2020 ECMX: Round 5 Recap

Finally, the East Coast MX Series has managed to conclude its season with Round 5 at the Wollongong Motorcycle Club last weekend. In a year of Covid-19 combined with adverse weather, the racing calendar has been pushed almost to Christmas. However motocross riders are a different breed and are keen to race all year round if that what it takes. Championships were on the line, some already in the bag where the points leaders just had to finish the day and others came down to the final moto.

It has been a year for setting new records, for some riders it was their first East Coast MX Championship win like the youngsters in the 7-8 50cc class Cobra rider Lochlainn Reddy and then KTM rider Claire Pollard the first female rider to podium twice in 2020 and to finish top 3 in the championship against the boys, as well as winning the Junior Girls championship. Even some of the seasoned campaigners like Josh Whitehead in the 450 pro and Tyler Darby in the 250 pro who have finished on the podium many times in years past, claimed their first East Coast championships. It was a special victory for Darby who in 2018 suffered a horrendous practise crash and sustained serious injuries. Tyler returned to the track in 2019 and in the face of adversity and rose to the challenge only a year later clinching the 250 pro class championship.

Not many riders can boast about winning two championship classes in the same year but that honour in 2020 goes to KTM riders Connor Rossandich (13-15 125cc and 13-15 250cc) and Jack Deveson ( 9-11 65cc and 9-11 85cc). Although Rossandich wrapped up his championships with ease, Deveson had a mechanical problem in the 9-11 85cc race 1, but instead of giving up Jack nursed the bike to the finish in 16^th place to score valuable points. Motocross is such a demanding sport and when things don’t go according to plan we say ”That’s racing”. In the 30-39 Vets an unfortunate injury just days before the final round to series leader Trent Brochtrup gave Colby Campbell the opportunity to take his first championship victory. Luke Clout and Dylan Wills came to play in the MX Open class and put on a show up front. Clout won the overall for the day, 3 out of 4 moto wins with Wills lurking in 2^nd for 2 of the races. In the 3^rd moto Wills managed to sneak up the inside of Clout before the centre table top to take the lead and the win. But Rhys Budd had the big picture in mind finishing 3^rd overall for the day and secured the championship in the MX Open class.

Promoter Michel Constantinou commented, “Thank you to the competitors, parents, officials, volunteers, clubs and sponsors for your support this year, we hope you’ll be back for our 10^th anniversary year in 2021!”

Congratulations to the 2020 East Coast MX Champions:

Class	Number	Make	Rider	Sponsor
7 to 8 50cc Div 2	211	COB	Reddy, Lochlainn	HI TEC METAL ROOFING SUPPLIES
7 to 8 65cc	295	KTM	Thomas, Seth
9 to 11 65cc	254	KTM	Deveson, Jack	CORY DEVESON CONCRETING/ DUBBO CITY MOTORCYCLES/ GRANDEYS BIKE BITZ
9 to 11 85cc	254	KTM	Deveson, Jack	CORY DEVESON CONCRETING/ DUBBO CITY MOTORCYCLES/ GRANDEYS BIKE BITZ
12 to 15 85cc	25	KTM	Campbell, Jyle	ELITE BRICK AND BLOCK, PROCYCLES, SBR HAULAGE
13 to 15 125cc	202	KTM	Rossandich, Connor	SOUTH COAST KTM MOTOREX OILS READMAN CIVIL NGC THAI BOXING REVIVE SAUNA THERAPY
13 to 15 years 250cc 4st	202	KTM	Rossandich, Connor	SOUTH COAST KTM MOTOREX OILS READMAN CIVIL NGC THAI BOXING REVIVE SAUNA THERAPY
Junior Girls	25	KTM	Pollard, Claire	DMK, TRUCKSERV
MX Open	22	YAM	Budd, Rhys	BBRYAMAHA, PIRELLI, MAXIMA,MX INK, STRIKER, SEVEN, MXDOME, MCD, 6D, PROTEIN CARTEL
250 Pro	241	YAM	Darby, Tyler	FITZPATRICK ENGINEERING ,MCD RACING, LINDSAY CIVIL, OTW
250 C-grade	33	YAM	Saward, Bronson	JOBSON MOTOSPORT
450 Pro	237	KTM	Whitehead, Joshua	KTM NEWCASTLE, CRAIG ANDERSON COACHING, FOXHEAD, SHIFT MX, FUNNELWEB FILTERS, RACELINE, STRIKESEATS, WILLMAX GRAPHICS, ONYA VISUALS, FRESH FUNCTIONAL FITNESS
450cc C-grade	32	KAW	Tooley, Jake
30 to 39 Vets	147	YAM	Campbell, Colby	MCD, MOTOKIT, WESTERN SYDNEY SHUTTERS
40plus Vets	123	KTM	Stiles, Andrew
Senior Women	86	KTM	Moore, Jess	KTM AUS, TRUCKSERV, PIRELLI, MOTOREX, FLY, ASTERISK, SIDI, MX INK, PRO PLEAT SEAT COVERS, PRANAON, GIANT WOLLONGONG

East Coast MX would like to thank…
Series Sponsors:
Transmoto, KTM Australia, Cobra, Alpinestars, Alpinestars Helmets, Maxima Racing Oils, Kenda Tyres, Reddy Pipe Laying, Shock Treatment, Teencee Graphics, Lush Eyewear, Race Pace MX Coaching.

Round 5 Class sponsors:
F1 Moto, MCD Racing, Western Sydney Shutters, Novak Signs, Sledgehammers Apparel, Mud and Dust MX, Hayter’s Timber.

Media crew:
MX Photo and Jacob Hantis Films.