Yamaha talks Brisbane Supercross

The inaugural 2008 Australasian Supercross Championship comes to a close at Brisbane’s QSAC this weekend.

The inaugural 2008 Australasian Supercross Championship comes to a close at Brisbane’s QSAC this weekend, and Yamaha remains in with a fighting chance at the Pro Open title.

Consistently quicker and more competitive round by round, CDR Rockstar Yamaha rider Jay Marmont realised his potential last weekend, taking the outright win in Townsville and keeping himself well in check with leader Chad Reed. The YZ450F pilot would need the Brisbane final to turn strongly in his favour to take the title, but with second placed secured, he is prepared to put everything on the line.

Marmont will be ably backed by teammate Cheyne Boyd who currently holds down third. A late format change will see Pro Open riders engage in a series of four, five-lap races, with just four minutes break between them. Queensland’s unpredictable weather looks set to continue and will make for another mudbath as riders take to the track. Yamaha Racing Pro Open CDR Rockstar Yamaha’s Jay Marmont has closed the Pro Open Super X title fight to just 14 points to leader Chad Reed and will lay it all on the line at Brisbane’s QSAC this weekend in the hope of scoring a come-from-behind win.

Marmont has finished on the podium at every round to date, realising his and the YZ450F’s potential in Townsville last weekend with a spectacular outright win. Guaranteed second place by virtue of his consistent pointscoring finishes, Marmont can afford to have a run at Reed but acknowledged that beating the world champion, even with the change of format, would be a tough ask.

“I’m very happy with how I’ve raced this season and how the team has really stepped up as the leading Pro Open outfit,” said Marmont. “To be on the podium at every round was one of my goals going into Super X and to still be in the running for the championship is exciting. We’re being realistic about our chances this weekend – we are hoping for a miracle but it will be tough to beat Chad again. “My game plan is no different, I’ve gone out there each night to win and I’ll be doing the same in Brisbane.”

Teammate Cheyne Boyd has a close battle on his hands for third place on the championship ladder. Currently 2 points ahead of Daniel McCoy, Boyd is confident he can maintain the gap and make it two from two CDR Rockstar Yamaha racers on the championship podium. "Another new format will make the racing interesting. There’s a lot of riders out there that will be trying to improve their championship positions one last time and I’m hoping to hold them off for third," said Boyd. "Starts will be important – this is an area I’ve really been working on so am hoping to score some good, consistent finishes across the four sprint races."

Yamaha Racing Pro Lite Serco Yamaha Principal Gavin Eales is confident that the team can round out its Super X season on a high note at home this weekend as the championship wraps up in Brisbane. The team will be led by Ford Dale and Shaun Williamson who makes a welcome return to the lineup. Eales suggested that Dale’s speed and skill was on par with that of the leader’s and said the home event could be his round providing the luck went his way.

“Ford has shown time and time again that he is one of the fastest guys out there, he’s been in podium positions for much of the season but has experienced some bad luck and not gotten the results he is capable of,” said Eales. “This weekend will be another tough round – the conditions look set to be wet, the track will change dramatically as it is ridden. I think this can be a breakthrough for Ford, it would be a great consolation for his hard work if he came through with a top result. We’re pleased to have Shaun back for the final round also, he has been practicing and said he is feeling little pain when wearing a kidney belt so should be a strong contender once more.”

The Lites class will contest a 15-lap final following practice and qualifying on Saturday afternoon.