 |
2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round Eight (Final) - Conondale (QLD) - Kawasaki Report July 4th, 2005 |
 |
|
|
2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round Eight (Final) - Conondale (QLD) - Kawasaki Report July 4th, 2005 |
|
| Sunday July 3rd saw the
Kawasaki Racing Team competing at the eighth and final round of
the Mr Motocross Series at Conondale in Queensland's Sunshine
Coast hinterland. Heavy rain lashed the eastern coast of Australia for much of the week preceding the event and flooding had even closed the Pacific Highway north of Ballina. Somehow, the sun came out in time for the flood waters to recede and by the time the teams rolled into Conondale the circuit was almost perfect. The rolling hills and green fields that make Conondale a favourite with riders and spectators alike were perfectly presented due to the dedicated track crew from the Sunshine Coast Motorcycle Club. The club’s workers had worked overtime the day before the race, scraping off the wet top layer of dirt from the faces of the jumps and even cut some of the boggier sections of the track out from the back part of the circuit. Their efforts transformed the track from a potential quagmire into optimum condition by the time the event started on Sunday. Rejoining the team after a four week layoff with a collarbone injury, ProLites pilot Toby Price was extra keen to resume racing before the end of the motocross season, with doctors giving him the green light just the week before the event. With only limited seat time leading up to the event there was some concern over Toby's fitness and conditioning, so the team's Sports Physio, Paul Hedger also travelled to Conondale to keep an eye on the young gun Kawasaki star. Hopes of a good result for Shane Metcalfe were also high after the previous round’s top ten results. ProLite qualifying Toby took to the slightly damp Conondale circuit and immediately discovered that the damp track commanded some respect. While coming over the famous "drunks’ hill" his frame and footpegs dragged in the already rutted upramp and speared him over the bars in spectacular fashion. Unhurt, Price quickly remounted and was soon back on track posting competitive times in the 2:20 second bracket. As the 30 minute session wound, down Toby improved on his previous time posting a 2:17.6 placing him 3rd fastest qualifier, his best ever qualifying result. ProOpen Qualifying As the ProOpen field took to the track, conditions continued to improve as the ground firmed and corners became dryer. Shane circulated in the 2:19 to 2:18 second lap times, his fastest by session’s end a 2:18.126 – good enough for 16th pick of the grid. The drying conditions and a poor tyre choice did not give the South Australian gun the confidence to push harder. ProLite Moto One As the ProLite field left the line Toby made a reasonable jump but lost drive down the straight and had to follow most of the field through the first corner, completing the first lap in around 20th place. Working his way forward, Toby steadily overtook one rival after another making it into the top ten towards the end of the race. The final few laps Toby diced with Honda rider Danny Anderson over 8th place with several passes on the final lap, Anderson coming out on top at the flag. ProOpen Moto One A reasonable start off the line saw Shane inside the top ten, running 7th for the opening few laps and posting lap times in the 2:16 second bracket before coming under pressure from Suzuki factory rider Danny Ham. Shane diced with Ham over 7th spot and was forced to ride defensively and cover his inside line. The defensive lines taken while dicing resulted in lap times dropping into the 2:20 to 2:22 bracket and when Ham finally forced his way past, Shane seemed to struggle to resume the normal lines and pace. Towards the closing stages of the race Shane's machine experienced rear brake fade and he lost several spots each lap, crossing the line disappointed in 17th. Pro Lite Moto Two Moto two's start was a repeat of the first, with Price having to work his way forward from the rear of the field. He quickly moved inside the top fifteen and spent the bulk of the race dicing with Factory Yamaha rider Troy Carroll on the tail end of a freight train of riders that included Mitch Hoad, Warren Smart and Ryan Marmont all of which were circulating the same lap times in the 2:15 to 2:16 zone. With little difference between the speed of riders, fitness began playing a part as the laps and time ran down. With such limited time on the bike and the four week lay off with his shoulder injury, Price’s recent lack of time on the bike let him down and he dropped a couple of seconds a lap and was pushed back into 14th. With a total of 19 points from his 9th and 14th finishes, Toby was awarded 11th over all for the day and placed him 20th in the championship for the year. ProOpen Moto Two The ProOpen field took off from the line with Shane’s KX250’s front wheel pawing the air, forcing him to back off momently and give ground to the rest of the field. Circulating in around 23rd position, Shane spent the next 30 minutes chasing down the field of 450cc machines. Moving into 13th position behind Paul Broomfield's 450 Honda, Metcalfe spent the remainer of the race dicing and diving past the more powerful machine under brakes and into corners only to have Broomy come back on the exit of the corner. Both riders seemed evenly matched and unable to pull away from one another. At the flag Broomfield crossed the line just in front, placing Metcalfe 13th for the moto. With his 4 points for 17th in moto one and the 8 points from moto two, Shane took out 15th place for the day and moved again in the Championship into 12th overall for the year. Comment Ross McWatters "Toby came back well from his injury, posting a fantastic qualifying time. I am sure if he had gotten a top five start today he would have finished there. He is really progressing this year and hopefully we will see him show everyone his real talent in the indoors. Shane definitely lost focus today, this isn't one of his favourite circuits and the fast flowing lines and hills suited neither his style or the two-stoke today, the Motocross series is over and we are looking forward to the indoors. Shane is confident in the bike and thinks he is ready to return to the winners circle!" The Kawasaki Racing Team will next be in action at Round One of the Australian Supercross Masters Championship at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Queensland on July 23rd. See you there. |
|
|
Search the site - Late Braking News - Forum Bike Tests - Features - Wallpaper - Race Calendar
MCNEWS.COM.AU
|
|
