2010 Monster Energy Super X Round 5 - Dunedin
Heavy rain led to the cancellation of all practice and qualifying sessions, as organisers feared the Carisbrook Stadium track may become unusable by race time. The planned Manufacturer's Challenge was also cancelled, but the heats were run and threw up some interesting results, as some riders thrived while others struggled in the sodden conditions.
In the first Lites heat, Kawasaki Racing Team/Cool Air Conditioning's Cody Mackie finished comfortably ahead of Matt Moss (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) and Ford Dale (Serco Yamaha). In the second Lites heat, P.J. Larsen (JDR Motorex KTM) had a similarly easy victory, finishing 15 seconds clear of Luke Arbon (Kawasaki Racing Team/Cool Air Conditioning) and Kade Mosig (Cougar Bourbon Thor Honda).
In the first Open class heat, a flu-weakened Tye Simmonds (JDR Motorex KTM) handled the wet conditions best, finishing ahead of Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Yamaha) and one of the local stars from the previous round, Michael Phillips (Team Honda Hamilton). Heat two looked to be going the way of Jake Moss (Rockstar Motul Suzuki), but a mistake on the eighth of ten laps allowed series leader Josh Hansen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) to take the heat win. Kiwi rider, Mason Phillips (Fly Team Green Kawasaki) finished third. The two other American imports, Jeff and Mike Alessi, finished sixth and seventh in their respective heats.
The 'Double Header' format for this round was retained, but factoring in the extremely wet condition of the track, race distances were cut by two to three laps for both classes.
The opening Lites final was a battle of the Suzukis, with Moss and Steven Clarke (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) trading places for the race lead several times before the UK rider prevailed, finishing five seconds clear of Moss. Larsen rounded out the podium, followed by Mosig and Mackie.
Lites Double Header number two started with Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) scoring the holeshot, but within a lap Moss was in the lead, closely followed by Clarke. Mosig crashed after being landed on by another rider before he could complete the opening lap, but was later cleared to ride at round 6. With the mud sapping the strength of all riders, Clarke couldn't make his way to the front this time around. A mistake on the penultimate lap allowed both Larsen and Mackie to pass the Brit, finishing second and third behind Moss. Clarke had to settle for fourth, followed by Marmont. Errol Willis (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) crashed out, but was uninjured. Lawson Bopping (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) struggled in the muddy conditions, crashing out of the first final and finishing ninth in the second.
For the Open class, starts were more critical than ever as riders tried to avoid getting blinded by mud and spray. The first holeshot went the way of Hansen, who rode away from the pack virtually unchallenged on his way to victory. Behind him, Simmonds proved to handle the mud well, holding down second position throughout the race. Marmont was solid in third, before a crash on lap four opened the door for Moss, who passed the CDR rider a lap later. Lapped traffic became a factor late in the 10-lap race, but Cody Cooper (Rockstar Motul Suzuki), an acknowledged wet weather specialist, threaded his way through the field to finish fifth after a poor start. Mike Alessi (Jagermeister KTM/JDR Motorex) performed well, finishing sixth, but his brother Jeff (CDR Rockstar Yamaha) struggled from the outset in the treacherous conditions, failing to finish.
In the second Open Double header, Hansen once again secured the holeshot, followed by Kiwi local, Justin McDonald (Honda) and Simmonds. A spill from McDonald on lap 6 allowed Simmonds and Moss to pass. Behind the leading trio, Marmont and Cooper were making their move, both passing McDonald on lap 7. Mike Alessi dropped back through the field, while Jeff was a non-starter after his first moto incident. Simmonds was looking set for another runner-up result behind Hansen, but an incident with a lapped rider on the final lap gave Moss the opportunity he needed to knock Simmonds back to third on the podium. Marmont and McDonald rounded out the top five.
Hansen won the round and extended his lead over Marmont in the series, while Simmonds' pair of podiums gave JDR Motorex KTM its first ever Open class round podium.
"That was a scary one, especially with points", Hansen said after the Dunedin mud-fest.
"It was super wet, very muddy and a lot of lappers. Starts were really important and I had to be consistent and smart out there. It's great to have the support I have behind me. Big thanks to everyone who has made it possible to be here and Troy Carroll from the Kawasaki Racing Team for all his help."
With Super X returning to Australia for the final two rounds, Larsen still leads the Lites class on 252 points, but a mere four points separates him from Matt Moss (248). Marmont (203), Mackie (172) and Clarke (154) complete the top five. In the Open class, Hansen (275 points) is the clear leader from Jay Marmont (229), Jake Moss (194), Simmonds (191) and Reardon (162).
