Matt Moss On Top At Brutal Broadford
Cody Cooper Ruled Out After Practice Crash
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www.fullnoise.com.au Motocross News By: Aaryn Minerds
Defending Monster Energy MX Nationals champion Matt Moss has started his title defence in the best possible way, battling to the top step of the podium at a brutal Broadford track in Victoria today at the opening round of the 2014 series.
Motul Suzuki's Matt Moss got his day off to a good start win wet damp conditions when he joined, Motorex KTM's Kirk Gibbs, CDR Yamaha's Billy Mackenzie and the NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki duo of Adam Monea and Jake Moss in the first Go Pro Superpole shoot-out for the year.
It was Mackenzie who secured the fastest time in the Superpole session with Jake Moss in second and Matt Moss in third.
The sun and motocross fans came out before the gates dropped on moto one and witnessed Matt Moss make his 2014 intentions clear, quickly racing to the front of the field with his twin brother Jake and Monea in tow, while further back in the field Mackenzie's day got off to the complete opposite start stalling his Yamaha in the second corner.
Matt Moss looked as though he was going to check out up front before a mid moto crash bought down not only himself but also Jake Moss who who slammed into the back of Matt's Suzuki with the resulting damage forcing the Kawasaki rider out of the race.
Monea was the rider who made the most of the incident racing away for the opening MX1 moto win of the season. Matt Moss recovered for second with Gibbs fighting off a last lap lunge from Mackenzie who made a miraculous charge from near last to fourth.
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Matt Moss made up for his mistake in moto two taking the win from Jake in second place. Gibbs finished in third ahead of Monea, while DPH Motorsports Kade Mosig put in his second straight solid performance finishing in 5th spot.
Matt Moss grabbed the holeshot in the third and final race but was quickly relegated to third place by the NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki team riders. Jake Moss moved to the front on the opening lap, leading his team-mate Monea with the two riders holding their positions until the flag.
Matt Moss crossed the line in third and along with his 2-1 results in the opening two motos claimed the opening round win for 2014
"The win today feels somewhat weird, it does not feel as though we have just raced! "I expect to win these days, that is what I come here to do.
"We had a bad weekend today and still won," he added.
"I am really looking forward to getting home, regrouping and work on some stuff," Matt continued. "I have my brother coming down to the Moss Institute facility and we are going to do some training together and I am really looking forward to that. "I don't feel that I have been riding with anyone that is on the pace of Adam or Jake, so the plan is to get together and get going faster.
"The track was tough, I did not like it at all today." Matt admitted regarding the Broadford track. "It is normally my favourite track of the season, It just didn't flow and it did not happen for me to much today, but we got the win so we are still happy.
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Monea's 1-4-2 results put him in second place overall and proved to be a popular podium finisher in his home state of Victoria.
"Second was definitely a good start, I am happy and really happy with my first moto win and do it comfortably." Monea commented. "Well not comfortably, Mossy was riding fast, but I think at one stage towards the end it was twelve seconds, so that was nice.
"I had a bit of a iffy middle race, fourth in a pro open race is not a bad thing, but after my standards in the first race it was not as good as I wanted.
"I tryed to come back and hang onto Jake in the last race, but he was hauling ass in that last moto, but we come away with second overall. I want to stay as close as possible to Jake's brother as possible, in points, I want to beat him obviously.
"I think it is business time, it is time to get this championship, so lets go for it," he added.
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Rounding out the podium was Gibbs. At this point in time last week the KTM rider was a doubtful starter after breaking his hand at the final round of the New Zealand motocross championships. Gibbs toughed out the day however on the demanding Broadford circuit and was more than happy to come away with a podium result.
"Today was good, we came into this round with a pretty open mind with where we were going to be at and to leave here with a pretty solid points and on the box was even better. Gibbs stated.
"It was certainly a bit of a struggle today, every-time I come in my hand was pretty sore, especially after that last race. It was a tough day, but I am glad to come away from it and we will built on that.
Finishing fourth for the round was Yamaha mounted Kade Mosig who put in three great moto's to finish the day with 5-5-7 results scoring enough points to hold off Mackenzie by one point for the round. However thanks to Mackenzie's five points for superpole the Scotsman left the round fourth in the points standings and relegated Mosig back to fifth.
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Motul Suzuki's second rider for 2014, Kiwi Rhys Carter also impressed at the opening round finishing just a single point behind Mackenzie in 6th position. Finishing with a score card of 6-7-6 Carter showed he could be a real dark horse for a top finish in this years championship.
Jake Moss was unlucky to finish back in 7th place for the round finishing the day tied on points with New Zealand's Brad Groombridge who was able to carry his strong form in New Zealand where he finished second in the MX1 championship last weekend, into the Australian series.
Jay Marmont rode a consistently all day but was well off the pace of the front runners, finishing the day in 9th place overall just one point ahead of Raceline Suzuki supported rider Hayden Mellross.
Another rider who did not feature in the top ten overall but was in great form was Tattoo Racings Jacob Wright, who was holding down a top four position for the majority of the final moto of the day. Unfortunately for the Queenslander, a crash on the final lap of the final moto put a damper on what could have been a great day.
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The other big news out of the MX1 class at Broadford came from the Honda camp, with Penrite Oil Honda Racing’s Cody Cooper suffering a fractured eye socket and cheekbone after crashing during practice
After being tended to at the scene by Racesafe, Cooper was taken to hospital for x-rays and further treatment.
Penrite Oil Honda Racing Team Manager Mike Landman said it was a bitter blow for the team especially as the injury could have been avoided.
“This is absolutely devastating,” Landman said. “Every box had been ticked in preparation for this event.
“It is particularly hard to take knowing this could have been avoided if there had been haybales or some other first line of protection in place.
“At this stage we know he will definitely miss Appin as he will require further surgery to his eye socket and cheekbone once he gets back to New Zealand,” he added.
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MX1 Overall Rounds Results:
1. Matt Moss - 97 Pts
2. Adam Monea - 95 Pts
3. Kirk Gibbs - 86 Pts
4. Kade Mosig - 76 Pts
5. Billy Mackenzie - 75 Pts
6. Rhys Carter - 74 Pts
7. Jake Moss - 67 Pts
8. Brad Groombridge - 67 Pts
9. Jay Marmont - 66 Pts
10. Hayden Mellross - 65 Pts
11. Brock Winston - 60 Pts
12. Sam Martin - 57 Pts
13. Jacob Wright - 56 Pts
14. Jesse Dobson - 53 Pts
15. Lewis Woods - 50 Pts
16. Matt Ginders - 42 Pts
17. Alex Morris - 38 Pts
18. Jesse O'Farrell - 37 Pts
19. Kiera Tisdale - 36 Pts
20. James Booth Elliott - 34 Pts
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MX1 Overall Championship Standings After Round 1:
1. Matt Moss - 100 Pts
2. Adam Monea - 91 Pts
3. Kirk Gibbs - 88 Pts
4. Billy Mackenzie - 80 Pts
5. Kade Mosig - 76 Pts
6. Rhys Carter - 74 Pts
7. Jake Moss - 71 Pts
8. Brad Groombridge - 67 Pts
9. Jay Marmont - 66 Pts
10. Hayden Mellross - 65 Pts
11. Brock Winston - 60 Pts
12. Sam Martin - 57 Pts
13. Jacob Wright - 56 Pts
14. Jesse Dobson - 53 Pts
15. Lewis Woods - 50 Pts
16. Matt Ginders - 42 Pts
17. Alex Morris - 38 Pts
18. Jesse O'Farrell - 37 Pts
19. Kiera Tisdale - 36 Pts
20. James Booth Elliott - 34 Pts
For Full Results from today's racing CLICK HERE
Check back tomorrow mid morning for a full race report on the MX2 class and then again mid afternoon for a wrap on the first round of the MXD competition.
Top Image: Matt Moss crosses the line in third position in the final moto to secure the opening round win of the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals Championship
Credit: Aaryn Minerds
