News 24 May 2009

Oz MX: Boyd sweeps Opens as Moss wins Lites in Mackay

Motorcycling Australia PR:

Cheyne Boyd (Yamaha) has won the fourth round of the 2009 Australian Motocross Championship in the Pro Opens class ahead of Jay Marmont (Yamaha) and Andrew McFarlane (Yamaha).

Despite his two race victories at the round, Boyd, who is currently third in the Series, remains 42 points behind Championship leader Marmont, with McFarlane in second place.

On the sandy Queensland track, Victorian rider Boyd was in his element, setting a staggeringly fast qualifying time which remained the fastest of the day.

In the first moto, however, it was Todd Waters (Honda) who was fastest out of the gate, with Cody Mackie (Kawasaki) and McFarlane hot on his heels.

Midway through the moto Boyd had caught and passed Waters, taking the lead ahead of Mackie with Marmont running in third.

While Boyd continued to extend his lead, Marmont slipped past Mackie in the dying laps of the moto, hanging on to second place until the flag.

The second moto saw New Zealand’s finest, Daryl Hurley, take the holeshot and the lead, followed closely by Marmont and Boyd.

Boyd soon made the pass on his teammate and edged closer to the Kiwi and within a matter of laps had once again taken the lead.

While Boyd put more distance between himself and Marmont, McFarlane was slowly gaining ground on the reigning champ, coming to within one second at the chequered flag.

Marmont now has a solid 21 point lead over McFarlane, with Boyd now in third place heading in to the fifth round of the 2009 Australian Motocross Championship.

Cheyne Boyd – Round winner

“It’s taken me a long time to get going this season, I made a few mistakes in that first race and I really felt that the last lap was the worst lap I’ve ever ridden!

“I fell off a couple of times and just didn’t want to throw it away but I got my rhythm in the second race and went about finishing it.

“I’m look forward to really working hard and I’m really happy in getting to third in the Championship.”

Matt Moss (Suzuki) has won the fourth round of the 2009 Australian Motocross Championship in the Pro Lites class with Harley Quinlan (Yamaha) once again topping the Under 19s.

Although accustomed to wearing the red leader plates, reigning Pro Lites Champion, Luke George, surrendered them to Moss following a massive day of racing.

In the Under 19s class, after being tied on points for the Series lead, Luke Styke (Yamaha) is now out in front with Josh Cachia (Yamaha) forced to settle for second until the next round.

Following the storm of controversy surrounding round three, anticipation was high as the Pro Lites class took to the track with George and Moss exceeding everyone’s expectations.

In what has to be one of the most epic Pro Lites races of the year, Moss and George settled their differences out on the track with phenomenal pace keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.

When the gates dropped Moss scored the holeshot, but with George hot on his heels was relegated back to second before the first lap was done.

A cat and mouse game ensued for the remainder of the moto, with the lead changing every few laps and the pace consistently faster than most of the Pro Opens riders.

As the race progressed the pair negotiated their way through lapped traffic for a final sprint to the line with George eventually triumphant taking the chequered flag with Moss in second and Lawson Bopping (Suzuki) more than 40 seconds behind in third place.

The second moto was a different affair, with Lewis Stewart (Honda) taking the holeshot, however he quickly surrendered the lead to Moss.

On the first lap George crashed on a fast section of the track and rejoined the field in last place.

While George battled his way through the field to 10th place, Moss continued to extend his lead, dominating the moto all the way to the flag, with Kirk Gibbs (Yamaha) putting in an excellent ride to take second with Stewart hanging onto third place.

In the Under 19s the Yamaha brat-pack continued their domination of the class with the exception of Luke Arbon (Kawasaki) who managed third in both motos.

In the first moto Ross Beaton (Yamaha) took a convincing win over teammate and round three winner Harley Quinlan with Arbon in third.

However disaster struck for Beaton in the second moto, unable to finish the race due to injury, leaving the path clear for teammates Luke Styke and Quinlan to take the top two steps on the podium ahead of the green machine.

Matt Moss – Pro Lites winner

“That first moto was the toughest I’ve ever done, it was a great moto.

“It’s disappointing that Luke went down in the second one but it’s all about chasing the Championship.

“I’ve now got the red plates and plan to keep them for the rest of the Series.

“The track was great today and I’m looking forward to the next round.”

Harley Quinlan – Under 19s winner

“I’m just wrapped to be able to get up on top again; Toowoomba was good for me and then to come to this sandy track, a really fast track is great.

“It’s a bit disappointing for Ross [Beaton] hurting himself in the second moto as he was really fast in the first one but I’m happy with how the day went.

“I’m really looking forward to the next round and just want to keep working hard at it.

“It’s been a great round and it’s good to see my teammate Luke Styke with the red plates.”

Kevin Williams – Series Promoter

“What a fantastic day of racing here at the Gum Valley track, it certainly is like coming to a golf course it’s one of the most picturesque tracks we get to go to.

“Congratulations must go to the Hand family, they’ve got a great venue, and with around 3500 people experiencing some fantastic racing, it’s been an event to remember.

“It was great to see such a strong performance from Boyd out there today, along with Marmont hanging onto the red plate.

“We also saw one of the best races we’ve seen in the Pro Lites class yet, with the battle between Luke George and Matt Moss continuing after last week’s hullaballoo.

“These boys were a little bit angry with each other and the furore will continue as Matt Moss continues to bounce back in the points chase.”

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