2002 Australian SuperMotard Series

Bright sunshine and a large crowd welcomed riders from around Australia to the 1st round of the Yamaha Australian Supermotard series in Shepparton on Sunday, 16 Dec 01.

A field of 59 riders took to the undulating track that combined short dirt sections, flowing bitumen corners and small jumps. All the aspects required for Supermotard action.

With the introduction of the National series came new names to the Supermotard scene, Mark Avard (Yamaha YZ426) was the only rider to take a race victory away from Greg Moss (KTM LC4) in the Yamaha All powers expert class. Moss won two from three races and finished second in the other when Avard hounded Moss and then barged pass a few corners from the finish. Rob Hermans (Yamaha YZ426) was able to score third place overall with three consistent fourth place finishes heading the likes of Mick Kelly (Honda CR250) and Peter Clarke (KTM EXC 520).

Moss showed his determination in the Sportsbike Supermotard Tyre Warmers Prestige class with three wins from three starts. But it was not easy as Clarke, Brett Oliver (KTM EXC520), Brett Hickman (KTM 380), and Con Thermos (Husqvarna TE570) all having runs at the top positions with Clarke second and Oliver third overall and the end.

The Alpinestars Sport races saw thirty riders grid up for the most competitive class with three different riders each winning races and minor positions being filled by a variety of riders. Lucas Reynolds (Honda CR250) made a welcome return to the bike racing scene with a win 1st up and two subsequent second positions. Avard again was in the thick of it winning the second race and placing in the others and the third race being won by the ex Superbike rider Scott Stephens (Yamaha YZ426). Darren Taylor (Yamaha YZ426), Kelly and Courtney North (YZ426) all were having dips at the front of the pack.

Rowan Teggart (Kawasaki KX125) must have been getting lessons off the seniors on how to win because the junior rider dominated the Sharp Racing accessories Supermotard Junior class. Sam Muldoon (Kawasaki KX125) had consistent placings dicing at times with Bradley Burns (Suzuki) on a RM 85! Burns became a crowd favourite with his under dog status looking like a man (junior man anyway) possessed.

Reynolds had a first up win in the AGV helmets All powers non expert class, but subsequent races were marred by jumping the next two starts and twice being penalised 10 seconds. Nick Selleck (Honda CR250) took the challenge and walked away with the day's takings with a second and two wins.

Hickman's DNF in the 1st race cost him dearly as a third and second place saw him just edge out Sam Maclachlan (KTM 300) and Chris Speechly (Yamaha WR426) with Willoughby (Honda CR250) and Matt Pace (Yamaha YZ426) all having their chances near the head of the pack.

It was a clean sweep of the Yamaha Supermotard Cup for Mark Avard with three wins from three starts, the Yamaha rider being at the front of all his day's nine races. Taylor, Stephens and Pace all having the chance to be up front with Taylor's consistent placings giving him second overall and Stephens second race not finishing with machine gremlins scoring third overall.

The Supermotards continue their summer journey to Oran Park on 27 Jan 02 for a stand alone meeting conducted on the figure 8, full bitumen circuit. And then head to Broadford for the second round of the Yamaha Australian Supermotard Series on 10 March 2002.

All Powers Expert
A and B Grade only
Sponsored by YAMAHA
Events 5 - 11 - 18
4 Laps each race

Pos No. Name Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Total
1 1 Greg Moss 1 2 1 70
2 112 Mark Avard 3 1 2 61
3 31 Rob Hermans 4 4 4 39
4 40 Mick Kelly 7 5 3 36
5 39 Peter Clarke 6 3 6 36
6 73 Mark Buckell 8 7 5 28
7 33 Brett Oliver 9 DNF 9 23
8 61 Con Thermos 5 6 DNF 21
9 26 Brian Bezzina 12 9 7 20
10 74 Scott Stephens 2 DNF DNF 20
11 41 Rob Horner 15 11 8 14
12 321 Steve Juzva 10 8 DNF 14
13 216 Chris Andrews 13 12 11 12
14 12 Chris Doves 11 DNF 10 11
15 15 Justin Rogers 14 10 DNF 8

Supermotard Junior
Up to 125cc 2 stroke / up to 250cc 4 stroke 13 to under 16 years old
Sponsored by
Sharp Racing Accessories
Events 3 - 9 - 15
4 Laps each race
Pos. No Rider Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Total
1 1 Rowan Teggart 1 1 1 75
2 16 Sam Muldoon 3 2 2 56
3 3 Bradley Burns 2 3 3 52
4 7 Danny Bray 4 4 6 36
5 4 Todd Stephenson 5 5 4 35
6 5 Ryan Taylor 7 6 5 30
7 62 Chris Trounson 8 7 7 26
8 626 Luke Annett 6 DNS DNS 6

Yamaha Supermotard Cup
Sponsored by
Yamaha
Events 6 - 12 - 18
4 Laps each race

Pos No. Rider Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Total
1 112 Mark Avard 1 1 1 75
2 19 Darren Taylor 3 2 3 52
3 74 Scott Stephens 2 DNF 2 40
4 45 Chris Speechly 5 6 4 34
5 743 Dean Rundle 4 5 7 33
6 27 Nick Clee 7 4 6 32
7 31 Rob Hermans 8 9 5 26
8 20 Matt Pace 6 3 DNF 26
9 111 Rob Patterson 9 8 8 23
10 52 Cameron Horne 11 7 DNF 14
11 11 Reg Phillips 12 10 DNF 10
12 173 Courtney North 10 DNF DNF 6
13 30 Mark Galli 13 DNF DNF 3

Supermotard Prestige
301cc 2 stroke and over / 451cc 4 stroke and over
Sponsored by
Sportsbike Supermotard Tyre Warmers
Events 1 - 7 - 13
4 Laps each race

Pos No Rider Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Total
1 1 Greg Moss 1 1 1 75
2 39 Peter Clarke 3 2 2 72
3 33 Brett Oliver 2 4 5 44
4 71 Brett Hickman 7 3 3 41
5 73 Mark Buckell 6 9 4 30
6 321 Steve Juzva 8 5 6 29
7 528 Wayne Burhop 5 6 8 29
8 161 Con Thermos 4 13 7 25
9 41 Rob Horner 12 8 9 19
10 12 Chris Davies 11 10 10 17
11 6 Cameron Watts 9 7 DNS 16
12 25 Brett Dobin 13 12 11 12
13 88 Darren Morecomb 14 11 DNF 7
14 21 Mark Trounson 10 DNF DNF 6
15 28 Michael Gower 15 DNF DNF 1

Supermotard Sport
Up to 300cc 2 stroke / up to 450 4 stroke
Sponsored by
Alpine Stars
4 Laps each race
Pos No. RIDER Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Total
1 46 Lucas Reynolds 1 2 2 65
2 112 Mark Avard 2 1 3 61
3 74 Scott Stephens 8 3 1 49
4 173 Courtney North 4 4 6 36
5 19 Darren Taylor 3 5 9 34
6 22 Mick Willoughby 7 6 7 28
7 31 Rob Hermans 5 8 8 27
8 17 Nick Selleck 10 7 5 26
9 40 Mick Kelly 21 9 4 20
10 743 Dean Rundle 6 14 14 14
11 45 Chris Speechly 14 12 10 12
12 26 Brian Bezzina 15 10 12 11
13 20 Matt Pace 9 24 13 10
14 99 Ewan McClue 13 13 15 7
15 15 Justin Rogers DNS 15 11 6
16 27 Nick Clee 16 11 17 5
17 111 Rob Patterson 11 20 21 5
18 57 Sam MacLachlan 12 22 16 4
19 531 Baden Ansell 20 19 18 0
20 450 Paul E Chapman 19 16 19 0
21 100 Theo Wrenn 22 17 20 0
22 216 Chris Andrew 23 18 22 0
23 24 Stephen Dowling 26 29 23 0
24 23 Paul Trounson 28 25 24 0
25 5 Paul Caridi 25 27 25 0
26 13 Michael Bennett 29 23 26 0
27 30 Mark Galli DNS 28 27 0
28 11 Reg Phillips 24 DNF 28 0
29 32 Paul W Chapman 27 26 DNF 0
30 67 Brett Metcalf 18 DNF DNS 0

Non-Expert All Powers
C and D Grade riders only
Sponsored by
AGV
Events 4 - 10 - 16
4 Laps each race

Pos No. Name Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Total
1 17 Nick Selleck 2 1 1 65
2 46 Lucas Reynolds 1 2 15 46
3 71 Brett Hickman DNF 3 2 36
4 57 Sam Machlaclan 4 4 5 35
5 45 Chris Speechly 7 7 3 34
6 22 Mick Willoughby 9 6 4 30
7 20 Matt Pace 3 12 9 27
8 27 Nick Clee DNF 5 6 21
9 99 Ewan McClue 11 8 8 21
10 34 Grant White 10 10 10 18
11 450 Paul E Chapman 8 11 11 18
12 831 Baden Ansell DNF 9 7 16
13 67 Brett Metcalf 5 DNF DNS 11
14 100 Theo Wrenn 12 13 12 11
15 6 Cameron Watts 6 DNF DNS 10
16 151 Clinton Doller 16 15 13 4
17 88 Darren Moorcomb 14 14 DNF 4
18 28 Mick Gower 13 16 DNF 3
19 25 Brett Dobin DNF 17 14 2
20 24 Stephen Do;wling DNF 19 16 0
21 23 Paul Trounson 19 22 17 0
22 32 Paul W Chapman 17 18 18 0
23 142 Craig White 21 26 19 0
24 30 Mark Galli 20 24 20 0
25 21 Mark Trounson DNF 20 DNF 0
26 13 Mick Bennett 18 21 DNF 0