Team Shift Motul Suzuki's Daryl Hurley today wrapped up fourth place in the Australian Motocross Nationals while watching from the sidelines at the final round in Coolum (QLD).

The defending Australian Motocross Champion had led the 2006 series continuously until round eight where he suffered a tragic season-ending knee injury.

Forced to look on while his lead evaporated, Hurley's outstanding efforts early in the season were enough for the Kiwi to hold on to fourth place despite scoring no points in the final three rounds.

Hurley's team-mate, Luke Burkhart continued his steady improvement with a strong run in Coolum to finish sixth overall.

A good start in race one saw Burkhart's RM-Z450 round the first corner in third place, but over the ensuing 30-minute challenge, the 22-year-old dropped three places to finish in seventh.

The day's second moto saw Burkhart make up ground on the field climbing from sixth place at the start to hold third place in the closing minutes of the race.

With less than two laps remaining, Burkhart ran over the edge of a berm which allowed Craig Carmichael and Cheyne Boyd through and relegated the Suzuki rider to fifth.

Having carried a wrist injury throughout the Australian Motocross Championship and missing four rounds, Burkhart's sixth overall at the Coolum event was a solid finish to the 2006 series.

Burkhart's return to form is well timed with the New Zealander positioned strongly in fourth place in the Supercross Masters Championship and looking to take glory for Team Shift Motul Suzuki when the series resumes at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre next week on Saturday 29 August.

JAY FOREMAN - TEAM MANAGER
"Obviously, with Daryl out it's a disappointing end to the championship - it would have gone down to the wire with Daryl and Craig Anderson.

"All year it's been clear that the Suzuki RM-Z450 had the speed to win another motocross title, but unfortunately injuries let us down.

"Luke has been injured for the whole motocross series and even though he's had some solid results, he hasn't been able to show what we believe he's capable of.

"We're really looking forward to the Supercross Masters Championship with Luke now returning to form and hopefully we can get a result for Suzuki."