2005 AUSTRALIAN MOTOCROSS  

2005 AUSTRALIAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 8 of 8: Conondale, QLD, Sun, July 3, 2005, Pro Lite/Pro Open/National Cup

SEASON FINALE

• Championship won by Daryl Hurley (Open) and Cameron Taylor (Lite)

RACE REVIEW: HONDA

MR MOTOCROSS FINALE A WINNER FOR NO FEAR HONDA

• A mud-spattered fast track set the scene for the final round of the
  Australian Motocross series last weekend at Queensland’s Conondale circuit,
  with No Fear Honda’s Craig Anderson and Cody Cooper both finishing up with
  first-rate results.
• At his third meeting back from injury, Ando seized second place overall on
  the day, giving him a fourth for the series – an excellent outcome for the
  multiple champion who was forced to miss three of the eight rounds due to a
  broken foot.
• In moto one, Ando slotted nicely into second after an uncharacteristically
  average start and set out on the task of catching series leader Daryl
  Hurley. Although he crossed the line in that position, a 15 second penalty
  to Hurley promoted No Fear’s lead rider to race winner.
• The 27 year old Honda frontrunner again slotted into second in moto two
  after once more getting away from the gates in a less than ideal spot. Ando
  kept Kiwi Darryll King at bay for most of the 30 minute plus one lap
  competition, but had to settle for third when the flag fell.
• Generally pleased with his day, Ando did note some disappointment with his
  starts. “It wasn’t like me to get such a bad start in both races, but I
  managed to get back up to the front runners.”
• “I did qualify well in second, and it was a very fast track which I like.
  However I had some trouble with one particularly muddy section that kept
  slowing me down - that and a bit of arm pump in moto one didn’t help and I
  found myself playing catch up.”
• Although tied on points with Danny Ham for the fourth place series finish,
  Ando claims the position due to the number of race wins he amassed overall
  (5 wins out of 10 races).
• In terms of his physical fitness after recovering from a series hindering
  injury, Craig said “I’m generally very good. My foot aches a little after a
  race but its fine once I rest it again.”
• Anderson won both the Australian Motocross as well as the Supercross series
  titles in 2002 before heading off to the U.S. for a two year stint in the
  American league. He is tipped to be one of the hot favourites to take out
  the title once again in his home country in 2005.
• “At this point, I am now wholly focused on the coming Supercross Masters,
  and am really looking forward to the first round in Brisbane in a few
  weeks. When an injury stops you from competing, the motivation comes back
  even harder once you’re back out there.”
• “I am not a rider who is happy to settle for anything less than a race win,
  and that is how I will be approaching this next championship.”
• Similar to his performance the previous week at Gillman, Pro Lite team mate
  Cody Cooper was also in brilliant form at Conondale taking away the number
  one trophy on the day.
• Cody put in the fastest qualifying time as well as two outstanding rides,
  finishing second and first in his respective heats. Other than having to
  try and catch the leader in moto one, the 2004 Pro Lite Champion had a
  ‘by-the-book’ day highlighting his improved physical fitness and mental
  focus.
• After suffering a series of bad luck incidents earlier in the season, Cody
  has continued to work his way back up the rungs of the championship ladder.
  He finished seventh, just behind Troy Carroll, and although not
  particularly pleased with the placing, the young Kiwi is happy to be back
  in prime form.
• “Everything is feeling really good again now and the last couple of rounds,
  the bike set up felt much more comfortable.” Coops commented. “I’m planning
  on carrying that through to supercross.”
• The Team were also joined in Queensland once again by enduro star Jamie
  Cunningham and female rider Rebecca Lipsett who both rode extremely well,
  finishing their relevant races and achieving their personal goals.
• Jamie scored in the top half of the field after taking a hard hit on more
  than one occasion. In fact, at one point, a rock unceremoniously took the
  peak clean off his helmet causing a slight delay in his own proceedings.
  However the 2004 Australian Safari and Condo 750 Cross Country Rally
  Champion finished his races strongly and came away with a smile on his
  face.
• Rebecca concluded the five round National Cup series with her best effort
  yet, scoring in the points in both heats. “I’m stoked,” she said. “I had a
  blast competing in this series and think it has helped to improve my riding
  immensely.”
• After having missed Conondale and Gillman, the team’s popular favourite
  Troy Dorron has been at home recuperating from a chest injury. Dorron will
  be testing this week at his home town track in Geelong to ready for
  Supercross where he holds three Pro Lite titles for the consecutive years
  of 1999 through 2001.

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