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2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round One - Wonthaggi - Honda Report March 22nd, 2005 |
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2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round One - Wonthaggi - Honda Report March 22nd, 2005 |
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| Ever since Craig 'Ando'
Anderson was recruited to lead Honda's assault on the 2005 off
road season, industry eyes have been closely watching the 27
year olds progress to see how we would re-adapt to the
Australian race scene after two years in the American league. Adaptation has clearly not been a problem for the former champion. At Sunday's sunny first round of the Mr Motocross Championship series, Ando made it known that his strategy is to come out with guns blazing from the get go. After qualifying in second place, just shy of a second off Team Moto Honda rider Shayne King, Ando well and truly found his pace from the drop of the gate in Moto 1. After holeshotting with Suzuki's lead rider and fellow AMA alumni Daryl Hurley and three times champion Darryll King (Yamaha) just behind, Ando simply catapulted ahead without compromise. By the end of the first lap, he had already gained three seconds on Hurley, eventually increasing that gap to nearly 10 seconds by the end of the 30 minute race. The New South Welshman looked incredibly comfortable and familiar with his surroundings though it was only his second time riding the Wonthaggi circuit after attending a practice session the week earlier. That sense of familiarity paid off once again in Moto 2 where the affable Ando put in a repeat performance, scoring the holeshot and playing catch-me-if-you-can with Hurley for the duration. With one round win stamped firmly in his race book, Ando is "relieved" and confident about his chances of securing his first championship on home soil since 2002. "I feel like I'm back in the shape I need to be," Anderson said. "The track here was actually a little rougher than I expected, but that didn't really affect my strategy which has been to try and get in front straight away and then get as much distance as possible between myself and the next guy." "My trainer, Paul Broomfield and myself have been working hard and its paying off. I only got a bit tired about half way through the two motos, but seemed to get the energy back that I needed to stay in front." Regarding the CRF450R, Ando said the Team has had "surprisingly few issues to deal with. I couldn't be happier with the way this motorcycle handles." The No Fear Honda Team had more to smile about in the Pro Lites as perennial performer Troy "Doz" Dorron pulled something wild and wonderful out of his hat to ace Moto 2 after crashing out the first time around. Doz was a little sore from a collision early on in the day with local Adam Miller that resulted in him struggling to get out from under the bike. He wasn't able to get his ride restarted quick enough to rejoin. There was no choice but to pull off and rest the sore knee that took the brunt of the fall. The down time in between starts obviously did Doz some good both physically as well as mentally. After getting away well in the second race just behind Ryan Marmont, the 33 year old eventually got the better of the KTM rider at the half way mark and forged ahead to take the win from Luke Burkhart (Suzuki). "My knee was pretty sore after the first crash but I didn't want to be beaten completely, especially at a track that I know so well, so I just pulled it together," he said. "I got a great start in Moto 2 and knew I had the speed to get past Doggie (Marmont) given the chance, so when it came, I took it." While his team mate's roosted away the afternoon, last year's Pro Lite Champion, Cody Cooper had to be content with making it through race one with a bung shoulder (AC joint), and then having to sit out moto two after the pain became too great. The young Kiwi did well to pick up a few points for the round but will need three weeks serious rest before riding again according to doctors. "I just made the decision after the morning race that it wasn't worth possibly damaging the joint more by finishing out the day. I knew I would only be able to pick up a few points here today so I did what I came to do," Cooper said. In the National Cup class, the Team's representative Rebecca Lipsett got out with the pack of 38 guys and two women and gave it her all, finishing 30th overall. "The track was already pretty rough after practice so it took a lot out of me but I had a really good day and enjoyed myself," Bec noted. "I love to get out and race. I really don't care if its against guys or girls, and I'll be happy if I can keep improving my position over the next few rounds." The team will all compete in the next round to be held in Horsham on Sunday, April 10th.
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