Yamaha win Pro Lite and U19 Championships
Yamaha Racing have finished their 2007 Nokia Motocross Nationals campaign on a high, taking championship titles in both the Pro Lites and Under 19’s categories.
Yamaha Racing have finished their 2007 Nokia Motocross Nationals campaign on a high, taking championship titles in both the Pro Lites and Under 19’s categories as well as round honours in the Pro Open and Pro Lites at the final round of the championship at Coolum today.
While still recovering from an ankle injury that saw him sidelined for two months, CDR/Nokia/Yamaha’s Cheyne Boyd enjoyed a triumphant return to the top step of the dais, with two consistent top five races handing him the overall. With nothing to lose after wrapping up the Pro Lites championship at the previous round Serco Yamaha’s Jake Moss turned up the heat on the competition and took a clean sweep of the two Moto’s to take the round win ahead of fellow Yamaha rider Michael Phillips.
It was another fruitful day for Yamaha in the U’19’s with Serco Yamaha’s Brendan Harrison riding conservatively to ensure the title did not elude him while Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsports Kirk Gibbs finished second overall for the round and took third place in the championship.
Whilst not taking out the 2007 Pro Open Championship Yamaha underlined its dominance of Australian Motocross by taking out the coveted ADB Manufacturers Cup in its inaugural year. Yamaha Racing Pro Open CDR/Nokia/Yamaha returned to the winners circle today after a season fraught with injury to all three riders. Cheyne Boyd shook off his mid season injury woes and recorded his first motocross round win for the season after finishing in the top five of both Pro Open races. Whilst still enduring pain in his ankle Cheyne Boyd played it safe in the opening moto, riding consistently to finish fourth. Teammate Ford Dale had an extremely frustrating opening race crashing twice and retiring with damage to his YZ450F.
Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsports Tom Jones enjoyed another top ten result, finishing ninth while teammate Shane Metcalfe finished the race 12th. With renewed confidence Boyd fought hard for the holeshot in Moto 2 and led for the first half of the 30 minute race while Dale keen to redeem himself aimed for an error free finish. After an immense battle for the lead with Championship winner Daniel Reardon Boyd slipped to second place but retained the round win. Determined to finish the year on a positive note Dale rode a sensational final race to finish seventh and maintained his top ten championship placing.
Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsports Shane Metcalfe again just outside the top ten in 12th place while Jones was forced to the sidelines unable to continue. Boyd, who won the round ahead of Daryl Hurley and Daniel Reardon, said he was relieved to finish the year on such a positive note. “It was great to win after last weekend but also after so long out due to injury,” Boyd said. “As a team it is also great to finish on a high as it gives us some confidence as we prepare for next years championship. My leg is far from healed though so it will be great to be able to give that a bit of rest over the next couple of weeks.”
“During the off season I plan to the United States to spend some valuable time training with Chad (Reed).” Boyd acknowledged. Team Owner Craig Dack was elated with finishing the season on such a positive note. “It was gut-wrenching for the team to lose Cheyne early in the season after he had shown such strong form through Supercross and the early rounds of Motocross. “CDR as a whole has rallied around Cheyne to ensure he was in the best possible condition upon his return from injury and the results have of that have definitely shown over the past two rounds.”
The CDR/Nokia/Yamaha team will not rest on their laurels following this win and will move forward to develop their 2008 YZ450F race machines in the oncoming months and will also announce their 2008 rider lineup in the very near future.
Yamaha Racing Pro Lites
It was Yamaha first and second as the chequered flag fell for the final time this year on the Pro Lites category. Despite having already secured the championship at the penultimate round of the series Jake Moss took back-to-back victories in today’s two races with Michael Phillips joining Moss on the podium after finishing Moto 2 and the round in second place. Moss, who will make the move to America to compete in the AMA Lites series was unstoppable today, passing Peter Boyle with only three laps remaining in the opening race to take the win.
In what was to be his last race on home soil Moss led Moto 2 from start to finish with fellow Yamaha rider Phillips second, recording one of his best results for the year. Thoroughly enjoying his final Australian race Moss said he went flat out from start to finish and rode for the fun of it. “I didn’t get arm pump at all in Moto 2 and that made a big difference,” said Moss. “The track got rougher which suites me more and I just went flat out from start to finish which is how I like to ride.” “I am both nervous and excited about the move to America and will spend the next week catching up with family before I leave,” Moss added.
Serco Yamaha Team Owner Gavin Eales “I am proud to say these two championships are as much a team achievement as that of Jake and Brendan. (Serco Yamaha rider Brendan Harrison also won the U’19’s Championship) “The team worked tirelessly to provide the riders with the best possible equipment and environment to achieve these results. “I can honestly say that Serco Yamaha have some of the best people in the business.”
Like their Pro Open Factory Yamaha siblings, Serco Yamaha will confirm its 2008 rider lineup in the coming weeks.
Yamaha Racing U’19s
It was a sensational day for Yamaha in the Under 19’s class with Serco Yamaha’s Brendan Harrison taking the title, Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsports Kirk Gibbs finished second overall and third in the championship while Queensland Yamaha Dealer Team rider Dean Ferris finished the season fourth overall.
Handing Serco and Yamaha their second 2007 motocross title Brendan Harrison rode conservatively to ensure the closely fought title did not go awry. Despite starting the opening race strongly Harrison crashed mid race, relinquishing a number of places. Fellow Yamaha rider Dean Ferris capitalized on Harrison’s mishap to take the lead and race victory closely followed by Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsports Kirk Gibbs in second.
In the second Moto Harrison again started strongly and in finishing fourth secured the inaugural Yamaha Under 19’s title. Kirk Gibbes finished the race in third place to take second overall for the day and third in the championship. An elated Brendan Harrison said he was extremely pleased with 2007 season. “Considering that my broken foot bothered me for the first couple of rounds, I’m really happy with the way it’s turned out,” said Harrison. “I knew that I needed fourth in the second Moto today after crashing in the first. It is awesome to take out the Under 19’s in the first year it has its own national championship,” he added.
Yamaha Motor Australia’s Motorsport Coordinator Cheryl Muldoon who was on hand to witness the blue bikes final domination of the debut championship said the series had achieved its goal of unearthing some of Australia’s rising motocross talents. “The Yamaha Under 19’s Championship has definitely achieved its ideals in readying our junior talent for the senior Pro Lite and Pro Open ranks.
“Yamaha Motor Australia supported the class with this in mind and to have the inaugural season dominated by blue bikes was the icing on the cake for us. “Our domination of this class complimented Jake’s championship win in Pro Lites and our win in the ADB Manufacturers Cup,” Muldoon continued.
Results for Round 10 of the 2007 Nokia Motocross Nationals – Coolum, QLD
Pro Open
1. Cheyne Boyd, 40
2. Daryl Hurley, 38
3. Daniel Reardon, 36
4. Kade Mosig, 31
5. Stephen Smith, 27
6. Nathan Crawford, 25
7. Cody Cooper, 25
8. Jay Marmont, 24
9. Nathan Brochtrup, 21
10. Troy Carroll, 20
Pro Lite
1. Jake Moss, 50
2. Michael Phillips, 37
3. Peter Boyle, 35
4. Luke George, 32
5. Mitch Hoad, 29
6. Michael Addison, 28
7. Cody MAckie, 28
8. Kyle Tobin, 28
9. Danny Anderson, 21
10. Louis Calvin, 21
Under 19's
1. Todd Waters, 45
2. Kirk Gibbs, 42
3. Lawson Bopping, 40
4. Brendan Harrison, 34
5. Matt Ryan, 29
6. Jamie Bain, 27
7. Paul Humberton, 22
8. Joshua Kilvington, 17
9. Dean Hibbard, 17
10. Kody Wheeler, 17
Overall Results for the 2007 Nokia MX Nationals Pro Open MX Championship
1. Daniel Reardon, 426
2. Daryl Hurley, 367
3. Cody Cooper, 356
4. Jay Marmont, 350
5. Troy Carroll, 260
6. Kade Mosig, 206
7. Nathan Crawford, 185
8. Nathan Brochtrup, 179
9. Ford Dale, 157
10. Cheyne Boyd, 153
Pro Lite MX Championship
1. Jake Moss, 434
2. Mitch Hoad, 321
3. Danny Anderson, 285
4. Kyle Tobin, 281
5. Michael Phillips, 271
6. Cody Mackie, 259
7. Lewis Stewart, 236
8. Adam Monea, 227
9. Michael Addison, 211
10. Peter Boyle, 204
Under 19's Championship
1. Brendan Harrison, 293
2. Todd Waters, 291
3. Kirk Gibbs, 254
4. Dean Ferris, 239
5. Lawson Bopping, 231
6. Matt Ryan, 190
7. Kody Wheeler, 171
8. Matt Arnautovic, 114
9. Joshua Kilvington, 113
10. Paul Humbertson, 109
