Australia's Mark Avard rode a thrilling race to claim third at the Superbikers2 450X National Supermoto held in Long Beach California last weekend.

Mark had the crowd on their toes with his aggressive style on the tight and technical track laid out in front of the historic ship 'Queen Mary'. The Supermoto event was held in conjunction with the LA Calendar Show and marked the first time motorcycles have raced in this venue. The crowd, estimated at 10,000, enjoyed breathtakingly close racing and terrific weather.

Gridded on the second row, Avard was seventh after the first lap. Thereafter letting it all hang out, he picked off riders until by the halfway point he was with the lead group who were pulling away from the rest of the field. Challenging KTM mounted Fillmore for third, Avard passed in a stunning corner move. Fillmore went down in the next lap trying to hang with Mark.

Avard then went after second place Mike Metzger and leader Jeff Ward. He started catching Metzger but got held up by a back marker for two laps. Once past, Mark rode like a man possessed to get within striking distance of Metzger but by the flag he was two bike length short! Still, considering he had never seen the Pacifico Supermoto Suzuki DRZ400 bike until Friday morning it was a tremendous performance.

After the race a jubilant Avard said; "I got a call on Tuesday to come and ride. I was at San Francisco airport waiting to fly home and had been delayed. I'm really pleased it happened. The Suzuki DRZ worked really well and didn't give up anything to the Honda's. I got a pretty good start but had a bunch of guys to get past so lost a little touch with the leaders. Then I got hung up behind a lapper and by the time I got by I just didn't have enough time to get Metz (Honda mounted Mike Metzger) - I just needed a couple more laps!" Avard is looking forward to riding the Pacifico Supermoto DRZ in more events this year.

Chris Carr, four-time National Dirt Track Champion, rode the Pacifico Supermoto DRZ at the inaugural AMA National Supermoto round at Laguna Seca last week. He qualified for the main event, the only Suzuki in the field, but in a first lap incident Carr ran into a slower rider and highsided into the tire wall. He remounted but a wrist injury ultimately forced him to retire.

Cyclemotion Experience, operator of the Corona Extra Suzuki Superbike Team, formed Pacifico Supermoto a scant two weeks ago, in partnership with Grupo Modelo, parent to Corona Extra. The team will compete in the AMA and Superbikers2 national series. 

Mark returns to Australia this week to compete in the fourth round of the Australian Supermoto Championship at Coffs Harbour this weekend.

Results from Long Beach