Moree to host penultimate MX round

Moree’s eighth round of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals on July 24 will mark the penultimate battle in what has been a thrilling 2011 season across all three categories in the Australian Motocross Championship.

In the premier Rockstar Energy Pro Open class, it’s 21-year-old Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Kawasaki) who tops the standings after a consistent year on his KX450F.

Ferris will have a large fan base on hand at his hometown of Moree, and he’s hoping to capture his first overall round victory of the season.

“The goal is to try and get a round win, there’s no such thing as riding defensive when the points are so close,” Ferris said. “I’m just going to do what I have done every round and go for it. I just want to go for wins and try to clinch that overall. That’s plan A and that’s all I’m going to think about.

“I’m racing to win and that’s always been my goal. I put the pressure on myself to get the job done, whether it was last year as a privateer or this year with Monster Energy Kawasaki.”

Chasing Ferris in the championship is CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha’s experienced Kiwi Josh Coppins, who is a former world championship No. 2, trailing the Aussie rising star by 14pts after seven of nine rounds.

Ferris’ team-mate Billy Mackenzie, of Scotland, sits just  2pts behind Coppins in the championship, rebounding from injury early in the season to factor in the title hunt as the series reaches its crucial final stages.

The man on the move in the second half of 2011 has been defending champion Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) who, as the defending triple MX Nationals champion, is determined to land a record fourth crown. Marmont has been victorious in rounds six and seven of late, with Moree featuring as his lone win last season.

Completing the top five in the series is Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing’s Cheyne Boyd, whose team-mate Todd Waters has also consistently been building momentum since returning from injury two rounds ago. Kiwi Michael Phillips completes what is a three-rider Pro Open class operation.

The Motul Pro Lites class sees 2009 champion Matt Moss (JDR Motorex KTM), 23, in charge after the opening seven rounds, victorious in four of those and boasting a healthy 58pt lead despite suffering a painful shoulder fracture ahead of the fourth round.

Moss, who won the second round of the NSW state championship last weekend in Nowra, leads Serco Yoshimura Yamaha’s Kirk Gibbs, while the fight for third is a tight one between American Phil Nicoletti (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Dan McCoy (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) and Brenden Harrison (JDR Motorex KTM). Just 10pts separate that trio, albeit 28pts in arrears of Gibbs.

Raceline Pirelli Suzuki’s Errol Willis has stretched out a 76-point advantage in the Pirelli Under 19s development class heading into Moree and he has a high chance of clinching his first national championship on Sunday.

Practice and qualifying will commence at 8:30am, with the official opening ceremonies taking place at approximately 10:30am. Entry is $30 for adults, $15 for children 5-15yrs, and children under five are admitted free. A family ticket (two adults and two children) is $70.

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

2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals
Championship Standings (after 7 of 9 rounds):
Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open
1. Dean Ferris 523
2. Josh Coppins 509
3. Billy Mackenzie 507
4. Jay Marmont 491
5. Cheyne Boyd 436
6. Michael Phillips 415
7. Lawson Bopping 375
8. Cody Cooper 344
9. Louis Calvin 268
10. Daniel Reardon 226

Motul Pro Lites
1. Matt Moss 503
2. Kirk Gibbs 445
3. Phil Nicoletti 417
4. Daniel McCoy 410
5. Brenden Harrison 407
6. Justin McDonald 366
7. Kade Mosig 361
8. Josh Cachia 358
9. Cody Mackie 350
10. Luke Styke 324

Pirelli Under 19s
1. Errol Willis 556
2. Luke Arbon 480
3. Shaun Redhead 444
4. Dylan Peterson 385
5. Jake Emanuelli 359
6. Kyle McKeddie 345
7. Jay Wilson 326
8. Sam Martin 243
9. Kale Makeham 235
10. Dan Banks 226