Moss extends MX Nationals lead with Swan Hill sweep

Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Matt Moss has extended his Australian Motocross Championship lead following dual moto wins at the Swan Hill of the MX Nationals on Sunday.

Moss was in superb form aboard the RM-Z450 in the championship’s first visit to the regional Victorian venue, claiming Superpole in qualifying before going on to a pair of dominant race victories in the two 30-minute motos.

The result sees Moss stretch his series lead to 11 points with just two rounds remaining, however the multiple national Lites champion will remain focused on the task at hand over the coming rounds.

“It’s good to battle with (Todd Waters) and I know it’s going to go down to the wire,” Moss commented. “I’m really looking forward to that. I really have to thank Motul Pirelli Suzuki, Jay Foreman, Jess and even Cody Cooper’s mechanic Nathan. We’ve worked hard and I’m really happy with the progress we’ve been making.”

Moss’ overall victory at Swan Hill marked his third of the season and the team’s fourth in 2013.

mxnats8-marmont-swanhill-2013
Jay Marmont returning to form in time for the upcoming SX series.

Two-time defending New Zealand Motocross Champion Cooper finished seventh overall at Swan Hill. He was a promising third in the Superpole session, but 10th and eighth place finishes in the motos made for a frustrating weekend.

“Seventh definitely wasn’t the result we were capable of today, but we will keep working and look to finish off the season on a positive note at Toowoomba and Coolum,” Cooper said. “The top three in the championship is still possible at this stage.”

Cooper currently sits fourth in the standings, 32 points in arrears of third overall.

2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship-Round Eight
MX1 Overall Results
1. Matt Moss 75
2. Todd Waters 66
3. Kirk Gibbs 64
4. Billy Mackenzie 56
5. Gareth Swanepoel 51
6. Jay Marmont 47
7. Cody Cooper 47
8. Cheyne Boyd 46
9. Jake Moss 45
10. Sam Martin 45

MX1 Championship Standings (after eight of 10 rounds)
1. Matt Moss  511
2. Todd Waters 500
3. Billy Mackenzie 461
4. Cody Cooper 429
5. Lawson Bopping 407
6. Kirk Gibbs 407
7. Jake Moss 388
8. Jay Marmont 333
9. Adam Monea 323
10. Tye Simmonds 273

MX2 – Luke Styke chalks up another round victory

Luke Styke chalked up another round victory, his seventh of season 2013, at round eight of the MX Nationals held at Swan Hill, Victoria.

On board his Factory Serco Yamaha in the MX2 division, Styke again impressed, taking the win in both motos and also posted the fastest lap in qualifying to make it a dominating day for the YZ250F.

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Luke Styke in action at Swan Hill.

“The track was tough to ride as they ploughed it deep and it was pretty wet underneath. I really struggled early in the day to get any flow going as the track was as difficult to ride as any we have had the season. Moto one took me a few laps to get going but I felt better in moto two and was able to ride my own race from start to finish.

“The concrete start also made things interesting as it was so slippery getting off the gate. You couldn’t race off it, you had to ride it as calm as possible and then get into it as soon as you hit the soft dirt. But it was another good day and I probably rode better today, especially in the last moto, than I had at the previous rounds which is pleasing.”

Styke and his Serco Yamaha team have won every round of the MX Nationals contested so far, with Styke winning seven and his now injured team mate, Luke Clout taking the other round victory this season.

With four races and 140 points left up for grabs at the remaining two rounds, Styke only needs a strong showing in the opening moto at the next round in Toowoomba to lock up the championship and secure the MX2 win.

The MX Nationals now moves to Queensland for the final two rounds. Toowoomba’s Echo Valley circuit holds round nine in two weeks’ time while the grand finale weekend is at Coolum on the Sunshine Coast with two full days of action the following week.

MX2 Results
1. Luke Styke – 70
2. Brock Winston – 60
3. Kale Makeham – 58
4. Dylan Long – 57
5. Ryan Marmont – 52
6. Rhys Carter – 51
7. Kayne Lamont – 51
8. Geran Stapleton – 45
9. Takeshi Katsuya – 44
10. Beau Ralston – 44

MX2 championship standings (after eight of 10 rounds)
1. Luke Styke – 543
2. Kale Makeham – 440
3. Brock Winston – 414
4. Ryan Marmont – 349
5. Geran Stapleton – 349
6. Dylan Long – 331
7. Takeshi Katsuya – 324
8. Rhys Carter – 306
9. Josh Cachia – 305
10. Kayne Lamont – 298

Credits: Shayne Rice

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