US Riders Top Standings in Australasian SX
By Andy McGechan
It was the best of nights and the worst of nights for the high-profile Kawasaki supercross team riders in Auckland on Saturday night.
American Josh Hansen (Kawasaki KX450F) won Saturday night’s fourth round of the Monster Energy Australasian Super X Championships – the first of only two rounds to be raced in New Zealand this season -- and extended his lead to 32 points over main rival Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Yamaha YZ450F), but a deathly hush fell over the noisy stadium earlier in the evening when top Kiwi hope Ben Townley (Kawasaki KX450F) crashed to the stadium floor with a dislocated hip.
The Taupo rider was rushed to hospital and is now faces a grim recovery period as he fights to be fit again in time for the start of the MX1 Motocross World Championships in Bulgaria on April 10.
However, for fellow Kawasaki man Hansen, the night couldn’t have gone much better.
The 26-year-old from San Clemente, California, qualified fastest and then won the first three of the night’s four open class races that counted for championship points, forced to settle for third -- behind Yamaha’s Marmont and Suzuki’s Matt Moss -- in the final race after an unaccustomed poor start.
While the 1-1-1-3 scoreline for the night was certainly nothing to be upset about, the flamboyant Californian still found cause to be annoyed.
"That last race was pretty sketchy for me. I just wish I had a few more laps, then I might have been able to make it four wins in a row.
"I would have loved to win all four, but I guess I can’t be greedy. I am so happy Monster Energy was able to bring me out here for Super X because I am loving New Zealand, the series and the people."
A third member of the Kawasaki team, Mount Maunganui’s Mason Phillips – the national Lites (250cc) class supercross champion having a rare outing on a 450cc bike – finished 11-8-7-14 in the four open class races, earning him 10th overall for the night.
Top Kiwi on the night was Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper, who took his Rockstar Motul Suzuki RM-Z450 to 6-5-13-8 results, giving him sixth overall for the night.
Marmont scored 3-3-2-1 to finish the night runner-up, while Moss claimed third overall with three second placings and one third.
The Lites final once again thrilled the crowd, with American PJ Larsen (KTM) winning the night.
He finished 1-3-1 in his three races, to end the night ahead of JDR Motorex KTM team-mate Ryan Marmont (4-2-4), the brother of Jay, and GTYR Rockstar Yamaha’s Luke Styke (6-6-3) was third overall.
Larsen now moves into first place in the championship, nine points ahead of Suzuki’s Matt Moss – brother of Jake Moss -- who was involved in a collision with another rider at the start of one race and was forced to start last.
Despite this, Moss remains second in the standings and Marmont is third.
The series now heads south to Dunedin for round five at "The House of Pain", Carisbrook Stadium, this Saturday night.
RESULTS:
Open class top 10 results – Round 4
1. Josh HANSEN - Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki: 25,25,25,20 TOTAL: 95
2. Jay MARMONT - CDR Rockstar Yamaha: 20, 22, 20, 25 TOTAL: 87
3. Jake MOSS - Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki: 22, 20, 22, 22 TOTAL 86
4. Tye SIMMONDS - JDR Motorex KTM: 18, 18, 16, 15 TOTAL 67
5. Daniel McCOY - Coastal KTM Motorex Team: 13, 15, 12, 16 TOTAL 56
6. Cody COOPER – Rockstar Motul Suzuki: 15, 16, 8, 13 TOTAL 52
7. Todd WATERS – Cougar Bourbon Thor Honda: 11, 14, 7, 18 TOTAL 50
8. Mike ALESSI – JDR Motorex KTM: 16, 12, 15, 5 TOTAL 48
9. Daniel REARDON - Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing: 14, 6, 18, 8 TOTAL 46
10. Mason PHILLIPS - Fly Team Green Kawasaki: 10, 13, 14, 7 TOTAL 44
Open class – Top 10 championship standings
1. Josh HANSEN - Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki: 225
2. Jay MARMONT - CDR Rockstar Yamaha: 193
3. Jake MOSS - Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki: 152
4. Tye SIMMONDS - JDR Motorex KTM: 149
5. Daniel REARDON - Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing: 138
6. Todd WATERS – Cougar Bourbon Thor Honda: 128
7. Daniel McCOY - Coastal KTM Motorex Team: 127
8. Justin BRAYTON - Muscle Milk / Toyota JGRMX: 121
9. Lewis WOODS – Top Gear KTM: 66
10. Mike ALESSI – JDR Motorex KTM: 107
Lites class top 10 results – Round 4
1. P J LARSEN - JDR Motorex KTM: 25,20,25 TOTAL 70
2. Ryan MARMONT - JDR Motorex KTM: 18, 22, 18 TOTAL 58
3. Luke STYKE – GTYR Rockstar Yamaha: 15, 15, 20 TOTAL 50
4. Matt MOSS - Rockstar Motul Suzuki: 22, 0, 22 TOTAL 44
5. Ford DALE – Serco Yamaha: 16, 25, 0 TOTAL 41
6. Cody MACKIE - Kawasaki Racing Team Cool Air Conditioning: 9, 14, 15 TOTAL 38
7. Nicholas SUTHERLAND – Yamaha: 12, 10, 12 TOTAL 34
8. Steven CLARKE - Raceline Pirelli Suzuki: 20, 7, 5 TOTAL 32
9. Robbie MARSHALL - Yamaha: 3, 12, 14 TOTAL 29
10. Josh CACHIA – Coastal KTM MX Rad: 13, 16, 0 TOTAL: 29
Lites class – Top 10 championship standings
1. P J LARSEN - JDR Motorex KTM: 210
2. Matt MOSS - Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki: 201
3. Ryan MARMONT - JDR Motorex KTM: 176
4. Cody MACKIE - Kawasaki Racing Team Cool Air Conditioning: 136
5. Lawson BOPPING - Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki: 130
6. Steven CLARKE - Raceline Pirelli Suzuki: 111
7. Josh CACHIA – Coastal KTM MX Rad: 110
8. Ford DALE – Serco Yamaha: 105
9. Luke STYKE – GTYR Rockstar Yamaha: 103
10. Robbie MARSHALL – Yamaha: 102
Michelin Development Series – Top 10 championship standings
1. Dylan LONG - KTM / Thor / Motorex / Michelin / One Industries: 75
2. Jake EMANUELLI - Doyle & Shields Yamaha Bairnsdale / Fox: 58
3. Jacob WRIGHT - Honda Jnr Development Team: 57
4. Luke CLOUT - SS Racing / MX Rad / Pirelli / Fox / Link / Rockstar: 47
5. Kurt WATERMAN - Spot On Racing / Bell / Troy Lee Designs / Dragon: 44
6. Jarrad DAVIS - Davis Bikeworx / Motul / Fox / Alpinestar / Dunlop: 39
7. Lenny MAGYAR - Canberra Motorcycle Centre: 34
8. Meghan RUTLEDGE - Moss Institute / Southern Highlands M-c: 34
9. James BOOTH-ELLIOTT - Loose Kid Industries / Ringmaster Images: 32
10. Lincoln NICOL – Prorider Motorcycles / Factory Spec MCD / Comac: 30
Photo: Andy McGechan
