Transmoto Dirt bike Magazine, Issue 55 – ECMX Pictorial

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Heart & Soul JOHN PEARSON MEDIA

Why every motocross racer in Australia should support the East Coast MX series in 2016.

he East Coast MX (ECMX) series was conceived in 2012 for every motocross racer in Australia; for the newbie who’s never lined up behind a gate before; for the fast punk who wants to make his mark on the scene; for the veteran who refuses to let his passion for racing dirt bikes die; for the Pro who needs to get some pre-season training in before the competitive season starts; for everyone who lives an enriched life because of motocross. Michel Constantinou, a former Pro motocross racer turned riding coach, established the grassroots series (which runs in parallel with the NSW State MX titles) to cater for all lovers of dirt bikes.

And thanks to loyal competitors and passionate supporters, it’s been nurtured and developed year-on-year to satisfy everyone involved.

“No one should feel discouraged or scared to get out there and have a

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go,” says Constantinou. “Stacked grids in every class means competitors race against similarly skilled riders – the front-runners can do battle with each other, while the guys at the back can slice and dice at their own pace. Juniors and Seniors race on Saturdays and Sundays this year, which creates an awesome atmosphere and makes for great spectating.

Experience one of the three remaining rounds for yourself – I promise, you’ll love it. And with Transmoto on board now for the fifth year in a row as title sponsor, there’s every chance you’ll see yourself up in lights.”

Transmoto’s John Pearson was at the 2016 season opener at Lakes MX track, soaking up the good vibes and showcasing the action; in the hope that the images he’s captured and captioned over the following pages whet your appetite to sign up for a round. After all, motocross bikes weren’t made to collect cobwebs in a shed.

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MOSSY’S GRACE

SHEER VOLUME

85cc RIPPERS

FUTURE GENERATIONS

Matt Moss has a huge domestic following.

While he’s known for his multiple Australian motocross and supercross titles, he’s loved for his heart of gold and willingness to lend a hand where it’s needed. At the 2016 East Coast MX opener, the super-human raced, flag marshalled and spent the better half of Saturday helping out Juniors on the track in trying conditions; he was in the trenches, pulling bikes out of bog-holes and redirecting traffic. It’s inspiring to see guys at the top of their game giving selflessly to help future generations of our great sport. And any young racer would be stoked to head home knowing Mossy cheered them on.

The amount of riders who signed up for this year’s East Coast MX opener demonstrates the following this sport is picking up. Over 360 competitors filled grids across almost every Junior and Senior class – in some instances, motos had to be split into two, meaning that racing barely stopped all weekend. With so many riders in attendance, some carnage was guaranteed. While the smaller bikes did struggle, everyone still got out there and for the most part, was stoked to be racing. Once the track dried out towards the end of the day on Saturday and early on Sunday, it became an absolute tack-fest, and it was considered an absolute treat.

Among many fierce young racers, a standout performer on Sunday was Avalon-based rider, Beau Van Der Wallen.

On his Senior 85cc debut, the Transmotosponsored grom proved that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the 2016 season. Running in the top-five in both of his motos, he showed consistent style and pace with a mature approach to racing, with unfortunate crashes tampering with his potential results. This could be said about many riders other than just Beau, however, as the depth of talent in this class is truly unbelievable. Oakdale-based ripper, Tyler Darby, eventually dominated the division, winning both of his motos.

These young frothers represent the future of our sport, and they’re the reason so many people show up to support local race meetings all over the country.

Stacked up on these steps are some of the best young riders Australia has to offer, brimming with all the enthusiasm and determination of much older heads. These kids are, without a doubt, going to take the place of today’s Pros in just a few short years. It was so humbling to see younger riders stopping to shake hands with each other before heading back to the pits after their motos, too. As the leaders of tomorrow, these young ones are showing us how it should be done. Take notes!

TRICKY CONDITIONS

LAKES MCC

FLAG MARSHALLS

THE BACKBONE

A solid downpour of rain in the lead-up to the series opener wreaked havoc for the young tackers on Saturday – the start straight itself became a tricky obstacle to manoeuvre through, and getting up the steep hills that the Lakes track features became a nightmare for some. Numerous ruts and lines that developed throughout the day made it extremely hard for the 50cc and 65cc bikes to work with. A cancellation of the round was considered, but everyone soldiered on in true-blue Aussie fashion, opting to fight against the opposition as well as the battleground.

This generated a lot of work for the flag marshalls, who did everything within their power to help out the determined Juniors.

The Lakes MX track, which sits about 30 minutes south of Newcastle, has played a pivotal role in the development of Australian motocross racing since its inception in the mid-1970s. Names such as Craig Anderson, Luke George and Beau Ralston all cut their teeth on the iconic circuit, and more recently, it has been responsible for the progression of a swathe of Junior riders from the Hunter Valley region. The Lake Macquarie Motorcycle Club hosts one round of the East Coast MX series annually, and the club does its best to ensure that the track is always as well prepared as possible. It’s a great location for spectators, too, boasting lots of elevation and vantage points.

The courageous flag marshalls and their off-siders ensured the 2016 East Coast MX opener ran seamlessly. From the get-go, they were assisting Juniors (and many Seniors) who suffered countless unpreventable crashes, and they worked hard to do what they could with track maintenance between motos. Here, the inside edge of a rut is being chipped away to prevent it from knocking smaller bikes into neutral – a frequent incident that occurred on Saturday that caused colossal traffic jams. The weekend’s intense temperatures made this exercise all the more taxing, and when you consider the fact that most flag marshalls also raced, they must be given credit for their efforts.

The backbone of the East Coast MX series – and motocross racing in Australia in general – are the parents; the dedicated mums and dads who drive countless kilometres to get to races every few weekends, wash and fuel bikes, make lunches, push machines through scrutineering and walk tracks with their children. They show true love towards their kids, giving them all they have and supporting them in everything that they do. They make infinite investments in bikes, accessories and safety gear, too. Without ongoing support from parents and family members, the Junior motorcycle industry wouldn’t be in the great shape that it’s in today.

Log on to For detailed race results, image galleries and video highlights from the 2016 East Coast MX series, presented by Transmoto.

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