Kawasaki Racing Team’s Billie Mackenzie has won the fourth round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals at Toowoomba QLD on Sunday 16 May.
The Scottish rider won two of the three motos to take the round win, while CDR Rockstar Yamaha rider and Wollongong local Jay Marmont has taken the Series lead by four points ahead of JDR Motorex KTM’s Tye Simmonds.
Although he qualified fastest, Mackenzie wasn’t the only one showing some impressive speed with four other riders all within one second of his time.
In the first moto, the boy from Bourke, Simmonds, took the holeshot before being overtaken by Mackenzie who was keen to make the most of his home track advantage.
The Kawasaki rider was soon out to an impressive lead, while Simmonds gradually fell through the field back to fourth.
The biggest on-track battle came from former Series Leader, Cougar Bourbon Thor Honda Racing’s Todd Waters, and privateer Dean Ferris (Honda).
The two riders were banging bars for most of the moto before an eventual crash from Ferris allowed Waters a clean run into second place leaving the privateer in third.
As the second moto got underway Kiwi and Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki rider Cody Cooper, who has struggled to find form since joining the Australian Series took the holeshot, however he was unable to hold onto the lead, soon overtaken by the green freight train of Mackenzie and young-gun Ferris.
While Mackenzie led for the first few laps, Cooper eventually made his way past Ferris and at times was right on the back of the Scott, but was unable to make a pass stick.
Mackenzie managed to hold on to the lead, despite lapped traffic with Cooper wrapping up the moto in second place followed by CDR Rockstar Yamaha rider Cheyne Boyd who finished in third.
The third moto looked to be a repeat of the first two, with Mackenzie soon out to a strong lead, however after a lack-lustre day, Marmont found his form, eventually catching up with the Kawasaki rider.
The two riders went bar-to-bar in and out of the turns, while Simmonds made his charge through the field, until disaster struck for Mackenzie, appearing to stall on one of the turns allowing a now in-rhythm Marmont and charging Simmonds – amongst others, to fly by leaving him in sixth place.
Despite his speed, Simmonds eventually caught Marmont, knowing that the Series lead was on the line; however the reigning Champs experience was too much for Simmonds, with the young rider eventually ceding to the Yamaha star and forced to settle for second place ahead of Ferris.
Quotes
First - Billy Mackenzie
“I’m definitely happy with today,” Mackenzie said.
“For my first ride back I was probably expecting a lot worse considering I haven’t ridden for so long.
“My wrist is pretty sore, I’m not going to lie, but it did the job today and it’s definitely better than it was at Broadford, so I’m just happy I had the extra time to heal and come back with a win.
“I really enjoy this track and the team have put a great bike together for me and we’ve had a great day.”
Second – Tye Simmonds
“The first race really let me down,” Simmonds said.
“And the second two I didn’t really get the best of starts, but I had fun racing with Jay today – we weren’t giving each other an inch!
“There were just some little mistakes I made – but it just goes to show how good the racing is and how close we are together and it was a good day.”
Third – Jay Marmont
“It didn’t come together all day for me today,” Marmont said.
“I qualified in eighth and then not getting a good start in that first race and crashing – the spirits were down in the team today with me.
“The boys were trying to keep my head up and get me positive, and Dacka [Craig Dack] grabbed me by the helmet and told me to go out there and do it this time so I went out there and gave it everything I had.
“It was good to race one-on-one with Billy, I haven’t seen him all Championship, he’s usually sprinting off at the start and I’m at the other end of the pack, but with Billy and Tye there was some awesome racing out there.
“I started the Series with the red plate and then lost it, so it’s good to have it back again especially coming into one of my home races at Raymond Terrace.”
Results
Qualifying Moto 1 Moto 2 Moto 3 Round Championship
1: Billy Mackenzie (Kawasaki) 1: Mackenzie 1: Mackenzie 1: Marmont 1: Mackenzie 65 pts 1: Marmont 190 pts
2: Dean Ferris (Honda) 2: Waters 2: Cooper 2: Simmonds 2: Simmonds 56 2: Simmonds 186
3: Cheyne Boyd (Yamaha) 3: Ferris 3: Cheyne Boyd (Yamaha) 3: Ferris 3: Marmont 54 3: Waters 171
4: Todd Waters (Honda) 4: Tye Simmonds (KTM) 4: Jay Marmont (Yamaha) 4: Boyd 4: Cooper 54 4: Ferris 167
5: Cody Cooper (Suzuki) 5: Cooper 5: Simmonds 5: Cooper 5: Boyd 53 5: Mackenzie157
The fifth round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be held on Sunday 30 May at MX Central at Barleigh Ranch Raceway:
Located 10 minutes North of Raymond Terrace
15 Killaloe Lane
Eagleton
Off the Pacific HWY via Italia Road
New South Wales
Admission:
Adult $30
Family (Two adults, two kids) $70
Kids (5-15 years) $15