Defending British Motocross Champion Brad Anderson (Honda) has dominated the Pro Opens class at the fifth round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, while reigning Aussie Champ and CDR Rockstar Yamaha rider Jay Marmont has retained the Series lead.
Image: Pro Opens Podium L to R: Billy Mackenzie, Brad Anderson, Cheyne Boyd and Jay Marmont
Credit: Aaryn Minerds
With heavy rain falling in recent weeks and cyclonic weather conditions threatening racing on Sunday, event organisers were relieved when the forecast came through giving Newcastle the all clear.
With the sodden track beginning to dry out, qualifying got underway and UK rider Anderson showed the Aussies what he was made of posting the quickest time by more than two and a half seconds.
In the first race, privateer rider Dean Ferris (Honda) easily scored the holeshot however he was quickly overtaken by Kawasaki Racing Team’s Billy Mackenzie.
Ferris kept pace with the Scottish rider, with CDR Rockstar Yamaha rider Cheyne Boyd in third until Anderson made his charge, picking his way through the field from fifth place.
Anderson made light work of Boyd and Ferris and mid-way through the race began to hunt down Mackenzie.
With the gap steadily closing, Anderson made his move, coming up on the inside of Mackenzie – things didn’t exactly go to plan when the two made contact, and it was Mackenzie who came off worse for wear, crashing in the turn and dropping back to fourth place.
With only a handful of laps remaining there wasn’t much Mackenzie could do, while Anderson went on to take the race win ahead of Ferris who finished in second place and Boyd who wrapped up the race in third.
The second race saw several leaders including Ferris, Boyd, and Mackenzie, before Anderson once again, took to the front at the half-way mark.
The reigning British Champ held onto the lead, while Boyd, Mackenzie, Ferris and Kiwi and Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki rider Cody Cooper fought it out for the remaining podium places.
As expected Anderson took the flag, and it was Rosebud local Boyd who placed second with Mackenzie finishing in third.
In what is emerging as a strange pattern, reigning Aussie Champ Marmont, had a lack-lustre beginning to the day, failing to impress in the first two races, however just like the last round, the Wollongong local rallied and came out of nowhere in the final race – flying out of the gate bar to bar with Mackenzie for the holeshot.
With one lap down, Marmont had dropped back to third place with the two internationals out in front, however by the seventh lap, Marmont had reigned in Mackenzie and passed him, and then began to close the gap on Anderson.
By the time the chequered flag dropped Marmont was within five seconds of Anderson, and had a safe distance between himself and Mackenzie who finished in third.
Quotes
First - Brad Anderson
“I’ve been riding over in the UK and I’ve done a few GP’s, and we just decided to come out here and try it all out and it’s been pretty good,” Anderson said.
“I like it nice and rough like how it is here, the track was pretty good and the people are good, and hopefully I can be back again.
“I’ve got Manjimup next week and then I’ve got to get back for the British Championship, but hopefully I can get back here before the end of the season.”
Second – Billy Mackenzie
“It was a tough day for me out there,” Mackenzie said.
“I haven’t had a lot of bike time since my injury and I struggled at the last round a bit but I had a lot of track knowledge which helped.
“It was great today, because I got some decent bike time in and I felt really good in that last race.
“I just didn’t have the speed today for Brad – he’s a fast rider and I’m glad to get second.
“I might have a little regret in inviting Brad over actually, but it’s alright and I was still the first guy behind him!
“We’ve been racing together since we were six years old, we started our Pro careers together so it’s been a good weekend – we’ve been having a laugh and I’m enjoying my racing again which is the main thing.”
Third – Cheyne Boyd
“I’ve had a good week and I’m pumped with today,” Boyd said.
“I’ve busted my butt all week and I can’t be happier – everyone has been so supportive.
“It’s been a tough start to the season but I suppose that’s what Champions are made of and I’m just going to keep trying and pushing.”
Series Leader – Jay Marmont
“We went out testing last week and it’s all my fault, I got the setting wrong, so in the last race I went back to my original settings and felt a lot more comfortable – so I almost left my run too late out there but the team pulled through in the end,” Marmont said.
“It was good to go out there and bang bars with Brad and Billy and it’s also good to see my teammate Cheyne up there, but I think we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board because we can’t let these guys from the UK keep coming over here and beating us on our home soil!
“Maintaining the red leader plate is a great feeling, that’s our overall goal and what we’ve got our eyes on but at the same time we can’t get too comfortable out there.”
Results
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Qualifying
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Moto 1
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Moto 2
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Moto 3
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Round
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Championship
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1: Brad Anderson (Honda)
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1: B Anderson
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1: B Anderson
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1: B Anderson
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1: B Anderson 75 points
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1: Marmont 241 points
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2: Billy Mackenzie (Kawasaki)
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2: Ferris
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2: Boyd
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2: Jay Marmont (Yamaha)
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2: Mackenzie 58
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2: Simmonds 228
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3: Cody Cooper (Suzuki)
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3: Boyd
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3: Mackenzie
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3: Mackenzie
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3: Boyd 58
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3: Ferris 223
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4: Cheyne Boyd (Yamaha)
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4: Mackenzie
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4: Cooper
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4: Ferris
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4: Ferris 56
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4: Mackenzie 215
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5: Dean Ferris (Honda)
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5: Cooper
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5: Ferris
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5: Boyd
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5: Marmont 51
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5: Boyd 214
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The sixth round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be held on Sunday 27June at:
Albury Wodonga Motorcycle Club
Diamond Park
Lincoln Causeway
Wodonga VIC
Admission:
Adult $30
Family (Two adults, two kids) $70
Kids (5-15 years) $15