Take a trip down memory lane through the history books of Australian motocross and there are just selected names that have been pivotal in the sport’s success on a national and international front.

The death of Queenslander Andrew McFarlane at Broadford’s third round of the 2010 Rockstar Energy MX Nationals in Victoria saw one of our greatest ever taken at just 32 years of age, however his memories will live on forever in Aussie motocross circles.

McFarlane burst onto the national scene at a young age after beginning his racing career 27 years ago at the age of six, impressing in the Junior ranks onboard Kawasaki machinery before rising as an emerging talent in the Seniors.

Success on Australian solid included placing second in his first outdoor season as a Pro, a career highlight coming when he was crowned Australian Supercross Champion in both the 125cc and 250cc classes in 1996.

More success was enjoyed when he won the Australian Motocross Championship in 1999 on a privateer Yamaha, before backing that title up one year later with the Kawasaki Racing team.

The year 2000 also saw McFarlane capture the Supercross Masters crown.

But it was the first ever Australian round of the Motocross World Championship in 2000 that McFarlane would catch his international break, stunning the internationals by leading the race and finishing third in the Open class on a Kawasaki KX500 two-stroke at Broadford – the venue that would sadly claim his life 10 years on.

That performance saw McFarlane signed to the factory Rinaldi Yamaha team for 2001, repeating his inspiring home grand prix performance with second behind the legendary teammate Stefan Everts.

McFarlane would remain in the world championship until the end of 2005, a season that saw him score four GP victories in the MX2 category and finish the championship behind current MX1 World Champion Antonio Cairoli.

That result put McFarlane in the same league as just two other Aussie international heroes – Chad Reed and Jeff Leisk – as a world championship podium finisher and race winner in World Motocross.

The following three seasons saw McFarlane embark on a career in the American AMA Motocross and Supercross Championships, with the Yamaha of Troy (2006), Rockstar Energy Suzuki (2007) and Motosport Kawasaki (2008) teams respectively.

A podium at his first outdoor round at Hangtown was a good start on his way to seventh in the Lites title, before injuries derailed his hopes, eventually returning to Australia for the 2009 season with the newly formed JDR Motorsports team on privately-run Yamahas.

McFarlane continued his impressive career with third in the Pro Open series behind factory CDR Rockstar Yamaha riders Jay Marmont and Cheyne Boyd.

The season started with a moto one victory at Albury’s opening round on his way to third overall, before he won two motos at Canberra’s second round to take the overall victory for the weekend – the final overall of his illustrious career.

McFarlane would go on to score four more overall podiums for the season, making it six in total and missing out just twice in the eight-round championship.

Season 2010 was supposed to be McFarlane’s final tilt before taking up a management role with JDR Motorex KTM, the team earning factory support from KTM as the official team this year.

Heading into the Broadford round, McFarlane sat fifth in the point standings with a best moto result of second at Horsham in the first race of the year, still adapting to the Austrian-built 450 SX-F.

Further highlights of McFarlane’s career included seven Motocross Des Nations appearances, cementing his status as one of the greatest of all time for the Australian team.

McFarlane is survived by wife Natalie and young daughter Tayla.

ANDREW MCFARLANE BIO:
Nickname: Sharky
Date of birth: 30 May 1977
Hometown: Brisbane, QLD
Height: 176cm
Weight: 80kg
Home track: Coolum, QLD
How many years riding: 27
Career highlights: Second in 2005 MX2 World Championship / Seven-time MXoN representative
Oz MX 2009 Pro Open ranking: Third
Riding number for Oz MX 2010: 7
Team for Oz MX 2010: JDR Motorex KTM
Team manager: Jay Rynenberg
Mechanic: Ron McFarlane (father)
Bike raced in Oz MX 2010: KTM 450 SX-F
First bike: Honda 50
Favourite track: Red Bud
Heroes: Jeremy McGrath
Strengths: Fitness / Starts
Weaknesses: None
If you weren’t riding motocross, what would you be doing: Some type of motorsport
Toughest competition: Myself

Click here for our final Video Interview with McFarlane from Broadford on Saturday

Click here for our Video Interview with McFarlane from Horsham’s season opener

Click here for a Moto Talk interview we completed with McFarlane last season

Click here for a story on the parade laps from Broadford on Sunday

Click here for KTM and JDR Motorsports’ farewell to McFarlane