 |
2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round Eight (Final) - Conondale (QLD) - KTM Report July 4th, 2005 |
 |
|
|
2005 Australian Motocross
Championship - Round Eight (Final) - Conondale (QLD) - KTM Report July 4th, 2005 |
|
| Sunshine, blue skies and a
huge crowd greeted riders to the final round of the Maxxis Tyres
Australian Motocross Championship at Conondale QLD, on the
weekend, where Motorex KTM Pro Lite contender Ryan Marmont took
second overall in the Australian Championship, while Pro Open
entrant Lee Ellis finished the series with his best battle this
season. Taking to the track with caution, Marmont didn’t push his KTM250SXF to its maximum power but instead chose a consistent yet competitive riding speed, to ensure he stayed on the bike and maintained his position in the overall Australian Championship. As rain drenched his home track in Wollongong NSW, Marmont also didn’t have the training hours he would have liked under his belt in preparation for the final round. Staying focused with one mission at hand, Marmont achieved enough points to clench second overall in the Australian Motocross Championship, a performance his family and race team couldn’t be happier with, as last year Marmont didn’t even finish in the top ten for Motocross. Now Marmont is one of Australia’s best Motocross riders adding to his already highly accredited Supercross skills. The overall Australian Pro Lite Championship results saw Cameron Taylor from Yamaha finish in first on 312 points, Ryan Marmont from Motorex KTM in second on 259 points and Luke Burkhart from Suzuki in third on 258 points. In the Pro Open Championship, Lee Ellis pulled out one of the best racing battles Motorex KTM has seen from him this season. Ellis went from strength to strength in each of his races to finish his final moto in a battle with Championship front-runners, Darryll King and Craig Anderson. Overcome by the muddy slippery sections he has not yet mastered, Ellis was almost bucked off the bike several times, yet he showed tremendous strength to stay on and maintain his composure to complete the season 7th overall for the Australian Championship. Motorex KTM riders will now prepare for the Australian Supercross Masters Championship, a five round series which will commence on Saturday, 23 July at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. QUOTES: Rob Twyerould – Race Team Manager “Looking back this time last year, everyone has to be very proud of Ryan Marmont’s performance. We all knew Ryan was brilliant at Supercross but still had a lot to learn in Motocross. He has gone from not even making the top 10 in Motocross for 2004, to coming second overall in the Australian Championship for 2005, said Twyerould. “You could tell Ryan had the Championship on his mind when riding today. His style wasn’t as aggressive as usually and he was more cautious on his starts. Yet he achieved the results we all wanted and all of us at Motorex KTM Racing Team couldn’t be happier. “Another positive for Motorex KTM is our other Pro Lite rider, Daniel McCoy finished 10th overall in the Championship, even though he had to pull out after round five for knee surgery. “The track conditions at Conondale provide the best natural terrain experience any competitor could ask for but Lee Ellis was still a little intimidated by the early morning muddy patches. But come the afternoon he pulled out the speed that we all know is deep within him. “It’s still a mental challenge for Lee when the start gate drops but once the race is underway he powers the KTM450SX through the field. “In his final moto, Lee battled with the top riders in the Championship including Darryll King and Craig Anderson. Lee showed great speed and determination today, finishing the year knowing he can battle with these front runners, which is the best preparation we could ask for going into next years Motocross Championship. “Motorex KTM Racing Team’s will now set their sights on training for the Australian Supercross Masters Championship which is only three weeks away. Lee will be riding the KTM250SX two stroke in the Pro Open, while Ryan will debut the KTM250SXF four stoke in the Pro Lites. Ryan Marmont – Pro Lites “Given that I didn’t have the best preparation for this round due to the weather back home, overall I’m pleased with my performance and especially my fitness, even with a limited amount of required training, said Marmont. “I qualified in 5th and felt confident going into both of my motos. I was a little rusty on both of my starts, which required some battling to move up with the front-runners. Being the last round, everyone who doesn’t have the Championship at stake rides super fast which can make it a tough battle ground for riders choosing to take a different path. “Overall my choice of riding style for the round paid off and I couldn’t be happier with coming second overall in the Motocross Championship, when I have already achieved so much in Supercross. This opens up a new standard for my level of riding and recognition on the Australian circuit. “My brother Jay is back from America for a few months and he’s going to help me prepare for the Australian Supercross Championship. Jay has learnt a lot on internationally renowned track layouts so he will be helping me build some of these courses, which he became so familiar with in the US.” Lee Ellis – Pro Open “The track was still a little wet in the morning from all the rain Conondale had leading up to the final race so I struggled a little at first but found my feet as the day progressed, said Ellis “My starts have proven to be a challenge for me all season but I was determined to find my rhythm in this grand final and finish the Championship on a high. Working my way from the back of the pack, I didn’t tire whilst trying to reach the front-runners. “In moto two, I made my mark by reaching 4th place by the third lap. I caught up with Darryll King, which was a real high for me as he has been untouchable all season. When King put on the pace, I was left chasing Craig Anderson’s roost and although I couldn’t pass him, it felt good to stick with these guys who have won several rounds. “I’m now looking forward to the Supercross season. The KTM250SX it’s super fast and easy to ride, which I feel are the key tools I need to make an impact in the Supercross Championship. I’ll start training this week at my local track in Broadmeadows and then next week I’ll head up to Wollongong NSW, to train on the Marmont’s Supercross track, which is really technical." |
|
|
Search the site - Late Braking News - Forum Bike Tests - Features - Wallpaper - Race Calendar
MCNEWS.COM.AU
|
|
