 |
2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round Six - Penguin (Tasmania) - Honda Report June 12th, 2005 |
 |
|
|
2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round Six - Penguin (Tasmania) - Honda Report June 12th, 2005 |
|
| After missing the last three
meetings due to a mid season hampering injury, Honda’s lead
rider, Craig Anderson, made his comeback this weekend at round
six of the Australian Motocross Championships, finishing an
impressive second overall and moving back up three positions on
the Pro Open series ladder. With gum boots being the fashion of the day, Ando showed blazing speed from early on at the foggy, mud packed Blackwood Park circuit. After qualifying second quickest, the multiple title winner left the pack behind in moto one as he and Daryl Hurley took off and battled for the lead. Ando has had limited time to get back into race condition after having plaster taken off his foot less than two weeks ago which meant he had to contend with the impediment of blisters and lack of hand strength. However the 27 year old Newcastle local was still able to keep up an extraordinary pace, hanging on to second position for the duration. In moto two, Ando took his second holeshot and eventually slotted into third where he once again tussled for position with Hurley. His break came when the Suzuki rider DNF’d with mechanical problems at which point Craig moved up with only defending champion, Darryl King providing the challenge for second place. With three laps to go, the two riders were side by side, providing for some thrilling racing with Anderson giving it his all physically. He finished just behind King but was still pleased with the result. “I’m really pretty happy with my results today,” Craig said. “I’ve had very little time back on the bike, and I was definitely feeling tired and sore. To get out here today and finish second is encouraging.” “I now have two more weeks until the Gillman round so I’m sure you can guess I’ll be training extremely hard. I’m still out to win races at this point, even if the Championship lead is a long shot. For me, its about being the best that I can on the day.” In the Pro Lite division, the No Fear crew had drama to deal with early on after stalwart team member Troy Dorron was taken out in a messy moto one crash, and had to be shipped off to the local hospital. Doz sustained a damaged rib in his sternum, a crushing blow for the veteran who has been having a very unlucky season to date. “I just got taken out by someone else. There was nothing I could do to avoid it but it is frustrating considering how many times I’ve had to deal with things outside of my control this season, and the fact that I was feeling very comfortable and on the pace here this morning.” Dorron, who did qualify in the top spot in his class, will now be out for the remainder of the series, depending on doctor’s orders, and is set to make his comeback at round one of the Supercross Masters in late July. Cody Cooper was also caught up in the early fray with his team mate, and found himself half a lap behind by the time he reboarded his CRF250R. Cody put in some lightening fast laps and managed to work his way back up to ninth which is where he finished. In moto two, the young Kiwi got away mid pack and with very limited opportunities for passing the top runners on the single line, tight track, Cody managed to finish sixth in front of Troy Carroll but was not particularly happy with his results. “I’m definitely not having the same kind of season I had last year when I won the Championship,” Cody said. “I’ll just keep trying to do what I need to to be fitter for the next round.” No Fear Honda’s Rebecca Lipsett also joined in the race activities on the day, competing in the National Cup series where she finished both motos well on the energy-sapping track. Bec was the only female rider in the 30 plus field of competitors, and continues to be a role model for women wanting to get out and race. “Every time I get out there, I improve a bit more,” Bec noted. The Team’s next meeting will be at the penultimate round of the series in two weeks at Gillman, South Australia (Sunday, June 26). |
|
|
Search the site - Late Braking News - Forum Bike Tests - Features - Wallpaper - Race Calendar
MCNEWS.COM.AU
|
|
