Press Release
For immediate release
10 March 2010
Australia wins 2010 Oceania MX Championship
The team of junior
riders representing Australia at last weekend’s Oceania Motocross
Championship has arrived home after successfully defeating their New
Zealand counterparts.
The 2010 Oceania
Motocross Championship was held in Harrisville, New Zealand on Sunday 7
March, and Australia’s 15-strong team proved too strong in both the 125cc
and 65cc classes, while the honours went to the host nation in the 85cc
class.
The riders warmed
up for Sunday’s trans-Tasman event by participating in the Auckland
Motocross Championships on Saturday, where the Aussie juniors performed
well and, more importantly, allowed the riders to familiarise themselves
with the Pukekohe track in preparation for Sunday’s main event.
“The track was
absolutely fantastic, but it was one where passing was difficult,”
Australian Team Manager Mark Willingham explained.
“On the Saturday
our riders in the older classes were encouraged to triple, not double, the
rhythm section behind the start line, which in the end made a big
difference to their performances.”
Willingham was full
of praise for not only the Australian riders and their families, but also
for hosts Pukekohe Club, the track at Harrisville as well as the general
positive vibe permeating throughout the entire event.
“The club was
brilliant - each of our riders and their families were billeted out to a
host family, which set the tone for what was simply an awesome weekend –
undoubtedly one of the best events I’ve ever attended.”
The 2010 Oceania MX
Championship, unlike previous years, was held as a Juniors-only event, a
format which was well-supported by both countries.
“The fact that it
was only Juniors this year was terrific,” Willingham continued.
“It was a great
format which seemed to work really well, and provides amazing
opportunities for younger riders to represent their country – they were
all as keen as mustard!”
In the 125cc class,
Matt Phillips impressed by taking out Race One and finishing second in
Race Two, Errol Willis led at one stage before finishing third in Race
Two, while Kale Makeham’s solid performances helped Australia narrowly
claim the class victory by a two-point margin.
Joel Dinsdale was
the only Australian to feature on the podium in the 85cc class – he
finished third in Race One and second in Race Two – and this enabled New
Zealand to claim a four-point class victory.
Contrary to the
close results witnessed in the two older classes, the 65cc class was
dominated by Australia, where the margin was 20 points after the two
races.
Jordan Hill and
Hunter Lawrence finished first and second respectively in both 65cc races,
while Jackson Williams showed plenty of fight by riding and finishing both
races despite suffering a knee injury in Sunday morning’s practice
session.
“The young Aussie
riders are able to start racing at an earlier age than the New Zealanders,
and that was predominantly why the 65cc results turned out the way they
did,” Willingham said.
“Otherwise, the
racing was extremely tight in both the older classes, as well as being
intense and spirited.
“Off the track
everyone looked after each other really well, new friends were made and
there was some really great relationship-building between both countries.”
Results from the
2010 Oceania Motocross Championship are available for download from the
Motorcycling Australia website at
www.ma.org.au.
-Ends- <<Words 544>>
For further
information please contact:
Paul Fink
Communications Officer
Motorcycling Australia
Tel: +61 3 9684 0507
www.ma.org.au
___________________________________
Location: 147 Montague Street, South Melbourne, Victoria
Postal: PO Box 134, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205
Mob: 0412 662 721 Fax: (03) 9684 0555
