Yamaha MX Report from Conondale

Yamaha Racing’s teenage sensations Jake Moss, Brendan Harrison, Dean Ferris and Simon Thompson have flown the flag for Yamaha at Round 3 of the Nokia Motocross Nationals at Queensland’s picturesque Conondale circuit today.
 
Serco Yamaha riders Jake Moss and Brendan Harrison gave Team Owner Gavin Eales a reason to smile with both of his riders taking comprehensive round wins in their respective categories.
 
In the Yamaha Motor Australia Under 19’s/MX Development Series, Queensland Yamaha Junior Development Team member Dean Ferris backed up Harrison’s victory with a solid second placing while in the Pro Open class CDR/Nokia/Yamaha’s injury woes continued with Ford Dale sidelined after a nasty practice crash.
 
With Matt Moss making his return to racing after a 13 week absence Simon Thompson from the Queensland Yamaha Dealer Team was Yamaha’s best placed Pro Open contender, finishing eighth for the round.
 
Yamaha’s Factory riders will now recuperate and prepare for the much anticipated fourth round of the series at Raymond Terrace on Sunday May 20. 
 
Yamaha Racing Pro Open
 
With the unforgiving Conondale circuit claiming CDR/Nokia/Yamaha’s Ford Dale to injury in the early morning practice session, Yamaha’s pro open hopes fell to teammate Matt Moss, Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsports Shane Metcalfe and Tom Jones and Queensland Yamaha Dealer Team’s Simon Thompson.
 
While Yamaha’s charges all qualified outside the top ten, Thompson, Moss and Jones all looked promising after recording solid top ten finishes in the opening moto.
 
After 13 weeks sidelined with injury Matt Moss showed glimpses of his pre injury form, holding third position for the opening laps of the race before arm pump set in and he fell back through the order to eighth.
 
Fellow Yamaha rider Simon Thompson rode a strong consistent opening race, battling with Jay Marmont for fifth place. Unable to find a way past, Thompson was forced to settle for sixth in a race that was won by Daryl Hurley from Cody Cooper and Craig Anderson.
 
In Moto 2 Thompson went down on the opening lap but remounted and rode sensationally to claw his way back into the top ten. After eventually crossing the finish line in ninth position the Queensland Yamaha Dealer Team rider was Yamaha’s best placed competitor in the Pro Open class, claiming eighth overall for the round.
 
“This was the first time in twelve months I have had to do a thirty minute moto so fitness became a major factor,” said Thompson.
 
“Dicing with Jay was certainly a highlight and I am very proud to have flown the Pro Open flag for Yamaha today.” 
 
Matt Moss got caught up in the opening lap incident that also claimed Simon Thompson and after another bout of arm pump finished Moto 2 just outside the top ten.
 
Finishing 11th overall on the day Moss said he was aware his return to the track was not going to be easy. “I knew I was going to struggle this weekend after 13 weeks off the bike,” said Moss. “Arm pump played havoc today but I focused on managing it as best as possible and staying on the bike.” “The opening laps of Moto 1 showed I haven’t lost any pace, it is just a matter of getting my race fitness back,” Moss added.
 
Shane Metcalfe experienced another difficult round after losing operation of his clutch in the opening race to fall from ninth to 21st after crashing twice on the final lap of the race. It was not all doom and gloom for Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsport, Tom Jones recorded two top ten race finishes to give him tenth overall for the round.
 
Cody Cooper won the round from Daryl Hurley and Craig Anderson.
 
Yamaha Racing Pro Lite

                                                                
Serco Yamaha’s Jake Moss has taken maximum points and further extended his Pro Lite Championship lead after riding two near perfect races at Conondale today.
 
The 18 year old recorded his second round victory in succession and third consecutive podium after dominating both races from start to finish.
 
Moss holeshot the opening race and was never challenged, cruising to an easy eight second victory ahead of former team mate Cameron Taylor and Danny Anderson.
 
It was a case of de-ja-vu in Moto 2 with the Yamaha rider clearing out to a ten second lead by the end of Lap 5 and then finishing the race over 15 seconds ahead of Cameron Taylor in second place.
 
The Serco Yamaha rider, who has set himself some tough goals this season, said he would not be happy with just riding consistently. “While my confidence is up 100% on where it was last year I don’t want to win the championship just on consistency,” said Moss “My aim at each and every round is to come out and dominate the way we have today.”  “Overall I wasn’t that happy with my riding as I didn’t feel very comfortable and I got a bit of arm pump up. But hey I won, so I shouldn’t be too disappointed!” Moss added.
 
Moss now commands a healthy 37 point lead in the Championship over Mitch Hoad.
 
Despite showing great speed Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsports Shaun Williamson was disappointed in his results after a bad start in the opening race set the scene for the day which was marred by a series of minor incidents.
 
Williamson ended up 24th for the round after finishing 18th in Moto 1 and 24th in Moto 2. “It was a disappointing weekend for me because we have the speed to be well inside the top ten,” said Williamson. “I have got to get it together and stop making these small mistakes; once I get that sorted I should be right.” 

Teammate Matt Gangell struggled on the tricky Conondale track and finished 30th for the round, his best result 22nd in Moto 2.
 
Yamaha mounted Michael Phillips and Luke George boosted the manufacturers Pro Lite results with Phillips 8th and George 10th for the round.
 
Yamaha Motor Australia Under 19’s/MX Development Series

With the Under 19’s class fast becoming Yamaha’s own, it was no surprise that blue bikes donned the top two spots of the dais with Serco Yamaha’s Brendan Harrison edging out the Queensland Yamaha Junior Development Team’s Dean Ferris for overall honours.

The two dueled throughout the day with Ferris grabbing pole position on the final lap of timed qualifying and converting it to his first ever national race victory. In Moto 1 Ferris got off the start line well, rounding the first turn in third before taking the lead less than half a lap later. Brendan Harrison also got a good start but was unable to get close enough to apply any pressure. Ferris won the opening race ahead of Harrison while Round 2 winner Kirk Gibbs from Team 07 M2R Yamaha Motorsports struggled back in 15th position.

In Moto 2 it was Harrison who led after a four-way battle with Ferris, Gibbs and Todd Waters early in the race. Harrison won the race ahead of Waters and Ferris and Gibbs.While very happy to have maintained Yamaha’s winning streak Harrison acknowledged he would need to improve his fitness.“We had a really good day today although I am still not 100% happy with my riding,” said Harrison.
 
“I still have a long way to go with fitness after my injury earlier in the year but hopefully over the next couple of weeks with some intensive training that should return.”
 
Second on the day and celebrating his first national race win Dean Ferris recognized his starts as an area that needed working on.
 
“I had fun out there today but I have got a bit of work to do on my starts before the next round,” said Ferris.  Moto 1 was perfect. I got the start and just put my head down and rode my own race. I could see Brendan behind me but he wasn’t really pressuring me.”

“Moto 2 was good but not great, I thought I had them covered early in the race, but Todd and Brendan stepped it up and all three of us circulated at the same pace. But 2nd overall is my best finish so far and I have improved at every event," Ferris added.

After finishing a very credible fourth in Moto 2 Kirk Gibbs rounded out the top ten and now moves to fourth in the Championship behind Brendan Harrison, Todd Waters and Dean Ferris.