19 Apr 2010

Yamaha’s team of young chargers had a challenging weekend at the Canberra Circuit for round two of the Rockstar MX Nationals but in the final wash up, Ross Beaton has moved into second place in the Under 19 division after a solid performance.

The team of Under 19 riders entered the round full of confidence and things started strongly for the team posting fast lap times in qualifying. But getting a good position exiting the first turn was the biggest challenge facing the riders in the four main event races.

Ross Beaton battled hard all day, fighting back from mid pack starts to post 5-3-8-8 results in the four back to back motos and round the day out in fifth place, but more importantly jump two spots up the points table into second place.

“It was a frustrating day. I couldn’t buy a start and in these short sprint races you just don’t have the time to come from the back. Still to move up a couple of spots in the championship is nice, but I really need to get my starts dialed before the next round,” Beaton offers.

Directly behind Beaton was team-mate Harley Quinlan returning in his first ride back from injury. Quinlan posted the second fastest lap time in qualifying but was also hampered by bad starts in the races. Quinlan took sixth in his comeback ride and is looking for an improved performance at the next round.

“I was just a bit tense all day and didn’t really loosen up. I felt better in the final two races and was towards the front, but my plan is to go home and continue to keep working hard to be back up the front,” he said.

It was triumph that quickly turned to tragedy for Shaun Redhead. In the opening moto, the young charger rocketed from the gate and took control of the race out front. He led the field for the opening laps before getting cross rutted and falling heavily. It was then compounded when he got to his feet and was collected by another rider hurting his ribs in the process. He was forced to withdraw from the remaining events.

Luke Styke, the team Pro Lite rider worked hard for his ninth place overall with some
determined rides. His charge from the back of the field to 12th place in moto one was top shelf and he went on to record 11-5-10 places to finish the day in the top 10 and remain eighth in the Pro Lites championship.

“When I got a good start, I ran in the top five, but the other motos I was battling with a heap of guys in the opening laps and unable to get clear. But, I have been working hard and these results will soon turn around,” Styke states.

The team now head to Geelong in Victoria for round three of the Rockstar MX nationals in a fortnights time. The riders are determined to get their seasons back on track and hand in the results they are capable of.

Round Two Results – Under 19
Canberra

Round Two Results- Pro Lites

Championship Results - After Round two- Under 19
1st Josh Cachia- 146
2nd Ross Beaton -122
3rd Dylan Peterson -114
4th Matt Phillips – 103
5th Cameron Dillon – 98
6th Hamish Dobbyn – 97
7th Luke Arbon – 96
8th Kieran Leigh – 89
9th John Phillips – 78
10th Ethan Martens – 60

11th Harley Quinlan – 59
17th Shaun Redhead - 26

Championship standings- After Round two – Pro Lites
1st Kirk Gibbs -143
2nd PJ Larsen -135
3rd Ryan Marmont -118
4th Cody Mackie -113
5th Lawson Bopping -109
6th Ford Dale -100
7th Michael Phillips -89
8th Luke Styke –83
9th Luke George -77
10th Daryl King- 66