Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals - Round 4, Toowoomba, QLD
After a disappointing round two in Canberra and the cancellation of round three at Broadford, Kawasaki Racing Team's Billie Mackenzie was back to his best for the fourth round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, held at Toowoomba's Echo Valley circuit on May 16th. Despite still carrying a wrist injury from Canberra and suffering the loss of his mother back home in Scotland, Mackenzie prevailed to win two of the three Pro Open motos to take the round win, while CDR Rockstar Yamaha's Jay Marmont did enough to take the championship lead.
Although he qualified fastest, Mackenzie wasn't the only one on the pace, with four other riders all within one second of his time. One of the most impressive was Dean Ferris, who is showing some super form. A win surely can't be too far away for the determined Honda privateer.
Tye Simmonds (JDR Motorex KTM) was riding with Andrew McFarlane's #7 at Toowoomba (and will continue to do so for the rest of the season, with the McFarlane family's blessing) and the boy from Bourke took the holeshot in the opening moto before being overtaken by Mackenzie. The Kawasaki rider, for whom the Echo Valley track is home circuit, was soon out to an impressive lead, while Simmonds gradually fell through the field back to fourth. The biggest on-track battle came from Todd Waters (Cougar Bourbon Thor Honda Racing) and Ferris. The two riders were banging bars for most of the moto before a crash from Ferris allowed Waters a clean run into second place.
With the track already rutting up as the second moto got underway, Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki's Cody Cooper, who has struggled to find form since rejoining the Australian series, took the holeshot and the early lead in the challenging track conditions. However, he was unable to hold onto the lead, being overtaken by both Mackenzie and Ferris. Waters was looking strong early in the moto before he crashed, rejoined then crashed again and left the circuit with a suspected broken collarbone. Cooper eventually made his way past Ferris and at times was right on the back of the leading Mackenzie, but couldn't make a pass stick. Despite lapped traffic, Mackenzie managed to hold the lead, with Cooper wrapping up the moto in second place followed by Cheyne Boyd (CDR Rockstar Yamaha).
The third moto looked like it was going to be a repeat of the first two, with Mackenzie out to a strong lead early. However, after a lacklustre day, Jay Marmont finally found his form, catching Mackenzie and going bar-to-bar with the Kawasaki rider, until disaster struck for Mackenzie when he appeared to stall on one of the turns. This allowed a now in-rhythm Marmont, Simmonds and others to fly by, leaving the Scot to finish in sixth place. Simmonds eventually caught Marmont, but the reigning champ's experience was too much, with the young rider eventually ceding to the Yamaha star and forced to settle for second place ahead of Ferris.
In the Pro Lites, a red flag in the first moto saw a restart and combined times from the two sessions awarded the win to P. J. Larsen (JDR Motorex KTM), ahead of top qualifier, Ford Dale (Serco Yamaha). In the second moto, veteran rider, Kim Ashkenazi (Suzuki), made an impression - and not just with his purple hair! Ashkenazi took it up to Larsen and Cody Mackie (Kawasaki Racing Team) early, before falling back through the field. Mackie crashed, but still managed to finish fourth behind Larsen, Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) and Luke George (Kawasaki). Dale finally made good on his early pace in the final moto, taking the holeshot and holding off Larsen to record his first win of the season.
The championship next heads to Raymond Terrace in Newcastle, followed by round 6 in Wodonga, VIC on June 27th.
RESULTS - Round 4 - Toowoomba, QLD.
PRO OPEN
1. B. Mackenzie (Kawasaki) 1-1-6
2. T. Simmonds (KTM) 4-5-2
3. J. Marmont (Yamaha) 10-4-1
4. C. Cooper (Suzuki) 5-2-5
5. C. Boyd (Yamaha) 6-3-4
Championship - 1. Marmont - 190 pts , 2. Simmonds - 186, 3. Waters - 171, 4. Ferris - 167, 5. Mackenzie - 157.
PRO LITE
1. P.J. Larsen (KTM) 1-1-2
2. C. Mackie (Kawasaki) 4-4-6
3. F. Dale (Yamaha) 2-19-1
4. R. Marmont (KTM) 5-2-14
5. L. George (Kawasaki) 8-3-11
Championship - 1. Larsen - 207 pts, 2. Gibbs - 183, 3. Mackie - 164, 4. Marmont - 163, 5. Dale - 149.
UNDER 19
1. L. Arbon (Kawasaki) 2-1-3
2. H. Quinlan (Yamaha) 3-2-4
3. M. Phillips (Honda) 6-3-2
4. J. Cachia (KTM) 5-7-1
5. R. Beaton (Yamaha) 3-3-6
Championship - 1. Cachia - 201 pts, 2. Beaton - 173, =3. Arbon - 163, =3. Petersen - 163, 5. M. Phillips - 160.
Images:
In the challenging conditions at Toowoomba, Rockstar Motul Suzuki's Cody Cooper enjoyed a welcome return to form, setting the fastest lap in the second moto and finishing fourth overall for the round.
Billy Mackenzie was back to his best at Toowoomba, winning two of the round's three motos.
JDR Motorex KTM's Tye Simmonds will run with #7 for the rest of the 2010 season in honour of his fallen team mate, Andrew McFarlane.
