Defending Nokia MX Nationals Champion (Australian Motocross Championship), Daryl Hurley (RMZ450) and privateer, Michael Addison (KTM 250 SFX) have signalled their intentions for a successful 2006 after winning the Pro Open and Pro Lite classes respectively at the first round of the series at Wanneroo Park this afternoon.

Hurley opened his assault on Australia’s premier motocross championship the way he ended 2005 by winning the first and second moto in a convincing fashion with the Team Shift Motul Suzuki rider crossing the finish line 20 seconds ahead of his rivals. Motorex KTM rider, Daniel McCoy (KTM 450 SX) recorded an amazing Pro Open debut, coming home in second position with Shayne King (KX450F) completing the top three in his debut for Kawasaki Racing.

The Pro Open class got off to a shaky start with the first race red flagged due to an altercation between Motorex KTM’s Timmy Weigand (KTM 450 SX) and privateer Barry Morris (Kawasaki KX250). Upon the re-start, No Fear Honda young gun Cody Cooper (CRF450) got the holeshot and led the race for the first lap before falling prey to Hurley who overtook him on lap two. Cooper was left to settle for second position with McCoy crossing the finish line thirteen seconds later.

Motorex KTM riders, Lee Ellis (KTM 450 SX), Weigand and McCoy tried to rain on the Suzuki parade by finishing the moto two in second, third and fourth positions respectively, however, they were unable to stop Hurley who claimed the chequered flag in both races.

It was an opening to the year, Pro Lites defending champion, Cameron Taylor (YZF 250) would like to forget after being unable to display the consistent form of 2005 which secured him this nation’s highest motocross honour. The Serco Yamaha rider had a mechanical problem and was unable to re-join the race.

The surprise package of the event was Privateer Addison who put on a sterling performance for his home crowd to win the first round of the Maxxis Pro Lites Championship after finishing first and fifth in today’s two races. He now leads the class ahead of Ryan Marmont (KTM 250 SXF) and fellow Privateer, Dean Porter (Honda CRF250) who finished the day on equal points. Marmont was given second position, due to finishing the final race ahead of Porter.

Moto one was dominated by Serco Yamaha’s Jake Moss (YZF 250) who after obtaining the hole shot lead from start to finish. Louis Calvin (KTM 250 SXF) and Porter rounded out the top three after chipping his way through the field during the race. In the second moto, Marmont was able to cement his second position overall after finishing the race inside the top two. Porter rounded out the top three to fly the Privateers flag alongside Addison.

The support race for the event was the WA All Powers with Colin Wood standing on the top step of the podium, with Scott Petricevich and Dylan Yong rounding out the top three.

Nokia MX Nationals Event Promoter, Kevin Williams said the series has got off to a great start with approximately 4,500 individuals making the trip to Wanneroo to see the best motocross stars in Australia do battle.

“The opening round of the Nokia MX Nationals attracted a strong crowd with more than four thousand people coming out to watch Australia’s best motocross personalities take to the track for the first time in Western Australia since 2003,” said Williams.

“The Wanneroo Park circuit looked fantastic with the venue’s sand surface providing the competitors with a challenging start to the year, ensuring spectators were provided with a great day of watching motocross.”

Next weekend the second round of the Nokia MX Nationals will take place at Gillman in South Australia.

Daryl Hurley – Nokia MX Nationals Pro Open Round One Winner - “I don’t know what happened today. I got two good starts and knew I had the fitness behind me as my trainer Steven Gall has given me a good program in the lead up to the event. There is something about Western Australia, I always seem to go good here.”

Daniel McCoy – Nokia MX Nationals Pro Open Round One Runner Up - “I am really happy, I went a lot better than I expected. It was good to come here early and practice on sand, as if my training had of been conducted at home it would have been on hard pack.”

Shayne King – Nokia MX Nations Round One Second Runner Up - “I’ve raced on probably some of the toughest sand tracks across the world and this [Wanneroo Park] is definitely on par with these circuits. It is a long series and it is my goal to be on the box each week and claim valuable championship points.”

Michael Addison – Maxxis Pro Lites Round One Winner - “I have been doing a lot of sand training and Western Australian people are known for their ability to ride in the sand. I relied on these skills today to get me across the line in first position. I’m just happy to be up here [on the podium] and hope to carry the momentum through to the next couple of rounds.”

Ryan Marmont – Maxxis Pro Lites Round One Runner Up - “Today we didn’t know where we would be. I got a good start in the first race and an event better start in the second which ensured I was able to finish the race in a strong position. We’ve got a good setup for sand which will be good over the next few rounds, and then we’ll do some more testing before round four and develop something which is better suited to the wide and open.”

Dean Porter – Maxxis Pro Lites Round One Second Runner Up - “I did a lot better than I expected, I was aiming for a top forty finish and I did that. I’m just stoked with my result today, it was great to hear my home crowd cheering at the end of the race. It is great start to start the year in this position.”

2006 Nokia MX Nationals, Round One, Pro Open Moto One Results (Top Ten)
1. Daryl Hurley Team Shift Motul Suzuki
2. Cody Cooper No Fear Honda
3. Daniel McCoy Motorex KTM
4. Craig Anderson No Fear Honda
5. Cheyne Boyd CDR/Nokia/Yamaha
6. Darryll King CDR/Nokia/Yamaha
7. Shayne King Kawasaki Racing
8. Matt Moss CDR/Nokia/Yamaha
9. Luke Burkhart Team Shift Motul Suzuki
10. Peter Boyle Honda Smart

2006 Nokia MX Nationals, Round One, Pro Open Moto Two Results (Top Ten)
1. Daryl Hurley Team Shift Motul Suzuki
2. Lee Ellis Motorex KTM
3. Timmy Weigand Motorex KTM
4. Daniel McCoy Motorex KTM
5. Shayne King Kawasaki Racing
6. Daniel Reardon Kawasaki Racing
7. Cheyne Boyd CDR/Nokia/Yamaha
8. Peter Boyle Honda Smart
9. Darryll King CDR/Nokia/Yamaha
10. Brent Landman Whales Kawasaki

2006 Nokia MX Nationals, Pro Open Series Points after Round One (Top Ten)
1. Daryl Hurley Team Shift Motul Suzuki 50
2. Daniel McCoy Motorex KTM 38
3. Shayne King Kawasaki Racing 30
4. Cheyne Boyd CDR/Nokia/Yamaha 30
5. Cody Cooper No Fear Honda 28
6. Darryll King CDR/Nokia/Yamaha 27
7. Craig Anderson No Fear Honda 27
8. Timmy Weigand Motorex KTM 26
9. Peter Boyle Honda Smart 24
10. Matt Moss CDR/Nokia/Yamaha 23

2006 Nokia MX Nationals, Round One Pro Lite Moto One Results (Top Ten)
1. Jake Moss Serco Yamaha
2. Louis Calvin Privateer
3. Dean Porter Privateer
4. Ryan Marmont Motorex KTM
5. Michael Addison Privateer
6. Bronte Holland Privateer
7. Kade Mosig Honda Smart
8. Troy Dorron No Fear Honda
9. Toby Price Kawasaki Racing
10. Michael Phillips Privateer

2006 Nokia MX Nationals, Round One Pro Lite Moto Two Results (Top Ten)
1. Michael Addison Privateer
2. Ryan Marmont Motorex KTM
3. Dean Porter Privateer
4. Troy Dorron No Fear Honda
5. Kade Mosig Honda Smart
6. Louis Calvin Privateer
7. Cameron Taylor Serco Yamaha
8. Danny Anderson No Fear Honda
9. Bronte Holland Privateer
10. Shane Metcalfe Privateer

2006 Nokia MX Nationals, Pro Lite Series Points After Round One (Top Ten)
1. Michael Addison Privateer 41
2. Ryan Marmont Motorex KTM 40
3. Dean Porter Privateer 40
4. Louis Calvin Privateer 37
5. Troy Dorron No Fear Honda 31
6. Kade Mosig Honda Smart 30
7. Bronte Holland Privateer 27
8. Jake Moss Serco Yamaha 25
9. Danny Anderson No Fear Honda 23
10. Mitch Hoad Kawasaki Racing 19