IMPRESSIVE
COMEBACK FOR NO FEAR HONDA’S ANDO AT BLACKWOOD PARK
After missing
the last three meetings due to a mid season hampering injury,
Honda’s lead rider, Craig Anderson, made his comeback this
weekend at round
six of the Australian Motocross Championships, finishing an impressive
second overall and moving back up three positions on the Pro Open
series
ladder.
With gum boots
being the fashion of the day, Ando showed blazing speed from
early on at the foggy, mud packed Blackwood Park circuit. After
qualifying
second quickest, the multiple title winner left the pack behind
in moto one
as he and Daryl Hurley took off and battled for the lead.
Ando has had
limited time to get back into race condition after having
plaster taken off his foot less than two weeks ago which meant he
had to
contend with the impediment of blisters and lack of hand strength.
However
the 27 year old Newcastle local was still able to keep up an extraordinary
pace, hanging on to second position for the duration.
In moto two,
Ando took his second holeshot and eventually slotted into
third where he once again tussled for position with Hurley. His
break came
when the Suzuki rider DNF’d with mechanical problems at which
point Craig
moved up with only defending champion, Darryl King providing the
challenge
for second place.
With three
laps to go, the two riders were side by side, providing for some
thrilling racing with Anderson giving it his all physically. He
finished
just behind King but was still pleased with the result.
“I’m
really pretty happy with my results today,” Craig said. “I’ve
had very
little time back on the bike, and I was definitely feeling tired
and sore.
To get out here today and finish second is encouraging.”
“I now
have two more weeks until the Gillman round so I’m sure you
can
guess I’ll be training extremely hard. I’m still out
to win races at this
point, even if the Championship lead is a long shot. For me, its
about
being the best that I can on the day.”
In the Pro
Lite division, the No Fear crew had drama to deal with early on
after stalwart team member Troy
Dorron was
taken out in a messy moto one crash, and had to be shipped off
to the local hospital. Doz sustained a damaged rib in his sternum,
a
crushing blow for the veteran who has been having a very unlucky
season to
date.
“I just
got taken out by someone else. There was nothing I could do to
avoid it but it is frustrating considering how many times I’ve
had to deal
with things outside of my control this season, and the fact that
I was
feeling very comfortable and on the pace here this morning.”
Dorron, who
did qualify in the top spot in his class, will now be out for
the remainder of the series, depending on doctor’s orders,
and is set to
make his comeback at round one of the Supercross Masters in late
July.
Cody Cooper
was also caught up in the early fray with his team mate, and
found himself half a lap behind by the time he reboarded his CRF250R.
Cody
put in some lightening fast laps and managed to work his way back
up to
ninth which is where he finished.
In moto two,
the young Kiwi got away mid pack and with very limited
opportunities for passing the top runners on the single line, tight
track,
Cody managed to finish sixth in front of Troy Carroll but was not
particularly happy with his results.
“I’m
definitely not having the same kind of season I had last year when
I
won the Championship,” Cody said. “I’ll just keep
trying to do what I need
to to be fitter for the next round.”
No Fear Honda’s
Rebecca Lipsett also joined in the race activities on the
day, competing in the National Cup series where she finished both
motos
well on the energy-sapping track. Bec was the only female rider
in the 30
plus field of competitors, and continues to be a role model for
women
wanting to get out and race.
“Every
time I get out there, I improve a bit more,” Bec noted.
