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2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round Three - Toowoomba - Honda Report April 25th, 2005 |
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2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round Three - Toowoomba - Honda Report April 25th, 2005 |
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| Whilst No Fear Honda’s lead
rider Craig Anderson had to sit out the latest round of the Mr
Motocross Championship sporting plaster from knee to toe, the
Team’s two Pro Lite riders went out to tackle the scenic and
popular Toowoomba circuit last weekend with every intention of
making up much needed points in their class. Though both riders looked in-form during qualifying, the third round meeting overall did not go to plan for either last year’s Champion, Cody Cooper or 33 year old veteran Troy Dorron. Cooper, who has been struggling somewhat since injuring his shoulder at the start of the season, has still continued to pull out some blistering times in both qualifying and racing showing that he has the pace to win. However a series of calamities have slowed the Kiwi based rider down making it difficult for him to climb the points ladder beyond 10th place. At Toowoomba, Cooper had the necessary stamina early in the day where he qualified well, busting out of the gate in moto one to lead the pack away on the first corner. Keeping a bike length or more ahead of Yamaha’s Troy Carroll, Cameron Taylor and Robbie Marshall for the first 20 minutes, it looked like Cooper would take away an inaugural and much needed win. However, disaster struck and the 21 year old found himself stuck in the mud without a hope in Hades of prying his bike loose in any hurry. Coops did manage to get back on track and finish in 11th place, a small consolation for a promising start. In moto two, he again started well and charged up to the front for four laps. Cody uncharacteristically then dropped back a few positions, primarily losing steam as the race progressed. “I don’t feel like my fitness is what it needs to be even though I am training regularly,” Cody said. “My shoulder is getting better all the time but its still not completely healed. I’m not happy with my results today but will just focus on getting everything back in order for Coolum this weekend.” With a fourth and eight place on the day, team mate Dorron now sits seventh on the ladder as the squad regroups. Doz started off well in the first moto, making up lucrative time on the corners and managing to get a few early passes on the rutty track. The popular rider never quite got the extra speed necessary to catch up to the front runners just missing out on a podium finish whilst keeping Ryan ‘Doggie’ Marmont (KTM) at bay. In his second race, Doz didn’t “get off the mark well enough” and whilst the lead group broke away, he again found himself too far back to have any chance of a top three finish. “I just wasn’t feeling very good from the start of the day and I got a bit tired which isn’t like me,” Doz commented. “My concentration wasn’t there 100% either and I wasn’t feeling relaxed with my bike so I guess all of those things worked against me. Still, I loved the track here and it was a lot of fun.” Ever the competitor, Doz said he will do whatever is necessary to get his edge back for this weekend’s racing. With glimmers of brilliance dogged by some upset over these first few rounds, Team Manager Pip Harrison is confident that the two riders will continue to have good results. From Queensland where he remains with the Team’s mechanics to continue their preparations for Coolum, Harrison said the “guys just had a difficult weekend.” “This track was excellent,” Pip said. “I think everyone was impressed with the layout and the variety. I’m obviously disappointed that we didn’t get better results but I think that Cody is showing winning form and will be able to capitalise on that as the season progresses.” “Doz has been around a long time and knows what this game is all about. Sometimes we have great weekends, sometimes good and sometimes not so good. He rode extremely well in the first two rounds and has just had a ‘not so good’ weekend. Its just a matter of getting back on track.” When asked about the status of Craig Anderson’s return, Pip explained that the doctor’s latest advice indicates a recuperation period of at least six weeks. “Ando will not return until the Tasmania round at the earliest. He has a number of broken and chipped bones in his foot and is suffering from a significant amount of pain. On the positive side, he has already devised a fitness training program that he can do while in plaster, including swimming, so I have no doubt he will return to the series feeling 100% or very close to.” The Team’s National Cup rider, Rebecca Lipsett also got out with the rest of the rookie contenders at this third of five round competition. Bec is one of only two women in the field of approximately 35 up and comers, and had a relatively good weekend, finishing each of her three motos. “The goal for me in this series is to keep finishing my races and get as much riding experience under my belt as possible. I’m pretty happy with the fact that I’m not crashing out. Its hard work but I’m loving it!”
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