Marmont caps off motocross season with King of the Cross Title
— By John Innes
Saturday was picture perfect and the ‘Kids’ were keen to get the action underway on what was a great day for racing. The early action set the standard for the whole day and those in attendance were not disappointed. Three riders made their intentions quite clear right from the start, Jayden Rykers (Yamaha), Mitchell Taylor (Yamaha) and Scott Kramer (Honda). When it came down to the final event on the card “The KTM Kid of the Cross” these three stormed to the front and fought out the entire six lap moto, Taylor lead the early part of the race but was eventually hauled in by Rykers, who once he got to the front was never headed. Kramer slipped past Taylor to secure second spot with Taylor holding onto third position. Rykers has now joined a select group as the winner of the event for 2011.
Sunday had the crowd on their toes with some of the country’s best MX riders along with UK rider Jamie Law vying for the coveted title – “BGC Contracting King of the Cross.” Jay Marmont (CDR Yamaha) was once again back in WA seeking to defend the title he won in 2010. Right from the start Marmont showed he was the man to beat with two comfortable back to back wins in the heats. In the final heat he had his colours lowered by WA rider Michael Addison, but any thoughts of an upset were just that, wishful thinking!
Marmont was a clear winner of the first of the six lap motos to decide the 2011 King of the Cross with Kade Mosig (Berry Sweet Honda) and Jamie Law (Herb Watson Racing KTM) filling the minor placings. It was straight back to the grid with just five minutes before the second six lap moto. Marmont was in a determined frame of mind and after the dash to the first corner it was again Marmont who left the rest trailing in his dust as he scorched to the finish line to claim his second consecutive King of the Cross title, to go with his Manjimup 15,000 win and his fourth consecutive National MX title. Cody Mackie (07 Axis Honda) claimed second spot and Mosig was third. The overall positions were Marmont, a clear winner with 172 points, second was Mackie with 137, Mosig on 126, Addison on 124 and Law in fifth place on 120 points.
The “Queen of the Cross” for the second successive year was Jessica Moore (Honda Australia), who was having her come back ride after a serious injury suffered in the USA. She won all three races with Karyn Hambly (Yamaha) second and Manjimup’s Blakers (Kawasaki Country) third.
Luke Gaisford won the Quad races with 69 points from Adam Larson with 55, and Marcus Smith on 52 points.
In the “Paul Broomfield Memorial Race” the winner was Kim Ashkenazi, from Paul Grant with Trevor Unstead in third place and David Langstone fourth.
The ‘Clubman Prince of the Cross’ was a tightly fought affair over the six lap journey with Mitch Taylor prevailing from Brendan Orlandi with Daniel Kelly third.
Daniel Strickland took out the six lap “Intermediate Prince of the Cross”, following on from his “Kid of the Cross” title in 2010. Second was Dylon Sexton, third was Jake Fleay with Reece Colgan fourth.
Following on from the highly successful “King of the Cross” meeting will be another stand alone meeting “The Austwide Mining King of the Sand.” The event will be held at the AJS track in Wattle Avenue, Neerabup next to Barbagallo Raceway.
This event will be ‘Perth Metro’s’ richest MX event with prize money totaling $16,000. Riders who will be taking part are Jamie Law from the UK in what will be his final ride in Australia before he heads home to the UK, Kim Ashkenazi, Cody Mackie, Kade Mosig, Craig Anderson, Louis Calvin, Paul Humberston and Daniel Woodward.
I spoke to Law at the ‘King of the Cross’ meeting and asked him just what he knew about the “King of the Sand” meeting.
J.L. “Not too much, but I do like the track. I’ve raced there on several occasions and had a bit of success as well. It gets physical and it’s sandy so it gets rough, it’s the sort of track that sorts the men from the boys. The format will be short sprint races, which I quite like, and as a rider you have to adapt to the different formats from meeting to meeting.”
The meeting will be held on Sunday 14th August with commencing at 8.30am. Cost of entry to the event is $20 for adults, $10 for Pensioners and children under 16yrs free.
