Matt Ryan wins Asian Supercross Round

Emerging Yamaha Motocross talent Matt Ryan has taken victory at the final round of the 2007 FIM Asian Supercross Championship.

 
Emerging Yamaha Motocross talent Matt Ryan, a product of the Yamaha Development Team in Victoria, has taken victory at the final round of the 2007 FIM Asian Supercross Championship. A last minute call-up to the team, Ryan stepped in to replace factory regular Ford Dale, who had been injured during training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. With less than a week to prepare and travel, Matt arrived in the town of Yigo, Guam, just in time for the opening practice session of the international event.

It would be a tough start to the weekend, with technical problems preventing him from completing a single sighting lap. Fortunately, a local Yamaha dealer in Guam was able to lend Ryan a YZ125 from the showroom floor, which would replace his previous mount on the YZ250F. It was a completely stock machine, with the exception of Reikon Bars and a set of Dunlop tyres. He qualified in third place, and found himself squared off in the opening moto against the series leader, Arnon Theplib, from Thailand.

“My start was not what I was hoping and it had been a long time since I had ridden a 125 back in juniors, the leader had a pretty good lead by the halfway mark,” said Ryan. “The track was tight and in good condition, and I bounced back to finish the first moto in second place.”

Not content with the result, Matt was intent on reeling in the leader in the final moto, but had to wait out a heavy downpour before getting down to business. Racing in the changeable wet and muddy conditions, he was determined to claim the last race. “It was a case of holding on and jumping everything to keep the bike going as the only 125cc in the class, and as it turned out was perfect for the conditions and great fun to be riding one again, the lead changed quite a few times.”

He remained on previous moto winner Theplib’s back guard for two laps before taking the opportunity to pass and take the win. The sequence of results – 2nd and 1st – ensured he would win the round overall. Matt would like to thank Bruce Wilkinson for the opportunity and the local Yamaha dealer from Guam for his generous support.