Mackenzie wins Oz MX opener

Kawasaki-riding Scotsman Billy Mackenzie has claimed victory in the opening round of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, contested in treacherous conditions at Broadford (Vic) on March 13.

Mackenzie won the premier Pro Open category with 1-2-3-2 results in the four back-to-back 15-minute motos. He clinched the overall by 18pts over New Zealander Cody Cooper (Suzuki) and local 21-year-old Open rookie Lawson Bopping (Suzuki).

Following a dry qualifying session this morning in supreme weather conditions, a massive rainstorm ripped through Broadford’s State Motorcycle Sport Complex as the Open class proceedings got underway, leaving riders to negotiate tricky conditions to complete the round.

Mackenzie successfully avoided the carnage in a superb season-opener, and he’s confident he’ll be a title contender throughout the nine-round championship.

“It’s a great start to the season for me,” the 26-year-old beamed. “I hoped for better conditions, but these technical conditions suit my style.

“I’ve been training hard over the summer and I feel ready for the year ahead. Hopefully we have better conditions next time so we can all push and see what everyone’s got in the dry.”

After a bad start in race one and then a fall in the second, Cooper was able to claw himself back onto the podium with a pair of stunning victories in the final two motos of the day, scoring 7-14-1-1 race results.

“Qualifying was awesome, but when it started raining real hard I got two terrible starts in races one and two,” Cooper explained. “For the final motos I got good starts and checked out, really. I’m happy with second overall and we’ll progress from here.”

The other race winner was 21-year-old rookie, Bopping. He finished with 4-1-2 results in the opening three races, before a flat tyre in the fourth and final race forced him to settle for 16th.

“I’m stoked to be on the podium overall – third is an awesome start,” Bopping said. “I thought it was going to be hot but then it rained really hard, so I’m just pumped to be on the podium.”

Victorian Cheyne Boyd (Honda) finished fourth overall, followed 1pt behind by another Pro Open debutant, Ryan Marmont (KTM).

Marmont’s elder brother Jay, who is the defending three-time MX Nationals champion, had to settle for ninth overall to commence his 2011 title defence, the 27-year-old now looking to rebound at round two next month.

Earlier in the day, Matt Moss (KTM), in his first MX Nationals appearance since taking out the Pro Lites championship in 2009, scored a hard-fought victory in the Pro Lites class with 1-2-2-1 results.

Moss headed a JDR Motorex KTM clean-sweep of the podium, joined by teammates Brenden Harrison (3-5-5-3) and 19-year-old Kilmore rider Josh Cachia (2-17-1-6)  -- the reigning Under 19s champion who was able to win race three in his Pro Lites debut.

Moto two winner Ford Dale (Yamaha), who qualified fastest, finished ninth overall after taking fifth in moto one and 13th in moto four. He was forced out of the third moto after he suffered a broken chain.

Moss now holds a 22pt lead in the championship following round one of nine.

The Under 19s category was won by Yamaha rider Luke Arbon, commencing his title campaign with 2-1-1-2.

The championship will now head to Appin (NSW) for round two on  April 3.

2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals
Round One – Broadford, VIC

Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open Results:
1. Billy Mackenzie (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 89 points
2. Cody Cooper (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) 71
3. Lawson Bopping (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) 70
4. Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Racing) 69
5. Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) 68
6. Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 63
7. Josh Coppins (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 52
8. Louis Calvin (Herb Watson Racing KTM) 51
9. Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 47
10. Michael Phillips (Carlton Dry Honda Racing) 44

Motul Pro Lites Results:
1. Matt Moss (JDR Motorex KTM) 94 points
2. Brenden Harrison (JDR Motorex KTM) 72
3. Josh Cachia (JDR Motorex KTM) 66
4. Cody Mackie (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda) 60
5. Phil Nicoletti (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 57
6. Kirk Gibbs (Serco Yamaha) 55
7. Daniel McCoy (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) 52
8. Kade Mosig (Berry Sweet Strawberries Lucas Oil Honda)
9. Ford Dale (Serco Yamaha) 49
10. Luke Styke (Yamaha) 46

Pirelli Under 19s Results:
1. Luke Arbon (GYTR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 94 points
2. Errol Willis (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) 81
3. Shaun Redhead (GYTR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 58
4. Jacob Mcleod (Grayson Sontor Motorcycles Yamaha) 57
5. Jacob Wright (Honda Australia) 54