Mackenzie aces MX field in SA

Kawasaki pilot Billy Mackenzie claimed his second overall victory in the 2011 Australian Motocross Championship at Murray Bridge (SA) this afternoon.

Mackenzie, 27, powered 1-1-3-1 results on his KX450F, lifting him back up to third in the standings after four of nine rounds, behind his 20-year-old team-mate Dean Ferris and Yamaha’s Josh Coppins.

“It feels really awesome to win, I can’t describe the weight that’s off my shoulders,” Mackenzie, an ex-grand prix winner said. “I’ve been sat at home, couldn’t even get off the couch with a fractured shoulder blade, plus a rib injury.

“I just dug deep for the past couple of rounds for points, but I won the overall here and it’s given me motivation to go and win the next round. I just want to keep having fun, so thanks to Monster Energy Kawasaki.”  

Ferris was second overall with 10-2-1-2 results across the four 20-minute motos.

“It was great for Kawasaki to get a 1-2 finish and even better for me to reclaim the series lead,” Ferris said. “I rode decent today with three really good finishes and that’s always the aim to be consistent here. It’s just great to have so much support from my team.”

Rounding out the podium was another international in New Zealander Michael Phillips, the Honda-backed contender battling up front to grasp third overall with a 3-3-4-7 scoreboard.

“I just put some solid starts together and went from there,” Phillips said. “It was a tough track to pass on, but I felt comfortable with my speed and the bike. To finish on the podium with these guys is a good result.”

Fourth for the round was defending triple champion Jay Marmont (Yamaha) despite suffering a finger injury ahead of the weekend, while 2009 Murray Bridge winner Cheyne Boyd (Honda) completed the top five.

Coppins finished sixth overall, a crash and subsequent DNF in the final moto denying him of what would have been a sure podium finish.

Another rider to crash out of moto four was JDR Motorex KTM’s Ryan Marmont, transported to hospital with an unconfirmed foot injury, however he remained eighth overall. His team-mate Dan Reardon was earlier ruled out of the round with a wrist injury.

South Australian home state hero Kirk Gibbs (Yamaha) stole the show in Pro Lites with a perfect score of 1-1-1-1 – the first rider to clean sweep a round this year.

Gibbs’ result slashed the previous 85pt advantage of title leader Matt Moss (KTM) to 37.

“I had a heap of family and friends here this weekend and it feels good to be the first to win four races in a row for the round and I was able to take a big chunk out of Moss’ lead,” 21-year-old Gibbs said. “I just want to keep chipping away, take it round by round and see where we end up. It feels so good to get this one in my home state.”

Meanwhile, Moss had a nightmare round after winning the opening three events of this year, crashes and bad starts forcing him to settle for an uncharacteristic seventh overall with 7-2-16-10 finishes.

While Matt struggled in South Australia, twin brother Jake made it a Serco Yoshimura Yamaha 1-2 finish on the podium after scoring second overall on Sunday, ahead of Justin McDonald (Honda).

The Under 19 development category saw championship leader Errol Willis (Suzuki) extend his advantage with a hard-fought victory, edging out local favourite Luke Arbon (Yamaha) by just 3pts.

Round five of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be contested at Toowoomba (Qld) Sunday, May 21.

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for more information.

Round four results
Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open
1. Billy Mackenzie (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 95
2. Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 80
3. Michael Phillips (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) 72
4. Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 66
5. Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) 65
6. Josh Coppins (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 62
7. Lewis Woods (Top Gear KTM) 51
8. Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) 43
9. Riley Graham (Kawasaki) 36
10. Adam Monea (Berry Sweet Strawberries/Lucas Oil Honda) 33

Motul Pro Lites
1. Kirk Gibbs (Serco Yoshimura Yamaha) 100
2. Jake Moss (Serco Yoshimura Yamaha) 69
3. Justin McDonald (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda) 68
4. Keiron Hall (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda) 59
5. Daniel McCoy (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) 57
6. Brenden Harrison (JDR Motorex KTM) 54
7. Matt Moss (JDR Motorex KTM) 52
8. Ford Dale (Serco Yoshimura Yamaha) 50
9. Luke Styke (Yamaha) 48
10. Josh Cachia (JDR Motorex KTM) 46

Pirelli Under 19s
1. Errol Willis (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) 86
2. Luke Arbon (GYTR Rockstar Yamaha) 83
3. Jake Emanuelli (Yamaha Australia/Hart and Huntington) 79
4. Dylan Peterson (Team 07 Axis Motorsport Honda) 69
5. Shaun Redhead (GYTR Rockstar Yamaha) 68
6. Dan Banks (Eco-Pest Control KTM) 59
7. Dylan Long (Top Gear KTM) 47
8. Kyle McKeddie (Mornington Kawasaki) 39
9. Mitch Norris (JDR Moss Institute Suzuki) 38
10. Sam Martin (Byrners Suzuki) 35

Motul Pro Lites
1. Matt Moss 329
2. Kirk Gibbs 292
3. Brenden Harrison 239
4. Daniel McCoy 231
5. Cody Mackie 216
6. Josh Cachia 215
7. Keiron Hall 212
8. Justin McDonald 204
9. Ford Dale 199
10. Phil Nicoletti 197

Pirelli Under 19s
1. Errol Willis 345
2. Luke Arbon 316
3. Dylan Peterson 272
4. Shaun Redhead 253
5. Jake Emanuelli 227
6. Kyle McKeddie 185
7. Dylan Long 159  
8. Jay Wilson 143
9. Jacob Mcleod 123
10. Kale Makeham 114