Jay Marmont aiming for fourth Manjimup 15,000 title this weekend

The 2013 Matrix Equipment Manjimup 15,000 is set to kick off this weekend at the world renowned Cosy Creek Circuit, Manjimup in Western Australia. Willie Thomson’s Dirt High Promotions has gathered the best of the nation’s motocross riders along with several overseas stars for the prestigious event.

On Saturday, some of Australia’s best juniors will take to the track, including 65cc FIM Junior World Motocross champion Caleb Grothues. The Matrix Manjimup Equipment 15,000 senior event will take place on Sunday 9. Alongside Jay Marmont (Monster Energy Kawasaki) competing for the prestigious title in 2013 is Jamie Law (UK), Travis Freistat (USA), Weston Peick (USA), Todd Waters (KTM), Kirk Gibbs (KTM) Luke Davis (Yamaha), Louis Calvin (KTM) and Dean Porter (Full Force/CarsRus Honda). With over $20,000 up for grabs, the Pro Open class and all other classes of racing, with the exception of one, are full grids ensuring that well over 500 riders are competing over the two days.

Several of these riders need no introduction to WA MX fans. Jamie Law is one of the UK’s top riders who has competed in Australia previously in 2011. Dean Porter, Louis Calvin and Luke Davis are all well known to WA fans – Porter finished third at the 2012 event behind the UK’s Brad Anderson and Jake Moss. Davis was fifth in last year’s 15,000 and recently won his third consecutive Tumbulgum event ahead of Calvin. All three local riders can expect to finish prominently in the results come Sunday night.

The Marmont brothers, Jay and Ryan, are another two riders who always enjoy heading to WA to race, and always do extremely well no matter what the track conditions or racing surfaces are. Zero Seven Motorsports’ Kade Mosig featured well throughout the 2012 program and finished fourth just ahead of Davis. He stated he would relish the chance to return in 2013, although he is currently recovering from an injury sustained at the third round of this year’s MX Nationals. Jay Marmont has won at Cosy Creek on no less than three occasions; in 2003, then again in 2007 when he joined Jeff Leisk and Craig Dack as the only two-time winners of the event, then in 2011 he made history when he became the only rider in the 33-year history of the event to stand on top of the podium for an unprecedented third time.

Over the years, there have been many notable winners of the event. Roger Harvey from the UK was the first winner way back in 1980, then in 1983 Darryl Willoughby from South Australia became the first Aussie to win the event. WA’s own Jeff Leisk took back-to-back wins in 1984 and 1985 and Jimmy Ellis from the USA took the win in 1986. In 1987 and 1988 Craig Dack took the wins. Glen Bell won the event in 1989, Dale Britton in 1993. Another Western Australian Jason Marshall won in 1994, then the title went overseas when Eddie Warren won in 1995. With no event in 1996, Craig Anderson was the next winner followed in 1998 by Lee Hogan. 1999 saw Andrew McFarlane win from Hogan. Probably the most popular win was in 2004 when WA legend, the late Paul Broomfield, took the win after years of competing at Manjimup. Tim Weigand took the 2005 win for the USA, Matt Moss from NSW won in 2009, then Brad Anderson won in fine style in 2010 and again in 2012 – unfortunately he won’t be making the journey back in 2013.

There will be a full card of racing including Vets, Quads, Pro Lites and Women’s. For more information, click here, and don’t forget to check out this image gallery from last year’s event.