Yamaha Racing’s Factory Pro Lites Team Serco Yamaha has flown the flag for the leading manufacturer at the second round of the Nokia MX Nationals at Adelaide’s Gillman Motocross Track this weekend.

Reigning Pro Lites Champion Cameron Taylor marked his Title intentions with a definitive race and round victory while CDR/Nokia/Yamaha multi-champion Darryll King staged an impressive comeback, only narrowly missing the podium after a delayed return to form following major knee surgery.

CDR/Nokia/Yamaha Factory Pro Open MX Team

CDR/Nokia/Yamaha had hoped a renewed youthful lineup would be a factor going into the second round of the Nokia MX Nationals and guest

rider Ford Dale was keen to impress.

There was little time to prepare after three constant weeks on the road after the Perth Supercross and Motocross events but the four-rider team was determined to replace some of the previous negatives with a strong haul of positives ,leaving no doubt a race win was on the cards for the legendary Victorian team.

Motorsport is a game of chance and the dice can roll both ways, as CDR/Nokia/Yamaha found this weekend, with a number of good moves cancelled out by bad luck and other riders’ incidents.

A disappointing start to moto one for Darryll King was offset by an impressive comeback performance by the series veteran in the second moto.

King quickly warmed to the Gillman track and began to reel in the leaders effortlessly, right to the point where he was challenging Craig Anderson for a podium position.

Just two seconds separated the riders as they passed the chequered flag, and King was pleased with his comeback.

“The first race was a disaster really, I got stuck in some traffic and just could not get back into a race rhythm,” said King.

“It was the complete opposite in the second though, and the bike was really working for me as I was able to make my way right back into it.”

“These are the results we need to be scoring to stay within reach of the championship leaders,” ended King.

Cheyne Boyd’s race proved to be a mirror image to that of teammate King’s, with a strong first sprint to claim fourth position and a lackluster second moto after becoming involved in a major incident that brought down six riders at once, including Chenye's stand in team mate, Ford Dale.

With all important championship points at stake, Boyd remounted his YZ450F to find crash damage had left his front brake inoperable. Undetered by the situation, he put his nose to the grindstone and completed the race on the damaged machine and was duly rewarded for his efforts by being classified as a finisher.

His results today did little justice to his overall performance, forcing him back a few rungs in the championship, but there is little doubt he will bounce back for the next round and challenge for the victory once again.

“I had a pretty good start, the bike was working well for me in the first race and I only just got beaten by Hurley on the last lap,” said Boyd.

“I got caught up in the major crash in the second race and it was a real challenge to get back and try and race for results after being sent so far behind.”

“It wasn’t the best of meets but really showed me there is some strong competition out there and you have to be scoring points in every race,” he ended.

Matt Moss’ Gillman experience is probably one he would rather forget, and, despite grabbing a career-first pro open holeshot in the first race, he moved backwards over the course of the day whilst trying to mask the pain of a hand injury.

The first moto a case of de-ja-vu for the 17-year-old when he was forced for the second time in two weeks to make an unplanned stop to replace his goggles that had once again become dislodged.

He circulated to finish the moto and a similar story in the second sprint had the young star less than enthusiastic about his results for the round, recording 26th overall.

“Nothing has gone to plan this week. I haven’t been unable to practice since last round because an infected laceration on my palm caused by bad blistering from last weekend,” said a disappointed Moss.

“I made the best possible start getting the holeshot but it just didn’t happen for me; I had to pull out of the lead pack to swap goggles and by then there was no chance.”

“I don’t think the results really show the speed of the bike or how well I can perform, and I know I have to keep it together to stay in the top 10,” finished Moss.

The CDR/Nokia/Yamaha Team was joined in Adelaide by seventeen year old Queensland rider Ford Dale who filled in for the injured Troy Carroll.

Dale impressed Team Boss Craig Dack with his smooth consistent style which saw the Pro Open Rookie finish a very impressive twelfth overall

“Ford Dale really impressed me today,” Dack said. ”It was a pleasure to see him on one of our factory bikes.

“He certainly made the most of the opportunity riding consistently to finish twelfth overall in what has become one of the countries most competitive motorsport categories.

“His riding style in unbelievably smooth and emulates that of 80’s & 90’s motocross legends Ron Leichen and Jean-Michael Bayle,” Dack added.

CDR/Nokia/Yamaha team will now re-group at its Geelong base this week after a hectic month long sojourn across our Western States before returning to the Nokia MX Nationals tour for Round 3 of the 10 round series at Wonthaggi MX Circuit on the 30th April.

Serco Yamaha Factory Pro Lites MX Team

Serco Yamaha’s Cameron Taylor has made a triumphant return to form, winning the Pro Lites class at the second round of the Nokia MX Nationals at Adelaide’s Gillman Motocross Track today.

The reigning champion qualified quickest and went on to win the opening thirty minute race convincingly while team mates Robbie Marshall and Jake Moss both fell victim to the track while racing well up in the top ten placing’s.

A rampaging Moss roused the enthusiastic Adelaide crowd to their feet following a spectacular crash on the notorious table top jump that saw the seventeen year old and his bike cartwheel down the jump. Never one to give up and with a heart the size of Pharlap, the teenager defied all odds and got back on the bike to courageously finish in 19th place.

Marshall’s opening round misfortunes continued with the Queenslander falling his bike while making a passing move on Jacob Smith for fifth place. Marshall gathered his YZ250F and fought hard to catch the pack, eventually finishing behind Moss in 20th position.

In the second Pro Lites moto it was Taylor who found himself forced to mount a charge from back in 20th position after being pushed out wide off the start. Marshall and Moss, subdued by their first race incidents, consolidated, and settled themselves in top ten positions.

An exhausted Taylor pushed hard to finish third ahead of team mates Jake Moss in sixth and Robbie Marshall in ninth.

“It was great to turn things around today,” Taylor said. “We really achieved our goal and made up a lot of points.

“I got a good start in the first race and once I got to the lead I went onto cruise control only pushing myself at around 80%.

“The second race was a lot tougher than the first I got a bad start and had to fight my way back from 20th.

“I was very happy to finish third as I really felt like I had hit a brick wall in the last ten minutes and just couldn’t push any harder,” Taylor added.

While progressing with speed and fitness a disappointed Robbie Marshall admitted consistency was still not forthcoming.

“I still need to finish a race without crashing and that comes down to consistency,” Marshall said.

“I have definitely made some progression since the opening round in Perth but not as much as I would have liked.

“My fitness is great and the bike is fantastic, now I just need to stay on!” Marshall added.

Despite his first race incident Moss was back to his best and said advice from Team Principal Gavin Eales rang true in the second moto.

“As Gavin (Eales) keeps telling me - to finish first, first you have to finish and those words rang true today,” Moss said.

“My YZ250F was fast and I felt really good I just need work on my consistency.

Taylor’s round victory saw him narrow the gap to series leader Ryan Marmont, the Serco Yamaha rider is now only six points behind second placed rider Troy Dorron while Jake Moss has moved into the top ten and Robbie Marshall is currently 15th.

The Serco Yamaha team head home to Brisbane to prepare for the third round of the Nokia MX Nationals at Victoria’s Wonthaggi Circuit on Sunday 30th April.

Nokia MX Nationals Trade Alley

Yamaha’s on track success with the YZ250F was complimented off track with the presence of leading Adelaide Yamaha dealer Bill’s Motorcycles in the Nokia MX Nationals Trade Alley.

The Gilman crowd showed extreme interest in the new 2006 Yamaha off road and fun bike ranges that were on display on Sunday.

Bill’s Motorcycles Yamaha Sales Specialist Paul Johns was extremely pleased with the response to their involvement at the Gilman round.

“Today was an absolute success in raising the Adelaide crowd’s awareness of the 2006 Yamaha product range,” Johns said.

“At the end of the day we were left with a potential sales base that far exceeded our expectation and we will definitely be back at the Nokia MX Nationals at Gilman in 2007 bigger and better."