ve had my whole life. I’ve gone 46

over and seen that it’s not exactly what I thought it was, but even when I was under prepared and probably not in the most perfect mindset, we still got podiums and top five results, and we got ninth overall in the MXGP championship, and honestly that makes me a bit angry because I do believe I deserve to be there. I know I have more in me so that’s why one day whenever it is, I’d like to go back. How badly would you like to see an MXGP race back in Australia? The guys in Europe really have no idea what they’re missing out on (laughs). If you imagine an MXGP at Coolum, the world really would see just what an incredible country we live in. A lot of the time when you’re racing GP’s over there, the weather is crap and you’re at a track in the middle of no where. Here in Australia,

and especially at Coolum, you’re a few minutes from the best beaches in the country and you’re just up the road from Noosa which is where a lot of people actually go for holidays. To have a round over here again would be awesome, and if they do manage to get one here, I know I’ll be racing. Lastly, in 2015 all of the guys who finished on the MX1 podium at round one did their pre season racing in New Zealand, how important has that been for your preparation leading up to the MX Nationals? The New Zealand championship was good – there were a few races where I was the fastest guy on the track and I got some race wins. We have the bike in a good place and as for my training that’s all been going to plan too. My fitness is

good, and that was something I want to work on – my base fitness and then get into some serious riding. The New Zealand championship is competitive, but mostly it was about getting comfortable, testing and getting some races under my belt, so we’re definitely happy with the pre season that we’ve had and now we’re just looking forward to getting to round one.

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C A M TAYLOR W H AT A F T E R

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After having a long and i think successful career as a professional SX and MX racer i was looking for what was next after calling time on my career at the end of 2009. I always took a keen interest in coaching and helping young and up and coming racers become better riders and racers. So when Yamaha called to ask if i was interested in running there Y-aim (Yamaha Institute of Motocross) program in Victoria and also Manage there YJR (Yamaha Junior Racing) team in Victoria

i jumped at the chance. Y-aim is a National program with state based EX professional racers teaching racers the art of becoming better riders and racers. The program is not just about elite racers itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also designed to cater for riders of all ages and abilities from 7 year old Johnny on his 50 to 60 year weekend worriers to the next Junior guns racers. I usually run two types of Schools, Y-Aim or my Race Prep Y-aim. The first is aimed at all levels of riders with a lot of bike control skills training as well as learning to ride and attack the track with more speed and confidence. At my race prep Schools we really focus on improving the riders speed around the track, working on race starts, line selection and passing etc. Another part of my work with Yamaha is my role as Manager for YJR Victoria.This is a job I really enjoy and take a lot of pride in helping my racers be the best they can be. This year i have once again Cody Dyce defending state Champ (YZ125YZ250F) on his 5th and final year on YJR before moving to seniors for 2017 and Liam Andrews (YZ85BW) back for his 2nd year. A big part of this role is organizing 51

all there Bikes,parts and all there gear. I work a lot with my riders on there technique on the bike but I must say I take great pride in being able to mentor my riders into being not just faster but much better and smarter racers!! I really get a kick out of seeing my guys doing well and winning knowing I had a part in that success. Cody is someone I believe can and will have a big future in MX.He really loves to ride and race and is already such a great racer at 15 Yrs old. He rides the track so much smarter than most of competition and uses lines the others donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even see. 52

For his final year of juniors I expect big things as the best junior racer in the country. Liam Andrews is a young charger who on his day can run with any 85 rider he just needs to find THAT day a little more often and when he does the results will come thick and fast. For those young racers who find there way onto YJR team they really do have the best opportunity with great support off the track with the best bikes for the track to further there racing. There is a Yamaha path for those that are good enough when there junior Racing career is done to find there way

onto a professional Yamaha team. Jed Beaton,Wilson Todd to name a few have done just that in recent years. Moving straight from YJR to Yamahas under 19 team Yamalube Yamaha. After this Serco Yamaha then possibly CDR Yamaha down the track!! I do get asked quiet a bit how do I get onto YJR and the answer is.I look for riders I see something a bit special from, good technique good speed,good starter,Friendly Personality and something people forget about and his really important to me is a Good family. All these things I think are good ingredients for YJR team rider!! 53

RIDER 2015 TITLE Dan Reardon AUS SX Romain Febvre MXGP Jay Wilson AUS MX Cooper Webb AMA SX Dan Milner A4DE Wilson Todd AUS MXD Hunter Lawrence AUS MXR

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4 IN A RO NEW ZEALAN CHAMPIO

Image: Andy McGechan

CATCHING UP - CODY COOPER New Zealand champion talks latest title win, Australia and more. - Powered by motoonline.com.au

Winning a national motocross title is a huge achievement in its own right. Claiming four championships on the trot is reserved for only the top echelon of riders, and that’s exactly what The Honda Racing Team’s Cody Cooper achieved this year when he held off fierce charges from Dean Ferris and Todd Waters to stand atop the New Zealand Motocross Championship MX1 podium. We caught up with Coops to get his take on a hard-fought title, the chances of him returning to Australia this year and what the future holds. First up, mate, congratulations on winning your fourth straight New Zealand Motocross Championship. That’s a pretty impressive record. Yeah, I’m pretty happy with that. I’ve won five MX1 titles now and the last four in a row, and considering we’ve had some big Aussie names come over the last couple of years, it feels pretty good. I’m not sure what the record in a row is here in New Zealand but I’d say it’d be held by either Darryll or Shayne King; I must be starting to close in on it now though!

Image: Andy McGechan

How was it this year, with both Dean and Todd coming over to do battle?

It made it more interesting, that’s for sure. Both those guys raced the GPs the past few years so they know how to ride a bike. Coming into the first round I felt fast and Dean was holding a similar speed to me, but I struggled with starts while he got great starts. I kind of lost my way a bit playing around with settings on the new Ohlins suspension; starts has always been one of my strengths so I knuckled down for the third and fourth rounds, found some good settings and got them sorted again. It was what I needed to get those points back. Also, I over trained too much early on and at the second round at Manawatu my legs were that stuffed I could hardly stand up in the last two motos. I had a bit of back trouble after that round as well, but that forced me to take it a bit easier coming into Rotorua and I felt awesome there. That made me realise that I’d been overtraining hard-out; it’s weird when you forget some of those things that you’ve learnt in the past and you find yourself making the same mistakes all over again. But yeah, Rotorua and Taupo went perfectly and I managed to pull back the points on Dean to take the title again. 58

What is it about the New Zealand MX Nationals that makes you find another gear? I guess it’s easy training during our summer and my team let’s me do what I want to do. They give me all the equipment I need, but I’m my own boss and as long as I get the job done, then it’s all good. The team’s awesome in that respect. Shayne King hooked me up with all the product I need and the Ohlins suspension and I just get stuck into the job in front of me.

At the same time, you always seemed to struggle taking that speed and momentum over to Australia. Why do you think that is? I don’t know. I think I can be just as fast and motivated if I’d found the right structure over there. You’ve got to be happy with where you’re at and to be honest, I never really felt 100 per cent settled and stoked with racing in Australia. Some of the tracks could be better, but I kind of got a bit bored with it. I might come back and use the final two rounds as preparation for the Motocross of Nations, and get some race-time under my belt but that’d be all I do this year, I think.

So you didn’t receive any interest after winning the New Zealand championship this year? No, nothing. And it’s not worth me going over there as a privateer pouring all my money into a campaign and getting nothing out of it. I’d rather go to the US and do a couple of races there – it’ll cost me less money but I’ll probably get more recognition out of it if I do well – and pick and choose other events around the world that I want to race on my own terms. I’m getting older now, so I want to have fun with my racing. 59

2016

2015

So am I hearing that you’re planning to race in the States later this year?

Yeah, I’m pretty keen get over there for a couple of weeks and race the opening two rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown and Glen Helen. I’m trying to work it all out at the moment, but I know a lot of people over there who’d be happy to help me out from my days racing there.

That sounds like a sweet plan, man. Between now and May you’ve got a bit of time up your sleeve, though. What are your plans? Just to ride really, get out on the mountain bike, ride for fun, get my fitness up and do some more coaching. The coaching’s been going pretty good, but I’m still learning how to get the word out there that I’ve got schools available. I really enjoy teaching others how to ride better and it’s a good feeling when you see them get a lot faster after a session.

Good stuff. Well thanks for the chat, bud. Hopefully we’ll see you at Toowoomba and Coolum at the end of the season. Sounds good, boi. Catch ya then.

Feel the Performance When you are in a competition and you want to win, you need to be prepared. Lining up is not enough. Off the bike you need to train, fuel your body with the right nutrients, and spend time recovering. On the bike you need to practice your techniques, improve your race fitness and test your motorcycle. The motorcycle that rolls out of your respective dealership needs customising to suit your height, weight and skill level. Whether it's suspension, engine, tyres or the chassis, championship winning technical expert Steve Powell of SPMX can build a bike to suit your requirements. Performance delivered.

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BAD FEELING FRONT BRAKES? BLEEDING YOUR BRAKES IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK Most of you guys have now been lucky enough to purchase and put down a few laps on a 2016 mx or ENDURO bike, that being said there’s no time to keep the toolbox closed. We need to keep up the maintenance schedules in all three areas, engine, chasis and suspension. In this issue we’ll take a look at bleeding the front brake. We’ve had plenty of people contact us in regards to a poor feeling front brake and this is what we suggest to rectify this problem.

Many of the new 2015 and 2016 bikes are now coming out with an oversized front disc as standard equipment . Although these are not the best front brake systems available they are a damn sight better then the front brake system of five years ago. The new era 270mm front brake disc tend to work very well for the first few hours then we seem to experience brake fade. The OEM equipment is of good quality and can be bought back to optimum potential by simply changing the brake fluid, re-bleeding and servicing the brake caliper. First of all we like to have the

“THE NEW ERA 270MM FRONT BRAKE DISC TEND TO WORK VERY WELL FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS THEN WE SEEM TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE FADE” STEVE POWELL - SPMX

bike clean and dry and mounted on a workshop stand with the front wheel elevated for ease of access. We then carefully remove the front brake master cap, we’ll then take our attention down to the front brake caliper fluid bleed nipple. Next we will connect a brake bleeding tool and attach it to the caliper bleed nipple, leave the valve closed at this stage, turn on the brake bleed tool and open up the caliper valve, at this stage we’ll be draining through the old brake fluid. Continue this whilst keeping an eye on the level of the brake fluid in the master cylinder at the top. As It almost runs empty, start adding new brake fluid at least dot 4 or above. Continue this process until the brake fluid that you’re draining out is clean and/or you have used approx 80-100ml of brake fluid. Close the caliper brake bleeding valve firstly before disconnecting the brake bleeding tool. Now turn your focus to the fluid level in the master cylinder (top), have the brake fluid half full. Turn the handlebars left

hand down so the master cylinder is now at the highest point. This will aid any trapped air bubbles to make their way out to the holding reseviour, also gently pull the front brake line down towards the caliper so that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not higher then the master cylinder, now take your spare hand and very gently start to apply the front brake via the lever, give the front brake lever a few gentle squeezes and light flicks. You will now see any excess air bubbles trapped in the brake line start to surface. Repeat this procedure

until all air bubbles have gone. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re satisfied, adjust fluid level to the correct specification, most bikes will have a viewing window with an upper and lower fluid level as a guide. Please note that this is with the rubber membrane and cap installed. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our fluid process taken care of!

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1 X M VY A E H ERS T T I H e p at th o r d s te the ga 2016, l n i i t e n u m t ti ys ve da the firs fi r Thor o h f t i â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s s r l a W a e n y o ti is , MX Na that th g etitive n p i Motul y m n o e c d ost e is no the m f e hav o there w e n s r o e id lass is s of r d l e MX1 c fi d packe t aters n e l W a t d d o T s. s n year is and r r e MXGP F seen i n e a h t e d racing With D m o ed an r c f n e g i r n i pe lfe return hly ex g i h both Metca e t t h t e r B rope, r-old a e in Eu y 1 3 ssful succe

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TODD WATERS Wilson’s Cool Air Motul Suzuki Suzuki Australia actually pulled the pin on it’s factory Motocross and Supercross racing commitments at the end of 2015, but when the manufacturer heard that Todd Waters wanted to return to Australia, everything turned around. With the help of Neale Wilson and his team at Wilson MX, as well as Kevvy Cool Air (you will remember him from his involvement with the Kawasaki Factory Team a number of years ago) the Suzuki factory team has been put together with the heavy influence of Waters. Waters, who spent two years racing the MXGP in Europe on one of the best supported factory teams on the circuit (Red Bull Ice One Husqvarna) managed to finish in ninth in the overall MXGP MX1 Championship last year, and threw in a podium and some top five results in as well.

So why come home? The laid back Queenslander has admitted he struggled to adjust to the lifestyle in Europe – travelling non stop, language barriers, and poor weather would do that to anyone. But this year now that he has returned home, his mindset is super positive and he’s going to be a strong threat to the 2016 Thor MX1 Championship. A happy rider is a fast rider, and Waters is quite possibly the only guy in the pits who has had the opportunity to hand pick the team he’s got around him. Plus, he has a former MotoGP mechanic working on his bikes, as well as Jay Foreman performing his magic in the background, and Waters has raced the Suzuki before. No matter which way you look at it, this guy is going to be fast at round one.

DEAN FERRIS Wilson’s Cool Air Motul Suzuki Last year, the top three guys who finished on the overall MX1 podium at round one, all did their pre-season in New Zealand, so if that’s anything to go by, we’re already expecting big things from Dean Ferris. We all saw what Josh Coppins did with Jay Wilson in 2015, and what he’s doing now with Courtney Duncan in Europe, and Ferris has been lucky enough to have the opportunity to race the NZ Nationals with the support of Coppins and JCR Yamaha throughout the MX Nationals pre season. Despite narrowly missing out on the NZ Championship because of one poor result at round three, Ferris was arguably the fastest man on the track in New Zealand, and he’s returned to Australia to do the exact same thing. Craig Dack head hunted Ferris last year, and at the 2015 MXoN in France, the team announced that the Aussie would

return home to race for CDR Yamaha for the 2016 race season. It’s been a few years now since CDR Yamaha has won a championship – the team has finished on the box but hasn’t seen that top step for quite some time, so Ferris is here with a job to do – win a 2016 MX1 Championship, it’s as simple as that. Ferris, who knows exactly what it takes to win championships, has plenty of experience from racing the MXGP in Europe under his belt, and is racing for one of the most professionally run race teams in the pits. He’s quite possibly the man to beat. We’re tipping if he can use his head, know when to ride at 90-95 per cent, and can stay on two wheels, he could run away with the 2016 Thor MX 1 Championship early.

BRETT METCALFE SD3 Husqvarna Well, this guy really needs no introduction. Brett Metcalfe is one of Australia’s greatest exports, and from memory the last time he raced a motocross in Australia it would have been in the early 2000’s at the Grand Prix at Broadford as a junior – from there, he then left and began his highly successful international career. Metcalfe is well decorated with achievements - an AMA Motocross National round win, he’s finished second in an AMA Motocross Championship, he’s won a Canadian MX Championship, and he also impressed when he raced at the Supercross in Adelaide at the end of last year. So, why the MX Nationals? Well

Metty actually got the call up to race for SD3 Husqvarna when the team controversially dropped Jacob Wright prior to the season even kicking off – he has a good relationship with SD3, and is locked in for four MX Nationals rounds so far. The biggest threat for the series regulars, is the valuable points that Metcalfe could snatch up. Hypothetically, if Metcalfe podiums and put’s himself in a healthy position in the MX1 Championship, when he walks away to return overseas after Murray Bridge, it’s going to seriously shake up the overall championship standings, and honestly we can’t wait!

KADE MOSIG

MATT MOSS

NPE Monster Energy Kawasaki

Unfortunately for Mosig, it seems that no mater what he does, he just can’t bag an MX1 Championship. Much like what Kirk Gibbs experienced when he was fighting Mossy for a championship in 2014, Mosig has been plagued by the ‘bridesmaid’ effect, and has a number of second and third places to his name. Despite finishing in an outstanding second in the MX1 championship in 2015, the former Victorian was dropped from CDR Yamaha, when the team made the difficult decision to re-sign 2015 Supercross Champ Dan Reardon. However, it has appeared to have played out for Mosig in the best way possible. Mosig, who moved to Queensland at the end of 2015, has signed with Gold Coast based and Troy Carroll managed NPE Monster Energy Kawasaki for the 2016 race season, and is now preparing for his full assault on the MX Nationals. Determined to finally win an MX1 championship, Mosig is going to be more focussed than ever to make this year happen for him, and we’re already tipping that his green machine could be the dark horse of 2016.

Frankly, Mossy needs this year to be better than 2015. Last year was arguably the hardest and most disappointing in his career to date. Not only did Mossy have a shocker of a motocross season, but when Supercross rolled around it was a similar story. After Suzuki announced they were closing down it’s racing team effort at the end of last year, (now not the case) Mossy began his search for a 2016 ride, and managed to sign with NPE Monster Energy Kawasaki for 2016. With a brother (Jake), and Kade Mosig as his team mates, Mossy has a serious point to prove - the former champ is going to be fighting to turn things around this year. Plus, with a baby on the way, this really is the time for Mossy to get back to his winning ways. We all know he can win, we all know he is fast, but can he take out another championship? Only time will tell.

KIRK GIBBS KTM Motocross Racing Team Last year, Kirk Gibbs turned heads when he won the 2015 MX1 Championship relatively unchallenged. No one could get close to the diesel engine of Gibbs and after some close calls, and a number of second and thirds in 2014, the championship was the perfect reward for his hard work. Unfortunately for Gibbs, the KTM rider suffered a nasty crash whilst training for Supercross at the end of last year, breaking his pelvis and forcing him in to

months of rehab. But now, Gibbsy has recovered and is back on the bike - the quiet achiever is putting the finishing touches on his pre season program, and appears ready to defend his 2015 title. Jay Marmont once famously said that it’s much harder to defend a championship that win your first one, but if there’s one guy in the pits who can do it, it’s Gibbsy.

DAN REARDON CDR Yamaha 30-year-old, and former retiree (can we still keep saying that?) won a 2015 Supercross Championship the last time he raced, and despite a shoulder injury at the final round in Melbourne, CDR Yamaha’s Dan Reardon looks prepped and ready for the 2016 MX Nationals season. Last year, Reardon put a lot of his performance at the MX Nationals down to a lack of pre season training, and to his credit he jumped on the Yamaha at the very last minute before round one last year, and all in all did a pretty outstanding job given his lack of time to prepare. This year though, it’s a completely different story. Reardon has had a solid

pre season, and he has already proven to the world, that age is no limit for the man who came back from retirement. The big question mark for Reardon is, ‘Is Reardon just a Supercross guy, or can he blow these youngsters out of the water in Motocross too?’. Wouldn’t it be a fairy tale ending for Reardon if he could come out and show that he’s still got it in the Outdoors too! He took race wins and round wins in 2015, and if he can carry his Supercross momentum into 2016, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with at round one.

JAY WILSON & DYLAN LONG Crankt Protein Honda Racing These two youngsters are pretty much the babies of the MX1 class, and no one is really sure what either of them are capable of, or what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to bring to the table in 2016. Their mix of energy, being a brand new team, as well as having the experience and knowledge of well known Pip Harrison in their corner, makes this pair of riders the ones to watch, and are both in with a legitimate chance to take podiums this year.

For both riders the pressure is off, the team is investing in their youth and have a long term goal in mind, which means the Honda riders are simply both happy and excited to go racing. To top it off, these guys are former team mates, who have both performed on the world stage together, so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a solid chance that at some point this year, these guys are going to be on the MX1 podiumâ&#x20AC;Ś maybe even together. 79

Welcome to the Naturally refreshing Sunshine Coast

Official holiday destination for the MX Nationals

visitsunshinecoast.com

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

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

Maleny Wood Expo

APR

MAY

30 April - 2 May Maleny Showgrounds

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

Australian Outrigger Aussie Aito Noosa Food & Wine 2016

20-22 May Noosa Heads

20 May Mooloolaba

JUN

57th Australian National Square Dance Convention

Downunder Beachfest

26 June -4 July

9-13 June

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

Caloundra and Hinterland

Queensland State Club Gymnastics Championships and Border Challenge

Etchells Australasian Winter Championships 9-12 June Mooloolaba

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

Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - The Aussies

16-24 April Maroochydore, Alexandra Headlands & Mooloolaba

Australian Outrigger Marathon Titles

21-22 May Mooloolaba

Pumpkin Festival 29 May Goomeri

Noosa Ultimate Sports Festival 28 May Noosa Heads

Sunshine Coast Winter Bowls Carnival

International Rally of Queensland

28 May-27 July

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

JUL

AUG

SEP

Open Cockpit Weekend

MX Nationals Round 10

Maroochy Music and Visual Arts

2-3 July

27-28 August

Queensland Air Museum Caloundra

Coolum Beach

24-29 June Caloundra Indoor Stadium

Gympie Music Muster

25-28 August Amamoor State Forest

10 September

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships

4 September Mooloolaba

Horton Park Golf Course

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

Queensland Garden Expo

08-10 July Nambour Showgrounds

Northern University Games

Noosa Long Weekend

3-7 July

15-24 July

Sunshine Coast Stadium

Noosa area

OCT

22-24 October

October

Blackall Range

7 Sunshine Coast Marathon

17 July

Conondale

World Series Swims - Swim Queensland

The Blackall 100

Mitchell Creek

MX Nationals Round 7

19-21 August Alexandra Headland, Cotton Tree, Maroochydore

Tin Can Bay Seafood Festival 24 September Tin Can Bay

DEC

NOV

National Outrigger Junior Titles

Trans Tasman Gubbi Gubbi Waka Ama 22-23 September

24-26 September Lake Kawana

Lake Kawana

Christmas lights December

Mooloolaba

Triathlon Pink and Fun Run Pink November

Kawana Sports Precinct / Sunshine Coast Stadium

Caloundra Music Festival

30 September-3 October

Gatorade Qld Tri Series - Kawana

November

Kawana Sports Precinct / Sunshine Coast Stadium

Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival 30 October Noosa Heads

Caloundra

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

12 November Mary Valley

Wanderlust Sunshine Coast

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

Conscious Life Festival November

Innovation Centre Kawana

Holden Scramble Championship Finals November Twin Waters Golf Club

Woodford Folk Festival

27 December- 1 January Woodfordia

DISCOVER YOUR NEXT DESTINATION INSTAGRAM

@VISITSUNSHINECOAST #VISITSUNSHINECOAST #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia

ROUnD 1

AORC 84

KTM Off-Road Team’s Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders broke through for his first outright victory today at the opening round of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) at Kilkivan in Queensland. Sanders, 21, who finished fourth in last year’s outright championship said it was definitely a tough day. “I knew that it was going to be the same sorts of tracks as last year, so I knew what to expect,” said Sanders who finished with a total time of 46min00.731sec. “To get my first outright win done and dusted has been a goal of mine which I wanted to do this season, so this a real big confident booster leading into tomorrow,” added Sanders who had his two worst rounds at Kilkivan last year when he finished with a 6-7 outright. Second to Sanders was Husqvarna’s Lachlan Stanford who finished 4.197sec behind.

While all racers want to win, the young gun did explain that it was a solid start to the season with a second place outright and in the E3 class. Stanford knew that a top three was possible as he did have the pace to run with the front running group. Rounding out the top three outright and the winner of the E2 class was Active8 Yamaha’s Josh Green who finished with a total time of 46min21.562sec. Green was a little bit disappointed with his day in the office, as he has had a really good off-season worth of training. Green’s first lap was good, but then he chucked it away on the second lap after hitting a rock, which cost him a fair bit of time and any chances of snaring the round win. Beau Ralston, Tye Simmonds, Chris Hollis, Scott Keegan, Mitch Harper, Jack

Simpson and Broc Grabham rounded out the top ten respectfully. In the Women’s AORC it was Queenslanders very own Jemma Wilson taking the spoils, winning all six heats. The 2011 Women’s AORC champion beat fellow Yamaha riders Emelie Karlsson and Tasmania’s Sophie Coldicutt, while three times AORC champion Jess Gardiner, who is now back on a Yamaha for 2016 finished in fourth position. Rounding out the top five was the next best Queenslander in Tamara Gray. Other class winners for round one included Jason Salopayevs (Masters), Kirk Hutton (Vets), while Mathew Pye took the glory in the J2 division, Jye Bennett was the winner in the J3 and Zak Mitten in the J4 class.

ROUnD 2

AORC 86

It seems as if KTM Off-Road Team’s Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders may just be the man to beat in this year’s Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) if the first two rounds at Kilkivan are anything to go by, after the Victorian rider was once again victorious in the second round in both the outright and E3 category. Sanders did admit that he did start off a bit slow in the first few sprints after just trying to find the correct lines and get into a rhythm. It wasn’t until the fifth run where Sanders finally took the overall lead from Active8 Yamaha Yamalube’s Josh Green who was the early pace setter for the round. Sanders explained that the track today had a nice little technical section through the dried up creek bed, which was really rough and rocky, which he believed was where it was paying off for him as he had a great rhythm through that section. The finishing order between Sanders

and Green was a slender .999sec, which Sanders described as a “great win and a big confident booster” heading into round three and four. “It’s a great way to start the year off and a fantastic way to reward the team for all the hard work they have done during the off season,” said Sanders. Green, who was the winner of the E2 class was a bit disappointed in himself after making a mistake in the second last sprint - Green caught the bank with his left knee aggravating an injury that he’s had since the off season. “It’s nothing major, but it’s just a niggling annoying thing which put me off for the rest of that lap,” said Green. Green did however pull a second back on Sanders on the last sprint, but just was not enough in the end. 24-year-old Lachlan Stanford again

proved that he had pace to challenge for this year’s title, after he came home in third position and second in the E3 class, 12.611sec behind Green. Overall however Stanford did share that a second in round one and third in round two, was a good way to kick start his championship, and is really looking forward to the remainder of the year piloting the Husqvarna FE501 machine. Rounding out the top five was Tye Simmonds (KTM Off-Road Team) and CDR Yamaha’s Chris Hollis, with Green’s teammate Beau Ralston finishing in sixth place. The standout ride went to young Victorian rider Jack Simpson who finished seventh outright and took out the E1 class.

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