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Rockstar MX Nationals Report

Written by Goba Monday, 29 March 2010 08:15

PJ Larsen showing the locals how its done at the first round of the Rockstar MX Nationals. Credit: Kajx Communications

JDR Motorex KTM rider PJ Larsen has taken out the Pro Lites class at the first round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals at Horsham on Sunday, while MXRad Coastal KTM rider Josh Cachia, has won the Under 19s class.

US import Larsen, continued the international dominance of the series opener, with Scottish Kawasaki Racing team rider Billie Mackenzie taking out the Pro Opens class.

Larsen qualified fastest in the Pro Lites class ahead of Serco Yamaha rider Ford Dale and Luke George (Kawasaki), who made his official return to Nationals racing following a massive crash at the final round of the series in 2009.

In race one it was veteran rider Cameron Taylor (Yamaha) who scored the holeshot, however the moto soon became a one-man-show, with Larsen continuing his strong form from qualifying, dominating the race from start to finish. Larson was followed out by teammate Ryan Marmont, who, after a slow two years, was consistently quick, and after initially keeping pace, rode his own race in second place to the flag. Meanwhile the keenly anticipated return to racing of George didn’t go exactly to plan for the Kawasaki rider, with the 20 year old starting out strongly behind Marmont in third place, however as the moto continued, fell back through the field to finish the race in eighth place.

With the drizzling rain making the track slippery, it was Kawasaki Racing Team’s Codie Mackie who took an early lead in the second moto, ahead of Serco Yamaha’s rider Kirk Gibbs. The race soon became at battle between Mackie and Gibbs, with Marmont comfortable in third place. Kawasaki’s Mackie led the majority of the race until the final moments of the last lap, when the South Australian Serco rider overtook to take the flag while Marmont continued his improved form and took third place.

In the third moto, George had a flying start out of the gates however he was soon overtaken by Larsen. The American soon established a massive lead ahead of Darryl King (Yamaha) and Yamaha Junior Development Team’s Luke Styke, who held on to take third place at the flag.

In the Under 19s, MXRad Coastal KTM rider Cachia dominated proceedings, qualifying fastest and winning the first two motos. Cachia only came unstuck in the final moto, when he crashed in the first turn and was forced pick his way back from last place. New Zealander and Raceline Pirelli Suzuki rider Hamish Dobbyn took advantage of the Series leaders misfortune and streaked ahead to a massive win, while Cachia managed to pick his way through to sixth place.

Quotes

Pro Lites PJ Larsen: “Today was a really good day,” Larsen said. “In the first moto I came from a long way back to win it and my teammate came second. In the second moto I had a few crashes and a bad start, but I had the holeshot to start with and ended up 11th. So coming into the third moto I just thought I needed to ride smart and that’s what I did. The team has gone one and two this round, and it’s a great way to start the season.”

Under 19s Josh Cachia: “I had the same feeling as I did last year coming into the first round, and I pretty much put down the same results and hopefully by the end of the year I can put a whole season together and come out with a Championship win,” Cachia said. “In the last moto, I went down in the first corner and was in last place, but my team did a really good job of telling me what position I needed to get to, in order to get the overall. I ended up crashing three times in that race, but my consistency in the other races got me the overall and I’m stoked!”

RESULTS

Pro Lites

Race 1
1: Larsen
2: Ryan Marmont (KTM)
3: Dale
4: Michael Phillips (Honda)
5: Kirk Gibbs (Yamaha)

Race 2
1: Gibbs
2: Codie Mackie (Kawasaki)
3: Phillips
4: Marmont
5: Darryl King (Yamaha)

Race 3
1: Larsen
2: King
3: Luke Styke (Yamaha)
4: Mackie
5: Marmont

Championship Standings
1: Larsen 60 points
2: Marmont 56
3: Gibbs 56
4: Mackie 55
5: Phillips 43

Under 19s

Race 1
1: Josh Cachia (KTM)
2: Dylan Peterson (Honda)
3: Beaton
4: Phillips
5: Errol Willis (Yamaha)

Race 2
1: Cachia
2: Beaton
3: Hamish Dobbyn (Suzuki)
4: Phillips
5: Peterson

Race 3
1: Dobbyn
2: Peterson
3: Phillips
4: Beaton
5: Ethan Martens (KTM)

Championship Standings
1: Cachia 65 points
2: Dobbyn 60
3: Peterson 60
4: Beaton 60
5: Phillips 56

Pro Open Class

Billy Mackenzie dominated the Pro Open class at the opening round of the Rockstar MX Nationals. Credit: Kajx Communications

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Billie Mackenzie has won the Pro Opens class at the first round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals at Horsham, VIC on Sunday. With anticipation at fever pitch leading into the first round of the Series, fans were not disappointed with riders taking the races down to the wire. Scottish import, Mackenzie, was the fastest in qualifying ahead of JDR Motorex KTM’s Andrew McFarlane and Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing’s Todd Waters.

As racing got underway in the first moto, McFarlane scored the holeshot, however, he was quickly overtaken by Mackenzie, with the two riders tussling for the lead while Waters, and Dean Ferris (Honda) battled it out for third place. The front four riders began to break away, while reigning Champ, CDR Rockstar Yamaha’s Jay Marmont struggled back in seventh place.
After a few laps, Waters closed the gap on Mackenzie and the two battled for the lead and by the end of the race, Waters was clear - taking the moto win ahead of Mackenzie, with McFarlane riding into third.

Race two threw out a few surprises with Simon Thompson (Honda) off to a blinder of a start followed closely behind by Ferris and Mackenzie, however, the dream start didn’t hold for Thompson, and he was soon overtaken. Ferris rode on the edge for the entire moto with the lead swapping between him and Mackenzie countless times, before he succumbed to pressure from the Scott and put his bike down with one lap to go.
Mackenzie took the flag, while Ferris managed to salvage second place ahead of Waters, who rode consistently into third place.

By the time the third and final moto got under way the rain had set in, creating some slippery conditions on the already rough, and carved up track. After a lacklustre day, the crowd finally got so see some of Marmont’s magic, with the blue bike rider taking not only the holeshot, but also dominating for the entire race. Meanwhile Mackenzie was caught up in a first turn crash, and had to set about working his way back from last place. The rougher the track became, the better Marmont rode and despite some early pressure from Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki’s Cody Cooper, he had a 35 second lead by the chequered flag. Marmont finished the moto ahead of JDR Motorex KTM’s Tye Simmonds, who also found form in the final moto for second place, and Mackenzie who rode a strong race to finish in third.

Quotes

Billie Mackenzie: “It’s a good way to start the season,” Mackenzie said. “I was a little bit upset with my performance in the first race and I also had a small problem in that last race - I went to let the clutch out and the bike was in neutral! So it was my own fault, and I also went down so I made it hard for myself, but I liked the track today. There’s been such a good atmosphere ever since I got here, I’m enjoying Australia, and I’m just enjoying riding my bike again. I had a bad year last year and I just came here to get refreshed and it’s definitely working.”

Todd Waters: “Dude I was struggling out there!” Waters said. "In that last race the mud really got me and I crashed twice and but I ended up settling in. I was just sort of trying to get up there, but I ended up finishing ok and got second overall so I’m pumped. Only time will tell if I can carry this momentum through the rest of the series, but I’m going to give it my all just like my team.”

Jay Marmont: “It’s been a very hard day,” Marmont said. “Last night we were pumping in the cold and flu tablets, and I knew it was going to be a tough day and then the rain set in! I made that second race hard for myself, crashing on the last lap, but I brought it home strong in that last one and it’s almost like trial riding out there it was so slippery – it was like riding on ice! But I didn’t get roosted, and at the end of the day I got some good points and I’m looking forward to going to the next round.”

RESULTS

Pro Open

Race 1
1: Waters
2: Mackenzie
3: McFarlane
4: Marmont
5: Daniel McCoy (KTM)

Race 2
1: Mackenzie
2: Ferris
3: Waters
4: Tye Simmonds (KTM)
5: Cheyne Boyd (Yamaha)

Race 3
1: Marmont
2: Simmonds
3: Mackenzie
4: Ferris
5: McFarlane
Championship Standings
1: Mackenzie 67 points
2: Waters 59
3: Marmont 56
4: Ferris 54
5: Simmonds 52

The second round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be held on Sunday 18 April at: ACT Motor Cycle Club, Fairburn Park, Pialligo Ave, Majura District ACT.

Adult $30
Family (Two adults, two kids) $70
Kids (5-15 years) $15
For more information about the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals check out www.mxnationals.com.au and www.ma.org.au