Australian SX Nationals 2004 - Round Six - Wollongong

Following the cancellation of Round Six at Gosford last weekend, the Kawasaki Racing Team were really fired up, itching to take on the Wollongong outdoor track after successfully testing with new Akrapovic exhaust systems. However, it seems the same weather system that deluged the Central Coast before the previous round had shifted south just in time for Saturday’s event. The conditions the team faced were extreme, the track and its surroundings being not much more than a sea of mud. However, the track was built, the ticket sales were good and the capacity crowd expectant. So it was on with the show – albeit in a modified fashion, with just two Heats and a Last Chance Qualifier to take the top 15 riders into the final.

ProLites Heats:

The track crew had laid out a technical track, that should have provided the closest racing this year, but sadly, the ever present rain changed that. Team riders Paul Broomfield and Adam Robinson are both renowned mud runners, and both were looking forward to the challenge. Youngster Toby Price, new to Supercross this year, wasn’t sure what he was in for and was just looking for a place in the final and as many points as possible. The experienced mechanics in the team spent the morning prepping the KX250-F’s for the mudbath by taping air boxes and sealing the electrics.

All three Team Kawasaki riders qualified direct into the Main from their heats, with Broomy scoring a steady 5th in Heat One and local Nowra native Jay Johnson rode his KX250-F well in the mud to finish in second spot. Toby Price and Adam Robinson finished 2nd and 6th respectively in Heat Two, with Toby amazed at how much grip his Michelin tyres afforded. With transponders fitted, the officials were really the only ones to know who was who after the first lap due to the flying mud, which soaked the white and fluoro-coloured riders into a drab brown mass.

Also in Heat Two were Kawasaki support riders Daniel Reardon and Cameron Sinclair. Reardon, who ran as high as second mid-race, ended up 14th after a couple of falls – Sinclair, after leading the heat comfortably in the early laps suffered bad luck when his bike stuck in the ever deepening mud for quite a few laps before coming home 15th.

Last Chance Qualifier:
Kawasaki support rider Cam Sinclair won the LCQ in fine style ahead of Factory Honda’s Jye Harvey and yet another KX-F mounted privateer Justin Girotto in for third and the last transfer spot. Dan Reardon failed to finish the LCQ and would miss out on a place in the final for the first time this season.

The Main Event
Pro-Lite points leader, KTM’s Ryan Marmont holeshot and led the mud splattered field until falling on the slippery upramp of the over-under bridge, allowing Honda’s Cody Cooper into the lead with privateer Kawasaki rider and crowd favourite Jay Johnson in second. Team riders Broomfield and Price circulated in 4th and 5th as the clock ticked over. By half distance Broomfield fell and stalled his bike, restarting it only to have it stall again because the rear wheel was locked with mud. An exhausted Broomfield dragged the bike off the track and his night was frustratingly over. Price moved up to third where he circulated until the last lap when the Honda of Harvey relegated him to 4th. Robinson battled his way around the sodden track for almost the entire race without goggles after getting them clogged with mud at the start.

At race end Kiwi Cooper and local Johnson proved the masters of the conditions finishing 1st and 2nd, followed by Harvey and teenage Kawasaki Factory rider Price, with Robbo crossing the line in 10th. Broomfield was credited with 15th. A soggy and exhausted crew cleaned up and signed autographs for the very dedicated race fans who lined up despite the rain. “I couldn’t believe it. It was so bad I just had to keep my head down and battle to see where I was going. I had to ask the boys where I finished, I didn’t know if I was first or last!“ exclaimed Robbo. “I am just so happy to have made the final and scored some points... It’s a little overdue.”

Team Manager Murray Sayle was on hand and congratulated Price on his return to the very soggy pits. “Toby came so close to his first podium tonight, he is progressing well, we had six KX250-Fs in the final and Gianni Dalle-Molle won the Juniors so it was a good night manufacturer wise, now we just have to clean up! The team’s pressure washers will be working over time this week to be ready for the Newcastle event next weekend.”