News 13 Jul 2011

Moree marks penultimate round of Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals

Monster Energy Kawasaki's Dean Ferris leads the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals into Moree next weekend. Image: Alex Gobert.

Monster Energy Kawasaki's Dean Ferris leads the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals into Moree next weekend. Image: Alex Gobert.

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

In the premier Rockstar Energy Pro Open class it’s northern New South Wales resident Dean Ferris who tops the standings after a consistent year to date, the Kyogle-based rider piecing together a dream debut season with Monster Energy Kawasaki so far.

Ferris, who turned 21 this month, will have a large fan base on hand from his hometown during the race weekend at Moree and he’s hoping to capture his first overall round victory of the season come Sunday, 24 July.

“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 explained. 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 number two, trailing the Aussie rising star by 14 points after seven of nine rounds.

Ferris’ teammate Billy Mackenzie, of Scotland, sits just two points 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, 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 teammate 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 58-point 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 10 points separate that trio, albeit 28 points 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 Under 19s championship come race day.

Willis has been involved in a series-long battle with GYTR Rockstar Energy Yamaha’s Luke Arbon this year, however the likes of Arbon’s teammate Shaun Redhead, Dylan Peterson (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda), Jake Emanuelli (Hart and Huntington/Yamaha) and Jay Wilson (Coastal KTM) all have what it takes to challenge for the victory in Moree.

Round eight of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be contested at Moree in New South Wales on Sunday, 24 July. Practice and qualifying will commence at 8:30am with the official opening ceremonies taking place at approximately 10:30am.

Visit the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals’ all-new website at www.mxnationals.com.au for complete series and round information on the 2011 season.

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