Round 1 Motocross Pro-Lites

7 April 2009

VALUABLE POINTS FOR TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI

Team Shift Motul Suzuki Pro Lites star Matt Moss overcame a DNF and

unwanted track watering to score valuable points in round one of the

2009 Australian National Motocross Championships at Wodonga.

Moss was in third place and pressing for the lead in race one of the new

15-minute triple challenge format when his RM-Z250 lost power, forcing

him out of the race.

A fired-up Moss showed his true colours in the second race with a

dominant performance that has him earmarked as one of the stars of

the sport.

Moss forced his way to the lead inside the first lap and was never

headed, lapping riders at will on the way to his first chequered flag of

the 2009 season.

He looked destined to repeat the dose in the third and final leg with a

clear holeshot, when he was cut down near the end of the first lap in a

corner that had been watered by an overzealous track official after the

sighting lap.

Dropping back to 16th, Moss carved his way through the field but ran out

of time in the 15-minute sprint and ultimately finished fourth.

That earned him 43 points out of a possible 75, leaving him in fifth place

after the first round of the championship and easily within striking

distance of the title.

Team Shift Motul Suzuki Development squad member Lawson Bopping

enjoyed a similarly mixed bag of results in the Pro Lites.

Bopping was easily quickest in qualifying, being the only rider to better

1:52 around the challenging new Wodonga circuit.

In race one Bopping thrilled the crowd with his hard riding, missing first

place by just six tenths of a second.

While he couldn't replicate that success in the second leg, his strong

showing in the final leg saw him finish the round in 8th place with 36

points.

6th April, 2009

In the Pro Open title race, Team Shift Motul Suzuki's Cameron Taylor

returned solid results in all three races and finished the round in ninth

place overall.

However, with Taylor used to the more gruelling 30 minute rounds

where his superior fitness allows him to reel in his younger opponents,

the new three sprint race format disadvantaged the 35-year-old.

JAY FOREMAN - TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI TEAM MANAGER

“It was a mixed bag of results today, but there were some promising

signs.

“We proved today we've got the machinery, we've got the speed and

we've got the talent to score podiums in every race.

“Matt had some bad luck today, so hopefully he has scored his dose for

the season and Cam will be looking forward to getting back to the 30

minute events later in the season.

“The pleasing aspect for Matt was he overcame the setbacks and still

scored some valuable points.

“Lawson showed great speed and maturity in the first race and, as he

gains more experience, we're confident he can repeat the dose and

regularly challenge Matt for the chequered flag.”

CAM TAYLOR - TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI

“It was hard work out there today, particularly with the new three-race

format. I found I was just starting to reel in my opponents each time just

as the race was winding up.

“The RM-Z450 was flawless and I'm looking forward to going to a more

familiar track at Canberra in a couple of weeks and showing just what it

can do.

MATT MOSS – TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI

“While it was disappointing not to score the maximum points, I'm in a

lot better shape than after the first round of the 2008 season.

“I managed to put some good points in the bank and the race two

results showed just how good the RM-Z250 is.

“With some more consistency at Canberra I'm confident we'll finish

near the top and be pushing hard for the title.”

Round 1 2009 Australian Motocross Championship Results

Pro Lites

Moto 1

1: Luke George (Kawasaki) 2: Lawson Bopping (Suzuki RM-Z250)

3: Tye Simmonds (KTM)

6th April, 2009

Moto 2

1: Matt Moss (Suzuki RM-Z250) 2: Simmonds 3: Mitch Hoad (Yamaha)

Moto 3

1: Simmonds 2: Kirk Gibbs (Yamaha) 3: George

Championship Standings

1: Simmonds 67 points 2: George 60 3: Gibbs 56 4: Hoad 54 5: Matt

Moss 43, 6: Adam Monea 38 7: Lewis Stewart 37 8: Lawson Bopping

36

Pro Open

Championship Standings

1: Todd Waters 69 points 2: Jay Marmont 67 3: Andrew McFarlane 53

4: Cody Mackie 51 5: Cheyne Boyd 50 6: Michael Addison 40 7: Brent

Landman 39 8: Craig Anderson 36 9: Cameron Taylor

(Suzuki RM-Z450) 33