Inside Dirt - Issue 12: MX Nationals Round 7 by MX Nationals

MX1 THE TITLE CHASE THUS FAR

RIDERS TIPS HOW TO RIDE STEEP HILLS

pg. 22

pg. 34

THE HATTAH DESERT RACE RECAP

MYTH BUSTERS HOW TO GET SPONSORED

pg. 60

pg. 44

JED BEATON GAINS CONTROLL OF THE RED PLATE IN MX2 After a dominating performance at broadford and some bad luck from our early series leader Caleb Ward, Jed Beaton has grabbed the red plate with no sign of letting it go. Can he go all the way? pg. 110

THE GLOVES ARE ON! Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done it before, and he could do it again. First round back from the mid-season break Matt Moss was nearly flawless at Nowra. Ex Champ, now so called underdog, could he go all the way?

ROUND 7 C O N O N DA L E

MX NATIONALS

ISSUE 12 12.7.2016

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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MAGIC MOMENT The Nowra circuit proved to be challenging for all the riders to navigate. Riders where forced to constantly look for smooth lines as the day went on.

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MAGIC MOMENT Matt Moss had that fire in his eye on the weekend showing a dominating performance in both motoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. We are predicting to see more of the #102 upfront in the second half.

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Where did the first half of 2016 go? There have already been six rounds of the Motul MX Nationals and two very big desert races, and it’s hard to believe that we are now approaching the closing stages of the motocross season.

WHATS IN STORE

So with that said, in this issue of Inside Dirt we have some pretty serious races to cover! Finke, Hattah, as well as the Military round of the Motul MX Nationals are all on the hit list for this big issue. You’ll also hear from riders, get riders tips, we’ll bust myths and give you a behind the scenes look at what goes on in the Australian dirt bike world. We have some special one off contributors sharing on-the-ground experiences from the Hattah Desert Race, as well as plenty of content from our regular expert contributors. So if you want the scoop on what is happening across the country in the world of dirt bikes, start turning the pages, because Issue 12 of Inside Dirt is without a doubt our best edition yet.

Behind the Gate

MX1 The title chase thus far

Riders Tips

Myth Busters

MW Plug Chop - Ross Beaton

Hattah Desert Race

MXStore Privateer highlights

Inside Uncut

Race Recap - Dean Ferris

7 Questions with Kyle Webster

Y-AIM New South Wales

104 Hit and Miss 110 What’s on Sunshine coast 117 Round 7 Schedule 120 MX1 Round Recap 128 MX2 Round Recap 136 MXD Round Recap 154 MXN Team Press & Gallery 184 Finke Desert Race 194 Juniors at Hattah

010

ID ISSUE #12

ON PAGE 44: How do you get sponsored? Todd gives readers insight and tips on how to land that big brand.

ON PAGE 22: With only a small margin separating the top 4 riders in MX1 we take a look back at the title chase thus far.

34 ON PAGE 60: The Hattah Desert race named the â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Ultimate Motocross Vs Enduro Athlete Competition.â&#x20AC;? Find out why?

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TA K E T O T H E U N K N O W N

COMP CODE: 47- TODDWATERS

BEHIND THE GATES It’s been one big year so far, and it’s hard to believe that in just over a month’s time that we are going to see new champions crowned and be handing out the trophies after another season of the MX Nationals. This year has been very special for us at Williams Event Management. This is our 20th year in operation, and its been very humbling to see big crowds, tight racing, huge support from the industry and riders returning from overseas to contest our very own championship. Lots of hard work has come together this year, and I’m very proud of what we have achieved so far. Before I talk about Nowra and

then Conondale, I just want to touch on Wanneroo. And WOW! What a round. The two-day program in Western Australia which saw riders practice on Saturday, followed by a pit party with locals directly afterwards, worked very well. Fans had the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the fastest riders in the country, and it was a very relaxed atmosphere. Then of course, once racing kicked off, it was game on. The crowd at Wanneroo was exactly what I remember motocross crowds being like – lively, cheering, and rows and rows deep on the fence line. It was the good old days in WA, and a big congratulations goes out

to the club and all who were involved in making round five such a fantastic event – It was the perfect way to finish off the first half of the season. During the mid-season break, there was lots of planning involved for the WEM team. We are always working on ways to grow and improve the MX Nationals championship and for the second half of the season we are going to be working with many local councils to have a greater involvement from the communities that we visit, as well as some pretty cool opportunities for riders to get out and experience some of these special places as part of the series. Watch this space.

“THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH MANY LOCAL COUNCILS TO HAVE A GREATER INVOLVEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE VISIT” _________ KEVIN WILLIAMS SPEAKS ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE MID SEASON BREAK.

As well as plenty of planning during the break, we also continued to test and develop the NRGTV side of things. With the live streaming technology constantly updating and improving, we have also been experimenting with the technology ourselves and we are hoping that in the future we too can break new ground through live streaming, and deliver new experiences to those who can’t be at the track on race day. Now, for the racing. So far this year, the competitiveness on track has been nothing short of nail biting. From Kirk Gibbs taking the red plate at his home track at Murray Bridge, to that huge crash from Ferris at Wanneroo, then coming back to take the round win at Nowra. If you’ve come to watch the Motul MX Nationals to

see some close racing, you’ve sure got it this year. If things stay the way they are, the Thor MX1 class could go down to the very last moto at Coolum, just how we like it. At this point it’s hard to pick who could win the MX1 championship, or who can keep it on two wheels all the way to the final chequered flag. Matt Moss showed unbelievable speed at Nowra, and Todd Waters is also lurking just behind Gibbs and Ferris. We’ve got a four-way battle for the title on our hands, and we can’t wait to watch it all unfold over the next four rounds. In the Motul MX2 class, again you just can’t pick what could happen. We have already seen three red plate holders in the class so far this season, and the points tightened up once again at

“THERE AREN’T JUST TWO GUYS WHO COULD WIN, THERE’S AT LEAST THREE RIDERS ALL WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF A TITLE” Nowra leaving us all guessing what could happen next. Nathan Crawford has shown unbelievable maturity so far this year, and as a result, he now leads the MX2 championship by nine points, meanwhile Caleb Ward is clawing his way back to the top after that DNF at Broadford, and Jed Beaton is also well in the mix. Last year the Motul MX2 championship was one of the highlights of the season, with Luke Clout and Jay Wilson going head to head to the very end, but this year, there aren’t just two guys who could win, there’s at least three riders all within striking distance of a title, and much like the fate of the MX1 class, this year’s championship deciding race could very well be that last race at Coolum. Finally, the Pirelli MXD class. I’ve always said, that one of the best parts of my job is watching young riders arrive at round one of the MX Nationals with a clear goal in mind, and then to see those same

riders taking their first senior wins of their careers is very rewarding. At round six, I was able to witness one of those moments once again. Wade Kirkland raced to his first ever round victory in New South Wales, which I know was very special for not only himself, but the entire Raceline Pirelli KTM team who work tirelessly every year to develop and provide a strong foundation for up and coming riders. Not only is the MXD class where dreams are made, but it’s the breeding ground for our future champions, so I’m very honoured to be a part of hosting Australia’s youngest stars every weekend. The racing is top notch this year, and the riders themselves are true gentlemen. Watch this class, because there is some true talent coming through the ranks,

and the future is looking bright for Australian Motocross. I would also like to briefly touch on the achievements of KTM Australia in both the Finke and Hattah Desert races. What Toby Price achieved in the ‘Ironman’ category this year at Finke was truly something out of a fairy tale. Toby and KTM are clearly a match made in heaven, and together have achieved great success in 2016, so a big congratulations from myself and the MX Nationals team. I would also like to congratulate Tye Simmonds on his maiden Hattah victory. Tye began his career at the MX Nationals, and although he no longer races with us, it is fantastic to see him go on to achieve great things with the support of KTM this year. Maybe we could have both boys

back for a round of the Nats in the future? Wouldn’t that be something! Before I sign off and we make our way to Conondale, I’d also like to thank the riders and teams who went above and beyond to transform their machines in support of the Military round of the MX Nationals at Nowra. We had a number of Royal Australian Navy Personnel in attendance at round six, and it was a very cool moment for me, seeing some of Australia’s servicemen lining up to form a guard of honour for Australia’s fastest riders. There was a theme of mutual respect at Nowra, and everyone at the MX Nationals felt very honoured to be in the presence of the men and women who serve and protect our country. We are looking forward to strengthening those

partnerships and creating more like these in the future. Now, on to Conondale. It’s been a couple of years since we visited the Queensland venue, but we all know why it’s a crowd favourite… ‘Drunks Hill’. If you’re in to seeing motorbikes scream off a jump more than 100ft long, then this is the round for you. Plus, we have a sneaking suspicion that a certain Whip King may be racing, so make sure you get down to see it in the flesh. Now get reading. This latest issue of Inside Dirt has been a long time in the making, and we can’t wait for you to get in to the content. Story by, Kevin Williams

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MX1 TITLE CHASE T H U S FA R

When the Motul MX Nationals first kicked off way back at Horsham, many were under the impression that with Dean Ferris and Todd Waters returning after racing the MXGP series in Europe, that we would see complete domination from the pair. However, when the gates dropped at Round 1, it was quite clear that the MX Nationals series regulars Matt Moss and Kirk Gibbs would be a force to be reckoned with in 2016, and throughout the first six rounds, this year couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been scripted better. We are going to take you back to Horsham, Appin, Broadford, Murray Bridge, Wanneroo and Nowra to see just how and why the Thor MX1 Championship has played out the way it has thus far.

Story By: Misty Walton

ROUND 1 HORSHAM Horsham is where it all got started this year and one thing is for sure, that when thousands of fans who turned out for the season opener, they were certainly not expecting Matt Moss to be the man leaving country Victoria with the red plate. With so much hype surrounding both Ferris and Waters in the pre-season, many had written off Moss as a true title contender, and after a tough 2015, many had somewhat ruled him out of the championship picture all together. But when the gates dropped at Horsham, Moss battled with the likes of Gibbs and Ferris in moto one, putting the doubts to rest. And in moto two Moss took the lead early in the race, and that was where he stayed. With a 3rd and a win to his name, Moss became the first rider to lead the MX1 Championship by a single point. Gibbs was also impressive at Horsham taking second, while Ferris finished third. Turns out that Horsham was just a teaser for what was to come this year. 24

Matt Moss after winning “There’s been a lot of people who have doubted me after last year, and a lot of people really wrote me off, this is proof that they’re all wrong – I want to win another championship, and that’s what I’m here to do. “I really can’t thank the people who have stuck by me enough. A lot of people don’t understand this sport, or don’t realise what we have to do, but to the people who have stuck by me, I’m really happy I could do this for them. “My team manager Troy Carroll understands how I work, and he’s worked me out as a person pretty quickly. I’m really happy that I got to battle with Gibbsy (Kirk Gibbs) and that after everyone talking, that we are the two guys standing here on the podium at round one.”

ROUND 2 APPIN As the series marched on to Appin, the championship also headed in to Moss territory. With the local Kawasaki rider heading to the round with the MX1 red plate, and clearly the speed to win races, many thought it was likely that round two could dish out a clean sweep from Moss. However, it ending up being a round to forget for the former Aussie champ. Brett Metcalfe wowed the crowds when took his first ever MX Nats win in the second moto at Appin, but with Ferris on a charge and the CDR Yamaha rider determined to take the points lead, a win in race one and third in race two was all that was required to move in to the top spot in the championship at round two. Meanwhile Moss slid back to fourth

in the standings, while Gibbs trailed Ferris by only the slightest of margins (2 points) followed by Waters. From there, the four-way battle for a title was well and truly underway. Dean Ferris after winning “I’m stoked to get the round win today, the plan was always just to get through the first round, but honestly I was pretty disappointed not to get the win in Horsham to be honest,” he said. “Everyone is fast at the moment, and when you’ve got the red plate you’ve always got a target on your back, but I’ll just keep doing my best to ride well – the first three rounds are critical so we want to be putting ourselves in the best position possible.” 25

“After my injury last year it feels even better to be up here – Everyone really thought it was just going to be Todd and Dean battling this year, but I’m stoked to be up there with them battling every weekend.” - KIRK GIBBS

ROUND 3 BROADFORD “Hi, welcome to Broadford, would you like some rain with that?” When the championship arrived in Victoria for round three, competitors were treated to some fairly traditional ‘Melbourne’ style weather, and after a storm tore through the venue on Saturday night, when riders arrived on Sunday it was a complete MUD FEST. With GoPro Superpole canned for safety reasons, the MX1 class had just two motos to snatch up valuable championship points. Despite not winning a single race at Broadford it was the defending champ Gibbs who took the round three honours with two second place finishes – narrowing Ferris’s lead down to a single point. Both Ferris and Waters took second and third places on the podium at Broadford too, well and truly keeping the chase for a title wide open. With Gibbs being the second ‘series regular’ to take a round win at Broadford, it was then quite clear, that the MX Nationals pace was on par with some of the fastest riders in the world.

and Dean have established ourselves in the class, and hopefully we can keep these battles rolling every weekend. “I haven’t had a moto win yet but I’m sure it’s close, so I’m just going to keep on chasing it. “After my injury last year it feels even better to be up here – Everyone really thought it was just going to be Todd and Dean battling this year, but I’m stoked to be up there with them battling every weekend.”

Kirk Gibbs after winning “I’m only one point off the championship lead now and obviously myself, Todd,

ROUND 4 M. BRIDGE Gibbsy’s home town. Prior to round four, the locals in South Australia had already expressed their desire to see the 2015 MX Nationals Champ take the win on home soil. But it wasn’t a round win that Gibbsy was served at Murray Bridge, but the championship lead. It turned out that the red sand was the perfect ground for Waters to collect his first overall victory for the 2016 season, while Gibbsy’s consistent fourth place and moto win handed him second place on the podium and the MX1 red plate. In what was a close to perfect send of for Metcalfe, third place on the podium was his final MX Nationals result for the year, and the points he collated did well to tighten up the championship even further. As the top four riders departed South Australia and charged on

to Wanneroo, Gibbs led the MX1 Championship for the very first time from Ferris by a single point. Todd Waters after Winning “It feels awesome to finally get a round win here at Murray Bridge – we were close at Broadford but we got it done here today so I’m stoked,” he said. “With a win in moto one, I just tried to ride a smart race in the second one – I knew that I just needed to get third so I did what I needed to do and finished with the round win. “All of the boys are riding very well so it’s nice to finally get an overall, and now I’m just looking forward to getting in to some deep sand at Wanneroo next weekend.”

ROUND 5 WANNEROO Time for the sand specialists to come out to play! Many had tipped that if there was one round where both Waters and Ferris would shine, it would be Wanneroo. With years of experience racing sand tracks just like the Western Australian venue at the MXGPs, it was set to be former Euro rider domination across three races at round five. But despite Ferris taking out GoPro Superpole and then two commanding wins in motos one and two, putting himself well and truly in the box seat to emerge from the round as the red plate holder, in the final race of the day EVERYTHING went pear shaped for the CDR Yamaha rider. As soon as the gates dropped Ferris and Gibbs were neck and neck in the final moto, and after just a single turn the pair came together, and Ferris went down in what was the biggest crash so far this year - becoming the first of the top four to DNF, and leaving the track in the hands of Racesafe. With Ferris out, Gibbs stormed to his second round

victory for the year at Wanneroo, while Moss was also handed his second podium for the year in Western Australia (2nd overall). Waters inherited third spot on the podium with Ferris out, and moved in to second position in the overall points standings. With a DNF, Ferris slid to a disappointing third in the MX1 championship, setting up the final five rounds as a dash to the finish line. Kirk Gibbs “It’s awesome to take the win here, and walk away with the points lead going in to the break,” he said. “It was a shame to see Dean go down – you never want to see another rider get hurt, but I’m happy that I just stayed consistent and managed to ride to the track conditions. “I knew that with the two guys coming back from Europe that they would be fast in the sand so it’s especially nice to walk away with a win here at Wanneroo.”

“The championship is always in the back of your mind but I just need to take it one race at a time, chip away at it, and make sure I’m strong and solid every moto from here on out.” - DEAN FERRIS

ROUND 6 NOWRA With a five week break for the Thor MX1 class to recuperate and recharge, a rejuvenated Waters, Moss, Ferris and red plate holder Gibbs, headed to the tight and technical Nowra circuit ready to begin the final five round dash towards an MX1 title. And following this year’s trend, there was plenty of drama that played out across round six. From the minute bikes hit the track, the points had already tightened up. With Gibbs injuring himself during qualifying, the KTM red plate holder was absent from GoPro Superpole, allowing Ferris to snatch up 5 valuable championship points before racing had even gotten underway. But when race one kicked off it was neither Ferris or injured Gibbs who would take the win, it was Nowra local Moss. Then in race two, Moss was well and truly in the box seat to go undefeated, however a mistake on the final two laps handed the lead to Ferris where he stayed for the remainder of the moto. With a 2nd and a win at Nowra, Ferris took the round six honours, while Moss settled for second place on equal points due to a countback. The final position on the podium was taken by Gibbs, who exited round six

battered and bruised, but remains the championship leader by nine points on Ferris, with four rounds remaining. Dean Ferris after winning “It feels good to get the win here at Nowra. There’s been six rounds and I’ve only won two of them so it’s a solid result,” he said. “It’s my goal to win every weekend, but even halfway through that final race I thought I might have to settle for second, but Mossy (Matt) crashed and handed it to me so I’ll take the win – I’m stoked. “After Wanneroo I was a bit battered and bruised and it took a couple of weeks to get back to 100 per cent but I had a solid break and did a lot of training and riding so I’m back to where I was. “The championship is always in the back of your mind but I just need to take it one race at a time, chip away at it, and make sure I’m strong and solid every moto from here on out.”

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RIDERS TIPS HIGH SPEED HILL RIDING AND NATURAL TERRAIN

Hi everyone, Welcome back to inside dirt and the “Riding tips” articles for the second half of the 2016 season!! For this article I am going to focus on high speed hill riding and natural terrain as we are heading back to the iconic legendary Connondale circuit in QLD for round seven of the series. Typically Connondale does not form up like many of the tracks on the series. This is due to a few factors; 1- The steep hills and use of the valley type of race track 2- The track does not get used as regularly as most race tracks on the series and often riders will be riding fresh grass track sections in qualifying. 3- High speed sections and old school lay out Let’s address each of these factors individually and explain what they mean in regards to riding technique and style.

Story By: Joe Stevens

THE STEEP HILLS AND USE OF THE VALLEY TYPE OF RACE TRACK

The hills at Connondale are varied. Some are steep, some are mellower but longer and some sections are VERY off cambered. This presents the riders with a very challenging and technical race track as almost part of the race track requires a different riding technique to be fast at this track. The steep hills will require riders to be in a lower revving gear and not be afraid to carry a lot of momentum on the down hills! Finding a consistent breaking point that carries speed but allows them to set up for a corner or obstacle will be a huge part of running consistent lap times. In a slight contrast, the uphill sections will require riders to use their brakes a lot less and get used to easing off the throttle when setting up for corners on top of the hills. Rolling speed at the top of the hills equals a far greater speed at the bottom of the hills and riders will learn this very quickly in qualifying that the riders who sound the fastest with stop start revving and clutch often find themselves down the ranks heading into moto 1. Off cambered hills and corners are essentially a track section where riders are traversing a hill on an angle, and this causes the bike and rider to be very unbalanced. Flat tracking with the rear wheel, keeping body weight forward and pushing through the peg on the foot peg on the top side of the bike with smooth throttle control is key in navigating these sections consistently every lap.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The steep hills will require riders to be in a lower revving gear and not be afraid to carry a lot of momentum on the down hillsâ&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When was the last time you saw the MX Nationals on grass track? Well dig out the VHS tapes because Conondale is going retroâ&#x20AC;?

THE TRACK DOES NOT GET USED AS REGULARLY AS MOST RACE TRACKS ON THE SERIES AND OFTEN RIDERS WILL BE RIDING FRESH GRASS TRACK SECTIONS IN QUALIFYING.

When was the last time you saw the MX Nationals on grass track? Well dig out the VHS tapes because it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen anymore in Modern motocross except for Connondale! The first corner and start straight is fully grassed over, and the club always throw in a few new sections to lengthen the lap times that are fresh grass. What does this mean for our riders? Well wet grass in the morning is VERY slippery. Depending on the weather leading up to the event the grass will either turn to powder berms very early in the day if it

has been dry or turn to very deep and slippery ruts if it has been wet. Riders need to be very smooth with power control and employ more of an old school riding style of flat turns, dipping the bike in keeping their body weight more upright. Pushing the front wheel too far can lead to a wash out, as can being too aggressive with the power and spinning out with the rear. I expect to see the older school generation of riders such as Dan Reardon to be very fast and experienced in these conditions at Connondale.

HIGH SPEED SECTIONS AND OLD SCHOOL LAY OUT

Expecting a freshly groomed track, ripped and fluffy? Think again, Connondale is old school and that means Fast, hills and natural terrain. Those freshly groomed ruts and bar dragging berms at the other circuits do not apply here! The track is a mans track and often the younger riders inexperienced at riding old school natural terrain will struggle visiting

this venue for the first time. Riders will progress throughout the day learning the terrain and layout, the riders who carry momentum, rolling speed and smooth throttle control will find themselves at the pointy end of the field. Connondale is a rare animal and I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see the 2016 field of competitors shape the track and racing heading into round 7!

Thanks for reading everyone and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to tune into NRGTV on race day to catch all the action live. See you all at the races Joe Stevens

C O

A C H I N G

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

MYTH BUSTING THE TRUTH ABOUT SPONSORSHIP

They say “the older, the wiser”… They also say “you learn from your mistakes”... Well, I’m 21 years old, younger than almost half of the MX Nationals field, and can safely say I’m still learning from my mistakes as I make them week by week. But I can also say that over the past few years I have been fortunate enough to spend some time with people within the industry and begun to learn how sponsorship works, which is something I wasn’t aware of as an aspiring racer just a few seasons ago. As a kid, I never had a big list of sponsors. I wasn’t a stand out national rider, I was from the outback where not much was going on, and I didn’t know many people within the industry. So I never really understood how to “get 44

sponsored” or how sponsored riders got to where they were. I was under the illusion that if you were a good rider you could just send in your resume and boom, everyone would want to support you. I was wrong, so wrong, as are most kids these days. I guess because I wasn’t a heavily sponsored rider I always put it down to “it’s who you know, not what you do”, which is interesting because this is both right and wrong… Let me explain. Sponsorship, in a nutshell is finance or resource oriented support of an activity or person, primarily to REACH SPECIFIED BUSINESS GOALS. I’m not sure if I’m the one breaking it to you (if so I’m sorry to be the one), but it doesn’t matter how fast you are, how good your bike skills have

Story By: Todd Jarratt

IF YOU ARENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T HELPING THE BUSINESS REACH THEIR GOALS, THEN THEY ARE BY NO MEANS REQUIRED TO GIVE YOU SUPPORT ABOVE OTHERS. 45

become, or how many races you’ve won, if you aren’t helping the business reach their goals, then they are by no means required to give you support above others. This may seem harsh, but it’s the truth. Our generation believe we are entitled to and deserve everything for nothing. The funny thing is, we are owed zero and we are now more than ever required to earn whatever we get. It doesn’t matter if we are winning state titles or have the style of Dungey, if we have a negative attitude, are un-sportsman like, don’t promote the brand or product, or generally provide little to no value to the potential sponsor, they have no reason to move away from their business goals just to boost our ego. Think about it kids… If someone came up to your parents and told them 46

they are required to do a whole heap of work for free with nothing in return, would you be happy about this? My guess is no… So why should we as riders, expect business’, brands and companies to do that for us? We need to promote the products of companies supporting us through numerous channels. First of which, is by word of mouth. This means speaking highly of the goods and services we may be provided with, and referring others to try them also. If you’re competing in the MX Nationals, I believe that at a club and regional level you have a huge influence on fellow riders, especially the junior competitors who most likely look up to you. So use your role model status to help others and give back to those who have supported you in chasing your dreams! Social media is the next platform you should be using to endorse sponsors! It is the biggest network in the world, and the easiest way to connect with anyone around the globe, so use this to yours and your sponsors’ advantage! Create an athlete page that lists your supporters, describe the products or services they provide, and why you utilise them. Provide easy links for viewers to check out the products, for example tagging them in

“Another underutilised marketing method is creating written, photo, and video content specific to the products, brands and companies supporting you.”

photos and in the photo caption on Instagram, or using the website link on your Facebook page. Another underutilised marketing method is creating written, photo, and video content specific to the products, brands and companies supporting you. For example, if you use Motul Oils to keep your bike in perfect condition or Thor gear to keep you safe whenever you ride, then take the time to get a photo or video of their product in action. Whether it is having your bike all

neatened up and pouring in some fresh engine oil, heading to a unique location to do a shoot in your new gear, or writing a review on the Pirelli tires you’re running – this is the kind of social media value that potential sponsors are looking for. You will notice that the riders with the best support aren’t always the fastest on track, but are those who give it their best to provide supporters with the greatest return on investment (i.e. value) possible. You may also need 47

to look into volunteering your time to help your sponsors by identifying if there is anything you can do to further their product exposure, or even by simply sending through regular training and performance updates with words of thanks and appreciation for the ongoing support. Remember, the little things can also go a long way and rarely go unnoticed. The final focal area I want to touch on regarding sponsorship is this – if you are supported by a brand, no matter how great or small the sponsorship is, always make a genuine effort to use their products and not those of the competition

when times are tough. It happens all too often, when a family is supported by a brand through product, as soon as the discount on the good is reduced, they choose to use a competing brand’s product because it’s more convenient or a couple of dollars cheaper. If you’re doing this, stop. True brand partnerships are built on loyalty, and that is where “it’s who you know” is so important. By developing reliable relationships with companies through being loyal in the tough times, that support will no doubt be returned when things are a little easier – again the little things don’t go unnoticed. So guys, the next time you are

MYTH BUSTED? SHARE YOUR OPINION tempted to ask or demand new or discounted parts or gear, first think â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how can I add value to the company and promote their products so that they want me on board and are thankful they made the decision to put their balls on the line for me? You never know, a little effort and loyalty could go a long way. Until next time guys, ride hard and stay safe!

Story by Todd Jarratt

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From professional athlete, to Junior Development Team Manager, to Coach and now to Mentor, Ross Beaton has worn a number of different hats throughout his time on the Motocross scene. Misty Walton sat down with the 25-year-old who doesn’t like the term ‘Coaching’ to find out what it’s like on the other side of the fence, and what motivates him these days, now that he no longer lines up to go racing himself. Ross, you’ve been around a long time now. You started off racing when you were younger and then went away to run the Yamaha junior development team side of things, can you first off tell us how that happened and what your experience was there? The Junior Development Team came about when I finished up in Under 19’s in 2010. I didn’t really fit anywhere in to

Yamaha’s structure as a full time racer I’d say, but they offered me the opportunity to manage the Junior Team and then still do some racing and riding at a state level. So I got involved with that, and for me it was a real eye opener. Dealing with industry people, and being on the other side of the fence and realising how much product, and time and effort that went in to running a race team even at a smaller junior racing level, it was really surprising. Working with the riders was very cool, and even now I have some good relationships with the riders that I had on that team. It was a really cool experience, and it’s something that I’d enjoy doing again if the time was right. What eventually caused you to to move away from that role? I was still only about 21 years old, and I just felt that I had a lot more to offer to 53

racing in my career. I ended up signing with 07 Motorsports at the time, and I was team mates with Adam Monea. I ended up injuring myself one week before round one of the MX Nationals though. I had purchased a house, I had a mortgage so I needed to make a wage, and 07 were the only guys who were going to pay me so I ended up going there. After that I ended up going back to work actually for a few years to be honest. When you initially stopped racing to take on the Junior Development side of things, did you ever think that you would end up making any sort of return? I did. When I took on the Junior Development side of things, I was still really active with riding and everything and doing some racing as well. But at that time I actually had a full time job at the desalination plant in Wonthaggi as well, so I was working six days a week and then managing the junior team and doing state races at the same time, so I was just a little bit time poor with the National events to be honest. That sort of ended up being my life for the next four years. Just working and trying to race. I was putting in about 20% of my time compared to my competitors. It just got frustrating in the end, and working and trying to race just wasn’t working.

When you did come back again in 2015, it still wasn’t an easy road and before you’d even gotten to round one, you’d injured yourself pretty badly, did it make you question what you were doing? Well not really. I got back in to riding again when Jed started to do well. He was hounding me to get another bike in around 2013, or 2014. So I went and bought a bike from a local dealership and then just started doing a lot more riding and enjoying it again. I did a couple of Nationals off my own back and even did a few Off-Roads, and during that time that I was doing it, I started to get some interest from DPH. They offered me a ride, and I took that. I’d worked for so long and saved up enough money that I was able to live without working for a year, so I did that. But again when I first signed with them, I had a big crash and broke my back, my ribs, and punctured my lung so that took me a while to get over that. Then once I’d recovered, I had finished my job so I could finally dedicate all my time to racing. My preseason leading in to 2015 was going really well, Jed and I were doing all the right things, and I actually got to a point where I was about two seconds a lap faster that Jed at the practice tracks and I felt I was riding well. Then we just went out one day to do some training and I had a crash and broke my femur. So, that sort

of put a hold on my comeback, and I was I can help people to not make the same out for pretty much four months. mistakes that I made, that it was far more rewarding to see them succeed than to Fast forward to 2016, and you’re now try and do it all again myself. Now I’ve helping your brother Jed Beaton in his built a role where we have structured MX2 title campaign, tell me a bit about days at the track, and more so with Jed your role with him this year, aside from we go to the track with a purpose. We are just being his brother. both very lucky that I have a job now that It actually all sort of came about when I enables me to be at the track, and that broke my femur. When I hurt myself, I just we are just doing what we love doing. It’s sort of found myself going to the practice a very cool thing. track with Wilson Todd and Jed all the time. And then when I was going there These days do you prefer to be on the with them, I was just sort of helping them other side of the fence? with their riding and doing bits and pieces Look I love it, and it’s growing more and and I had some interest from other people more. I hate using the word ‘Coaching’, wanting my help too. I just enjoyed it a lot. because that word is used pretty loosely. I enjoyed seeing Wilson and Jed win, and I To be honest I think coaching for a while had kind of got to a point where I had hurt now has been a bit stale. People have myself so much and put so much time, been getting coached and the methods money and effort in to racing and hadn’t have been pretty similar. What I’m trying got all that much reward. I’ve found that If to do now is more mentoring, and then 55

just guiding riders and offering support. That’s what I like doing, and it’s not about reinventing the wheel but it’s about giving riders structure and stability. It then gives them confidence and away it goes. All the guys I work with, from C and B grade riders through to Jed and Jay Wilson), they are appreciative of what I’m doing and I like doing it. Do you take inspiration from anyone in the way you’re now mentoring your riders? Not necessarily, but I do take some guidance from Josh Coppins. When I went over to New Zealand at the beginning of the year, seeing his whole set up and the way that it works, he’s very on to it with 56

what he does. And then there’s guys like Gareth Swanepoel in America – just guys that are working closely with riders and offering their support without trying to take the limelight. It’s not about us, it’s about the guys on the bikes winning the races. I’m not doing this to try and promote myself or make myself ‘known’ it’s about the guys I’m working with getting the results that they want. What are you hoping for the future for yourself now? Is mentoring riders something you’re hoping to make more of a career out of, or is the goal to run a race team or something like that? At this point, I think there’s a big void in racing, especially in Australia and that’s

guys who offer support. A lot of guys who do it are very expensive and you don’t get a lot for it. I’m just trying to better my program all the time and reinvest in it and eventually make it a career. I’d like to offer a facility where riders can go and spend time where they can ride and better themselves. That’s my sort of goal with it now – A race team would be cool but I understand how much hard work goes in to that now too. Sometimes, there’s too many teams though and not enough support so I’m realistic about that. I’m only young too so you never know what could happen in the future, and for now I’m just lucky to have good manufacturer support and I’m able to keep the ball rolling.

What’s been the hardest thing about being on the other side of the fence? It’s actually watching. But the hard thing too is you can go to the track and have a good day yourself and be running with some good riders, and be running a similar speed and you have to accept that you probably don’t have the time, effort, money and resources to drop everything and go back and have another go at racing, it is what it is. Sometimes the hard part too is the effort you put in, the results don’t always come. It’s a tricky one, because you do come to realise that you’re not always going to win, or get the result that you set out to get so that’s been cool to experience in a way. It’s nice to be a part 57

of helping riders manage a championship race at a competitive level, it’s a lot of along the way too, and work closely with effort that has to go in to it. If you can find their teams too. that time, then maybe a race or two, but I don’t think I’d do a whole series unless Will we ever see a Ross Beaton come I had a lot of help. I’m enjoying being on back again? the other side of the fence and help riders Oh I wouldn’t mind doing a round or two achieve their own goals these days, and of the MX Nationals at some stage. It’s one hopefully the sacrifices I’m making now of those things though, you have got to be will in turn help others in the future. fit, and I understand the level of the riding that those top guys are running in Australia Well thanks for the chat Ross, see you now. You have the likes of Kirk (Gibbs) and at the track! Todd (Waters) and Dean (Ferris), and even Matt Moss and Kade Mosig are quick. If No problems, thanks you’re going to try and come back and

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60 Story & Photos by: Kendall Jennings

PENRITE HATTAH DESERT RACE

THE ULTIMATE MOTOCROSS VS ENDURO ATHLETE COMPETITION Grab your CamelBak, and find a big fuel tank for your motocross bike seems to be the way of experiencing the best of both worlds for the seasonal motocross athlete as they enter the North West Victorian Motorcycle Club’s annual Hattah Desert Race held the first weekend of July every year. Approximately 50 kilometres south of Mildura, where the Australian sand starts to turn red, on the edge of the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, near a place called Colignan on the banks of the Murray River, is the home of Australia’s Biggest Dirt Bike Only

Desert Race, held on Nangiloc and Colignan Farms, Marwood, Nulty and Tartaric P/L farm land, Hattah, where many a GoPro has been lost, plastics and levers broken, subframes bent, machines failed, plus the heartbreak of running out of fuel before the pits, or leaving the event via ambulance, where former World Motocross Champion Ben Townley has stated that Hattah “was the most mentally and physically gruelling race he has ever ridden.” Hattah’s humble club beginnings saw Multi-Victorian Motocross Champion Craig Rutherford win the event back in

1998 as a club enduro, since then, the race has grown in popularity, and has moved location. Rider capping has also been introduced and where the club has changed the event from an Ironman and Pony Express Enduro to an Open Desert Race meeting. In 2016, the rider cap increased to 250 Juniors and 400 Senior riders. And the only athlete to win the event 4 times in a row is former multiVictorian Motocross Champion local Warren Smart. 2016 Penrite Hattah Desert Race defiantly sorted out athletes that knew machine setup, as rain had fallen regularly in the region, makes mallee sand gnarly and extremely challenging. In other words, if you are driving to a mallee sand venue, and it is pouring rain, keep driving! The experience is going to be epic. Hattah not only has deep red mallee sand, there is mallee clay, salt lake clay; mud, rock and hard pack, plus fine mallee sand, in every gruelling lap, with added acceleration and braking bumps (or mountains). The Junior Hattah held on the Saturday, was invaded by motocross

athletes. Duel 2016 Victorian Motocross Champion (65/85cc) Gus Riordan dominated the Small Wheels of Hattah, seeing the fastest prologue time 1:59.282, and completing his 10 laps in 1:43:03.758, with a fastest lap of 9:59.991 on his second loop. New South Welsham motocross athlete Senna Aguis (Multi-Australian Motocross Championship RunnerUp) 3:47.578 behind the lead in his first Hattah attempt. Ty Keen completed the Small Wheels of Hattah Podium. Female Motocross Athlete Madi Healey won the Girls Small Wheels of Hattah, she was also fourth outright. In the Big Wheels of Hattah, motocross athlete Callum Norton was in line for his three-in-a-row Hattah Victory after he set the fastest prologue time 2:49.569. However, after a longer than normal pit fuel stop relegated him to second outright, Mason Semmens captured the lead, and was building a challenging gap for Norton to reel-in when Nortonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s machine failed. Semmens the prologue runner up would clinch his first Big Wheels of Hattah Victory 3:12.520

Story & Photos by: Kendall Jennings

clear of second outright Morgan Fogarty. Connor Adams was third outright. Sunday’s Hattah Desert Race, would see 2015 World International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) Gold Medalists Tye Simmonds and Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders (KTM team mates) battle neck-toneck on their KTM500s (yeah 500 four-strokes!). Sanders would take the Fastest Prologue time 2:42.121, however it was former Australian Multi-Motocross Champion Tye Simmonds in his second attempt at Hattah, clinching the deal,

with a 12.460 gap over Sanders. Yamaha’s Beau Ralston added a Hattah Class victory, and third outright to his name on an WR450F underpowered compared to the KTM500 and the Husqvarna 501 of World ISDE Gold Medalist Glenn Kearney, fourth outright. The Hattah Desert is a challenge that every serious rider needs to place a check of ‘I did it’ in the bucket list box. or sides to the rut with a deeper acceleration rut or sometimes

Story & Photos by: Kendall Jennings

66 Story & Photos by: Kendall Jennings

PENRITE HATTAH DESERT RACE

RILEY GRAHAM “A RACER’S PERSPECTIVE” #52 Riley Graham a seasoned motocross athlete whom in the past year has turned his eye to Off-Road Competition in 2016, Inside Dirt catches up with the South Australian resident in his new home of Off-Road Racing after his MX2 sixteenth place finish at Round 4 of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals at Murray Bridge. In 2014 and 2015, Riley Graham finished as a top privateer in the MX2 with an eleventh overall in both seasons. After competing in a few off-roads here and there, the relaxed atmosphere of offroad racing as well as decent results lured the motocross athlete

across to the Australian Off-Road Championship series. Off-Road and Motocross are completely different disciplines, however the motorcycle skill set needed is very similar, motocross background especially helps in sprint off-road events, and as the ability of motocross athletes to adapt to an environment quickly, makes mx rider’s a hidden gem in off-road racing. With the relaxed atmosphere in off-road racing leading towards a mentality of beating an opponent on the clock fair and square, “You’ll have guys sitting there, at sprints, 3 rounds in on the day” states an

amazed Riley Graham, “and they will be telling their competitor what lines they where taking basically,… after this corner there is a good line here,… it’s funny.” In his first appearance at Hattah, Riley Graham had a prologue time of 3:03.838, twenty-eighth outright, and third in the U250 4-Stroke Class. Riding a machine half the cc value of the front runners, Graham was able to catch the big bikes in the tight sections and avoid being hammered by higher cc’d machine roost in the straights. On the opening lap of the Hattah Desert Race, a bike drop would snap the front brake level from the master cylinder, end result, no front brake. Having decreased braking ability presented its own issues, especially in bike stability and handling. Graham lost his advantage, the ability to out brake his competitors, which intern lost his ability to create gap in the more technically areas before being caught up to down the fast straights. “I couldn’t relax at all,” stated Riley Graham, about his first Hattah experience “the fast straights had choppy little bumps,

which took a lot of energy out of you and straight after that you are into whoops for the rest of the lap… It was pretty brutal.” Concluded Graham. “I don’t have enough bike time to get the results that I want, in my mind.” Stated Graham. “I also work full time so that doesn’t help. I probably end up a bit frustrated when I shouldn’t be. I’ve got goals like everyone else. When you don’t sort of get near them, it makes you angry.” However, Riley Graham didn’t quit, he did what he could, resulting in a 3rd in the U250 4-stroke class, a class podium filled with ex-motocross riders, as Riley joined Jack Simpson and Mark Grove on the dais, and was 30th outright. Story by Kendall Jennings

Story & Photos by: Kendall Jennings

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IN THIS EDITION OF THE MXSTORE PRIVATEER SPOTLIGHT WE CATCH UP WITH THE ASPIRING MX1 ATHLETE/TEMPORARY FENCING MACHINE DANIEL BANKS. READ BELOW & WATCH THE SHORT FILM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BANKSY AS HE STRIVES FOR TOP 10’S IN THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS IN 2016.

MXstore: Tell us a bit about yourself and what your plans are for the coming season. Daniel: My name is Daniel Banks, I’m 22 years of age and I race for the Davey Motorsports team. My plans for this year are to complete the whole MX Nationals series, to be consistent and improve throughout the season. MXstore: What does your weekly routine involve? Daniel: My weekly routine involves working full time for Temporary Fence Hire, In March we did the Clipsal 500 and were doing 80-90 hour weeks so it was pretty hard to ride then. Now I can get a days riding in during the week and on the weekends. So it’s basically just working, trying to get a bit of cardio in during the week, after work and in between things and just planning to get to these events is a big thing which takes a lot of eﬀort & time. MXstore: What are your goals for the year? Daniel: Initially it was a top 10 going oﬀ my 12th placing last year I believe I can still do that. After round 1 we realised the 450 class is very stacked this year and is probably the best it’s ever been so if I am inside that top 15 every round and be consistent I’ll be happy. Also, I’m racing the South Australian Titles which I won last year in the 450 class so the plan is to try and back that up. MXstore: Is there anyone you would like to thank? Daniel: Big thanks to the Davey Motorsports crew, those guys transport my bike all around Australia so it allows me to do this series which is really good. Temporary Fence Hire help me out with working and that obviously gets me to the events as well. McLeod Accessories and all the sponsors associated with the Davey team, Rapid MX Graphics and my family for helping me out!

BANKSY GETS INSIDE THE TOP 10 AT MURRAY BRIDGE DANIEL BANKS PUTS IN AN INCREDIBLE RIDE AT MURRAY BRIDGE TAKING 9TH OVERALL, PUTTING HIM 11TH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. IT IS A CREDIT TO BANKSY & THE DAVEY MOTORSPORTS TEAM FOR PUTTING IN A HARD FOUGHT BATTLE AND BEATING SEVERAL FACTORY RIDERS.

y o C c M Tyler IN THIS EDITION OF THE MXSTORE PRIVATEER SPOTLIGHT WE CATCH UP WITH MXD ATHLETE FROM THE NORTHERN TERRITORY TYLER MCCOY. READ BELOW & WATCH THE SHORT FILM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TYLER AS HE TAKES ON THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS IN 2016.

MXstore: Tell us a bit about who you are and what your plans are for the coming season? Tyler: I’m Tyler McCoy from Catherine Northern Territory, 17 years old and racing the MXD class. MXstore: What does your weekly routine involve? Tyler: I’m on the bike four days a week, in the gym twice and on the road bike 3 days a week so it’s usually pretty full on. I don’t have to work during the week thanks to my parents covering most of my expenses so I just ride and train full time. MXstore: How has your preperation been? Tyler: My preparation for this season has been good, I went over to the States for about 2 months and did heaps of riding and testing with MX University and Dj Burns which has been really helpful. So we are coming into the season healthy and ready to go which is what we wanted! MXstore: What are your goals for the year and what do you hope to get out of racing the Motul MX Nationals? Tyler: My goals for 2016 are to get a championship in the MXD class and then head onto supercross and race the under 19s and hopefully get another one. So it will be a pretty full on year but I deﬁnitely know I’ve got it in me. MXstore: Is there anyone you would like to thank? Tyler: I’d like to thank the Collective Family, Oates MX, Alpinestars, Oakley, Bell Helmets, Pro Circuit, Mum, Dad and everyone else who has helped me out!

MCCOY’S SITTING 12TH IN THE MXD CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER A 9TH OVERALL PLACING AT THE LAST MXD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE IN MURRAY BRIDGE, MCCOY HAS NOW PUT HIMSELF IN A GOOD POSITION TO GET INSIDE THE TOP 10 IN POINTS. HE WILL NEED TO STAY CONSISTENT AND DIG DEEP AT THE NEXT 5 ROUNDS.

d n a l r e h t Nick Su

IN THIS EDITION OF THE MXSTORE PRIVATEER SPOTLIGHT WE CATCH UP WITH MX2 ATHLETE NICK SUTHERLAND. READ BELOW & WATCH THE SHORT FILM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NICK AS HE TAKES ON THE MOTUL MX NATIONALS IN 2016.

MXstore: Tell us a bit about who you are and what your plans are for the coming season. Nick: My name’s Nick Sutherland and the plan is for this year to build myself up and get a platform going while having no expectations early on. I’ve had to get over a few injuries and I’ve still got a little bit of fear in me at the moment so it’s more or less just training, riding and getting over that gradually getting myself back into it. MXstore: What’s your weekly routine involve? Nick: My mate and I have a little concreting business together so we do that during the week. We are both pretty lenient with what we do so I try to take a day off during the week and on the weekend to get out riding at a local track, we have a fair few around home. Then in the afternoons I do my training and just fit it all in as much as possible. So that’s about my life just riding, training and work. MXstore: What did you have to do to get here and how hard is it to compete with factory riders? Nick: For me to get here, I have a good bunch of personal sponsors that help me out so, so much and without those guys i’d be stuck. I still have to work a lot during the week to cover all my expenses because obviously riding dirtbikes isn’t cheap. So yeah it’s definitely hard to compete with the guys that are full time but I feel like I can put enough time into my riding to be up there so definitely no excuse, I just need to keep charging along and we’ll get there. MXstore: Is there anyone you would like to thank? Nick: I want to thank Ben Blanchette, Baden Blanchette and Glen Poole, without those three guys it definitely wouldn’t be happening this year. I’ve got a bunch of other personal sponsors that have looked after me year after year. I appreciate all the help they have always given me in helping me get to the races.

SUTHERLAND’S BACK ON A TWO STROKE! OVER THE LAST FEW MOTUL MX NATIONAL’S NICK HAS MADE THE SWITCH BACK TO A TWO STROKE; NOW ON BOARD A YAMAHA YZ250. HE FEELS ALOT MORE COMFORTABLE RIDING THE TWO STROKE, AND LOOKS TO IMPROVE HIS RESULTS AS THE SEASON UNFOLDS.

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UNCUT THE PASSION BEHIND BEING A MOTOCROSSER

BEING SO HEAVILY INVOLVED IN MOTOCROSS, BOTH AS A JOB AND AS MY OWN PERSONAL PASSION IT IS EASY TO AT TIMES TO FORGET THE REAL REASON WHY WE LOVE THIS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING SPORT. AND THAT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH FOR ME AT LEAST IS THE BROTHERHOOD, THIS UNDENYING PASSION YOU SHARE THAT TIES YOU ALL TOGETHER, MOTOCROSS. YOU LIVE IT YOU BREATH IT, YOU ARE EITHER TO RESTLESS TO SLEEP THINKING ABOUT RACING, OR WIDE OPEN HITTING THE BIGGEST JUMPS IMAGINABLE WITH A STYLE SO GNARLY YOU COULD ONLY BE DREAMING. AND THEN YOU WAKE UP, REALISING THE VANS PACKED, BIKES GOT SO MUCH SHINE AND GO THERE’S GLARE COMING OFF IT, AND ON YOU’RE ON THE WAY TO SEE THE BOYS. ONE KID THAT I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO KNOW A LONG TIME, WHO FOR THIS REASON IS MY STILL GREAT FRIEND IS JASON REED. 10 YEARS ON FROM MEETING THIS RANDOM CRAZY FAST KID FROM NEWY EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT FOR US BOTH EXCEPT ONE THING, PASSION, AND HE PUTS IT IN WORDS I THINK YOU NEED TO SEE…. Words By: Aiden Williams

Tonight I write this quite personal article in the hope that we can uncover a faded mutual passion with the current generation, younger generations, and older generations, about our forever changing sport and one of the most unique cultures of the world, Motocross. Motocross has the heart of a lion and its story and reputation leaves a brutal yet majestic and beautiful mark on our planet. This story will not bullshit around about what era had the best generation of riders, or try take the piss out of new generations for trying. It’s more so someone trying to open up the communication lines and to break down the barriers of past generations to show that the core passion of what we all feel is mutually connected and no matter how we grew up riding our dirt bike’s, its all still exactly the same. Passion is the one of the common factors in a Motocrosser’s blood lines, from early in childhood you grow this passion and the raw personal creativity you experience while developing as a rider determines you to be better, go

bigger, be stronger, ride faster, be unique and be everything you’ve ever wanted in the most personal way imaginable. You ride around paddocks, local ovals, dreaming of riding a track. You got your mum and dad jam packing their rides with pretty much half the shed and house kitchen just to go out for the day. The first given days at the track are electric and the air lingers with a high octane goodness complimented by a sound of pure enjoyment shared by the hundreds gathered at the track enjoying the exact same thing. Whether we are aware of how common this type of situation is between young motocross family’s or not, this same drive, this feeling we Motocrosser’s get under our feet when we even go to speak about riding. It’s so very real, through our vibrations and in our hearts, this has to be passion. I have done my own fair share of hovering in and out motocross trying to find a happy place between enjoying the sport as an individual and being a part of the sport as an athlete. Over the past few years I have been trying

JASON REED TALKS ABOUT THE PASSION IN THE MOTOCROSS COMMUNITY.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK THROUGH, THOSE IPHONE SCREENS AND FACEBOOK PAGES AREN’T DISTRACTIONS BUT RATHER THE FEED FOR A YOUNG MX’ERS IMAGINATION

to juggle the passion of wanting to ride with the reality of changing my life, surrounding myself with different cultures trying to find myself and a career that could match the passion and unique love I have for life. Throughout this rather wild adventure of my life I have learned some pretty deep shit about myself and the one that sticks the most is the raw passion I have towards riding a dirt bike. It just never dies, no matter how far away I moved away from it or what I was doing or what I was learning, every single thing I strived towards was driven by the same element and passion I grew from growing up a motocrosser. It still remains to be the only match in the box that can light me up like fire no matter what, every single time. When I look at the generations who share

our sport right now I see everyone from the time of right side up forks and smoking cigarette’s on the start line, to 80’s babies who grew up watching Jeremy McGrath stomping AMA Supercross titles, to 90’s babies watching the first MX films like Terrifirma and Crusty Demons before there were rules of what you could do on and off film. To now which is the day of the new schoolers, the kids who are always on their phones or distracted by technology. Take a closer look though, those iPhone screens and Facebook pages aren’t distractions but rather the feed for a young motocrosser’s imagination. Just because there looking at a screen it doesn’t mean their not doing anything, look at what is within the screen because I can bet you its motocross and just because generations

have been bought up differently and with unique versions of being able view our sport, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it ok to judge generations against each other. We all grew up differently, we all had amazing times riding our bikes, we all wanted to go pro and we all share the same passion that brings us back to this phenomenon. So open up your mind and your throttle to accept that there is something so strong in motocross

that it unites every single one of us as family and let this same passion evolve us as a whole instead of competing against each other and talking pit talk to the next level, what happens on the track stays on the track and everything else is history. This is what we love, this is motocross Jason Reed

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RACE RECAP

DEAN FERRIS MX1 victor recalls winning weekend in New South Wales.

The Nowra round of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals was a victorious one for CDR Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dean Ferris in MX1, bouncing back from his heavy crash in WA and increasing his title chances heading into the second half. MotoOnline.com.au spoke to him post-race for this new interview.

Dean Ferris, with the Nowra overall victory, you must be really happy? Some really good races out there as well. Yeah it was, it was always going to be a big battle here, from what I heard about the track. It’s kind of tight in areas and stuff like that. Especially in the last moto [Matt] Moss and I both got a good start and we went hammer and tongs for the first five or six laps and then we set into a bit of a rhythm, but yeah, really good racing today.

In Super Pole this morning, you got that. How quickly did you settle into the track? Obviously pretty quick, I was fastest in practice as well, which is the first time I actually have done that. I got Super Pole and that’s my third in a row, so I settled in pretty well. I’m glad it wasn’t as hard-pack as last year, I wasn’t here, but everyone told me. Actually, the racing was alright. 88

After coming home from Europe, this is the one tracks that so many people seem to speak about how tight it is. What was that transition like to race on? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely difficult after spending five years doing GPs with big, open tracks, and even my tracks in Kyogle are really open, GP-spec. So I really had to make sure I focused here and got in and out of those tight turns, which Moss is good at from Supercross and this is his home track, that showed. So

What were your thoughts in the closing stages of the second moto when he went down? Matt came back pretty strong. Yeah, I just knew I had to be mistake-free, I knew it was going to be hard for him to pass me. There was just two and a half laps to go, so I just put the hammer down and hoped I was fast enough.

A good way to bounce back after what was a disappointing end to Wanneroo? Yeah, definitely, I could not have done it any better way than to win!

QUESTIONS WITH

KYLE W E BS T E R It’s been somewhat of a breakthrough year for you personally, what’s been different this year for you? Yeah as you said 2016 has definitely been a bit of a breakthrough year for myself, and for me this year everything has been different I suppose. I have a new team, a new bike and all of the people I’m working with now I’ve only really gotten to know them this year. Last year I was a bit backwards and forwards with living some of the time in Western Australia and then at other times I’d be on the East Coast. This year I’ve moved over to New South Wales full time, and it’s probably been one of the big things that has helped my success so far this year. I have a lot more people to ride with, and the tracks are very similar to what we race on at the Nationals so it’s been a lot better for me in 2016. Motocross or Supercross? I really like them both, but Supercross is newer for me. I only raced Supercross last year for the very first time and it was good to learn, so ask me again in a couple of years (laughs). First car? My first car was a Toyota Hiace. I had it for a year and it was one of the old ones. 93

Favorite Australian track and why? It’s probably Wanneroo actually. It’s my home track and it’s just so different to any track in Australia. People come from everywhere to ride there and I’ve grown up with it so Wanneroo. Most embarrassing racing moment? Last year in Western Australia I got the last lap board and thought they had the chequered flag out and I pulled in. I got confused and looked back and saw that it was the last lap board so I went back out and kept riding but that was pretty embarrassing. Least favorite rider to race? He’s not my least favorite rider to race, but Jayden Rykers and I have always battled with each other on the track. Even in juniors in Perth to now at the MX Nationals, we usually seem to find each other on the track. Where do you see yourself in five year’s time? I would love to be on a factory team racing the Nationals, or I would even like to go over and race in Europe. It would be awesome to have the chance to go over and race an MXGP. 94

Interview By: Misty Walton

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

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

COMP CODE: 64-DYLANWILLS

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

YAMAHA JUNIOR RACING NSW PHOTOGRAPHY MATT BERNARD

#THROWBACK A LOOK BACK ON THE Y-AIM PROGRAM AND ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EVOLUTION IN NSW.

WHERE IT STARTED The Yamaha Australian Institute of Motocross or Y-AIM program essentially started in NSW with Lyndon Heffernan. In a move to evolve into more competition specific courses, essentially motocross, Heffo planned a program which changed up the existing Academy of Off Road Riding brand by shifting courses by that name to more of a trail based format and creating Y-AIM for Motocross specific training. The idea also involved splitting the program into state based agents that would run the courses; cutting

down on national travel and also allowing coaches to be more embedded in the local scene. Heffo kicked off the program in NSW and worked closely with long time Academy of Off Road Riding coach Shane Booth. As the program gained momentum Heffo took on an overseeing role and Boothy took on Y-AIM NSW in 2009. The program went on to include agents in QLD, VIC, SA, ACT and WA.

Y-AIM NSW Since 2009 Y-AIM NSW has had literally thousands of riders pass through it’s program, from absolute beginners to National Champions; the Y-AIM course curriculum prides itself on being professional and flexible to all levels of rider. During a period where many new options become available for motocross coaching Y-AIM maintained a strong presence and constantly worked to evolve not only with it’s coaching but also behind the scenes with new processes and systems for course entry and payment. With Boothy’s own racing experience plus the large amount of time spent in the US around both the AMA motocross and AMA supercross scenes and working with riders like Michael Byrne and James Stewart, there is a constant flow of current knowledge being shared from the highest echelons of motocross.

PHOTOGRAPHY MATT BERNARD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT BERNARD

THE COURSES The current Y-AIM curriculum has evolved over the years to not only improve the way we communicate techniques but to also involve much more on track time than its original version. The courses are aimed at racers and cover all things racing, from corners, starts, skills exercises, jumping, passing and race craft. Riders that are new to the sport can complete all required licence testing to apply for a competition licence. The two-day format allows riders to spend quality time on all of the different elements covered during the course along with maximum moto time between sessions. In the past few years Boothy has also fired up some high level courses with Chris Urquhart called Moto Master Class, where a world-class rider is on hand to share their knowledge with the attendees. Having featured the 100

likes of Michael Byrne and Jeff Emig the courses have been very successful and allow Shane to bring further knowledge and experience to Y-AIM. On top of that Boothy was also a coach at the inaugural Ricky Carmichael University courses in 2015 working alongside The GOAT himself, Jeff Stanton, Jeff Emig and fellow Y-AIM coach Chris Urquhart. Once again another great opportunity to bolster experience and knowledge that is shared with all that attend a Y-AIM course in NSW. In an effort to offer riders the ability to work on their riding away from the track Boothy paired up with Y-AIM Queenslandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chris Urquhart to film a series of online how-to videos for riders to view and refresh techniques and skills while away from the courses, these can be viewed at yaim.com.au.

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HIT& MISS MotoOnline.com.au pulls out the microscope and dissects some of the surprises, standouts, shockers and disappointments from an enthralling sixth round of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals at Nowra.

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HIT. THE HIGHS FROM ROUND 6 OF THE 2016 MX NATIONALS

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“I’M JUST TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET THAT RED PLATE BACK.” “I WANT TO PROVE THAT I’M THE BEST GUY IN THE CLASS” - CALEB WARD

Dean Ferris: If you saw CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris smashing out laps around Nowra on Sunday, you would never have guessed that just five weeks ago he suffered a monumental get-off at the previous round at Wanneroo and DNF’d the race. Fortunately he escaped without injury, but lesser men would’ve had their confidence shattered. Not Dino. Ferris came out firing with the Super Pole win, then after finishing second to Matt Moss in the opening race, put himself into position to capitalise on a Moss error to claim the win and the overall.

been known as more of a sand specialist, but this year it seems when he’s got his game face on, it doesn’t matter what surface he’s on. Despite his horror round at Broadford at round three, Wardy is now just nine points of the championship lead. Craig Anderson: Former national champion Craig Anderson tugged on the heartstrings of the older generation when he pulled on his helmet and lined up the familiar number 100 CRF450R alongside the best MX1 racers in the country. It was the first time in years the 38-year-old had come out to play and he showed he’s still got plenty of gas in the tank. Ando finished 10th in the first race then backed it up with a ninth in the second that included sticking a pass on still-injured 2015 MX2 champion and current factory Honda rider Jay Wilson.

Caleb Ward: Wow. Mr Ward, take a bow, son, because that was a class act. The KTM Motocross Racing Team’s MX2 gun continues to light the quarter-litre class on fire with disturbing regularity and his latest 1-1 result on the hard-pack Nowra circuit being a hell of a statement. Ward has

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MISS. THE LOWS OF ROUND 6 OF THE 2016 MX NATIONALS

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Dan Reardon: In stark contrast to his CDR Yamaha teammate Dean Ferris, Dan Reardon experienced a nightmare round at Nowra that finished with potentially a seasonending knee injury. After just missing out on featuring in the Super Pole, Reardon hooked his knee in a tight turn on the second lap of the opening MX1 moto and was diagnosed by RACESAFE to have suffered an ACL injury. While Reardon will undergo further tests this week, it looks likely that the 2015 Australian Supercross Champion won’t be returning for the remainder of the MX Nationals season. Jake Moss: Courtesy of some hairline fractures in his T3, 4 and 5 and surgery to fix a niggling arm injury during the mid-season break, National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Moss might’ve been a

bit light on bike-time leading into Nowra. Despite that, the 28-year-old dad-to-be felt confident and put his bike to the top of the qualifying charts early in the day. It was right about that time where his luck ran out. An early crash in the opening race saw him battle through the pack for eighth place, before suffering another stack on the opening lap of the second moto that forced him to pull out altogether. After such a consistent, promising start to the season, Jake has had a horrible run of luck the past few rounds. Wade Hunter: Nowra’s quickly earned a reputation as a track that’s incredibly hard to pass on and you almost have to rely on the mistakes of others to make up ground. Unfortunately for Serco Yamaha’s Wade Hunter, he was one of those guys getting used to leapfrog up the field. Crashes early in both races meant the Queenslander spent all weekend playing catch-up and trying to force his way through the pack. 13-17 results for 14th overall certainly isn’t where he wants to be and he’ll be looking to turn his fortunes around at Conondale in two weeks time.

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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

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D A O NL

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MXNATIONALS PROGRAM, RIDER LISTS, PROFILES AND PRESS RELEASES

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C o n o n d a l e Q LD ||

WHO

WIL

IN W O N D TH G N E I VE AK

ROU H NT E V SE

E CONONDALE. Round 7 we head to the natural beauty that is green park in Conondale, this special retro event is marked out on a grass field so the map above may not be correct at all. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the old school grass style track deter you, Conondale has some of the biggest hills in the calender and on top of that one of the biggest jumps as well. The wide open style track always makes for great racing and is for sure a fan favourite.

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RND 7 SCHEDULE START

CLASS

DURATION

8:30am

MX2 Practice / Qualifying

25 Min

9:00am

MXD Practice / Qualifying

25 Min

9:30am

Vets 30-39 and 40 + P/ Q

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

Vets 30-39 and 40 +

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

Vets 30-39 and 40 +

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

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With tough, tight racing on the grass sprint format tracks today, competitors kicked their bikes into gear in the hope to redeem championship points and take the top step on the podium at Round 5 of the 2016 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship at Murray Bridge, South Australia. With fine weather and a flat track, The Yamaha AORC produced some close racing as over 300 competitors took on the tough terrains today. The record entry numbers bringing in spectators from all over the country to witness the E1, E2, E3, EJ, Vets, Womensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and Masters National Championship classes maneuver over the obstacles and fight through the trees. The E1, E2, E3 and Transmoto 19 and Under classes competed on the Grovescaff test today. E1 E1 competitor and KTM mounted Jack Simpson showed his knowledge and talent on the Grovescaff grass track, much like a Motocross track from Simpsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s background. The young rising OffRoad star concluded the day with a time of 1:05:43.063 and took out

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MX1 PRESENTED BY:

DEAN FERRIS RETURNS TO THE TOP STEP AT NOWRA CDR Yamaha rider Dean Ferris has raced to a round six win by the narrowest of margins, edging out local favourite Matt Moss at the official Military round of the Motul MX Nationals, at the Nowra Motoplex in New South Wales today. With round six kicking off in close to perfect conditions, the premier Thor MX1 class had their first hit out since returning from the mid-season break today, with spectators treated to Australia’s fastest

riders going head to head. After the Thor MX1 qualifying session this morning, it was an eventful GoPro Superpole which determined that CDR Yamaha’s Ferris would take the first pick of the MX1 grid today, while Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team’s Dylan Long finished Superpole in second, ahead of National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kade Mosig who qualified third fastest. 121

In what was a disappointing blow for series points leader Kirk Gibbs, the number one KTM rider was unable to finish this morningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s qualifying session, forced to enter the pits assisted by Racesafe. With Royal Australian Navy Personnel forming a guard of honour ahead of race one, spectators watched on as the Australian anthem played, setting the scene for an action packed first race of the day. Despite problems in qualifying this morning, KTM Motocross Racing Teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gibbs, not only lined up for race one, but secured the first MXStore holeshot before moving in to the early race lead. Followed closely behind Gibbs was local Nowra rider Moss, who managed to capitalize on the home crowd support by applying the pressure on Gibbs for the lead â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and by lap three it was Moss who had gained control of moto one. With Moss out in front, Gibbs slid back to second place, followed by Ferris who maintained third. Mosig and Wilson Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki rider Todd Waters were locked in to their own battle for fourth position, just a bikes length back from the lead group. With ten minutes run, Moss had stretched out his lead to a commanding four seconds, leaving Gibbs, Ferris, Waters, and Mosig to battle for the remaining top spots behind him. And battle they 122

did. By the time riders reached lap nine, spectators were treated to a three-way battle for second position, with Ferris, Gibbs and Waters all exiting turn one bar to bar – but it was Ferris who made the pass stick, moving in to second place followed by Waters, while Gibbs went down however recovered to resume in fifth behind Mosig. As moto one reached its final stages, there was little change to the race order – Moss continuing to look comfortable out in front, while Ferris and Waters occupied second and third positions respectively. And when the chequered flag flew, Moss’s dominating form saw him awarded with the moto one win, followed by Ferris and Mosig who wrapped up race one in second and third places respectively. Gibbs concluded the first race of the day in fourth place, while Waters who had battled for a podium position throughout the moto, finished in fifth after what appeared to be bike issues on the last two laps. Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team’s Jay Wilson finished in sixth, followed by DPH Motorsport’s Jacob Wright (7th) and Long who finished in eighth. In moto two, Moss wasted no time in getting to the race lead, taking the second MX1 holeshot for the day – but when riders headed on to their second lap, it was Ferris who had taken control

“I JUST NEED TO TAKE IT ONE RACE AT A TIME, CHIP AWAY AT IT, AND MAKE SURE I’M STRONG.” - DEAN FERRIS

from Moss, followed by Gibbs in third position. With vital championship points up for grabs, Moss was not prepared to go down without a fight – and with only one more lap in the books, Moss had snatched back the race lead, setting up the final moto as dash to the finish line. After five laps, Moss began to stretch out his gap on Ferris, allowing the Kawasaki rider some much needed breathing space. And by the half way point in the race, there had been no change to the top three positions, Moss continuing to lead from Ferris, followed by Gibbs in third. Suzuki mounted Waters held down fourth position, followed by Long (Honda) who completed the top five standings. As moto two for the Thor MX1 class reached its closing stages, riders had settled in to their respective positions – but it was the fairy tale ending that was being set up by Moss, which kept the crowd’s eyes firmly fixed on the tough Nowra circuit. But just when spectators thought their local star had the race all wrapped up, a small crash on the second last lap handed the lead to Ferris – Moss then forced to chase down the CDR Yamaha rider if he was to go undefeated. 123

Despite every effort from Moss, time simply ran out, and when the chequered flag flew for the final time, it was Ferris who took the final race win for the day by the narrowest of margins, while Moss was forced to settle for second position. Gibbs concluded the final moto of the day in third, followed by Waters and Long who completed the top five. When points were tallied, despite Ferris and Moss finishing equal on 67 points, Ferris’ win in the final race of the day saw him awarded with the round six overall win on a countback, while National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Moss wrapped up the day in second, and Gibbs concluded the round in third overall. Gibbs now holds on to the red plate by 15 points.

Dean Ferris after Winning round 6 “It feels good to get the win here at Nowra. There’s been six rounds and I’ve only won two of them so it’s a solid result,” he said. “It’s my goal to win every weekend, but even halfway through that final race I thought I might have to settle for second, but Mossy (Matt) crashed and handed it to me so I’ll take the win – I’m stoked. “After Wanneroo I was a bit battered and bruised and it took a couple of weeks to get back to 100 per cent but I had a solid break and did a lot of training and riding so I’m back to where I was. “The championship is always in the back of your mind but I just need to take it one race at a time, chip away at it, and make sure I’m strong and solid every moto from here on out.”

T H E R E S U LT S

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MX1 Round Results:

MX1 Championship Standings:

1) Dean Ferris – 67 points 2) Matt Moss – 67 points 3) Kirk Gibbs – 58 points 4) Kade Mosig – 55 points 5) Todd Waters – 54 points 6) Dylan Long – 49 points 7) Jacob Wright – 48 points 8) Corey James – 45 points 9) Craig Anderson – 43 points 10) Kurt Gow – 41 points

1) Kirk Gibbs – 409 points 2) Dean Ferris – 394 points 3) Todd Waters – 388 points 4) Matt Moss – 381 points 5) Kade Mosig – 323 points 6) Dylan Long – 309 points 7) Jay Wilson – 246 points 8) Jacob Wright – 241 points 9) Brett Metcalfe– 225 points 10) Michael Menchi – 223 points

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PRESENTS

MX1 RIDER LIST #

Name

Manufacture

Sponsors

Scott Eisenhauer

Suzuki

Michael Dennis

Yamaha

Tam Paul

KTM

Yarrive Konsky

Honda

V18

Cameron Taylor

Yamaha

Y-AIM YAMAHA - Shift - GYTR - SPMX - Yamalube - Scott - Pro Circuit - Fox - Bridgestone

aaron Hunt

Honda

cairns honda motul pirelli pmr fresh co

Mark Wood

Kawasaki

AXIS MOTORSPORT - SINGLETON MOTORCYCLES - Pirelli

Mick Hansen

Kawasaki

Clint Andrewartha

Kawasaki

David Mills

Yamaha

K68

Alistair King

Yamaha

FFRC

Mark Oberthur

Suzuki

future sport m/c townsville

Daniel Phillips

Suzuki

John Titman Racing - Flatline Paving - Western Motorcycles - Fly Racing - Suzuki - RHK - Hume

129

Duncan Reid

Husqvarna

YouthworxNT - Cyclone Motorcycles

144

Simon Lewis

Yamaha

610

Paul Boddington

Yamaha

975

Ross Style

KTM

Ballina Motocycles - Tate Engineering

Kingaroy Motorcycles - Hotondo Homes Kingaroy

Mooloolaba Bricklaying

145

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

#111

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

#122

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

FERRIS FIGHTS BACK AT NOWRA MX NATS

CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris took a hard earned victory at round six of the MX Nationals held at the Nowra Motorsport Complex over the weekend and is now within 15 points of the leader in the premier MX1 championship chase. The 25 year old from Kyogle, NSW, put away his demons from WA to deliver a 2 -1 result in the two 30 minute motos contested to tie with Matt Moss for the win but awarded the overall round victory by virtue of his moto win in race two. Ferris kicked his day off in impressive fashion taking the fastest lap in the Go Pro Superpole and banking the important three points that go with it. Moto one saw Ferris in a four rider battle for the lead in the early stages with all the big names in Australian motocross jostling for position. Matt Moss made his way to the lead and left Ferris, Todd Waters and Kirk Gibbs to fight over the remaining two podium spots. Ferris fought off his main championship rivals to take second place and gain a few more points on the championship leader, Kirk Gibbs. Moto two saw Ferris and Moss take up the battle and the pair traded positions in the opening laps. Moss eventually found his way to the lead and the race win looked to be in his keeping until he made a mistake with just a few laps remaining, allowing Ferris to sneak by. Dean held firm in the final laps despite some attacks from Moss and took the race win and locked down the round win as well. “It was important that I bounce back strongly after what happened in WA and get my championship back on track,” Ferris said. “Matt was riding really well

“It was a bit of a gift to get the moto win in race two after Matt fell, but that is a bit of a reward for putting myself in a good position in the race and not just settling for second. “The points tightened up a bit on the weekend and the championship is starting to look exciting. Kirk, Todd, Matt and I have all had good races and with four rounds remaining, there is a lot of racing to be done and plenty of work to do,” Ferris explains. Round six proved to be a disastrous day for CDR Yamaha team mate, Dan Reardon. In the early stages of moto one, Reardon hooked his knee in a tight turn and stopped trackside in tremendous pain. He was able to get back to the medical team at RACESAFE who upon further inspection diagnosed an ACL injury to his knee. Reardon will undergo further tests during the week to determine his course of action for his injury but it was a savage blow to Dan and his team after he just returned from a month long training stint in the US. “It was a complete day of contrasts for us on the weekend as we experienced several highs and lows in emotion,” says team boss, Craig Dack. We qualified well then just a couple of laps into the opening race, Dan goes to with what could be a season ending injury to his knee, then four hours later, Dean wins the round and the championship fight is well and truly on. No wonder I’m going grey,” Dack laughs. “We will pass on information regarding Dan’s injury as soon as we have it while its business as usual for Dean and the team will keep pushing for more race and round wins,” he ends.

today so I tried to stick with him and keep the pressure on for the entire moto.

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

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

#23

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

SERCO YAMAHA’S SPIRITED FIGHT AT BROADFORD MX NATS

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

MODEL YZ450F YZ450F YZ250F YZ250F YZ450F YZ250F YZ250F

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

#43

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

#88

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

MITCH EVANS BACK ON THE PODIUM

Yamalube Yamaha Racing’s Mitch Evans made a return to the podium with a second place finish at round six of the MX Nationals, held at Nowra on the weekend. Contesting the MXD (under 19) class, Evans put together two consistent motos to finish second in each to land in second place for the day and lift him to third overall in the championship with four rounds remaining. Evans continued on his good form shown at the last MXD round and charged his way to second place in race one and shadowed the race winner across the finish line. Moto two saw Evans pull the holeshot but he was unable to hold the position and by the midway point, Wade Kirkland moved into the lead. Evans kept the pressure on and the pair were separated by a handful of bike lengths for most of the race but he couldn’t regain the lead. “Was a good day without being amazing,” Evans said after the event. “We worked pretty hard during the break and I really wanted to get a win here but I didn’t get it done but I feel like I’m heading in the right direction so I can’t wait for Conondale. “My starts were better today so that was a positive, now just to keep building on that each round and continue to go after race and round wins,” Evans said. Jordan Hill suffered from average starts in both motos and had to claw his way through the pack each time. He took eighth in race one and then improved in moto two to take fifth to end the day in sixth overall.

FACEBOOK: /GYTRYamaha

The Nowra track can be difficult to make passes on so Hill had his work cut out for him but continued to fight hard as he made his way forward. “I wasn’t feeling great on the track today and I’m not sure why as I had a great lead up to the event and was confident of a good showing. My starts and opening lap were an issue today as this track strings the field out pretty fast and you need to be need the front early to get good results. “But, the team and I will continue to work on things and the next round will we be much better,” Hill ends.

INSTAGRAM: @yamalube_yamaha_racing

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

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

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

#414

KTM’S GIBBS TAKES SOME DAMAGE, WARD CRANKS IT UP The old saying suggests that championships aren’t won on the easiest days, but on the hardest days, and defending MX Nationals Champion Kirk Gibbs made the best of a hard day when he left Nowra with yet another podium finish, and still in possession of the coveted red plate. Gibbs suffered a knee injury on the very first lap of qualifying for the sixth round of the MX Nationals series at Nowra, hammering the back of his knee with the handlebar as he corrected a lurid front-end slide in the slippery, early morning conditions. After a disconcerting ‘pop’ and initial agony, Gibbs immediately consulted RaceSafe, who deemed that the incident had caused trauma to a nerve, and strapped the Queensland-based South Australian in preparation for the day ahead. Given the last pick of the start gate, Gibbs somehow fired his factory KTM 450 SX-F to the holeshot, but with no practice session as warmup, battled to find the last percentage of pace. He tucked the front end battling with Waters and Mosig before riding to fourth place. With team mate Jesse Dobson out with a broken hand suffered during training, the KTM Motocross Racing Team’s only premier class entry gritted his teeth one more time and took third in the second moto – enough to give him third on the day and preserve a 15-point lead in the championship. Kyle Blunden, KTM Motocross Racing Team Manager – “At the start of the day we had already qualified well with Caleb and the track was forming up quite well. Kirk was setting his first qualifying lap, but he just tucked the front in a turn and squashed the outside of his lower knee really hard with the handlebar, and went straight off the side of the track in a lot of pain. At that stage we weren’t exactly sure how the day was going to pan out, but once it settled a little bit, Kirk was very determined to ride. Considering the way the day started, he did a brilliant job – he definitely minimised the damage today. Caleb was brilliant. Some people still think of him as a sand guy, but Nowra couldn’t be any further from that and he rode unreal today. He’s been working hard on this break.” Kirk Gibbs (KTM 450 SX-F) – “I still got on the podium but I’m not happy. In qualifying I had a slide and the handlebar came through in the back of the knee. There was a ‘pop’ and full agony for about a

FACEBOOK: /KTMAustralia

minute – I thought that was it, but after a few minutes it started to calm down. It was still weak all day so I had to keep going to RaceSafe to strap it and come up with the best options. Obviously the two moto scores were consistent, but I was still disappointed – I had a great start, but I pumped up pretty quickly because of the lack of riding in the morning. In the second I rode a lot better, but I just wasn’t good enough to battle with the guys today. I had the leg in the back of my mind all day, and just didn’t want to do any more damage, so I just tried to ride smart. I’ll go get it checked out now and make sure there’s no big damage, and we’ll build towards Conondale.” In MX2 racing, KTM Motocross Racing Team rider Caleb Ward was in devastating form, winning both motos and moving one place closer to the lead of the MX2 championship. The KTM 250 SX-F rider led home Jed Beaton and Nathan Crawford to leave Nowra just nine points behind championship leader Crawford. MX2 rookie and Davey Motorsports rider Jayden Rykers was also an absolute standout on the day, recovering from a disastrous start in the first moto, and one that was just average in the second, to fire his KTM 250 SX into two fourth places on the day, maintaining fourth place in his first ever MX2 championship.KTM Raceline Pirelli rider Dylan Wills was the next best of the KTM men, with 5-9 results for the day. Caleb Ward (KTM 250 SX-F) – “Last year here was a really bad round for me, but this year I turned it around. I got a little bit tangled up in the first turn pileup but I didn’t go down, luckily. I was 11th or 12th on the first lap, but just worked my way through the field pretty quickly, on a track that is renowned for being pretty hard to pass on, so I’m happy with how I went. I ended up with a 10-second lead and just holding that pretty much. In the second moto I started in second behind Willsy, and after three or four laps managed to make the pass. Then I sort of got set into the wrong pace and Wilson Todd passed me, and I thought ‘this is my shot to make up a few points in the championship, if he gets between me and the other guys’. I managed to pass him back and get the win, so I made up some pretty big points in the championship. All in all it was a day that couldn’t have gone much better.”

INSTAGRAM: @ktm.australia

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

#64

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

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

KIRKLAND TAKES CAREER FIRST ROUND VICTORY

It was a history making day for Raceline Pirelli KTM at round six of the MX Nationals at Nowra yesterday, with Tasmanian team rider Wade Kirkland racing to a career first overall MXD victory. With both Kirkland and MX2 rider Dylan Wills entering the round on a wave of confidence, both riders delivered top results when racing got underway at Nowra yesterday, and both riders left the track with a some outstanding achievements, as the series progresses on to Conondale. Kirkland, who qualified in an impressive third position with a 1:48.536 lap time, went on to take third place in the first Pirelli MXD moto for the day. But it was race two that not only impressed the team but the entire crowd, with Kirkland securing the race lead early in the moto and checking out, eventually handing him the final moto victory, as well as the MXD round win at Nowra. Kirkland continues to hold second position in the Pirelli MXD championship after yesterday’s racing. Wills who qualified just outside of the top five in sixth position in the MX2 class, went on to take both holeshots across the two motos, crossing the finish line in an impressive 5th place in moto one, while in moto two Wills took 9th. With both results combined, Wills who considers Nowra a home track, concluded the round in eighth overall. With the results from yesterday added to the MX2 championship points standings, Wills now sits in 7th overall.

it made a big difference today. “I’ve been chipping away and it’s awesome to reward the team with a win straight after the break. They have all put in a lot of hard work to get here, so I can’t thank them enough.” Dylan Wills – MX2 – 8th Overall (5th, 9th) “Nowra was pretty good for me, I got a taste of running at the front with the boys and I led a few laps. I got two holeshots which was unbelievable, I haven’t done that in a long time so that’s a big credit to Woodsy and the whole team for putting an amazing bike underneath me,” Wills shared “I’m pretty disappointed in myself for crashing out of third place in moto two, even though I didn’t quite have the pace of the front three guys for the whole length of a moto, I felt like I was set for a 4th or 5th again but it is what it is. “I got up from my crash as quick as I could and I fought the rest of the moto on a twisted bike. I’m fighting hard and I’m sure all the pieces to the puzzle will come together soon!”

Wade Kirkland – MXD – 1st Overall (3rd, 1st) “It’s been a long road to get to the top step of the podium that’s for sure. I got to a pretty good start to the season and it all came together at Nowra today,” he said. “We did a fair bit of testing in the break and it really paid off. I’ve got my suspension even better and

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INSTAGRAM: @raceline_motosport

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

BIK

SUPPORT RIDERS #17

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

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

KTM’S SUPPORT RIDERS HAPPY AFTER ROUND 6

In MX2 racing, KTM Motocross Racing Team rider Caleb Ward was in devastating form, winning both motos and moving one place closer to the lead of the MX2 championship. The KTM 250 SX-F rider led home Jed Beaton and Nathan Crawford to leave Nowra just nine points behind championship leader Crawford. MX2 rookie and Davey Motorsports rider Jayden Rykers was also an absolute standout on the day, recovering from a disastrous start in the first moto, and one that was just average in the second, to fire his KTM 250 SX into two fourth places on the day, maintaining fourth place in his first ever MX2 championship.KTM Raceline Pirelli rider Dylan Wills was the next best of the KTM men, with 5-9 results for the day. Jayden Rykers (KTM 250 SX) – “It was another good solid day points-wise, especially considering the way it started out. In the first moto I got stuck in a first turn pileup, and was dead last. I fought back all the way up to fourth in that one, and in the second one I nearly came down in the first corner as well and had to come from just inside the top 15. To come back to topfive in both motos I’m very happy with. Especially on one of the tighter, more one-lined tracks where it’s a bit more difficult to pass. The goals that I set out at the start of the year – which is consistent top five results – I’m achieving, so I’m pretty happy for my first year in the class, particularly since I’m on the only 2-stroke in the top 10, and on the hard-packed tracks you give away a little bit of traction in the second moto when it gets slick. I’m knocking on the door of the top guys in the championship as well, which is great.”

FACEBOOK: /KTMAustralia

In the MXD class, Raceline Pirelli KTM Motocross Racing Team development rider Wade Kirkland broke through for his first ever win in the Under 19’s championship with 3-1 scores aboard his KTM 250 SX-F. He led home Mitch Evans and championship leader Tierney to move within 18 points of the title lead. Seventeen-year-old KTM 250 SX-F rider Cooper Pozniak (KTM Newcastle) continued his sparkling recent form with fourth overall from 5, 4 on the day.

INSTAGRAM: @ktm.australia

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

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

#102

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

MATT MOSS WINS NOWRA MOTO

Multiple Australian Motocross Champion Matt Moss made a welcome return to the winner’s circle for the National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team at the special military round of the 2016 MX Nationals in Nowra, NSW, on Sunday. After a slight mishap in Super Pole saw him finish fifth in qualifying, Moss and his 2016 KX450F stormed to the front of the field of the opening MX1 race and extended a comfortable lead on his way to taking the chequered flag.

fifth overall in the championship race. After a standout third place in qualifying, the Victorian fought his way to an impressive third place in the opening MX1 race. In the second race Mosig again found himself near the front of the pack but crashed twice on his way to sixth place. “The first half of the day was decent, but I’m really frustrated at myself for dropping the bike twice in the second race, as that hurt our podium chances,” Mosig explained.

In the second 30-minute race of the round Moss engaged in a fierce battle with fellow championship contender Dean Ferris before making a pass for the lead and again pulling an advantage at the front of the field. However, in the later stages of the race Moss hit a rock around the tight circuit and went down, allowing Ferris to take both the race and round win on countback points. As part of Team Navy, it was still a fantastic result for National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team. “Despite tying on points for the round win, it was a bit of a disappointing day really,” Moss reflected afterward. “I felt great, the bike was awesome and I’m so happy with this team, but a couple of errors cost us the overall win today. “I rode really strong in that opening race and it was great to battle past Ferris in the second race before I hit a rock and went down, but it was good to pull some points back in the championship fight.” With his second overall for the round, Moss now sits in fourth position overall in the MX1 championship, just seven points off a podium placing. Nowra also saw a solid performance from National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kade Mosig, who finished his day in fourth overall within the premier MX1 ranks. He’s now placed

“It’s frustrating as we worked hard during the mid-season break and I felt like me made some great gains. There’s nothing else to do but to keep working hard, take the positives from the round and find that extra piece of the puzzle.” Meanwhile, in the entertaining MX2 class, Jake Moss started the day strong when he emphatically put his KX250F on top of the class in qualifying, half a second quicker than his nearest challenger. However, Moss had disappointing outings in the day’s two races. In the first he went down on the opening lap but fought his way back to eighth place, then crashed out of the second race in the first turn. “After starting the day so strong I thought my year was going to turn around for the better, but it wasn’t meant to be,” a frustrated Jake Moss recalled post-race, now placed eighth in the MX2 championship hunt.

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

#54

ARBON #54 LUKE Class: MX2 3 2 : e g A : Gawler, SA Hometown on54 IG: @lukearb

#16

BARHAM #16 KALEB Class: MXD 7 1 : e g A nd : Queensla n w to e m o H barham_16 IG: @kaleb_

HUSQVARNA’S KALEB BARHAM PUSHES ON

Fellow Under 19s competitor and SD3 Husqvarna team rider Kaleb Barham suffered wavering fortunes on a track he admits is not one of his favourites. Struggling to seventh place in the first moto, but rallying to sixth in the second moto despite being jumped on by another competitor, he still claimed seventh on the day to maintain sixth in the championship. Kaleb Barham – “It wasn’t the best day for me but I wouldn’t change it. I learned a good lesson today. Nowra’s probably not the track I’ve enjoyed the most in my career but we move onto a lot more closer rounds now, we’ve only got one more long trip and I’m back up home for the rest of them. I know that the first half of the season wasn’t the way I planned it to go with injuries and whatnot, but I know that this part of the season is for the championship. I probably put too much pressure on myself and didn’t ride today the way I should have. But that’s all right, I learned from that and rode a whole lot better in the second one, it was just a bit unlucky with another rider landing on me and hurting my shoulder pretty bad.”

FACEBOOK: /SD3-Husqvarna

INSTAGRAM: @sd3.husqvarna

sqvarna BIKES: Hu

FC250

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

#199

R TIERNEY #7 CONNO Class: MXD 8 1 : e g A , WA : Kalgoorlie n w to e m o H l_ct7 IG: @therea SMALL #237 ZAK Class: MXD 8 1 : e g A , QLD : Bundaberg n w to e m o H all_ IG: @zaksm

#237

CRAWFORD AND TIERNEY ADD MORE PODIUMS TO THEIR TITLE BIDS

The little team that could, Husqvarna Australia’s squad of Factory Support racers continues to lead two of the three major championships in this year’s MX National series, which continued with round six at Nowra on the weekend. Queenslander Nathan Crawford continued to lead the bigger teams a merry chase in the MX2 category, adding another overall podium to his season tally as he finished with 2-5 race results. Despite uncharacteristically poor starts, he still shared the Nowra podium with overall winner Caleb Ward and Jed Beaton, and will take a nine-point lead into the next round at Conondale. Not long back from knee surgery, MXD championship leader Connor Tierney posted 4-3 results to be third on the day behind Wade Kirkland and Mitchell Evans. The Western Australian Husqvarna FC 250 rider will take a handy 18-point championship lead to the next round at Conondale. Fellow Husqvarna Factory Support racer Zak Small finished right behind Barham on the day’s points tally, recording 6-11 finishes for eighth overall, and remains hot on his tail in the season tally as well. Nathan Crawford – “To finish in third with how my day went is not too bad, I had two bad starts – I hit neutral off the start of the second so that put me back to last around the first corner. I somehow clawed back to fifth, so was lucky to still get on the podium today, but Caleb went 1-1 so that closed up in the championship points. But it’s all right, I’m still leading and I’d rather be in front than behind. I’ll just put that

behind me now and get ready for the next round. I’m looking forward to Conondale, it’s not a track we get to ride or race on very often, but it’s a home round so I’ll have family and friends there, and I’ll be coming out swinging.” Connor Tierney – “For a bad day, I had a bit of a good day. I had some bad starts and rode pretty tight, but still ended up on the podium so it wasn’t all bad. I had some good pace in the second moto, but just made a mistake trying to make a pass. I was still third in the second moto so I think it still a pretty good day. I’ve still got the red plate so I’ll get back and get ready for the next round. The knee is pretty heavily taped but it wasn’t too bad today. I just have to build up that muscle around it because I don’t have an ACL anymore. I’ve never actually been to Conondale before so I’m pretty excited to ride there. I’m feeling confident about the last four tracks, I’ve just got to keep a steady head and keep riding for the championship.” Zak Small – “I didn’t really deal with the track very well today. I had a bit of arm pump and a few silly little crashes and stuff, so, not the result I was looking for but I’m already keen for the next round. I’d much rather be a bit higher in the championship but I’m just trying to improve every round. We’re definitely not out of the action yet ether, especially with three Queensland rounds coming up where I know the tracks a bit. Coolum is my favourite track; I love my sand. I just need to work on my intensity a little bit though to get me up on the box.”

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

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

#117

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

POSITIVE OUTING FOR THE CRANKT PROTEIN HONDA RACING TEAM AT NOWRA

The Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team made further progress at round six of the Motul MX Nationals at Nowra today, with both MX1 riders Jay Wilson and Dylan Long handing the team with some positive results despite injuries. With round six marking the team’s first outing since the mid-season break, from the minute bikes

actually started to feel good, and brought it home for a 5th. “It’s a shame about my crash because I know how I can ride, but in saying that I’m also happy with how I went considering my injury. Now I’ll just get some X-rays and hope to be ready for round six.” Despite still recovering from wrist surgery, in

hit the track this morning, Long showed impressive form, launching his Honda CRF450 machine to second place in GoPro Superpole with a 1:43.843 lap time, while Wilson secured 9th in qualifying. For Long, a crash during the opening stages of moto one which injured his thumb, effected his overall race result. However, Long showed true spirit, and despite carrying a injury, managed to make his way from close to dead last, to eighth position. In moto two, Long once again showcased his determination – riding through pain to wrap up the final moto in an impressive 5th place. Long’s hard fought results saw him awarded with 6th overall at the conclusion of the round. “My day started off well and I was really happy to get second in Superpole, but in the first race I crashed while I was sitting in third and I dislocated my thumb,” Long explained. “I actually wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to ride in race two, but Racesafe did their best to get me out there – and lucky they did because it was my best result of the day. I got a pretty average start, but about halfway through I fought through the pain and I

race one Wilson got to a solid start, which saw the 21-year-old race to a season best 6th place. However, in race two, the demanding Nowra track proved too much for his injury to handle, which resulted in Wilson pulling in early, unfortunately unable to finish the race. “Today had its highs and lows that’s for sure. I was actually quite surprised with my result in moto one – after having five weeks off the bike I was happy to get a sixth,” Wilson shared. “Unfortunately in moto two I had to make the call to pull in. The track had gotten quite rough and I had no strength at all in my wrist. I have to look at the bigger picture, and pushing my wrist when it’s still healing isn’t smart. “Even though I had a DNF, I actually moved up a position in the championship, and I now have two more weeks to get some more physio and some more time on the bike. We are happy with how we are progressing, and I’m looking forward to getting back to my home in Queensland for Conondale.” After today’s results, Long and Wilson now hold 6th and 7th places in the overall MX1 championship standings respectively.

FACEBOOK: /TeamHondaRacing1

INSTAGRAM: @teamhondaracing

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

#30

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

#96

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

CRF HONDA RACING CLAIMS TOP 10 SPOTS AT NOWRA

After the traditional mid-season break, hostilities resumed last Sunday (July 3) in the Motul MX Nationals with the staging of the military appreciation sixth round of the Australian championship at Nowra on the NSW south coast. Under bright blue skies, CRF Honda Racing team riders Kyle Webster and Joel Wightman took to the track aboard their Pirelli-shod CRF250R thumpers, confident that recent strong performances would hold them in good stead as they battled a quality field of MX2 championship combatants. At round five in WA a month ago Webster, won a MX Nationals championship moto and backed up the next week with third at the annual Manjimup 15,000 on a 450, while Wightman recently clinched the Pro Lites class of the NSW East Coast MX series, so both riders hit the Nowra race with strong form on the board. But when all was said and done after a testing round at the popular Nowra venue, round six delivered mixed fortunes for the CRF Honda Racing team mates. Wightman kicked off race day with a “PB” in Qualifying, firing his CRF to tenth fastest time, admitting that Qualifying: “Is not usually my strong suit, however I have been improving my speed of late and am glad to see the work in that area paying off.” Come race time, Wightman’s starts were not ideal, but putting his head down, the NSW Hunter Valley young gun went hard at it, with satisfying results. “That first moto I just charged as hard as I could all race long,” Wightman explained, “and that delivered me another personal best for the Championship with a sixth place finish in the race, but the big positive for me was my lap times were heaps closer to the leaders, which is really encouraging.” In the second moto, Wightman again pushed his way toward the pointy end of the pack, finishing the moto in eighth place. “So 6/8 placings gave me seventh overall for the round,” Wightman explains, “which has helped me slide up to tenth overall in the Championship, and I’m

FACEBOOK: /crfhondaracing

pretty happy about that. “The next round is at Conondale in a fortnight’s time and I’m looking forward to maintaining the momentum to keep working my way forward in the Championship standings.” As for Webster, his aspirations for the Nowra event were pretty much dashed when he came down with a flu virus on the Saturday. “The flu just knocked me around so bad,” Webster explains, “and left me feeling so weak and tired on Sunday. It was that bad, I could hardly even hold on come the mid-point of each moto.” Nevertheless, Webster soldiered on, bringing his Honda home in 16th and 11th places in the Championship races, giving him 12th overall for the round. Webster’s gritty rides mean he has maintained his sixth overall ranking in the MX2 Championship standings, and is keen to put the virus behind him and come back fighting as the Championship heads north to the warmer climate of Queensland’s sunshine coast hinterland for the next round in a fortnight’s time. With their race commitments complete at Nowra, the CRF Honda Racing team however stayed on at the NSW south coast circuit for the following day’s special Motocross of Nations fundraising event, where members of the public had a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride the Championship track as it stood after the MX Nationals event, and to gain coaching tips and advice from some of the sport’s leading pro racers and former legends. Organised by CRF Honda Racing team manager Mark Luksich, all proceeds from the MXON fundraiser ride day will go toward assisting Australia’s team contest this year’s Motocross of Nations world teams championship being staged at the famed Maggiora track in Italy on September 24/25.

INSTAGRAM: @crfhondaracing

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

#47

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

#15

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

MIXED RESULTS AT NOWRA FOR WILSON COOLAIR MOTUL FACTORY SUZUKI It was an up and down day of racing at the sixth round of the Motul MX Nationals for Wilson Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki, with both MX1 riders Todd Waters and Luke Wilson racing to mixed results on the tight and technical Nowra circuit. Despite both Wilson and Waters having a successful mid-season break, and heading in to round six with adequate preparation, bad luck plagued both riders throughout the round, with the pair salvaging points across two challenging races. Waters, who kick started the round with an impressive fourth place finish in GoPro Superpole, suffered a case of bad luck when race one got underway. After occupying third position for the majority of the 30-minute moto in the talent packed Thor MX1 class, Waters was forced to drop back to fifth after his chain came off on the second last lap. In race two, Waters improved on his results, battling with the lead pack before finishing in a hard fought fourth place. With a 5th in moto one, and 4th in moto two, Waters finished in 5th overall for the round, and now sits in third overall in the Thor MX1 championship standings. For Wilson, round six was one to put behind him. After being forced to pull in from qualifying, Wilson was handed last pick of the grid for the entire day, and when race one got underway, the Queenslander DNF’d after suffering some bike issues. However, in race two, Wilson was able to get to a solid start and despite the morning’s bad luck, finished the second race of the day in an impressive 12th place.

in to third, and was battling with Ferris when my chain came off – I actually managed to get it back on though and I salvaged fifth,” Waters explained. “In the second race I just wasn’t up there. I’ve been doing the work, but my starts weren’t great today, even though I had the speed to be on the podium. “We have a weekend off next weekend, so we just need to go back as a team and get everything sorted so we can move forward at the next round.” Luke Wilson – MX1 – 20th Overall – (DNF, 12th) “Today was a day to forget for me. I had some bike problems in qualifying which meant I had last gate pick all day and starts are really important at Nowra,” Wilson shared. “After my DNF in moto one, I put the foot down in race two and got to tenth position which I was pretty happy with, but I made a couple of mistakes towards the end which lost me a couple of positions. “Even though it wasn’t a great day, I’m still happy that I was able to get in to that top ten, and we’ll take the positives from round six and move forward to Conondale.”

Todd Waters – MX1 – 5th Overall – (5th, 4th) “It was a bit of a disappointing day for me. In the first race we were riding well and I’d moved from seventh

FACEBOOK: /wilsonmxaus

INSTAGRAM: @wilsonscoolairmotulsuzuki

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

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

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

#20

MIXED RESULTS AT NOWRA FOR PROFORMANCE

Round 6 saw a revitalised Proformance Yamaha Team back together at Nowra. After a mixed first half of the season which saw the team miss Wanneroo WA due to injury, all three riders were mended and healthy, ready to go for Nowra. In the MXD class, Hugh McKay made it difficult for himself with a bad start in the first moto. He settled into a good rhythm and made up some ground passing quite a few riders, before finishing in 11th place. Hugh’s second moto started off in the best way possible with a holeshot, however that was short lived with the bike going down in one of the early corners. Once back up, Hugh rode better than he did in the first moto where he made a solid top 10 finish in 9th. Finishing the day in 11th overall was not a bad way to end the day for Hugh. Lachie Davis and Kale Makeham didn’t have a lot more luck in their first moto. Kale was mid back at the start, making up some good ground before dust halted his progress further through the field. In the second moto Kale was back with a great start, in fourth after the first corner. After a few laps he was holding his position well, only giving up spots to the championship leaders. Kale battled local Keiron Hall who also managed to make the pass, however Kale’s experience meant he repassed him before the end of the moto. Kale ended with a very solid 6th amongst a strong field, placing him in 11th overall for the day.

FACEBOOK: /ProformanceKawasaki

Lachie Davis was having his own challenges further back, where he finished with a 22nd and a better 18th in the final moto where he was able to increase his intensity. With a decent amount of time off due to injury, the results for the team were solid. The boys, particularly Kale do want to see themselves closer to the pointy end of the field over the second half of the season.

INSTAGRAM: @proformance_racing

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

#70

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

#12

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

HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR BEATON WITH A CLEAN SWEEP AT ROUND THREE

Round 6 of the MX Nationals Series in Nowra, NSW was a testament to all the hard work put in by both DPH riders in the five-week break with both boys taking positives from the round. Another solid round for Jed in the MX2 class with a 2nd place overall. Jed qualified 5th before going on to place 3rd in both moto’s. Jed now sits in 3rd overall for the MX2 Championship with four rounds to go and only 11 points separating his and 1st place.

for the 2016 season. With three out of four of the next rounds being held in Queensland including Jacobs home track of Toowoomba, we expect his results will only get better and better. “Overall good day with some solid riding. One bad start and a fall in moto 2 cost me a better overall but 7th overall is a step forward for me. I am looking forward to racing in Queensland next round.” Said Wright.

“Not a bad weekend. Starts were much better but I struggled with the track and arm pump. Just felt like I couldn’t find my groove. To end up with 2nd overall is good. Looking forward to next round as its my favorite track of the series” Said Beaton. A hat-trick of 7’s in qualifying and both motos for Jacob in the MX1 class saw his with his best results

FACEBOOK/dphmotorsport

INSTAGRAM: @dphmotorsport

e n Blanchett e d y a B & AGER: Ben aha yz250f m a Y : TEAM MAN S E IK B

#18

VANS #81 JOEL E Class: MX2 Age: 22 QLD : Kingaroy, Hometown Mechanic: ans_81 IG: @joelev

#151

ND SUTHERLA #151 NICK Class: MX2 Age: 24 SW : Inverell N Hometown Glen Poole Mechanic: 1 therland15 IG: @nicksu

OFFROAD OFF ROAD / DESERT RACING PRESS RELEASES

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KTM Australia’s Desert Racing Team today achieved its most glittering finish yet in the most important event on its calendar, the Tatts Finke Desert race. The 480-kilometre, two-day return journey from Alice Springs to Finke saw Red Bull KTM Rally team rider Toby Price equal the record for the highest number of Finke victories, winning his fifth title in a stunning KTM 500 EXC trifecta. Price’s was the first of three spectacular runs, as he, secondplaced team mate Tye Simmonds, and David Walsh - who rounded out the podium - all slashed significant amounts off their fastest times down to Finke and back, reaffirming the team’s status as Kings of the Desert. Price became the first rider ever to drop below the three-hour 50 mark when he stopped the timer in 3:46:55, with Simmonds the only other rider to do so at 3:49:42 slashing almost 10 minutes off his rookie run of 2015. Walsh’s 3:52:11 would have won him the race last year, but the front men were all on a different 184

plane this time around, Price literally so – flying the course twice as he successfully executed the Finke ‘Ironman’ feat of competing in both car and motorcycle divisions of the same event. In typical fashion the man who won the Dakar Rally at only his second attempt in 2016 made it an outrageous success, winning the Trophy Trucks division and finishing as the second car overall. ‘The Finke’ was coloured a distinct shade of KTM Orange this year, with four of the top six finishers and ten of the top 20 KTM-mounted, while five of the eight motorcycle classes were won by KTM riders. Alice Springs local Luke Hayes powered his KTM 500 EXC into sixth outright, while South Australian Nathan Trigg also cracked the top 10 outright on his way to winning the 251cc and above 2T class aboard his KTM300, leading home similarly-

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FIRST

TOBY PRICE

“It’s a bit of a surreal feeling to have tied the record out here for the most wins. I’m pumped, and just glad the whole program we put together went to plan, we podiumed in the truck and then won the bike leg. It’s been an amazing weekend. The poor old truck copped a beating this week, we flipped it on Friday when a part broke, but the boys fixed it and got it going again, and we’re pumped. A lot of people doubted what we were doing, so I’m just glad that we came away with good results. I had a point to prove. I wanted to race the car, and there was a bit of a fire burning in my belly to get the job done on the bike. That was the best repayment that we could do for everybody that has jumped on board the truck project, and everybody that helped with the bike. I’m not scared of failure, I like to put myself out there on the edge, and set myself challenges. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, you can’t succeed all the time, but I didn’t want to let anybody down here, so I just held that thing on the stop all the way down to prove I was capable of doing the car and then doing faster times than I ever have on the bike.”

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“KTM are the Kings of the Desert again, with a spectacular 1-2-3 finish in Australia’s biggest off-road race”

mounted Billy Barry and Benjamin Russell. Former motocrosser Jack Simpson - who currently leads the AORC E1 category – added another off-road achievement to his tally when he won the Up To 250cc 4T class aboard his KTM250SX-F, landing in Alice Springs in a brilliant 11th Outright on debut. Victorian Cody Ryan powered his KTM 250 SX to victory in the Up To 250cc Two Stroke class ahead of another KTM, that of Dalton Byrne, from Thargomindah, Qld. KTM Australia’s own National Brand Manager Tam Paul showed he’s no suitand-tie executive, winning the Veterans 45 Years And Over class on a KTM 450 EXC, ahead of KTM 350 EXC–mounted Jamie Harrison. 2016 Tatts finke desert race results: 1. Toby Price KTM 500 EXC - 03:46:55 2. Tye Simmonds KTM 500 EXC - 03:49:42 3. David Walsh KTM 500 EXC - 03:52:11 4. Daymon Stokie - 03:54:12 5. Beau Ralston - 04:01:19 6. Luke Hayes KTM 500 EXC - 04:18:25 7. Todd Smith - 04:19:35 8. Ryan Cossens - 04:21:32 9. Caleb Auricht - 04:22:02 10. Nathan Trigg KTM 300 EXC - 04:26:36 186

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SECOND

TYE SIMMONDS

“For me, I’m over the moon. It’s a massive improvement in my time and I’m really happy, but that’s all the time I’ve spent this year training and riding. I was a bit frustrated yesterday in my first 80 kilometres; I got really tight and made some mistakes, but that’s the only bit I was disappointed with. Toby was too good for me again but as a team we killed it. The track was so much more brutal this year, with the moisture making all the bumps a lot more square. It was quite tough, definitely rougher than last year. Last year I kind of feel like I got second handed to me, but for sure I deserve this one - I worked my arse off for it. Walshy was a minute behind me out of Finke, which over 230 kilometres is bugger all, so I knew he was coming. At one point he was only 40 seconds behind, but we managed to claw it back and I think for the last 80 kays he cruised in to ensure the finish.”

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THIRD

DAVID WALSH

“I had a bit of pressure from behind from the local lad Daymon Stokie, so I had to just really had to knuckle down in the first 80km. I think I made time out of Finke on both our boys, but then Tye was really fast and I dropped off, so once I realised I wasn’t within range I just really wanted to make sure I got home smooth to do the 1-2-3 for the team. I loved being with KTM, the way the team runs than just support from everyone, all have to do is ride the bike. I can’t thank the boys enough. Grabbo, Colin Ross, Tim Cole for helping me with my injuries. The boys are just great and it’s awesome to be a part of the team.”

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1st 250 class / 11th outright

JACK SIMPSON

“I nearly cracked the top-ten! I’m a little bit surprised, but then I did put a lot of effort into pre-running and training so all my preparation paid off. This race is just different, you can’t explain it, you’ve just get out here and do it, it’s that fast. You don’t even touch third gear, it’s just fourth and fifth the whole way. I had a real good run, I prologued 15th, and I played a bit of cat and mouse with a 450 on the way down, and then on the way back with Nathan Trigg who finished tenth outright. I’d catch ‘em, then they’d pull away, over and over. But that’s what happens on the little 250. But the bike went great, 460 kays of flat knacker on a dead stock KTM 250 SX-F. Hard work on a little engine, especially with me revving it, but it made it, no problem!”

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KTM JUNIORS TURN H AT TA H ORANGE 194

Sunday may be the main event at Hattah, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Saturday that provides a snapshot of the future for the high-profile desert race out near Mildura, and if last weekend was anything to go by - that future looks decidedly KTM Orange. Saturday at Hattah is the juniorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time to shine, and juniors on KTMs flat out ran away with the show, taking overall honours in the Big Wheel Juniors category, and doing likewise in the Small Wheel Juniors. KTM Jnr Motocross

Racing Team rider Mason Semmens took a comfortable win in the Big Wheels Juniors, the Ringwood KTM-backed rider taking what turned out to be a comfortable win of over three minutes ahead of another KTM250SX-F rider, Morgan Fogarty. Just over 9 minutes further back Connor Adams made it a KTM 250 SX-F trifecta, with KTM200 rider Liam Mason crossing the line in fourth. In the Small Wheels Junior event the result was even

more telling, with KTM85SX machines filling the first five positions. Gus Riordan won on the Cobram Estate Express Diesel KTM with an almost fourminute buffer to Senna Agius, with Ty Kean and the Bolton Motorcycle Choice KTM in third. Top female finisher Madi Healey was next over the line just 10 seconds further back on the AJ’s M-Cycles KTM, with Brock Deveson rounding out the top five on his Cory Deveson Concreting KTM. The news didn’t get much better for the opposition at class level either, with KTM winning three of the five specific Big Wheel classes, and three of the four dedicated Small Wheel classes. In the Big Wheels, Corey Hammond on the

Sutto’s Motorcycle Supply KTM125SX won the 150cc 13-16 class, while the 200cc 13-16 class went to Liam Mason ahead of Daniel Dunn and Tom Reddy in a KTM 200 EXC trifecta. The 250cc 13-16 class went to Mason Semmens on the KTM Junior Motocross Racing Team 250 SX-F from similarly mounted Morgan Fogarty and Connor Adams. As the Small Wheels classes got their chance to play in the sandpit it was Gus Riordan at the head of a KTM 85 SX stampede, leading home Senna Agius from Ty Kean. Among the little guys, Lachlan Metcalf was king, at the head of a KTM 65 SX trifecta that included Jackson Versteegen and Levi Stephens, while Madi Healy easily led home a KTM 1-2 in the girls, with Jessica Robertson second. While Tye Simmonds’ and Daniel Sanders’ dominated Hattah 2016 with an incredible battle, a horde of orange throttle twisters had – a day earlier - already done their best to show that there are plenty more where they came from.

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