2008 Rockstar MX Nationals

21 May 2013

  Round 7 of the 2008 Rockstar MX Nationals held at The Lakes on the July 4 saw Craig Anderson’s pro open series aspirations all but came to an end after failing to finish both motos, while series leader Jay Marmont took his bright pink gear to the top step of the podium in support of breast cancer. Pro lite leader, Kawasaki’s Luke George, restricted the damage to his series lead while Cool Air’s Adam Monia and Kade Mosig closed in ensuring a good finish to the series   

   My motocross weekend started of early this time around as I made my way up to Morisset on the Saturday night to The Woodstock Honda Meet and greet the fans session. With all of the team present it was easy to get all four of my photo/cards signed. Well it would have been four provided that I had taken all four of them. Sorry Dean. It was a good night all the same.

  Sunday, the main game, and I arrived with my friend Kerrie and her daughter Courtney. We didn't even get into the track when Courtney, who is six, had the ticket seller bailed up for a stamp in her race program as well as on her arm. The ticket seller got a thumbs up from Courtney, she also got one from both Kerrie and I, for making us aware that a family ticket was available to us at a cheaper rate. Good staff like this can really have a positive effect on the fans at sporting events, so note to the organisers, use these guys again.

   Once we arrived on track we made our way to our regular spot and set up camp for the day. By then the Under 19 race was well underway. Motorex KTM's Tye Simmonds, the series leader, was held at bay in the first moto by a hard charging Yamaha rider Luke Styke. Coming home third was Lawson Bopping on the Motul Shifts Suzuki in a tight and evenly contested race.

   Next up were the Pro Lites Boys. Tye's team mate, Ryan Marmont, pulled the hole-shot (first bike to the first corner) much to the delight of Courtney who has a little bit of a thing for Ryan. Matt Moss, returning to the series after breaking a arm in the opening round, provided the first piece of action by losing the front end and going down in the first couple of corners. Could it get any worse? Surely not. He re-mounted in second last place, half a lap behind the leaders. With nothing to lose he began a hard charging come-back ride. Out in front Marmont had surrendered the lead before the end of the first lap to Kade Mosig. Serco Yamahas Ford Dale and Mosig would battle it out for a few laps until Kawasaki's red plate holder (series leader) Luke George got into the groove and rode down both riders. He then proceeded to check out to a 13 second lead which he would maintain to the end. Matt Moss showed great speed and determination with the ride of the day to recover from that early crash and take the second place. The final podium spot was held down Kade Mosig not too far in front of Ford Dale who faded just a little bit due to his long injury lay off 

  Pro Open Race 1  The first race started well for home town hero Woodstock Honda's Craig Anderson who got the hole shot and was in the process of checking out to a nice lead. However lap 5 was the beginning of the end for Craig, pulling to the pits with what was a terminal electrical problem. Daryl Hurley gratefully accepted the lead and took full advantage of Anderson’s demise with a solid and comfortable win. Craig's Honda team mate, Daniel McCoy, even though out of contention for the series title, rode well and into second place followed by a flying pink flash in CDR's Cheyne Boyd. Rounding out the top five were Jay Marmont and an unlucky Cam Taylor, who was passed on the final lap.

  During the break in the action, while they maintained and watered the track, Courtney and I went to find her hero Ryan "Sexy" Marmont. We wondered down to the KTM transporter. There he is talking to his mechanic. “Can I get a photo Tony?” asks Courtney. "You can when he's got a minute he's busy getting ready right now." A few minutes later he disappeared inside. Courtney determined as she is, asked can I just go in and ask him for a picture. "You’re not allowed, that's why they have the fence here". The look was tragic. We waited a whole 10 minutes and he came back out, helmet in hand. He stepped out and was off to the start line. We asked for a photo, he was only too happy to have one. He knelt down to be at Courtney's height, Courtney being the ditz she is knelt down as well. Once we got the height thing sorted out, she lent in and as I was taking the photo a little hand appeared on the shoulder of Ryan. What a smooth worker she is at the age of 6.

 Now it was my turn for an autograph so we wandered off to find Ryan's brother Jay. We find him doing the same thing as Ryan, talking to his mechanic and then he disappeared inside as well. Talking to Jays team owner Craig Dack I ask what my chances are of being able to get my jersey signed by Jay.  He was like "no problems" come with me, so after spending 10 minutes telling Courtney she can’t go in there she was on a guided tour of the team transporter. Craig took my jersey and gave it to Jay and the next thing we saw as we popped round the corner was Jay standing there in front of us, how can I say this, hmmmm, wearing nothing but his underpants. Second surprise for the six year old.We get to tell mum all the exciting news. Her first words were "why wasn't I invited to see Jay in his underpants" with the response of a giggle from Courtney.

  Well with that little adventure we missed the 2^nd moto of the under 19 but not too worry. I got the results and they read something like this. Tye Simmonds took the top step on the podium. In doing so claimed the overall honours for the day and opened up a lead of 13 points on Moto 2 runner up and third place overall Lawson Bopping. The surprise packet was that Luke Styke coming in third in the race and second over all for the day.

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