AMA Press release:

AMA Pro Racing announced today that the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF will return to OLN with improved air-times and shorter turn-around coverage. Telecasts of the premier AMA Motocross class will occur on Saturdays following each race with coverage of the Motocross Lites class set to air on the Monday after that. Two events, Red Bud and Unadilla, will be seen the following Sunday, one week after the race, due to OLN’s coverage of the Tour de France.

“AMA Pro Racing is pleased to have OLN back on board with AMA Motocross for 2006,” said AMA Pro Racing Vice President, Director of Commercial Development, John C. Farris, Jr. “OLN recognized the improvements that needed to be made to the telecast schedule and stepped up to the changes. Plus with OLN’s commitments to other marquee sports properties like the NHL and Tour de France, the network is well positioned for continued growth and expects to be in nearly 70 million homes in 2006.”

Farris added that global coverage of AMA Motocross has also continued to expand. AMA Motocross is shown in nearly 100 territories around the world, reaching millions of households in key markets.

AMA Pro Racing also announced that Erin Bates, Brian Drebber and Racer X Illustrated’s David Pingree are set to provide commentary for each telecast.

“This is a solid announcing team that will add tremendous value to the telecasts,” noted Farris. “Brian is a seasoned motorsports presenter with a wealth of experience and Erin will bring her usual flair and insight to the shows. We’re particularly happy to add David’s voice to our coverage this year. ‘Ping’, as he’s known to his fans, is a former professional AMA Motocross and AMA Supercross rider and has transitioned nicely to his role as a motocross journalist. We’re confident he’ll add a unique perspective thanks to his connection to the racing community.”

Final airtimes will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.amamotocross.com for further details.

Suzuki Set for Zolder MX1 Opener

Press Release Issued By Team Suzuki Press Office – March 29, 2006

The 2006 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship commences this weekend with the first round of fifteen in a six month, three continent trek. The Karcher Grand Prix of Flanders will be entertained by the Zolder circuit in Belgian for the third consecutive year.

The season will involve participation from six manufacturers in the 15 GP, 30 race contest. Team Suzuki, with the works RM-Z450s this season running the traditional Suzuki ‘yellow’ livery, field an all-Belgian line-up for the third consecutive year with Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon pushing the manufacturer’s cause at the highest level.

With moto victories at Hawkstone Park and most recently the second round of the Belgian Championships, Kevin Strijbos has put the injury nightmares of 2005 behind him when he damaged ankle ligaments, dislocated his shoulder and suffered thrombosis all within the first four months of the calendar year.

Although he is presently nursing a cold, the 20 year old - who begins his fourth season with the team and in the premier class and third term on the RM-Z 450 - is confident of his chances at Zolder especially compared to 12 months ago when he was barely fit to race and only scored seventh and sixth positions in the two motos.

“I am feeling pretty blocked-up at the moment and it is a bit disappointing because I had a good pre-season but my preparation for this week has been affected,” he said. “I hope I will feel better in the next day or so and be 100% for Zolder even if the rain doesn’t look as though it will move away.”

“We have been working on the bike and it is running very well,” he continued. ”We changed the suspension from last season and my starts have been great in the races so far. Zolder is a cool track with some nice jumps but it can get very rough especially when it is wet. It is always nice to start the World Championships in front of the Belgian fans and there is normally a good turn-out.”

Steve Ramon has been adjusting to the RM-Z450 over the past three months and has posted some encouraging results in the pre-season Internationals. The 26 year old will approach his first Grand Prix with the team this weekend. The Belgian sand was the setting of a remarkable debut for Ramon who won the first ever MX1 moto at the start of 2004.

“I like most tracks but Zolder is a little bit special for me because of 2004,” said the 2003 125cc World Champion who was 15th overall at the Grand Prix of Flanders last year. “I hope that the weather will be better than it is now. With the rain the soft terrain can get very rough and the ruts become deep. It is a hard GP because it is the first but I am looking forward to starting the season.”

Zolder has been one of the main racing venues in Belgium since the 1960s, sharing the Formula One spotlight with Spa Francorchamps. Famous names to have won there include Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda. The road racing facility has changed little over the decades with the exception of the surface being re-laid and the installation of a new paddock, infrastructure and several chicanes. The layout of the course retains its fast and sweeping nature.

Motocross first set up residency in 2003 when the circuit hosted the Motocross of Nations. For the last two years it has been chosen to open the World Championships and is widely acknowledged as having one of the best set-ups within Grand Prix racing.

The track itself uses a soft, loamy terrain and is partially laid over the asphalt of the permanent race course. The remainder of the layout cuts across the banking and touches the woodland above the arena section. It is renowned for being a technical and tough physical test.

Since winning the 2002 250cc World Championship Team Suzuki has registered third spot in 2003, fifth in 2004 and a best position of sixth in 2005. Since 2002 however the squad have had poor luck with injuries with at least one of their two riders facing long-term lay-offs. The RM-Z450 owns one Grand Prix victory, four motos and six podiums in its two year existence.

The weather forecast for the weekend is not positive and predicts light showers over both days.

Debut Victory for Development RM-Z250

Press Release Issued By Team Suzuki Press Office – March 29, 2006

Team Suzuki’s Yohei Kojima raced a development aluminium-framed RM-Z250WS to its debut victory in the opening round of the All Japan Motocross Championship at Sportsland Sugo at the weekend.

The venue, which will host the Japanese round of the FIM World Motocross Championship this year after receiving the best-organised GP of 2005 by the FIM, also saw the unveiling of a new fuel-injected RM-Z450WS in the hands of IA1 class riders Shinichi Kaga and Kuraudo Toda.

In the opening IA2 race, Kojima suffered a poor start, but rounded the opening lap in fifth place, moving to third by lap two and then into second, but he couldn’t quite catch leader and race winner Hiroaki Arai. In race two, he gated behind Arai but moved to the front by the end of the opening lap and was never headed.

He said: “I couldn’t get on the pace in the opening race after a bad start but the second race was a very good result for the new RM-Z250WS.”

IA2 Race 1: 1 Hiroaki Arai (Kawasaki), 2 Yohei Kojima (Suzuki RM-Z250WS), 3 Yu Hirata (Kawasaki), 4 Yuya Ozaki (Yamaha), 5 Serizawa Naoki (Honda).

IA2 Race 2: 1 Yohei Kojima (Suzuki RM-Z250WS), 2 Hiroaki Arai (Kawasaki), 3 Yu Hirata (Kawasaki), 4 Takeshi Katsuya (Honda), 5 Shinichi Inoue (Kawasaki).

Signs of Life
Moto XXX Results Improve in Detroit’s Ford Field Supercross

Team Unbound Energy/Moto XXX entered Detroit’s Ford Field last weekend with the
level of excitement and anticipation you’d expect for a new venue’s debut race.
The riders were excited to see the facilities, track design and dirt. The team
as a whole was concerned with the tasks of keeping Timmy Ferry in the top ten
and getting Josh Summey back there. In addition to a couple of other positive
developments, those objectives were met.

Leading the way, as he has been for past couple of months, was Timmy Ferry.
“Red
Dog” has gone on a tear of late, finishing in the top ten week after week.
While
running at the front of the privateer pack, he’s also had successful battles
with factory riders. His 9th place finish in Detroit saw him retain 10th place
in the season standings. As long as he continues his current pace, Ferry should
be able to move up a couple more spots before the series comes to a close in
Las
Vegas.

Since the Supercross series shifted to the East, Josh Summey has consistently
displayed top ten, even top five speed at times. Unfortunately, bad luck has
caused problems with his consistency. Untimely crashes, such as the one that
ended his main event in the first turn at Orlando, have been all too common,
but “Sum Dog” got it going in Detroit. After squeaking into the “Lites” class
main event via the LCQ, he set his sites on the sport’s brightest young stars.
Proving that he should be considered one of them, Summey diced with the factory
boys and rode a smart race in general. He finished 8th and got himself back up
to 13th in the standings. With one more round in the East region, his goal is
to finish as strongly as possible and make one last move in the standings.

Detroit also saw the return of Kyle Lewis, who was injured a few weeks ago. On
doctor’s orders, “Lucky” sat a few rounds out because of facial injuries that
could have jeopardized his vision if not allowed to heal properly. In Detroit,
he was able to find a pretty good pace, but crashes in his qualifiers kept him
out of the main event. Nevertheless, it was great to have him back at the track
and even with all the setbacks, he still holds 20th in the standings.

Next up for Team Unbound Energy/Moto XXX is the Houston Supercross, which will
be followed by a much-needed pair of weekends off.

Team Unbound Energy/Moto XXX is faithfully supported by Unbound Energy Drink,
American Honda, Akrapovic, O’neal, Honda Genuine Parts, Pro Comp Wheels &
Tires, Sidi, Tag Metals, EPersonals.com, M2R Helmets, Polisport Plastic, Pro
Honda Oils & Chemicals, Pro-X, Scott, N-Style, MB1 Suspension, Lucky 13, Ready
Filter, VP Fuels, Braking, Motion Pro, Hinson Clutch Components, Metaltek,
Ogio, Dunlop, Vans Shoes, Fat Wreck Chords, RK Chain, Excel Wheels, Vortex
Ignitions, ARC, Ti Lube, Carbon Fiber Works, SDG Seats, PPG, Asterisk, Lockhart
Phillips, Red Rider Rewards, Crower Power, Darkside, N-Fab, CST, MT Racing,
Vans
Shoes.

Stewart Heats Up Houston with Two-Race Win Streak

Press Release Issued By Supercross Media (March 28, 2006)

AURORA, Ill. (March 28, 2006) – Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., brings a two-race win streak into Houston’s Reliant Stadium this Saturday, April 1 for the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series. Reliant Stadium is the birthplace of Stewart’s first AMA Supercross class win, which took place last year. While Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael has a comfortable points lead for the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the race for the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP is heating up.

Stewart, who has seven wins on the season, started his win streak in Orlando where he led all 20-laps in the main event. Before 41,010 fans last weekend, the 20-year-old superstar repeated that performance at the inaugural race inside Detroit’s Ford Field. The two wins positioned Stewart to tie Carmichael for the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP this weekend in Houston.

Stewart trails reigning World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross Series champion Carmichael, of Tallahassee, Fla., by three points in Amp’d Mobile World supercross GP standings and 20 points in the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series.

Yamaha’s Chad Reed sits in second place, 10 points behind Carmichael in the AMA Supercross class but is struggling due to a shoulder separation suffered before the stop at Daytona International Speedway. The tough Australian has ridden through the pain earning podium finishes at two of the three races since the injury.

“Everyday, I do what I need to do to get my shoulder strong,” said Reed of the injured shoulder. “I’ve just accepted the fact that it’s an injury that’ll be here a while and I just gotta do my part by keeping strong and giving it everything I got. Never give up and fight ‘til the end.

“It’s my problem. Obviously, I know I can ride better without a shoulder injury but it is what it is. I feel I’m giving up some on the track and that sucks but I’m figuring out how to ride my race with my situation.”

Stewart turned a blazing fast 48.8 lap time in the main event and established a decent lead in his race against the clock.

“I just wanted to ride and put twenty consistent laps together,” said Stewart. “The track changed a lot and all I could do was to try and stay up. I saw Ricky (Carmichael) coming up through the pack and I saw Chad (Reed) pushing hard too. I knew those two were going to start battling because they are so close for the AMA Supercross points race. I just want to win races,” said Stewart. “I figure if I win races, I’ll come out close to winning the (Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series) title. I’m just going out there and doing my own thing and getting good (lap) times. “

This season a consistent Carmichael has been on the podium 14 out of 15 races and has won six races.

“I’m worried about myself, not anybody else,” said Carmichael. “I have my goals and I’m not worried about anyone. I need to take care of myself before I worry about someone else.”

In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Honda’s Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., leads his Honda teammate Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., by 22 points heading into the final race of the Eastern regional AMA Supercross Lites championship. Grant could give Honda their first lites title since 1993 when Doug Henry won the championship. Last weekend Grant’s win in Detroit marked Honda’s seventh consecutive lites win, a feat that hasn’t been done since 1993 as well.

The rich history of supercross in Houston dates back to March 15, 1974 when Jim Pomeroy won the 250cc main event aboard a Yamaha. Since 1974, the city of Houston has been on the AMA Supercross schedule and in seven of those years, the Houston Astrodome hosted two races.

In front of 43,445 fans last year, Carmichael clinched his fourth AMA Supercross Series championship and his 12th AMA National Title. Honda’s Andrew Short, of Murrieta, Calif., won his first 125cc Western Regional AMA Supercross Series race, leading all 15 laps in the main event.

Tickets are available at the Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, all participating Yamaha dealers (tickets also available at Yamaha outlets), or charge by phone at 713-629-3700.

This weekend’s race will air on SPEED on Sunday, April 2, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. EST. A tape-delayed, one-hour television broadcast of the AMA Supercross Lites racing will air on SPEED on Sunday, April 9, at 6 p.m. EST.

Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings

1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 286

2. James Stewart, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 283

3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 267

4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 227

5. Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 215

6. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 209

7. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio,, Honda, 150

8. Ryan Clark, Waddell, Ariz., Honda, 148

9. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 146

10. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 116

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings

1. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 259

2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 249

3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 239

4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 194

5. Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 185

6. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 181

7. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 146

8. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 125

9. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 108

10. Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Honda, 96

Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings

1. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 141

2. Joshua Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 119

3. Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 114

4. Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 96

5. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 80

6. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Honda, 67

7. Robert Kiniry, Lafayette, N.Y., Honda, 66

8. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 59

9. Teddy Maier, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki, 48

10. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 45

Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings

1. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 118

2. Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 116

3. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 107

4. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 99

5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 95

6. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 94

7. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 91

8. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Honda, 78

9. Darcy Lange, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki, 55

10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 52

Aprilia USA announces 2006 AMA Flattrack Team and sponsorship.

Press Release Issued By Piaggio Group USA (March 28, 2006)

Following recent successful tests aboard their latest generation AMA Flattrack machine, Aprilia USA is proud to announce that Lloyd Brother Motorsports, Inc will field Aprilia V990-powered machines in the 2006 AMA Flattrack Season. The primary rider for the team will be Henry Wiles of Blanchard, Michigan competing in 1 Mile and ½ Mile venues.

“Flattrack is a classic racing series in the US,” says Mike Kull, Vice President of Marketing for Aprilia USA, “To see Aprilia, a brand with a long established tradition of racing, fight for an American championship is a very proud moment indeed. We encourage all Aprilia fans to attend the races and cheer on their team.”

“We are very happy to support the Lloyd Brothers in their continuing efforts towards success in the AMA Flattrack Championship,” Says Robert Pandya, Aprilia USA Off-Road Product Manager. “The Lloyd Brothers are truly the spirit of the sport and have challenged conventional and new Flattrack machines with their design.”

Henry Wiles will pilot the machine. “From the first time I tested the bike I know that David and Michael were on to something – the power is great, but the control is phenomenal. It’s cool to be on a different machine from the rest of the field, and I know that the fans appreciate the effort,” says Wiles.

The Aprilia USA / Lloyd Brothers Motorsports will be touring the AMA Half and full-mile circuits totaling thirteen events this season. The team will be supported by the Aprilia USA rig at all Mile events and select half mile events. Product sponsors already signed on are Komodo Leathers, Leo Vince Exhaust systems K&N Filters, Motion Pro Tools and Cables, and Spectro Oils. Additional sponsors are being sought for what will surely be one of the most interesting teams in the 2006 AMA Flattrack season.

The schedule for the season can be viewed at www.amaflattrack .com. those interested in Flattrack racing can learn more about the Lloyd Brothers effort at www.flattrack.com, a web presence that has been very supportive of the effort since its beginning.

KTM Press Newsletter

—————————————-
MOTOCROSS
MX3 World Championship and Euro 125 kick-off this weekend (28.03.2006)
—————————————-

Busy weekend for the Motocross fans! After a long break since the exciting 2005 Motocross of Nations in Ernée, the first weekend of April will see a lot of riders in action. Zolder (Belgium) will met the opening round of the MX1-MX2 World Championship, while the MX3 World Championship and 125 European Championship will kick-off in Castelnau de Lévis (France).

Same date, same place than last year for this MX3-Euro 125 opening round, first one of the longest MX3 series with fourteen rounds in the calendar. Reigning World Champion Sven Breugelmans and team-mate Yves Demaria will be the favourites of the GP and the series on their factory KTM, but some of the other fifty-seven riders involved in this GP will never give-up and start the season with high goals. They all remind that last year surprising German Marco Dorsch and French Julien Vanni won the two motos, and that there was no orange bike on the final podium of the event !

Now considered as a real stage before the MX2 World Championship, the 125 European opening round registered ninety-three entries, representing fourteen countries. The series will count ten rounds this season, and 2005 vice-champion Dennis Verbruggen (Yamaha) is the main favourite. With his great experience the Belgian rider was already last year the main opponent to Jeremy Tarroux, who is now involved in the MX2 World Championship.

(Source: www.motocrossmx1.com)

KTM Press Newsletter

—————————————-
KTM NORTH AMERICA
US Hare & Hound: 3rd round El Centro, CA (27.03.2006)
—————————————-

Track was super fast and sandier than usual. Track was dusty and had two loops; First loop very fast and about 50 miles where they had to have extra gas stop and second loop was more technical going along the canyons. Whether was warm around 85’F.

All of our three factory riders bikes worked spotless today and all riders was happy for bike set ups. All three riders spend some extra time on Saturday to set up suspension to fit this track.

David Pearson had pretty decant start and he was 8th end of the bomb run (1mile start straight) Matt Gosnell and Kellon Walch came around 20th to the bomb.

All three riders worked their way up to top after the start. David and Kellon manage to keep charging thru the whole race and finish race 4th and 5th. Matt Gosnell made his way up to 6th spot but couple mistakes force him back to 8th on the end.

Result
1. Destry Abbott KAW
2. Steve Hengeveld HON
3. Russell Pearson YAM
4. David Pearson KTM
5. Kellon Walch KTM
6. David Kamo KTM
8. Matt Gosnell KTM

Strijbos Victorious at Mons

Press Release Issued By Team Suzuki Press Office – March 27, 2006.

Team Suzuki rider Kevin Strijbos celebrated overall victory at the second round of the 2006 Belgian Motocross Championships at Mons yesterday while team-mate Steve Ramon also claimed a podium position.

In the final event before the start of the MX1 Motocross World Championships - due to take place at the Zolder circuit for the Grand Prix of Flanders this weekend - Strijbos notched results of 2-1-2 in the three motos.

The 20 year old Belgian faces his fourth season as a full-time member of the works Suzuki team in the premier class and remains the sole rider to give the RM-Z450 a taste of Grand Prix success after his triumph in the Czech Republic last year.

Steve Ramon was third overall despite suffering some arm-pump in the first moto and crashing in the second race. The new Suzuki representative collected finishes of fourth, third and third.

“I have mixed feelings about the weekend,” the former 125cc World Champion said. “I was riding well but I found it difficult and a few mistakes cost me better results. I had been training hard through the week so I was getting tired by the third moto as the track was very heavy with a lot of bumps.

“In the first race, I had some arm-pump but we made some changes to the bike and I felt better in the second. I was really encouraged by my starts; the Suzuki was very strong out of the gate.”

Moto1: 1 Ken De Dijcker, 2 Kevin Strijbos, 3 Sebastien Tortelli, 4 Steve Ramon, 5 Joel Smets, 6 Jonathan Barragan.

Moto2: 1 Kevin Strijbos, 2 Sebastien Tortelli, 3 Steve Ramon, 4 Ken De Dijcker, 5 Joel Smets, 6 Danny Theybers.

Moto3: 1 Sebastien Tortelli, 2 Kevin Strijbos, 3 Steve Ramon, 4 Christophe Pourcel, 5 Marvin Van Daele, 6 Danny Theybers

Overall: 1 Strijbos, 2 Tortelli, 3 Ramon, 4 Van Daele, 5 De Dijcker.

Hurley Takes 1st Win on RM-Z450

Press Release Issued By Team Suzuki Press Office – March 27, 2006

Team Shift Motul Suzuki’s Daryl Hurley won the second round of the Australian Supercross Masters at Perth’s Claremont Showground at the weekend.

Newly-mounted on the RM-Z450 machine, Hurley scored its first four-stroke victory in the Pro Open class of the 2006 Supercross Masters.

Hurley’s team-mate, Luke Burkhart (pictured) was also impressive on the RM-Z450, but was given a controversial penalty for riding outside a track marker that cost the team its first-ever one-two finish in the Championship.

Burkhart’s penalty also cost him vital points and dropped him from second place to fourth in the series.

Kiwi’s Hurley and Burkhart finished the evening’s three motos in fourth and eighth, fifth and second, and first and fourth respectively. However, due to the penalty applied in race two, Burkhart was awarded third place in the second moto.

The Supercross Masters Series now makes way for the Australian Motocross Championship which kicks of in Perth next weekend (Sunday 2 April).

Said Hurley: “It was great to take the win on the RM-Z450 and get some good points on the board.

“I made a few mistakes early in the night. I wasn’t really comfortable on the bike to start with as I’ve never ridden a 450 in Supercross before and I was slightly out of sync. As the first race went on I settled into a rhythm, but it was only an eight-lap moto so I only just got into the groove as the race wrapped up.

“I rode pretty consistently all night and just kept getting smoother as the races went on, particularly in the last race – I really got a flow going with the new bike.

“I love the RM-Z450 for Supercross; it’s great for the starts and it gave me a real mental boost to know that I’ve got that four-stroke power like most of the other guys.”

Burkhart said: “The bike is great and I put in a good, solid performance, so I’m 99% happy - apart from the points that were taken away from me which has made the difference between second place and fourth for both the round and the championship.

“The penalty doesn’t make sense to me… the track marker was missing and we all rode around the outside of the hay bale. I followed the other riders through there and wasn’t the only guy taking that line.

“It’s a bit disappointing to have second place taken from me, but it feels good to be running up there with the top guys and to know that I’m one of them now.”

Team Shift Motul Suzuki Team Manager Jay Foreman added: “This has been a great race meeting for Team Shift Motul Suzuki with Daryl’s overall win for round two of the Supercross Masters, but Luke’s penalty has soured things a little for us.

“We should have had a Suzuki one-two here this weekend and Luke should be sitting in second overall in the championship. Instead he’s been awarded fourth place for both so we’re naturally very disappointed.

“The Supercross Masters series takes a break now as we head into the Australian Motocross Championship in Perth next Sunday. We’ve done some intensive motocross testing in New Zealand, the bikes are well prepared and obviously both Daryl and Luke are riding very well. The whole team is focussed on retaining the number one plate in motocross and I think we’re well positioned for some strong results next week.”

Race Result: 1 Daryl Hurley 8, 2 Timmy Weigand 7, 3 Danny Ham 6, 4 Luke Burkhart 5, 5 Cheyne Boyd 4, 6 Craig Anderson 3, 7 Daniel Reardon 2, 8 Shane Metcalfe 1

Championship points (after 2 rounds): 1 Timmy Weigand 14, 2 Cheyne Boyd 10, 3 Daniel Reardon 10, 4 Luke Burkhart 9, 5 Daryl Hurley 8, 6 Craig Anderson 8, 7 Danny Ham 6, 8 Cody Cooper 3, 9 Daniel McCoy 2, 10 Shane Metcalfe 2.