Tag Archives: Competition

AUS-X Open SX2 win a career highlight for McAdoo

Trio of second place finishes grant American guest victory in AUS Supercross debut.

Image: Supplied.

Penrite Honda Racing guest Cameron McAdoo has dubbed his SX2 victory on Saturday night at the Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney as one of the best of his career.

The American was called into the squad for the final round of the Australian Supercross Championship, replacing injured countryman Bradley Taft.

The number 44 lodged a supremely consistent 2-2-2 scorecard in the Triple Crown secure the overall victory in his Australian debut, edging out two-time Australian champion Jackson Richardson (Penrite CRF Honda Racing) by a slender one point margin.

“I am so happy, this is what we wanted but I didn’t know how I would fair against everyone,” McAdoo explained. “There are some fast guys in Australia and to take the win is amazing. his is one of my best wins of my professional career and I couldn’t be happier for the team and everyone that helped make this happen.

“The team is top class, everyone was so accommodating and I knew we had a competitive package following our first test. We only had to make a few minor adjustments and it was all sorted efficiently. I came into race day really prepared considering the turnaround.”

McAdoo is set to return home to America as Penrite Honda Racing SX1 contenders Justin Brayton and Brett Metcalfe head to New Zealand on 24 November for the S-X Open Auckland.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Provisional 2019 WorldSBK calendar breaks cover

Dates and locations revealed for 2019 world championship.

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The provisional 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) calendar has been revealed, indicating the dates and locations for majority of the 13-stop series.

The 2019 championship is set to see the introduction of a three-race format, where race one will remain on the Saturday of each round, while races two and three will be hosted on Sunday, boasting a sprint-length outing on Sunday morning before a traditional-length encounter in the afternoon.

The opening round of WorldSBK will take place at Phillip Island on 22-24 February, before heading to Thailand for round two on 15-17 March. First of the European rounds is Aragon in Spain on 5-7 April, followed by Assen in The Netherlands on 12-14 April and Imola in Italy on 10-12 May.

Spain’s Jerez will host round six on 7-9 June before the series heads to Misano, Italy, on 21-23 June. Round eight is scheduled for 5-7 July Donington Park in the UK, while round nine is still to be announced.

Following the European summer break, racing resumes on 6-8 September in Portugal ahead of round 11 at Magny Cours in France, set for 27-29 September. Argentina will host the penultimate round on 11-13 October, with series wrapping up in Qatar on 24-26 October.

Provisional 2019 WorldSBK calendar:
Rd1- 22-24 February – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Australia
Rd2 – 15-17 March – Chang International Circuit, Thailand
Rd3 – 5-7 April – MotorLand Aragon, Spain
Rd4 – 12-14 April – TT Circuit Assen, The Netherlands
Rd5 – 10-12 May – Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola, Italy
Rd6 – 7-9 June – Circuito de Jerez, Spain
Rd7 – 21-23 June – Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Italy
Rd8 – 5-7 July – Donington Park, UK
Rd9 – 19-21 July – TBA
Rd10 – 6-8 September – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal
Rd11 – 27-29 September – Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France
Rd12 – 11-13 October – Circuito San Juan Villicum, Argentina
Rd13 – 24-26 October – Losail International Circuit, Qatar

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Australia takes charge in Chile for day two of ISDE

Milner tops individual results as Australia’s Women’s team continues dominance.

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Team Australian has taken charge of the 2018 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Chile after surging ahead in the World Trophy category, comfortably defeating the USA and Italy on day two.

Unfortunately, the squad saw Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM Enduro Racing Team) drop out of the competition, meaning Australia can no longer afford another mistake for the remainder of the event with all rider scores counting.

In the Junior World Trophy class there was no stopping Italy as they powered their way to another day win. Setting the pace in this year’s race, the team edged out USA and France, with Australian winding up in fourth.

Feeling at home in the dry and dusty conditions, Team Australia were able to build on their lead in the Women’s World Trophy competition. The trio of Tayla Jones (Husqvarna), Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) and Mackenzie Tricker (KTM) now enjoy a three-minute advantage over the USA and Spain.

In the individual classification, Taylor Robert (KTM Factory Racing) from the USA maintains his overall lead by three seconds from Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team), who won day two. Milner holds a 17-second advantage over Australian teammate Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna Enduro Racing) in the E3 category, as Robert and Davide Guarneri (Honda) lead the E2 and E1 class respectively.

Aussie contender Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) is ranked sixth in the E1 category after the opening two days, while Josh Strang (Husqvarna) holds down seventh in the E2 overall standings. Behind fellow Australians Milner and Sanders in E3 are Thomas Mason (KTM) and Andrew Wilksch in 11th and 13th respectively. Jones controls the individual Women’s standings followed by compatriots Tricker and Gardiner in fifth and sixth.

Detailed results


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Hook to contest inaugural MotoE World Cup with Pramac Racing

Australian challenger to be joined by De Angelis in 2019.

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Reigning FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) title holder Josh Hook will take part in the inaugural season of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup in 2019 with Pramac Racing.

Hook, who’ll be joined by Alex De Angelis, will pilot the Energica Ego Corsa in a strong 18-rider field that’s completed with a host of talented athletes from different championships around the world.

The MotoE World Cup will span over five European grand prix in 2019, while the first taste for Hook will come next week on 23-25 November in Jerez for the first official test.

“I’m thrilled to be with Alma Pramac Racing on this new MotoE adventure,” said Hook. “The 2019 season will be the first of many years for this new category and represents a great opportunity for me. I am very grateful to the team for believing in my ability and I am sure that we can get great satisfaction.

“MotoE is something new for everyone, so it will be great to work on the development of the bike and I’m sure we can have some great races. We have a few days of testing next week in Jerez and I am looking forward to working with the team on this new project so that we can have a real understanding of the bike. I would like to thank the Alma Pramac Racing team once again for making this possible.”

The New South Welshman still remains part of F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s EWC title defence, with round two of the 2018/2019 series scheduled for 20-21 April 2019 at Le Mans on France.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Race winner Roberts devastated by crashing out of AUS-X Open

New South Welshman lucky to escape serious injury in Sydney fall.

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Australian Supercross Championship SX2 rookie Jy Roberts says he was devastated to crash out of the weekend’s Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney after charging to the opening main event victory of the Triple Crown.

The Husqvarna pilot was in fine form all weekend long, capturing victory in his heat race before putting on a stellar display in the opening main event encounter, storming to a 0.837s win over American import Cameron McAdoo (Penrite Honda Racing).

Roberts’ night took a turn for the worse in race two when he was struck by a first turn incident that unfolded alongside of him, violently forcing him to ground and cruelly ruling him out of the remainder of the evening, somehow escaping serious injury in the process.

“I was pretty devastated,” Roberts told MotoOnline.com.au. “I was feeling pretty confident with my riding, so to have that crash and not be able to finish the two finals was pretty devastating. I’m just happy I was able to walk out of there and be able to say I won the first one.

“I bruised my leg pretty bad – it’s just corked from my knee brace and bars, and it’s all grazed down the right side of my back and my elbows. It was nothing too serious, but I got pretty lucky with it – it could’ve been a lot worse.”

The New South Welshman’s maiden SX2 campaign saw him wind up 14th in the championship rankings with 27 points to his name.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

SX2 title ‘wasn’t to be’ for challenger Mellross

DPH Motorsport Husqvarna ace on the podium in Sydney.

Image: Supplied.

Popular New South Welshman Hayden Mellross has stated claiming the SX2 title ‘wasn’t to be’ after ultimately falling six points shy of the crown as the Australian Supercross Championship wrapped up on the weekend with the Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney.

Mellross was unable to capitalise on a difficult night for eventual champion Jay Wilson (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), lodging 5-3-3 results in the Triple Crown for third overall.

The DPH Motorsport Husqvarna rider’s 2018 campaign started with broken toes across both feet that later required surgery, although the number 45 returned to form in the closing stages, capturing victory at the penultimate round in Adelaide that set him up with a chance of snatching the title.

“I wanted that championship so much, but it just wasn’t to be,” Mellross explained. “In the end, just six points separated myself and Jay [Wilson] and he rode well from the start, so congratulations to him and his team. As for me, I think I had a strong second half to the season, but the broken toes really took a toll on my points tally.

“I want to thank the entire DPH Motorsport family for having me back again this supercross season. It really is like a family, and they helped me, along with Marty, to adapt to the FC 250 so quickly.”

Mellross will now make his way to New Zealand for the S-X Open Auckland, scheduled for 24 November at Mount Smart Stadium.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Brayton declares intentions of 2019 AUS Supercross title defence

Newly-crowned three-time champion winds up fourth at the AUS-X Open.

Image: Supplied.

Fresh after earning his third consecutive Australian Supercross Championship at the weekend’s Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney, Justin Brayton has declared his intentions to return to the country in 2019 and once again defend his title.

In what has been the American import’s toughest Australian campaign yet, Brayton faced strong competition from teammate Brett Metcalfe all season long, which ultimately saw just six points separating the pair ahead of the weekend.

Brayton pushed through for a 2-6-5 results sheet at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday, crediting the number one fourth overall while granting him a nine-point advantage in the overall series rankings.

“I am so happy to win three in a row,” Brayton expressed. “It’s what I came here to do and I am glad we got the job done. It wasn’t without its difficulties though – first my family got sick, then I got sick and I never fully recovered. I have battled pneumonia for most of the time I’ve been over here so it was tough for sure but it made the overall victory so much more gratifying.

“I feel lucky -I get to see the world and ride dirt bikes. I have met some amazing people through racing and it’s a bonus to win. I can’t thank Honda, Penrite and all of our sponsors enough but we aren’t done just yet.

“We still have a few races to finish this year as we head to New Zealand in a few weeks. My plan is to come back next year and defend my title. I want to keep doing this for as long as I can – if I am competitive and I am enjoying it, then I want to race.”

Brayton rounded out the championship with three victories and four podiums in the five round series. He’ll now head to New Zealand for the S-X Open Auckland, scheduled for 24 November at Mount Smart Stadium.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

USA edges Team Australia on day one at Chile ISDE

Team Australia leads Women’s class as Sanders controls E3 overall standings.

Source: Supplied.

The opening day of competition at the 2018 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Chile saw Team USA take an early lead in the World Trophy category, edging out Team Australia by a slender margin of four seconds, while Spain rounded out the top three.

At the head of the field, the United States and Australia were quick to make their presence felt as they went back and forth in the overall standings. Consistently topping the classification, the two teams began to pull clear, with the USA eventually getting the better of Australia on day one.

Behind Spain in third, Italy ended their opening day fourth, while defending champions France had a slow start to their week, placing almost two minutes behind the leaders in fifth.

It was Italy who took command of the Junior World Trophy class heading into day two. Eager to set the pace, the three riders placed consistently well within the overall individual classification.

Behind them, defending champions France are within striking distance of their rivals, sitting thirteen seconds adrift as runners up on day one. With only a further twenty seconds separating France from third placed United States, competition is already proving close in the junior category as Australia ranked fifth.

Team Australia were quick to establish their dominance in the Women’s World Trophy category, taking a commanding lead on day one. Led by Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones, the defending champions have already pulled over 90 seconds clear of the United States in second, with Spain a further 2m16s back in third.

With Taylor Robert (KTM Factory Racing) fastest outright, the KTM rider also topped the E2 category. Following Robert home for second overall on day one was Australia’s Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team), who was also the best-placed E3 competitor, while Robert’s teammate Ryan Sipes (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) was quickest in E1.

Australians Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM Enduro Racing Team) and Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) were sixth and seventh in the E1 standings, as Josh Strang (Husqvarna) was eighth in E2. Sanders controls the E3 division with AORC champion Daniel Milner (KTM Motocross Racing Team) in second, while Andrew Wilksch (Sherco) and Thomas Mason (KTM) were 13th and 14th respectively.

Out front in the Women’s class was Jones with compatriot Mackenzie Tricker (KTM) in third, followed by Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) in eighth. Day two of the ISDE will see riders complete the same Pacific Challenge course.

Detailed results

Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Reed admits to confusion after AUS-X Open shortcut penalty

Local icon taking positives from an encouraging performance in Sydney.

Image: Supplied.

Australian megastar Chad Reed has confessed he had no idea competitors could only take the Shannons Shortcut once across Saturday night’s 2018 Monster Energy AUS-X Open Triple Crown in Sydney.

Reed, like many, used the lane to bypass the whoops in final two of the SX1 main events, but then repeated the shortcut to take charge in final three directly afterwards.

Riders were only permitted to use the specialty ‘joker lane’ once in the finals, which ultimately led to a five position penalty for the experienced dual AMA and world champion at Qudos Bank Arena and demoted him from P1 in the final encounter down the order to sixth.

Home hero Reed was sitting third at the end of lap one behind Husqvarna-mounted duo Jason Anderson and Dean Wilson, only to make a move via the shortcut and then keep Anderson – who was in line for the overall after topping the first two finals – at bay. He wasn’t aware until race-end that he would be pinged by officials.

“Honestly, in the last race I kind of have to laugh, because what else do I do?” Reed told MotoOnline.com.au post-race. “I never even knew that you weren’t allowed to take the joker lane more than once and, truthfully, because of my crash in the first one nobody was around me and I didn’t have to take it.

“Otherwise I would have taken it three times [laughs]! So, you know, I mean it was only two or three weeks ago I did Monster Cup. At that race the whole time you’re thinking ‘don’t forget the joker lane, don’t forget the joker lane’ because typically their joker lane is longer.

“Here, you self-penalise yourself if you don’t take it, but in the Vegas they obviously penalise you if you don’t take it – I think the same penalty, around five places or something like that. That thought process and whatever, me not hearing or knowing, I wasn’t aware of the rule. A little bit of a rookie move there.

“Obviously I got to the front because I took the joker lane, which was something I shouldn’t have done, but you know what was funny is that I knew I passed Jason in the joker lane and I was just expecting that he would re-pass me back there.

“So here I am, with a completely different thought process thinking that Jason was just riding around until he took the joker lane on the final lap or something like that. When he didn’t come by, I didn’t know what happened because we don’t have pit-boards here, so maybe he was doing calculations. He knew the rules, he had the heads up [laughs].”

Despite the penalty that also cost him the opportunity of taking a potential fourth overall, Reed said it was a positive outing aboard the factory JGRMX-prepared Autotrader Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 after recording a mixed bag of 7-4-6 results.

Earlier, Reed defeated triple national champion Justin Brayton in his heat race and led Australia to victory in the ‘Showdown Relay’ against the Americans. A costly crash while running third in the opening final also denied him of a podium performance, however he’s taking positives following crucial race mileage.

Yet to cement a contract for next year’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, the gritty 36-year-old was content in showing glimpses of race-winning form during what doubled as the opening round of the S-X Open FIM Oceania Championship. He will also contest the New Zealand event in a fortnight’s time.

“We got good mileage here this weekend and every gate-drop is always a good thing even if the end result isn’t what you expect or what you want,” he added. “The reality is that you have to remind yourself it is only November and you’re here to put on a show.

“I feel that my show was a little less than what I wanted it to be, but honestly, the electricity, the excitement and the feeling of coming here and performing in front of the home crowd… in some ways it’s a lot of pressure. I take it personal and, for me, I want to give back [to the fans].

“You hear the cheers and I seriously feel the love, so in return you want to give them something to cheer about and to be super-stoked on with the performance of myself. I don’t think I fell short on that, but obviously I want my results to be better.”

Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Championship runner-up the next best thing says Metcalfe

South Australian accepts sixth overall at the AUS-X Open Sydney.

Image: Supplied.

Penrite Honda Racing’s Brett Metcalfe says finishing second in the Australian Supercross Championship to teammate Justin Brayton is the next best thing, despite being within striking distance of the crown heading into the weekend’s Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney.

Metcalfe, who was a last-minute addition to the series and was initially going to race only selected rounds, captured victory at the penultimate round in Adelaide, shortening the points buffer to just six ahead of Saturday.

The South Australian was unable to demote the American with his 6-5-8 scorecard for sixth overall, which ultimately saw him round out a stellar season nine points adrift of the three-time Australian supercross champion.

“Everyone wants to win but this is the next best thing and I am really pleased to be the first placing Australian too,” Metcalfe commented. “The season has been strong – winning round four was certainly a highlight and gave me a solid confidence boost.

“It was important for us to get 1-2 in the title so we had our plans in place to ensure it was locked up. I’m so pleased for Justin to take the triple and for Honda to have this 1-2 finish, it’s amazing. Now we are focused on New Zealand to wrap up the year on top.”

The S-X Open Auckland is scheduled for 24 November at Mount Smart Stadium in New Zealand, marking Metcalfe’s final appearance of the year.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au