Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals - Round 8, Coolum, QLD
Two big days of racing saw five champions crowned at the final round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals. The finale also threw up a couple of surprises, and fittingly, a special award was also added in honour of Andrew McFarlane, who was lost to the sport earlier this year.
Coolum's loose, sandy track was always going to be tough, but intermittent rain over both days made riding on the greasy surface even more challenging. However, the dull and overcast conditions didn't stop the champion riders from shining.
In the Under 19s class, MXRAD Coastal KTM's Josh Cachia fired up early, setting the fastest qualifying time and winning two of Saturday's three 7 lap motos. Crashes from Ross Beaton (Yamalube GYTR Rockstar Yamaha) gave Cachia some valuable breathing space heading into Sunday's races, while Dylan Peterson (Team 7 Axis M/Sports Honda) was a model of consistency, finishing third in all three of the opening day's motos. In Sunday's three races, Beaton again struggled, enabling Cachia to claim the Under 19s championship with one moto to spare. Harley Quinlan (Yamalube GYTR Rockstar Yamaha) won Sunday's opening two motos and the round, while Peterson won the final Under 19s moto of the season. With the title secure, Cachia indulged in the chance to run the #1 plate for the final moto - his only opportunity to do so before he moves up to the Pro Lites in 2011. After the race, Cachia spoke of how much winning the championship meant to him.
"It's so good to be able to go out there and win for Bronte Holland and Sharky (Andrew McFarlane) - two people I was close to," Cachia said.
"I've been working so hard this year; all the hours out at the track and it's all paid off - I really need to thank everyone for all their help this year - the team, my family and friends, sponsors - everyone has been so supportive.
"I can't wait to step up to the Pro Lites class next year and see what I'm capable of doing," Cachia added.
In Pro Lites, JDR Motorex KTM's P.J. Larsen comfortably secured the championship, but it was the Serco Yamaha team who had a real weekend out. Between them, Serco's Kirk Gibbs and Ford Dale won all six motos, and secured six more podium finishes in what was a dominant performance, despite a poor qualifying. Riding at his home track, Dale's results were good enough to move him up to third in the final championship standings. Larsen, still nursing his injured ankle, appeared to ride within himself, but was quick and had done enough by the end of Saturday's three motos to wrap up the title. Form there, Larsen enjoyed the chance to ride Sunday's races with his newly affixed # 1 plate.
"It means a lot to me to win this title after getting the opportunity to come and do a season in Australia with the JDR Motorsports Motorex KTM team," commented the 19-year-old from South Carolina. "I'm glad that we could come out with the championship.
"The whole team has been working really hard because we wanted to win the title for Andrew (McFarlane) - the whole goal was to go and do our best, make Andrew proud, and I think that we did a good job of it," Larsen added.
Pro Open has been the most hard fought of all classes this year, and true to form, the final round threw in a twist that had everyone guessing. After a poor result in the previous round, Billy Mackenzie (Team Kawasaki Racing) made it clear he wouldn't give in without a fight. The Scot secured the best qualifying time ahead of Dean Ferris (Honda), and Cody Cooper (Rockstar Motul Suzuki), both of whom had a genuine chance of taking the title from CDR Rockstar Yamaha's Jay Marmont if the cards fell their way.
In the first of Saturday's two Pro Open 10 lap (20 minutes +) motos, Ferris handled the greasy conditions best, winning by seven seconds from Mackenzie and Cooper. Coolum's monster triple jump claimed Cooper in the next moto after the New Zealander mistimed his landing and crashed heavily. Taken to hospital with a suspected broken elbow, Cooper took no further part in the round, but is expected to make a full recovery. Mackenzie secured the second moto win from CDR Rockstar Yamaha's Cheyne Boyd and Marmont. The CDR pair had their own battle for the runner up position, but Boyd's skill in the sand saw him finish ahead of Marmont, with Daniel McCoy (Coastal KTM) fourth. Ferris suffered brake problems that dropped him back to eleventh, effectively ending his chase for the championship.
Sunday's race format consisted of four 7 lap motos, and Mackenzie prevailed again in the opening stanza, passing Todd Waters (Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing) on the final lap to take the win. Marmont finished a distant fifth. Not a good result, but it was about to get worse for the CDR rider.
For safety reasons, all riders had been instructed to ride instead of jump over Coolum's big triple section on the opening lap. However, in the heat of competition, Marmont cleared the triple at the start of moto 2 and was hit with a 20 second Stop-Go penalty for his indiscretion. With the rest of the field streaming past, Marmont could do nothing but watch. The penalty moved Tye Simmonds (JDR Motorex KTM) into the lead, but he was passed by both Ferris and Mackenzie in the dying stages and finished third. Despite his setback, Marmont still managed to finish seventh, but the result further eroded his championship lead.
Going into the penultimate moto of the round, Marmont's lead was only 21 points over Mackenzie - less than a race victory - so a DNF result in either moto could spell disaster. Fortunately, Marmont kept it on two wheels and finished the moto in second behind Mackenzie. The same caution applied for the final moto - Marmont didn't need to win, but he had to finish, and finish reasonably well to ensure a record-equalling third championship. The last 7 lap Pro Open moto of the series saw Mackenzie dominate yet again, recording a flag to flag victory, but Marmont rode strong to pass Ferris for second on the penultimate lap and hold it to the chequered flag. Speaking after the round, Marmont's relief in securing his third consecutive Pro Open title was clearly evident.
"It feels awesome! Championships don't come easy and this year has been a tough one from the word go. It's been testing, but once I got the championship lead at Toowoomba, I held it ever since.
"It was really close today. Billy pretty much won every single race. . . and he was on a charge - he was getting maximum points on me. He put all the pressure in the world on me, so it's good to be here with the number one plate for the third year in a row."
Mackenzie, who indicated that he plans to return in 2011, conceded that injuries and illness worked against him and that any realistic chance of winning the championship was lost at the Moree round.
"I made it really hard for myself last week; I was ill and had a bad chest infection, which made for a horrendous weekend. . . . . . but Jay is a strong rider and he's been strong all year, he deserves the championship thoroughly, so I have to give it up to him."
Dean Ferris finished the season third overall, and as highest-placed Pro Open privateer, was the inaugural recipient of the Andrew 'Sharky' McFarlane Memorial Cup, an award created in honour of the popular KTM rider who lost his life earlier this year.
The Coolum round also saw the veteran classes riding for their own championship, where Cameron Taylor won the 35-39 class, while the evergreen Darryll King took the 40+ title.
With the season now concluded, all teams are setting themselves for the Super X series, which kicks off in October.
RESULTS
Round 8 - Coolum, QLD
PRO OPEN
1. B. Mackenzie (Kawasaki) 2-1-1-2-1-1
2. D. Ferris (Honda) 1-11-4-1-3-2
3. J. Marmont (Yamaha) 4-3-5-7-2-3
4. T. Simmonds (KTM) 6-5-3-3-7-6
5. T. Waters (Honda) 8-6-2-6-5-5
PRO LITE
1. K. Gibbs (Yamaha) 3-1-1-2-3-1
2. F. Dale (Yamaha) 1-3-3-1-1-3
3. P.J. Larsen (KTM) 2-2-4-4-5-4
4. L. Bopping (Suzuki) 6-8-2-5-2-2
5. M. Addison (Honda) 8-15-10-3-4-7
UNDER 19
1. H. Quinlan (Yamaha) 2-2-1-1-1-2
2. J. Cachia (KTM) 1-1-2-1-2-4
3. D. Peterson (Honda) 3-3-3-5-5-1
4. C. Dillon (Honda) 9-9-5-6-3-3
5. R. Beaton (Yamaha) 8-10-4-4-7-7
FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
PRO OPEN
1. Jay Marmont - 495, 2. Billy Mackenzie - 482, 3. Dean Ferris - 465, 4. Tye Simmonds - 431, 5. Cheyne Boyd - 416, 6. Todd Waters - 365, 7. Cody Cooper - 354, 8. Daniel McCoy - 298, 9. Lewis Woods - 255, 10. Beau Ralston - 242.
PRO LITE
1. P.J. Larsen - 535, 2. Kirk Gibbs - 470, 3. Ford Dale - 413, 4. Ryan Marmont - 387, 5. Lawson Bopping - 380, 6. Cody Mackie - 332, 7. Michael Phillips - 296, 8. Luke Styke - 291, 9. Kade Mosig - 289, 10. Luke George - 258.
UNDER 19s
1. Josh Cachia - 540, 2. Ross Beaton - 483, 3. Harley Quinlan - 450, 4. Dylan Peterson - 414, 5. Matthew Phillips - 363, 6. John Phillips - 303, 7. Kieran Leigh - 302, 8. Cameron Dillon - 287, 9. Ethan Martens - 261, 10. Errol Willis - 247.
Source: JUST BIKES, September 2010, Issue #255
