CDR Rockstar Yamaha's Jay Marmont has won the first round of the 2009 Monster Energy Super X title at Launceston's Aurora Stadium, with his two second places in the doubled-header-header final enough to give him the overall from Daniel Reardon (Woodstock Honda Thor Racing), and defending champion Chad Reed (Monster Energy Kawasaki).
Marmont was strong and steady all night, upstaging the likes of Reed and Reardon with a well-drilled performance - the sort of focus which saw him retain his national motocross title in 2009.
"I was tired towards the end of the final race and didn't do the triple-triple which probably cost me the win, however, I knew I had the overall and that was my focus," said Marmont.
"It was the perfect night. On paper obviously all the pressure was on Chad (Reed), so we just had to go out and get good starts and stay out of trouble then let the race come to us -- and that's exactly what happened.
"With the 10-lap sprint there is a fair bit of mayhem, but both Cheyne (Boyd) and I stuck to our game plan and it paid off.
"To come out and get two solid results and the overall is a fantastic way to open the season for CDR Rockstar Yamaha and shows what a force the YZ450F will be."
Making his debut in Kawasaki colours after leaving Suzuki, Reed got o0ff to a disastrous start when he crashed in his heat, forcing him through the last chance qualifier to make the final.
Although a bit sore, that was still a formality, but he was never in the hunt in the first 10-lap final, as Reardon -- showing the speed that gained him third place in the US Open in Las Vegas last weekend - toyed with the opposition, winning easily from Marmont, Boyd, Cody Mackie (Cool Air Conditioning Kawasaki), Reed and Tye Simmonds (Motorex KTM), making a solid debut in the 450cc class.
Reardon was the on track for a double before an innocuous crash in the second 10-lapper, opening the door for Mackie to take a popular win.
But Reed had other ideas and, after a magnificent charge through the pack, leapfogged from fourth to first on the final lap as he came home with a wet sail.
His final act was a breathtaking swoop on Mackie, who appeared to be startled and fell off at slow speed - dropping him from a certain podium to ninth place.
"Considering all the weather conditions and what we started with at the beginning of the week the track was very good," said Reed. "Someone hit me from behind in the heat race and came down on top of my elbow which put me out of the heat.
"It was extremely painful during both races -- every bump it hurt so I had to be a bit cautious.
"I tried to be careful and not do anything silly, but on the last lap I saw an opportunity to challenge for the race lead and I had to take it; I ended up winning the last race which was pretty cool."
Marmont was again second in the final 10-lapper, ahead of Boyd, Reardon and Simmonds.
In the 250cc final, Shift Motul Suzuki's Matt Moss won both of the doubled-header races to claim the honours from US rider Kyle Cunningham (Serco Yamaha) and JDR Motorsports Ryan Marmont (Yamaha).
"That was a great way to start the series," said Moss. The new fuel injected RM-Z250 ran beautifully; Jay's put together a bike that can take me to another title."
Moss's twin brother Jake, riding in the 450cc class on a Shift Motul Suzuki, wasn't so successful, crashing hard in his opening final and breaking his wrist, which looks like putting him out for the remainder of the championship.
The Monster Energy Super X will now make its way to Skilled Stadium in Geelong (Vic) for round two on Saturday, October 24, where Michael Byrne will join the 450cc paddock riding for the new newly formed Rockstar Honda Maxima Team.
Byrne's return will mark not only his first taste of competition on home soil since the Gosford Supercross Masters in 2004
"It's been a long time since I raced in Australia -- especially on a Honda -- so I'm definitely looking forward heading back and riding in front of the Aussie fans," said Byrne. "I am going to give it my all and I don't know what to expect."
CURRENT STANDINGS (after round one of seven):
450cc
1 Jay Marmont, Yamaha, 25pts
2 Daniel Reardon, Honda, 22
3 Chad Reed, Kawasaki, 20
4 Cheyne Boyd, Yamaha, 18
5 Tye Simmonds, KTM, 16
6 Cody Mackie, Kawasaki, 15
7 Daniel McCoy, KTM, 14
8 Craig Anderson, Kawasaki, 13
9 Michael Addison, Honda, 12
10 Cameron Taylor, Suzuki, 11
250cc
1 Matt Moss, Suzuki, 25
2 Ryan Marmont, Yamaha, 22
3 Kyle Cunningham, Yamaha, 20
4 Lawson Bopping, Suzuki, 18
5 Kirk Gibbs, Yamaha, 16
6 Adam Monea, Suzuki, 15
7 Brendan Harrison, Yamaha, 14
8 Mitch Austin, KTM, 13
9 Danny Anderson, KTM, 12
10 Shaun Williamson, Honda, 11
Published : Sunday, 18 October 2009