29 Mar 2010

It was a slow start but a fast finish for the Yamalube / GYTR / Rockstar Yamaha team as they overcame a wet track and pre event nerves to post top 10 results in both the Pro Lites and Under 19 classes at the opening round of the Rockstar MX Nationals held at Horsham over the weekend.

Ross Beaton lead the Yamaha Under 19 charge as the opening round kicked off under cloudy skies that saw constant drizzle fall from lunchtime making the track extremely slippery and difficult.

Beaton lies equal second, but fourth on count back, on a very crowded leader board after the three points paying motos. After qualifying in second position, Beaton took that momentum into the first race taking third place. Moto two saw him improve his result by one, crossing the line in second and looking for that elusive race and overall round win from the third and final moto.

Slotting into third early in the race, Beaton closed in on second place and had the round win in his sights, only to fall over in the slippery conditions and drop back to fourth place. His 3 -2- 4 placings totaled 60 points, equal with Hamish Dobbyn and Dylan Peterson. Beaton takes fourth by virtue of the fourth in the final leg.

“I just wanted to make a solid start to the season and put myself in contention. Can’t say I’m happy about missing the podium, but 60 points and only five off the leader has me well placed,” Beaton offers.

For Shaun Redhead, it was a case of pre event nerves and an injury sustained during the week getting the better of him. Suffering from serve lower back and side pain, Redhead soldiered on to a top 10 finish which could have been much better had a fall late in race three  drop him down the ranks.

“I learnt a lot today. This was my first event at this level and I was really tight on the bike. I loosened up during the day and by the final moto I was going for a top six finish only to throw it away, still, we have a long way to go and I now know what to expect,” Shaun said at the end of racing.

The Horsham event also marked the debut of Luke Styke in Pro Lites class. The winner of the 2009 Under 19 champion also struggled with nerves early in the day, but by the final moto, Styke was back where he belongs. His 15 – 10 – 3 race finishes put him in eighth for the day and looking forward to round two.

“I just put way too much pressure on myself in the first moto and didn’t ride the way I should. For moto three, I got the start I needed and just put in my laps and finished up third. I am going to continue to build on today at the next round in Canberra.”

Round two of the Rockstar MX Nationals takes place at Canberra on April 17 / 18. The team will be back to full strength with the return of Harley Quinlan in the Under 19 Division and build on the momentum gained at the Horsham round.     

Round 1 Results – Horsham
Under 19

Pro Lites

For full results- www.mxnationals.com.au