Australian Rockstar MX Nationals shaping up for Sydney return
Friday 25 March: The Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will make a heralded return to Sydney when the Australian Motocross Championship visits Appin for the first time since 2003 on Sunday 03 April.
Featuring the nation’s top dirt bike talent, the Macarthur District
Motorcycle Club will host the second round of the 2011 championship
season, set to be staged on an all-new circuit at the popular
Appin-based complex.
The Macarthur region marks a hot spot for national motocross talent,
and leading the local charge will be new Rockstar Motul Suzuki signing
Daniel McCoy.
McCoy, 26, finished seventh on debut with the factory Suzuki team in
his return to the Motul-supported Pro Lites (250cc) category at round
one in Victoria earlier this month, but a hometown advantage could spur
him onto victory alongside a host of upcoming Sydney-based talent.
"The first round didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but I’ve done some
racing in New Zealand since then and have made some good improvements,”
McCoy said, who currently leads the NZ domestic series with the final round in New Plymouth this Sunday.
"I’m really confident for Appin and being in my hometown so close to
where I live will definitely be a boost come race day. I’m looking to
climb up the point standings and aim for the podium.”

Rockstar Motul Suzuki signing
Daniel McCoy seen here at Broadford's Round 1. Photo courtesy of Williams Event Management.
Leading the Pro Lites title chase heading into the Appin round is
South Coast-based 2009 title winner Matt Moss, who returns to Australia
for JDR Motorex KTM after a season in the U.S. last year.
Moss fronted an emotional clean-sweep for the factory KTM effort at
Broadford’s opening round, joined by teammates Brenden Harrison and
rookie Josh Cachia on the podium. Appin also marks the local round of
the series for the first class JDR Motorex KTM team, based out of Emu
Plains.
The Pirelli-sponsored Under 19s development category is currently led
by GYTR Rockstar Yamaha’s Luke Arbon, the 18-year-old victorious on
debut with his new team and looking to carry that momentum into the
second round. Arbon leads Pirelli Raceline Suzuki’s Errol Willis and
teammate Shaun Redhead in the standings.
Stay tuned for a full preview to come on the premier Rockstar Energy
Drink Pro Open (450cc) category, that series currently headed by Monster
Energy Kawasaki’s Scottish star Billy Mackenzie.
Mackenzie won a treacherous opening round of the series held in heavy
rain in Victoria, beating out Rockstar Motul Suzuki’s Kiwi contender
Cody Cooper and 21-year-old Braidwood-based Aussie Lawson Bopping
(Pirelli Raceline Suzuki).
Wollongong’s defending triple champion and fan favourite Jay Marmont
currently sits ninth in the points chase for CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha
after a difficult season opener, this year joined by younger brother
Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) in the premier class.
Ryan, 26, was able to upstage Jay, 27, on debut at Broadford with
fifth overall behind Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing’s Cheyne Boyd.
Practice and
qualifying will commence at 8:30am with the start gates scheduled to
drop on the first race action of the weekend at approximately 10:00am.
2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals Standings (after 1 of 9 rounds):
Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open
1. Billy Mackenzie (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 89 points
2. Cody Cooper (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) 71
3. Lawson Bopping (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) 70
4. Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Racing) 69
5. Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) 68
Motul Pro Lites
1. Matt Moss (JDR Motorex KTM) 94 points
2. Brenden Harrison (JDR Motorex KTM) 72
3. Josh Cachia (JDR Motorex KTM) 66
4. Cody Mackie (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda) 60
5. Phil Nicoletti (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 57
Pirelli Under 19s
1. Luke Arbon (GYTR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 94 points
2. Errol Willis (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) 81
3. Shaun Redhead (GYTR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 58
4. Jacob Mcleod (Grayson Sontor Motorcycles Yamaha) 57
5. Jacob Wright (Honda Australia) 54