McCoy Remains In Super X Title Contention After Maitland

16/11/2011

RACE REPORT
2011 Australasian Supercross Championship (Round Four)
Maitland (NSW)
12 November 2011

Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki rider Daniel McCoy remains in contention for the Pro Open title in the Super X, Australasian Supercross Championships, after finishing in eighth position at Maitland’s penultimate round on Saturday, 12 November.

The 27-year-old sits third in the standings and just eight points off the top spot with one weekend of racing to run, and he remains confident despite a difficult evening in the Hunter Valley.

After finishing fifth in his heat, McCoy had the ninth gate selection for the three finals that made up the Triple Header main event. That proved a challenge throughout as he battled to gain strong starts, eventually posting 10-7-5 results.

“Tonight was a bad night for me, but I guess we all have to have one at some stage during the season and this was hopefully it for me,” said the Suzuki RM-Z450 rider. “The race for the championship definitely isn’t over and I think that next week’s 20-lap main event will suit me.

“I’ve been wanting to race for 20 laps all year, so I’m confident and will be trying my hardest to put both myself and Suzuki in a position to win this title. I just need to get a good start, stay consistent for the whole race and hopefully be there at the end.”

Teammate Steven Clarke was enjoying a solid night with fourth and third places in the opening pair of Pro Lites races, however a spectacular crash while leading the final race of the main event saw him suffer a broken wrist that has ruined his championship aspirations.

The injury comes as a bitter blow for the talented British rider. Despite the crash and consequent non-finish, Clarke finished sixth overall and now sits fourth in the standings.

“I felt great all afternoon in practice and that continued into the night program,” Clarke said. “The results in the first two finals were good, but then when I was leading the last one I think I had a lapse in concentration and hit the ‘tough block’.

“That was it for me because it pulled the bike from underneath me and I had to jump off mid-air. I’m quite lucky I only have an injury to my wrist, because it was a heavy impact on my legs, too. It’s disappointing but that’s how it goes sometimes.”

Motul Pirelli Suzuki team manager Jay Foreman had mixed emotions following the event now but will now focus on a strong finish next Saturday when the series wraps up.

“In Daniel’s case, it’s a typical supercross where if you don’t qualify good, you have a late gate pick and then play catch up all night,” he explained. “Daniel was caught in the outside gates for the starts and paid the price. This track favoured the gates on the inside of the start straight.

“Steven was in a good position at the time of his crash, so to have that happen to him was disappointing for us. His surgery this week went well and now we can concentrate on his recovery. A big thanks must go to the Suzuki Racesafe Team for all their medical assistance.”

The Super X, Australasian Supercross Championship’s season finale will take place next Saturday night on 19 November at Ipswich in Queensland.

2011 Monster Energy Super X, Australasian Supercross Championship
Round Four - Maitland, NSW

Pro Open Results:
1. Lawson Bopping (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki)
2. Jay Marmont
3. Chris Blose
4. Todd Waters
5. Dan Reardon
6. Tye Simmonds
7. Cody Mackie
8. Daniel McCoy (Motul Pirelli Suzuki)
9. Billy Mackenzie
10. Ryan Marmont

Pro Open Standings:
1. Jay Marmont 80
2. Tye Simmonds 75
3. Daniel McCoy (Motul Pirelli Suzuki) 72
4. Lawson Bopping (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) 65
5. Billy Mackenzie 61
6. Todd Waters 56
7. Dan Reardon 55
8. Ryan Marmont 52
9. Chris Blose 47
10. Michael Phillips 39

Pro Lites Results:
1. Matt Moss
2. Dean Ferris
3. Luke Arbon
4. Gavin Faith
5. Adam Monea
6. Steven Clarke (Motul Pirelli Suzuki)
7. Robbie Marshall
8. Luke Styke
9. Nicholas Sutherland (Suzuki)
10. James Booth-Elliott

Pro Lites Standings:
1. Matt Moss 93
2. Luke Styke 71
3. Brendan Harrison 70
4. Steven Clarke (Motul Pirelli Suzuki) 68
5. Gavin Faith 67
6. Adam Monea 57
7. Dean Ferris 52
8. Luke Arbon 52
9. Robbie Marshall 47
10. Kirk Gibbs 37

About SUZUKI
Formed as a weaving loom manufacturer in 1909, Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan started producing motorcycles in 1952.

Suzuki is an established brand in the Australian market, as the third-highest selling motorcycle brand.

For further information on Suzuki products, interested customers should visit their local Suzuki dealer, who can be found through the Dealer Locator on www.suzuki.com.au.

About MOTUL
Motul is a synonymous brand name when it comes to the motorcycle community and their passion for performance and excellence. Riders using Motul synthetic oil, ride their bikes with upmost confidence. They know that the oil they are using in their bikes has a proven pedigree that not only protects engines but also improves performance.

The uniqueness of Motul lubricants is that the oil available on the store shelf is a direct result of Motul’s research and development on the racing circuit.

Focused on improving the reliability and performance of lubricants, Motul has remained an industry leader, consistently pioneering many of the most important developments in engine oil history.
1953 – Motul produced the world’s first multigrade oil.
1966 – Motul produced the world’s first semi synthetic oil.
1971 – Motul produced the world’s first 100% synthetic oil with ester.
2004 – Motul produced the world’s first double ester technology.

Due to their ability to produce oils that will genuinely endure and protect during the toughest conditions in motor racing whilst also providing extra horsepower, Motul has become a dominant presence in National and International Motorsports. Maintaining this relationship over many decades has come via a commitment to evolve side by side with the engine technology of tomorrow.

For more information on the any of the products in the Motul range, visit www.linkint.com.au or www.motul.com.au.

About PIRELLI
Pirelli Motorcycle Tyres have a long history of outstanding success in a range of racing disciplines.

In 2011 Pirelli Scorpion MX riders won the premier World MX1 World Championship and MX2 World Championship which brings their MX World Championships up to an impressive 56 titles.

In Australia Pirelli has taken out the Motocross Nationals Pro Lites Championship and Under 19s Championship in 2011, as well as winning the 2011 Australian Four Day Enduro.

Pirelli is one of the biggest tyre manufacturers in the world in terms of sales revenue.

Pirelli has been producing motorcycle tyres for over 100 years and is well known in the motorcycling world for their technical precision and their advancements in cutting-edge motorcycle tyre technology.

The Pirelli range caters for all segments of the motorcycling market with performance tyres suited to motocross, enduro, trials, scooter, ATV, cruiser, touring, sport touring, sports and racing bike applications, including the exciting new Diablo Rosso II.

As a reflection of their quality and high performance, Pirelli is used by racing teams around the world including Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki and Raceline Pirelli Suzuki in the Australian Motocross and Supercross Championships. Pirelli is also the exclusive supplier of tyres for the World Superbike Championship.