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The Aussies Victorious at Oceania Motocross Championships
Australia have once again taken top honours over New Zealand in the 2007 International Oceania Motocross Championships held at the iconic Barrabool circuit near Geelong, Victoria over the weekend.
Over four thousand motocross fans in attendance were treated to some of the best racing ever seen on these shores as World Number three Josh Coppins spearheaded an unsuccessful Kiwi assault at the Oceania Trophy against a talented Aussie team that included a number of current and past national champs.
With four riders nominated to represent each country in both of the Pro classes, and three riders representing in the Woman’s and Junior classes, the final results would be decided not by the standout performances of the few but by the overall teams efforts. After the dust had settled Australia had triumphed over their trans-Tasman rivals with a combined score of 746 points over New Zealand’s 551 points.
In the premiere Pro Open (450cc) class Josh Coppins proved too strong for all challengers as he powered his way to victory in each of his races. Fellow Kiwi Daryl Hurley mounted a strong challenge and claimed the runner up spot ahead of fast American import Ryan Hughes, who added some high profile international flavour to the event. First Australian home was Honda’s Craig Anderson in fourth.
The Pro Lites (250cc) class provided some of the most dramatic action of the weekend as Luke George of NSW romped his way to victory in the opening race only to crash heavily in the final, giving the race win to Suzuki mounted New Zealand rider Luke Burkhart. One the final points were tallied it was Aussie team rider Lewis Stewart that claimed the overall win with two fourth place finishes, just one point ahead of Australian National Pro Lites Champion Jake Moss. The final step on the podium went to yet another Australian rider in Honda’s Cameron Taylor.
With the presence of Women’s World Champion Katherine Prumm who swept all three woman’s races in dominating fashion, the New Zealand Oceania trophy hopes were given a valuable boost. However with more depth in the Australian woman’s team, Prumm’s stellar performance only minimized the damage as Australian’s Kristy Gillespie and Ashlea Bates finished in second and third respectively.
Although not contributing to the overall class results, the final feature race of the day was the last chance for each nation to accumulate points towards the Oceania Trophy. The top 20 riders from both the Pro Lites and Pro Open classes were selected to lined up and do battle on the serpentine, jump filled track. Once more Coppins was untouchable and lead home Hurley and Hughes to wrap up his perfect days record, while Jake Moss fought through the dusty conditions to finish first over Cameron Taylor in second and Lewis Stewart in third.
In the Juniors event held on Saturday, Tye Simmonds (KTM) proved to be the best rider on the day cleaning up all heats, contributing to Australia’s first nail on the board, as the team made its way to victory on Sunday afternoon.
Suzuki Report
Team Shift Motul Suzuki rider, Daryl Hurley clinched second place in the 2007 International Oceania Motocross Championship at Barrabool (VIC), today, ahead of American racing hero and guest team mate, Ryan Hughes in third place.
Piloting the Team Shift Motul Suzuki prepared RM-Z450, US star rider Hughes made a strong start narrowly missing the holeshot in the opening 20-minute Pro Open moto and running in the top three with the race lead in sight.
As the current world number two, Josh Coppins, assumed the lead ahead of Craig Anderson, Hughes remained in touch in third until a small moment on the fourth lap saw him give Anderson some breathing space and the leading trio spread out but maintained position until the chequered flag.
Team Shift Motul Suzuki regular, Daryl Hurley made a slower start in the first Pro Open race, completing the opening lap in ninth place, but the former Australian Motocross Champion delivered a sizzling performance as he charged through the field and closed in on the leaders.
On lap seven, Hurley made a move to grab sixth spot and on the following lap passed Michael Addison and Daniel McCoy to claim fourth place and began reeling in fellow Suzuki rider, Hughes.
While Hurley continued to close the gap to Hughes, the New Zealander ran out of laps before the chequered flag and had to settle for fourth place.
The second Pro Open race got underway with an action packed opening lap that had Hurley duelling with Hughes for third place. Hughes won out and left Hurley to battle with slow starting Coppins.
On the second lap Hughes and Coppins had a coming together which dropped both riders down the order, elevating Hurley to third.
Hurley continued to charge forward and was running strongly in second before an error by Coppins (who had again stormed through to the front) gave him the race lead which he held for several laps. Hurley put up a good fight before his countryman again reclaimed top spot.
Meanwhile, on the other Team Shift Motul Suzuki, Hughes put in a brilliant fightback, ploughing through the pack to claim the final podium position behind Hurley.
Following recent dominant performances in New Zealand, Team Shift Motul Suzuki racer Luke Burkhart made his Australian return from injury in the Pro Lites class, however a first-corner crash in the opening race dropped him to the rear of the field and ruined his chance of a strong result.
The second Pro Lites moto had a completely new script with Burkhart featured strongly in third place on lap one, before assuming the race lead in the middle sector of the race.
Burkhart was in control and delivered a flawless performance, setting the fastest lap of the race and stretching a gap over his rivals until he greeted the chequered flag aboard the Suzuki RM-Z250 with more than five seconds to spare.
Rounding off the day was the Final Showdown that comprised the top 20 Pro Lites riders battling it out with the top 20 Pro Open riders for an all-in, 20-minute race.
As to be expected, World MX1 Championship contender, Coppins rode away from the pack and left his opponents to fight over the remaining placings.
American veteran, Hughes began well in fourth place while another slowish start saw Hurley end the first lap in seventh.
Hughes quickly climbed to second place, as Hurley began a gutsy ride in difficult dusty conditions to work his RM-Z450 through the field, eventually relegating Hughes to third place for both the moto and the overall event.
DARYL HURLEY - TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI
"I thought I had the holeshot in that opening race, but I shifted into third too early and ended up nowhere, but I felt good out there and just picked my way through the field.
"I got the second fastest lap time in the moto with a low 2:18min, and that was in the middle of traffic and dust going everywhere.
"Even though I didn't get great starts, my speed was good overall today and I managed to get through and make passes in every race.
"To get second to Josh feels pretty good, especially in the second race. He nearly won the World Championship so I'm pretty happy to have been able to run with him and finish second to him, today."
RYAN HUGHES - TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI GUEST RIDER
"Congratulations to Josh and Daryl for first and second today, they both rode fantastic races.
"I also have to thank Suzuki Australia for all their support and doing so much to set the bike up to suit me; they did a fantastic job and obviously had the RM-Z450 working really well.
"I've never raced in Australia before, but I've had so many great people help bring me out here to race this weekend, the track is great and the level of competition is so strong that I definitely want to come back and do this event again next year."
LUKE BURKHART - TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI
"I got off to a awful start in the first race, but I'm really glad I was able to put together a good race in the second moto and turn the day around.
"It felt good to show people that I'm 100% fit again and how I'm riding at the moment."
JAY FOREMAN - TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI TEAM MANAGER
"Daryl rode the best I've seen him race all year. It was good to see him back in form, riding hard and aggressively on the RM-Z450.
"Ryan is one of the legends of the sport, he's known as a tough competitor and it was great to have him out here as a guest with Team Shift Motul Suzuki.
"He got out there and went hard right from the word go and showed no fear; he completely lived up to his hard racing reputation and delivered a great performance for the fans here today."
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Originally Posted by FlangMasterJ
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