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2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round One - Wonthaggi - Suzuki Report March 21st, 2005 |
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2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round One - Wonthaggi - Suzuki Report March 21st, 2005 |
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| Team Shift Motul Suzuki's Luke
Burkhart claimed victory at the opening round of the 2005
Motocross Championship in the Pro Lites class, while teammate
Daryl Hurley seized second place in the Pro Open category at the
event in Wonthaggi (VIC). Suzuki's new recruit, Burkhart was strong from the outset, qualifying his Suzuki RM-Z250 fastest around the rough, sand track. Fast, consistent performances saw New Zealand-born Burkhart claim two second-place finishes to be the overall victor on the day while his fellow countryman Hurley was awarded second place in both Pro Open races. After an average start in the day's first moto, Burkhart made an aggressive charge to sit in second place after the first few turns and soon passed 2004 Supercross Nationals champion, Ryan Marmont for the race lead. Sitting comfortably in front all the way until the third last corner of the race, Burkhart came upon lapped traffic allowing Cameron Taylor to slip past. Compromised at the start of race two, Burkhart had slipped well outside the top 10 by turn one and set about picking his way through the field steadily throughout the entire moto to ultimately reclaim second spot after an intense battle with Daniel McCoy. “I wanted to come here and be in the top five to set me up for the season, so I've certainly met my expectations… This is a great platform for the rest of the year, and I know I've got the speed to win races.” Luke Burkhart said. “I didn't need to alter anything for the motos, the bike was perfect… I can't explain how good the suspension is; it gave me so much confidence out on the track to have such great equipment underneath me.” Putting his all-new Suzuki RM-Z450 race machine through its paces for the first time in Australian competition, Hurley was in second place and chasing leader Craig Anderson until he encountered a problem with his goggles in moto one. Recovering from a recent eye injury, Hurley was reluctant to remove his goggles, instead opting to race for a secure second place while scouting race lines for moto two. Again battling with Anderson for the win, Hurley narrowed the gap to the leader to just 1.4 seconds before lapped traffic thwarted the 29-year-old's charge in race two. “I recorded the fastest lap time in both of my races, so obviously the Suzuki RM-Z450 has the pace to take wins in the Pro Open class,” Daryl Hurley said. “The bike is fantastic and it's got a great suspension package - I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season.” Also representing Team Shift Motul Suzuki aboard the 4-stroke Suzuki RM-Z450 in the Pro Open class is Danny Ham who put in a solid performance to finish equal sixth for the weekend after suffering arm pump in his first moto. “It is a long championship with 16 races over eight rounds and this is obviously a great start to the season for the Suzuki team,” Team Manager, Team Shift Motul Suzuki, Jay Foreman said “I'm very pleased with all our riders; they each rode within themselves, racing hard but intelligently and staying clear of trouble.” The 2005 Australian Motocross Championship continues with round two in Horsham (VIC) on 10 April.”
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