Rockstar MX Nationals - Round 1
The opening round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals saw the international riders triumph in both Pro Open and Pro Lites classes. Best qualifying time, one moto win and a pair of podium finishes from Team Kawasaki's Billy Mackenzie capped off a dominant performance for the Scottish rider in the Pro Opens, while JDR Motorex KTM's American signing, P.J. Larsen, also secured fastest time in qualifying and two moto wins on his way to the round victory.
Race day at the Dooen circuit near Horsham opened in dull, overcast conditions, with the threat of rain eventually made good around midday. As the drizzle increased, the conditions became more and more challenging, with the track's sticky clay surface turning a lot of knobbies into slicks by the end of the day! In the slippery conditions, the deep ruts and challenging whoops section claimed their fair share of riders.
In the Pro Lites, Larsen and Ryan Marmont made it a JDR Motorex KTM 1-2 in the opening moto, with Serco Yamaha's Ford Dale rounding out the top three. A fall from Larsen in the second moto opened the door for Serco Yamaha's Kirk Gibbs to claim victory, ahead of Kawasaki's Cody Mackie, who actually led for most of the moto, and Cougar Bourbon Honda's Michael Phillips. Larsen bounced back in the final Pro Lites moto with a dominant win, more than 30 seconds clear of second-placed Darryll King. A former multiple MX champion, King showed there's still life in the old 2 stroke - as well as his own 41-year old body! - with impressive fifth and second place results on what was basically a stock YZ 250. Last year's Under 19s champion, Yamalube GYTR Rockstar Yamaha's Luke Styke, improved with each moto, claiming a third in the final Pro Lites race.
The Pro Open class held a lot of interest for the Horsham crowd, with speculation as to just who would be taking it up to dual MX Nats champ, CDR Rockstar Yamaha's Jay Marmont. Suffering badly from the flu going into the round, Marmont was behind the eight ball from the start, and his cause wasn't helped with a poor start in moto 1. JDR Motorex KTM's Andrew McFarlane narrowly won the holeshot from Lewis Woods (Honda), but both were reeled in by Mackenzie before the end of the opening lap. From there, the Scot battled with Cougar Bourbon Honda's Todd Waters for the race lead, the latter holding on for victory, with McFarlane a distant third.
Moto 2 saw privateer, Simon Thompson (Honda), surprise everyone when he claimed the holeshot ahead of Marmont, Dean Ferris (Honda) and Danny Anderson (Honda). A stall from Marmont at the circuit's tight uphill hairpin on the opening lap effectively ended his race, as Mackenzie bolted away from the pack, and reeled in the early frontrunners to claim victory ahead of Ferris. The Honda privateer actually matched and passed the Kawasaki-mounted Mackenzie on several occasions before a fall on the last lap enabled Mackenzie to ride to a comfortable win.
With the rain coming down for the final Pro Open moto, Marmont showed his class with a start-to-finish victory in the slippery conditions. Mackenzie fell at the opening turn, remounted in last place, and still managed to claw his way back up through the field to claim third at the chequered flag.
ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MX NATIONALS
Results - Round 1 - Horsham, VIC
PRO OPEN
1. B. Mackenzie (Kawasaki) 2-1-3
2. T. Waters (Honda) 1-3-7
3. J. Marmont (Yamaha) 4-8-1
4. D. Ferris (Honda) 7-2-4
5. T. Simmonds (KTM) 9-4-2
PRO LITES
1. P.J. Larsen (KTM) 1-11-1
2. R. Marmont (KTM) 2-4-5
3. K. Gibbs (Yamaha) 5-1-6
4. C. Mackie (Kawasaki) 6-2-4
5. M. Phillips (Honda) 4-3-16
UNDER 19
1. J. Cachia (KTM) 1-1-6
2. H. Dobbyn (Suzuki) 6-3-1
3. D. Petersen (Honda) 2-5-2
4. R. Beaton (Yamaha) 3-2-4
5. M. Phillips (Honda) 4-4-3
