Simmonds, Moss win sodden Super X 2011 opener

The extremely wet and slippery conditions made each heat and race something of a lottery, but at the end of the evening, JDR Motorex KTM's Tye Simmonds was the victor in the Open class, with his team mate Matt Moss the winner in the Lites category.

In the first of two 'Double Header' final races in the Lites, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Dean Ferris took the holeshot and the greasy conditions in his stride. Despite a couple of close calls, Ferris never really looked back, easily claiming the win. There were a few battles for second and third with Moss eventually claiming second after recovering from an earlier fall, with JDR Motorex KTM's Josh Cachia third.

Ferris came out firing again in the second final taking the holeshot with Moss and Serco Yamaha's Luke Styke close behind. Ferris lost control mid race allowing Moss to take the lead and the win. Styke took second and JDR Motorex KTM's Brendan Harrison came third. Ferris climbed back to third, but crashed again just before the finish line. Vortually wedged between two sections of the track, Ferris struggled to restart his bike, but finally got it working and rode over the finish line in last place.

"I had to make my way through the pack in the first final, which was tough but the second final went much better and it's great to get the win," Moss said.
"The bike is running really good and I felt great out there. It was tough conditions tonight, but I am glad we could put a good show on for the crowd."

The Open class was also scheduled to run the 'Double Header' format of two separate 8-lap races, but due to the treacherous track conditions, organisers changed the final format to a single 12 lap race. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Billy Mackenzie took the holeshot with Simmonds second and Carlton Dry Thor Honda's Cheyne Boyd third. Behind them, it became a bit of a scramble, with several riders either sliding out or struggling to get traction on the wet track.

The big finish line double had already caught out a couple of riders out in the other classes, and this tricky combination also undid Mackenzie's charge, as he went down in that section of the circuit. This opened the door for Simmonds to pass and take the win. Mackenzie held on for second and JDR Motorex KTM's Ryan Marmont came third after passing Boyd.

"I am stoked to win my first race back in Australia after racing in the USA all year. It was tough out there tonight, but I managed to have some fun and the team has had some great results tonight," said Simmonds.

For the CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha riders, the opening round was one to forget. Jay Marmont and Jake Moss both got poor starts in the final. Marmont crashed on the opening lap, but remounted, while Moss, like many others, struggled to get traction in certain sections of the track. In the wet and slippery conditions, Marmont and Moss finished eighth and tenth respectively.

Earlier in the evening, Errol Willis won the Under 19's opener, beating America's fast paced Joey Savagty, with Matthew Phillips third. With the 'international' contingent greatly reduced compared to past years, Savagty was the surprise of the round, demonstrating some fast pace in the Under 19s. Blake Blackwell took out the opening round of Michelin Development Series with Billy Jackson second and Joel Wightman third.

Round two of Super X, the Australasian Supercross Championship, will take place at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Saturday, October 29.

For more details, go to www.superx.com.au

images: Russell Colvin/JUST BIKES

OPEN results - Round 1/Championship standings*
1. Tye SIMMONDS - JDR Motorex KTM: 25
2. Billy MACKENZIE - Monster Energy Kawasaki: 22
3. Ryan MARMONT - JDR Motorex KTM: 20
4. Cheyne BOYD - Carlton Dry Thor Honda Racing: 18
5. Dan MCCOY - Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki: 16
6. Michael PHILLIPS - Carlton Dry Thor Honda Racing: 15
7. Todd WATERS - Carlton Dry Thor Honda Racing: 14
8. Jay MARMONT - CDR Rockstar Yamaha: 13
9. Daniel REARDON - JDR Motorex KTM: 11
10. Jake MOSS - CDR Rockstar Yamaha: 12

* race reformatted - only 1 x 12 lap race held

LITES top 10 results - Round 1
1. Matt MOSS - JDR Motorex KTM: 2-1
2. Luke STYKE - Serco Yamaha: 5-2
3. Brendan HARRISON - JDR Motorex KTM: 4-3
4. Josh CACHIA - JDR Motorex KTM: 3-5
5. Dean FERRIS - Monster Energy Kawasaki: 1-10
6. Steven CLARKE - Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki: 10-4
7. Adam MONEA - Team 07 Axis Motorsport: 7-7
8. Kirk GIBBS - Serco Yamaha: 15-6
9. Robbie MARSHALL - Yamaha: 13-9
10. Casey TURNER - Suzuki: 9-13

LITES - Championship standings
1. Matt MOSS - JDR Motorex KTM: 25
2. Luke STYKE - Serco Yamaha: 22
3. Brendan HARRISON - JDR Motorex KTM: 20
4. Josh CACHIA - JDR Motorex KTM: 18
5. Dean FERRIS - Monster Energy Kawasaki: 16
6. Steven CLARKE - Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki: 15
7. Adam MONEA - Team 07 Axis Motorsport: 14
8. Kirk GIBBS - Serco Yamaha: 13
9. Robbie MARSHALL - Yamaha: 12
10. Casey TURNER - Suzuki: 11

UNDER 19s results - Round 1 / Championship standings
1. Errol WILLIS - Raceline Pirelli Suzuki: 25
2. Joey SAVAGTY - Raceline Pirelli Suzuki: 22
3. Matthew PHILLIPS - Ballards Offroad Yamaha: 20
4. Corey LUCAS - Hart & Huntington, ONE Industries, Ringmaster, Novik, Torc 1: 18
5. Geran STAPLETON - Thor Honda Smart, Breese High Performance, Dragon, 2112, BLS: 16
6. Jake WILLIAMS - WPS, ECM,J-Design, Hart & Huntington: 15
7. Jay WILSON - Coastal KTM, Avanti, Motorex: 14
8. Tristen CACHIA - Coastal KTM, Advanti Motorex KTM, Hart & Huntington: 13
9. Jarrad DAVIS - Fox, Dunlop, Motul, Davis Bikeworx, Alpinestar: 12
10. Kale MAKEHAM - The Collective, JDR Moss Institute Suzuki, EBT, Thor, One World: 11