MX Nationals road show reaches Coonabarabran

The travelling road show that is the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will reach Coonabarabran in New South Wales this weekend on 19 June for stop six of what has been a spectacular nine-round season to date.

This weekend’s proceedings will commence with a special treat for the Coonabarabran locals on Saturday morning, 18 June, with the nation’s leading teams conducting a truck parade through the town, commencing at 10.00am from the local showgrounds.

“This weekend marks the series’ first visit to Coonabarabran, so together with the promoter we have organised the parade to showcase the teams of the MX Nationals and to show the community the size of the commercial impact that the event will have on the region,” Williams Event Management’s Kevin Williams explained.

“When we started with the championship back in 1998 there was really just two pantechs, which has now become a travelling road show of five semis and 10 pantechs. It’s grown immensely over the last 10 years.”

The on-track action around the Goanna Tracks Complex’s 2.988-kilometre national circuit will be fierce come Sunday’s race day, with 20-year-old Aussie rising star Dean Ferris leading the series into round six, the Kyogle resident using a consistent podium run to boost him into the championship lead just past the halfway mark.

Ferris will have to fend off Scottish-born Monster Energy Kawasaki teammate Billy Mackenzie, who is nine points in arrears at this point, as well as former world championship runner-up Josh Coppins, currently third for CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha.

Completing the Rockstar Energy Pro Open top five at this point is Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing), who is fresh off a win in the Victorian state titles, and triple champion Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha), who clinched the Queensland championship on Monday.

Wild cards to watch out for this weekend despite not factoring in the championship hunt through injury are most recent round winner Cody Cooper (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) and the returning Todd Waters (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing).

JDR Motorex KTM’s Matt Moss, 22, heads the Motul Pro Lites points chase by 27 points, however his lead has been more than halved in recent rounds by Serco Yoshimura Yamaha’s Kirk Gibbs — the lone man to enjoy a perfect weekend in the Lites this season thanks to his home round sweep in South Australia.

Rounding out the top three and also well within the championship hunt is Dan McCoy, who at 27 is a relative veteran of the class for Rockstar Motul Suzuki, and his confidence is sky-high after winning round five at Toowoomba.

Australia’s best up and coming talent will be on display in the hard-fought Pirelli Under 19s development ranks, where Raceline Pirelli Suzuki rider Errol Willis enjoys a handy buffer of 51 points from arch-rival Luke Arbon (GYTR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) and his teammate Shaun Redhead.

Round six of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be contested at Coonabarabran in New South Wales on Sunday, 19 June. Practice and qualifying will commence at 8:30am with the official opening ceremonies taking place at approximately 10:30am.

Spectator Entry Information:

Adults – $30
Children (5-15yrs) – $15
Children (Under 5yrs) – Free
Family (2 adults, 2 children) – $70

2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals – Championship Standings (after 5 of 9 rounds):

Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open

1. Dean Ferris 379
2. Billy Mackenzie 370
3. Josh Coppins 350
4. Cheyne Boyd 328
5. Jay Marmont 324
6. Michael Phillips 291
7. Lawson Bopping 251
8. Cody Cooper 213
9. Ryan Marmont 206
10. Louis Calvin 193

Motul Pro Lites

1. Matt Moss 347
2. Kirk Gibbs 320
3. Daniel McCoy 295
4. Brenden Harrison 283
5. Josh Cachia 266
6. Phil Nicoletti 244
7. Keiron Hall 244
8. Cody Mackie 238
9. Justin McDonald 235
10. Luke Styke 230

Pirelli Under 19s

1. Errol Willis 407
2. Luke Arbon 356
3. Shaun Redhead 307
4. Dylan Peterson 272
5. Jake Emanuelli 249
6. Kyle McKeddie 241
7. Jay Wilson 208
8. Kale Makeham 159
9. Dylan Long 159
10. Jacob Mcleod 153