Ready for Round 4 at Murray Bridge
Australian MX Champs 2015
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Penrite Honda Racing's Ford Dale and Cody Cooper have spent the past fortnight undertaking extensive testing in an effort to move forward at this weekend’s fourth round of the MX Nationals at Murray Bridge Motocross Track in South Australia.
Both riders endured mixed results throughout the opening rounds of the season and are aiming to improve consistency in order to steady their champoinships.
Ford Dale said he hoped a change to his training program would be the key to moving forward.
“The team worked so hard in the off season and my bike has been amazing, but it is just not coming together for me," Dale said. “After Broadford the team and I sat down and really looked the areas I was struggling in. We looked at where I was tiring and tailored a training program specifically to improve in those areas.
“We have also made a few changes to the bike so I am really looking forward to see what impact these change have on my results this weekend.”
Teammate Cody Cooper, who is coming off another fourth place finishe has been at home in New Zealand working hard in an effort to get back on the podium.
“I know where I should be,” Cooper said. “I have come from beating these guys in New Zealand to chasing them down in Australia.
“We made some more changes to the bike as the tracks are a little different in Australia and I have been working on my intensities and sprints. I really want to get on the box this weekend.”
Team principal Yarrive Konsky believes the team has put in a tremendous effort between rounds to improve the efficiencies of the riders.
“Both riders have shown amazing speed and we know their respective potential,” Konsky explained. “They both have had their own struggles and we have worked independently with them to fix those areas.
I feel we have made some improvements and they have worked hard to overcome these issues."
Round 4 of the MX Nationals will be held in Murray Bridge Motocross Track on Sunday 17 May.
The Wilson MX Team will head to Murray Bridge with renewed confidence this weekend, with support from Elev8 Health and Performance set to give the Honda backed riders the edge at round four.
After a successful outing at Broadford where both Geran Stapleton and Luke Wilson recorded positive results, both boys will head to the sandy loam of Murray Bridge looking to step things up once again.
For Wilson, the three week break since Broadford has provided the perfect opportunity to step up his training regime, and says that with the support of new trainer Luke Whitaker, he’s feeling confident heading to South Australia.
“My trainer Luke has just opened a new gym so we have been working super hard the last three weeks and I’ve never felt so good going into a race as what I do now,” he said.
“It’s been so great to have Luke’s support. I have been waking up every morning and I can’t wait to go training. I think with training being fun again that it should reflect in my results this weekend.
“I love Murray Bridge. Who doesn’t really?! I’m feeling fit and confident, and I’m just ready to get into some sand this weekend.”
Stapleton, who took an outstanding fourth overall at Broadford, shared his excitement in heading to the first sand track of the season and says he can’t wait to get back out there for the Wilson MX team.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend. Murray Bridge is easily one of my favorite tracks on the calendar so I can’t wait to get back out there,” he said.
“I raced a state title at Murray Bridge a couple of weeks ago and I had one really good race, so hopefully with some experience at the venue under my belt, I might be able to push for a podium this weekend.
“The whole Wilson MX team is a really tight knit group and we have all worked really hard to get ready for this weekend. Hopefully the sand will play in my favor and I can get another good result on the board for the team.”
The Swann Insurance 40 Plus Veterans Class (V4) are set to make their 2015 racing debut, when the MX Nationals kicks off once again at Murray Bridge this weekend.
The 2015 Swann Insurance 40 Plus Veterans Championship is set to be run and won on Sunday May 17, with a solid line up racing to be crowned this years champ.
For reigning champ Cameron Taylor, Sunday provides the perfect opportunity to get back to racing, and says he’s looking forward to his first MX Nationals appearance for the year.
“I’m feeling pretty confident heading to Murray Bridge this weekend – this will be my first race for 2015, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there,” he said.
“At this stage of riding I wouldn’t say that there’s pressure on me having taken the championship last year, but I hear Troy Dorron is racing so it will be nice to renew some old rivalries.
“I know on a local level Vets riding is getting more and more popular and it’s certainly good fun to get back out there at the MX Nationals with some of the guys you used to race against.”
Taylor, who has raced at Murray Bridge a handful of times throughout his career, also shared his excitement in heading back to the venue and says that he’s looking forward to seeing what the track will dish out on Sunday.
“The last time I rode at Murray Bridge was back in 2009 at the Nationals, and it was my last full year racing professionally,” he said.
“I’ve raced there two or three times and the track has always been great. Depending on how much rain they get, and how much water they put down, it should form up pretty well on Sunday and make for some good racing.
“Murray Bridge ruts up very nicely and gets that sandy loamy surface, which is what I enjoy. Out of all of the National tracks this would definitely be one of my favorites, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there."
KTM Australia's factory and factory support riders have one thing in common when it comes to this weekend's fourth round of the monster energy MX nationals at South Australia's Murray Bridge – an affection for the softer, loamier track surfaces.
Though he lives in another state, MX1 championship leader Kirk Gibbs will consider the round a ‘home’ track, in that he'll enjoy the support of an army of family and friends as he attempts to build his 19 point championship lead into a bigger platform.
Last year's series runner-up is looking more and more champion material and he will carry the coveted red plate into the round with no small degree of pride after standing on the top step of the podium at last years South Australian round.
“I'm excited to race in South Australia this weekend." Gibbs commented. "I was down there a few weeks ago and the track was really well prepared.
"Getting a little bit of a bum-kicking the other weekend was good for me - it sort of kick-started me a little bit. Murray Bridge is pretty similar soil to what I grew up on, so that helps a lot, and obviously I rode there maybe a couple of times a year as a junior, and then once every year since I've been doing the Nationals.
"But I like that place, and if you can do well there you always seem to carry that little bit extra confidence with you into the next few rounds.”
KTM Motocross Racing Team mate and round three winner Luke Styke is a self-confessed sand track aficionado who has been looking forward to the SA and WA rounds of the championship for more than a month.
Though he may be the premier class rookie, Styke is rapidly firming as a genuine championship contender with the KTM motocross racing team duo are currently 1-2 in Australia's most important motocross championship.
“I've been looking forward to this and, it's going to be good to get in and have a bit of a loamy round - I can't wait." Styke stated. "To me the plan is like it’s been all year, just trying to get myself into a good position, and then try to put it up on the box again.
"That's my plan every weekend - take the win if it’s there, but just ride smart until the break and put in some good rides after that.
"The sandy tracks seem to suit my riding style. I set my bike up a bit more that way and I’ve always ridden better in it.”
In MX2 racing KTM Factory Support rider Caleb Ward will return to the fray after his Appin knee injury precluded him from competing at Round Three. Newcastle KTM’s Dylan Wills is the highest placed of the orange men in sixth overall, one ahead of KTM Factory Support rider Hamish Harwood.
“I’ve been riding again and am feeling pretty good." Ward said. "I’m doing a fair bit of cycling just trying to get everything feeling good and strong again.
"I rode Coolum the other day and felt pretty good on the bike which is good, so that all adds a bit more confidence. I'm pretty keen. There is less chance of twisting my knee at Murray Bridge because of the softer soil, and it’s what I prefer anyway.
"It's a bit faster and should flow a bit better than some of the other tracks too, and it was where I turned my year around last year so hopefully that’ll happen again.”
Murray Bridge Round 4
After a three-week break for the MX Nationals, the countdown to round four continues, with only four short days left until May 17 when bikes will once again hit the track.
Being the first sand track on the 2015 MX Nationals calendar, riders and teams are set to be tested, and adaptation to the new conditions will be critical to results at the iconic South Australian venue.
The year 2015 marks the fourth time Murray Bridge has hosted the MX Nationals, and South Coast Motocross Club Media Representative Jane Raper, says the club is looking forward to another action packed weekend of racing.
“The club absolutely cannot wait for the MX Nationals to kick off again this weekend,” she said.
“We have put a lot of work into the venue and the track itself to prepare for round four, and I think that everyone will be just as excited as we are once they arrive this weekend.
“The MX Nationals is a very important sporting event on the Murray Bridge calendar, so we are all looking forward to ticking off another exciting weekend of racing.”
Racing at Murray Bridge will kick off from 10:40am on Sunday May 17, with gates open to the public from 7:30am, and bikes on track for practice and qualifying from 8:30am. See full race schedule below.
8:30am – Motul MX2 Practice/Qualifying
9:00am – Monster Energy MX1 Practice/Qualifying
9:30am – GoPro SuperPole
9:40am – Pirelli MXD Practice/Qualifying
10:05am – V4 40 Plus Veterans Practice/Qualifying
10:20am – Official Opening
10:40am – Motul MX2 Race 1
11:25am – Monster Energy MX1 Race 1
12:10pm – Pirelli MXD Race 1
12:35pm - Lunch
1:25pm – V4 40 Plus Veterans Race 1
1:55pm – Motul MX2 Race 2
2:35pm – Monster Energy MX1 Race 2
3:20pm – Pirelli MXD Race 2
3:55pm - V4 40 Plus Veterans Race 2