KTM’s Moss and Harrison go 1-2 at Raymond Terrace

JDR Motorex KTM’s Matt Moss made it three wins from three attempts to date since joining the team for season 2011, winning round three of the Pro Lites category in the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, today.

Moss, 22, has been in stellar form aboard his KTM 250 SX-F this year, the former series champion’s results of 1-1-1-2 results extending his series lead to an impressive 85 points after three of nine rounds.

“The first two races went unbelievable for me,” said Moss, from Sussex Inlet in NSW. “I got great starts and was able to pull away in both of them. I just felt really good and won them.

“In the third race I actually didn’t feel really good going up to the line, just a bit weak and tired. I rode consistently and was able to win anyway, and then in the fourth one I had a sore back, couldn’t breath and finished second. I

“It’s disappointing not to win four races from four, but we pulled a big lead in the championship and I’m stoked with that.”

Queensland-based Harrison returned to the podium after a difficult second round at Appin a week prior, climbing to third in the series with 2-11-2-3 results today.

“The weekend was good, had two good starts to start the day,” Harrison said. “I ended up second overall after a consistent day, so I’m pretty happy with that and it’s good to bounce back after last weekend.”

Third JDR Motorex KTM team Lites rider Josh Cachia finished ninth overall after suffering from a bout of food poisoning during the round, citing a lack of energy as the result for his 7-10-9-13 finishes for the round.

KTM’s world champion 350 SX-F again took a race victory in the premier Pro Open category at Raymond Terrace, this time in the hands of 2007 champion Dan Reardon.

The Queenslander scored pole position with the fastest qualifying lap this morning and then carried that form into moto one, winning in a wire-to-wire performance before taking 6-6-7 results to round out the day.

Reardon is gaining momentum in his first full season in Australia since he won the title, however a string of pre-season injuries still have him on the road to recovery in the early rounds.

“I qualified on pole and that was a positive start for me, I guess it was pretty good!” Reardon said, who was a season-best fourth overall for the round. “I’ve been having problems with my wrist, but I was able to holeshot the first moto and just went for it.

“I did everything I could, but straight away my arm pumped up on the right-hand side. I could feel it coming and all day I couldn’t really get on top of that. It got better, but was never perfect. We were chasing our tail in that sense, but I’m happy to win a race for the boys and it gives me confidence. I know my speed’s good, I just have to be healthy.”

Reardon’s Open class teammate Ryan Marmont, 26, finished 10th overall today as he too suffered from food poisoning during the round, forced to undergo medical treatment following the day’s proceedings.

Wollongong rookie Marmont now sits seventh in the Pro Open title chase, with 25-year-old Reardon’s result today boosting him up to ninth after three of nine rounds.

In the Under 19s development category, Top Gear KTM’s Dylan Long raced to a solid fifth overall for the round aboard his 250 SX-F, while former 85cc World Champion Jay Wilson was ninth for Coastal KTM in what is his rookie season.

Round four of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be contested at Murray Bridge in South Australia on Sunday, 8 May.

Visit www.ktm.com.au on the web for further information on the JDR Motorex KTM racing team, as well as KTM’s full model line-up of off-road and road motorcycles available for 2011.
2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals

Round 3 Results:

Pro Open
1. Josh Coppins 94
2. Jay Marmont 81
3. Dean Ferris 80
4. Daniel Reardon (JDR Motorex KTM) 69
5. Cheyne Boyd 67
6. Lawson Bopping 67  
7. Michael Phillips 50
8. Billy Mackenzie 50
9. Beau Ralston 36
10. Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) 35

Pro Lites
1. Matt Moss (JDR Motorex KTM) 97
2. Brenden Harrison (JDR Motorex KTM) 74
3. Daniel McCoy 63
4. Kade Mosig 60
5. Keiron Hall 60
6. Kirk Gibbs 59
7. Cody Mackie 59
8. Justin McDonald 58
9. Josh Cachia (JDR Motorex KTM) 45
10. Phil Nicoletti 43

Under 19s
1. Dylan Peterson 90
2. Luke Arbon 78
3. Errol Willis 78
4. Jake Emanuelli 65
5. Dylan Long (Top Gear KTM) 61
6. Ben George 54
7. Shaun Redhead 54
8. Kyle McKeddie 47
9. Jay Wilson (Coastal KTM) 45
10. Mitch Budd 38

Championship Standings (after 3 of 9 rounds):

Pro Open
1. Josh Coppins 228
2. Dean Ferris 219  
3. Jay Marmont 199
4. Cheyne Boyd 190
5. Lawson Bopping 188
6. Billy Mackenzie 187
7. Ryan Marmont 163
8. Michael Phillips 163
9. Daniel Reardon 142
10. Louis Calvin 132

Pro Lites
1. Matt Moss 277
2. Kirk Gibbs 192
3. Brenden Harrison 185
4. Cody Mackie 179
5. Daniel McCoy 174
6. Josh Cachia 169
7. Phil Nicoletti 163
8. Kade Mosig 159
9. Keiron Hall 153
10. Ford Dale 149

Under 19s
1. Errol Willis 259
2. Luke Arbon 233
3. Dylan Peterson 203
4. Shaun Redhead 185
5. Jake Emanuelli 148
6. Kyle McKeddie 146
7. Dylan Long 112
8. Jacob Mcleod 110
9. Kale Makeham 109
10. Jay Wilson 108