|
|
|
|
|
Event: 2005
Maxxis Tyres Australian Motocross Championship Round: Six Location: Blackwood
Park, Penguin, TAS Event Date: June 12, 2005 Marmont
moves back into second for Pro Lites Championship Dark
clouds loomed over Blackwood Park Motocross Track in Penguin, as round six of
the Maxxis Tyres Australian Motocross Championship took to Tasmania, on
Sunday 12 June. Over 75mm of rain had
fallen prior to the event, moulding the track into a deep rutted motocross
playground. Motorex
KTM Racing Team attended the round with only two of its members Lee Ellis in
the Pro Open and Ryan Marmont in the Pro Lites, as Daniel McCoy took time out
following knee surgery, after suffering a rupture of the anterior cruciate
ligament and torn medial ligament. With McCoy
now out for the season, Ryan Marmont is holding down the fort for Motorex KTM
in the Pro Lites. Demonstrating his competitive
qualities, Marmont moved back into second place for the championship, after
many other factory team riders were punished by the demanding Penguin track. As the
gate dropped in moto one, Marmont roosted the field with his KTM250SXF to
take the hole shot, working towards a five second lead over the rest of the
pack. At the
fifteen minute mark, Marmont was challenged for the lead by Yamaha riders
Troy Carroll and Cameron Taylor, who found their rhythm whilst many other
riders were forced off the track by the challenging terrain. As the chequered flag dropped in moto one,
it was Carroll first, Taylor second and Marmont third. With
many riders now out with injury, Marmont took to his second moto cautiously
to ensure maximum championship points.
Coming out of the start gate in third position for moto two, Marmont
rode a smooth and consistent race, unchallenged for his third placed position
until the final five minutes of his moto.
While
Honda rider Danny Anderson lead the race, with Yamaha’s Cameron Taylor in
second, Marmont found his third place status up for a challenge when Suzuki
rider Luke Burkhart found his second wind to battle with Marmont for the
final podium position. Not about to
give up crucial championship points, Marmont pushed his limits to come up ahead
of Burkhart for third. Combining
both motos in the Pro Lites, Cameron Taylor from Yamaha took 1st,
while Danny Anderson from Honda placed 2nd and Ryan Marmont from
Motorex KTM placed 3rd. Marmont
secured enough points to move back into second overall for the Pro Lites
Championship, and with two rounds remaining he still has a chance at the
title. The championship tally for the
Pro Lites sees Taylor on 231, Marmont on 192 and Burkhart on 175. In the
premier Pro Open class, Motorex KTM pilot Lee Ellis continued his battle with
the Kiwi dominance of the King brother’s and Darly Hurley, in conditions he
was not quite in tune with. Moto
one saw Ellis get off to a 12th place start, a position he soon
halved, as he worked his way up to 6th before crossing the finish
line. The top
three in moto one saw Suzuki rider Daryl Hurley 1st, Honda rider
Craig Anderson in 2nd and Honda rider Shane King in 3rd. Ellis finished 6th. In moto
two Ellis got off to a much better start and was in 4th place by
the third corner. Ellis powered his
KTM450SX up with the race leaders, well over fifteen minutes into the moto but
their experience eventually got the better of him. Ellis battled with Darryll King at mid race for third but when
King pulled away Ellis focused on staying upright whilst trying to avoid
lapped riders in the deep ruts to finish in 4th. Suzuki
front runner Daryl Hurley suffered mechanical problems pulling him out of moto
two, leaving the top three spots to Shane King in 1st, Darryll
King in 2nd and Craig Anderson in 3rd. The combined Pro Open results for the round saw Darryll
King take the lead on 260 points, with Daryl Hurley in second on 258 points
and Shane King on 236 points. Motorex
KTM rider, Lee Ellis moved into 8th position on 122 points. Motorex KTM riders now have a two week break as the
penultimate round of the Maxxis Australian Motocross Championship heads to
Adelaide’s Gilman Motocross Track on Sunday June 26. QUOTES: Rob
Twyerould – Race Team Manager “We’re really looking forward to the final two rounds,
obviously with Ryan there is still the possibility to take out the
championship, and today put him in a good position to do that. “Today’s conditions were very tough. The team have gone from riding the dry
sands of Manjimup in WA last weekend, to heavy wet clay this weekend. “Ryan rode very smart to maintain championship points,
while a lot of other riders got hurt.
Robbie Marshall, Daniel Reardon and Troy Dorron were all challenged by
injury on the Penguin track, but Ryan came away injury free. “Lee Ellis was a little challenged by the track which
presented conditions he hasn’t yet mastered, but it is all about experience,
learning and confidence. I truly
believe he will get a podium before the motocross championship is out. “Over the next few weeks the team will also start training
for the Australian Supercross Championship where Lee will start testing the
KTM250SX two stroke and Ryan will debut the KTM 250SXF on the Supercross
circuit. “It’s a shame to have McCoy out of the championship but he
is only young and Motorex KTM wants to see him battle on to win many
championships. We’re backing him 100
percent to take time out for surgery and hope to see him return for the final
round of the Australian Supercross Championship in October. Ryan
Marmont – Pro Lites “I rode consistently today and I’m happy with two third
places which has moved me back into a good position for the championship. “Unfortunately, Robbie Marshall who was holding down
second hurt himself, leaving me in a comfortable position to take
second. It’s not the way I like to
gain championship points but that’s just racing and it’s happened to me many
times. “With two weeks of training leading up to the Gilman
round, I have plenty of time to work on my fitness and speed to hopefully
challenge Cameron Taylor for the outright championship.” Lee
Ellis – Pro Open “The track took a lot of getting used to for me today, as
I’m not familiar with such rutted conditions, which caused me to make a few
mistakes. “Lappers proved to be a challenge to pass especially when
the only option was to choose which deep rut was the safest to make a move. “I lost my pace a little when the front runners got away
from me in both motos, so I decided to ride smartly and take some experience
of the terrain away with me. “I’m more used to sandy surfaces and this track was very
rutted and very difficult, so I struggled but thankfully didn’t crash. My wrist also held up really well so I’m
pleased that is finally getting back to normal. POINTS: Top Ten
Pro Lites Round Points
Top Ten Pro Lites Championship
Points
Top Ten Pro Open Round
Points
Top Ten Pro Open Championship
Points
ENDS For
further information please contact: Lizzie
Leotta Media/Publicity Tel: 02
43826621 Mbl: 0411
414 231 Email: lizzie@pnc.com.au Greg
Chambers Marketing/Communications Tel: 08
9351 4785 Email: greg.chambers@ktmhusaberg.com.au Rob
Twyerould Race
Team Manager Tel: 02
4735 8044 Mbl: 0438
980 371 Email: rob.twyerould@ktm.com.au |
|
|
