Thursday Throwdown No.21 – No Expert or Clubman class in 2011 AORC

13 years ago

What’s this “Thursday Throwdown”? It’s a digital home for rumour, fact and innuendo, delivered on a weekly basis. Covering a broad spectrum of the off-road world’s news, Thursday Throwdown will touch on everything from racing to trail riding; from industry tidbits to issues facing the sport. It’s about delivering you timely information that can’t wait till the next issue of Transmoto magazine, and stuff we’d like to hear your immediate feedback on.

MX-SX

Lots of rider talk going on about the new moto format in 2011 that sees riders going back-to-back in four consecutive races at the MX Nationals. Unlike the quad-headers at selected rounds this year (where two back-to-back motos were run before lunch, and the same again afterwards), 2011 format sees Pro Open riders lining up for four successive 15-minute motos. Reminiscent of the Mr MX formats back in the 80s, right? Word has it that Rockstar were pushing for this exciting made-for-TV formats. You would expect that Marmont, and other top riders, to come under increasing attacks from faster young-guns, whose lack of conditioning may not be exposed in these shorter sprint formats.
Still on the 15-minute motos: what about the issue of preparing Aussies for the 30-min motos at the MXoN — which we’ve never gone better than fourth? Moving to the 15-minute format will turn motocross into a shear speed-based sport, placing less importance on rider skill, knowledge and experience. Is that where we really want to take the sport?

Larsen and Moss had a few words after qualifying when PJ blamed Matt for blocking.

It looked like Ultimate Fighting hit the Super X series in Sydney. Well not really, but from what we heard last weekend’s round in Parramatta had a whole bunch of “after-race” activity going on. It all seemed to start with PJ Larsen and Matt Moss blocking each other’s lines in qualifying. Then came the altercation between Josh Cachia and Ryan Marmont, which left Marmont on the deck and out of the finals — we thought that Cachia was trying to be squeaky clean? Not to mention that Marmont would have been in a chance for the title if things go crazy in BrisVegas. What about the amount of moves that Jake Moss put on Jay Marmont throughout the night? One thing is for sure Brisbane will be one of the hardest fought races both on the track and at the afterparties!
Current Super X series leader Josh Hansen recently tweeted that he was hit by a car the other day. Here’s his tweet

“i got hit by a car full of kids two days ago, lucky the car was going slow enough it bounced my ass off the hood and i landed on my feet #cat”

Last weekend’s round of the Super X was a very simple one-line track design and there were a few rumours floating around about why. The best one we heard was the track builders accidently used too much soil to cover the boards so they didn’t have enough to build the track properly.
The Nowra Motorcycle Club is opening a new advanced MX track this Sunday for advanced riders on 125cc, or greater, machines. The track will be open from 10am until 4pm. If your Sunday’s free go for a rider and check it out.
How does Team Monster Energy Kawasaki sound? Yes, that good old rumour has done the rounds a thousand times but apparently it’s a done deal and the new team name should be painted onto the side of the big-rig over the summer break. The team looks to be made up of two Pro Open class riders for motocross with one of those riders set to move into the Pro Lites class for Super X. We can’t confirm that Josh Hansen will be back but we’d bet your money on it!
On the subject of 2011 team names, last month we reported that The Cougar Bourbon Honda Team will be changing its name to the Carlton Dry Honda Race Team. Well we just want to clarify that the name change is just that, a name change. Yarrive Konsky and the rest of the team will still be working under the same Fosters corporate banner; it’s just that the semi will have a new name on the side…

ENDURO

Nathan Castle in the Expert class at the opening round of the 2010 AORC

The 2011 Off-Road calendar was announced this week and people have definitely noticed that there is no Clubman or Expert classes. The various team managers have been communicating with MA officials to see if a compromise is available. MA has stated that the costs are too high, the lack of sponsorship, and the general lack of rider interest would make it too difficult to have a credible Championship in these fields. MA did have some positive news though, considering the idea of the introducing an Under 19 or 21 Championship Class to encourage the up-and-coming riders and help the AORC build back up to its prestigious title of Australia’s premium Off-Road event, taking advantage of the vigor of new blood.
Josh Green is hoping to ride the British Championship before the EWC starts, if he gets his visa approved
Benny Burrell is set to leave for Europe late January or early February and race the Enduro World Championship under his own steam in 2011. He’s current working his butt off trying to save enough to get himself over there. Stay tuned next week when we find out more info about his plans.
Queensland’s Kirk Hutton has confirmed he will continue riding with Yamaha in the 2011 Australian Off-Road Championship and the A4DE. He’s hoping to race the ISDE in Finland next year, too. Hutton’s 37 years old and still going strong. We wish him all the best for next year.

FMX

Robbie Maddison made his indoor leap of faith last weekend and from what we hear it went off without a hitch. The only problem was during the lead up practice runs, but he was expecting that anyway. We’ve also heard that he won the award ‘FMXer of the year’ at the ADB Awards on the weekend, so congratulations and all the best in 2011.
The Crusty tour has finished up and all of the performers are now heading back to their caves in suburbia here, there and everywhere. It was a pretty successful tour from what we hear so look out for further announcements from these guys.

INDUSTRY

Ben’s stolen bike

Benny Mulherin is a young-gun that has been helping us out ever now-and-again on the magazine. On Monday, November 29, Ben discovered his bike, gear and spares had all been stolen from his family’s Sydney home. He lost a Honda CRF150R with full custom graphics — a Monster Energy logo and his name, plus some Transmoto stickers, as well as an Alpinestars Bionic neck-brace, boots, a Fox V3 helmet and fluids and spares. Please contact the police if you have any information about the bike or gear.
Unit has released images of their new “Unit Riders” helmet paint scheme done by Mark Brown of Brown’s Grafix. We’re sure that you will be seeing one this weekend if you are planning on attending the final round of the Super X in Brisbane….

Cult online figure ‘the Dirt Shark’ was at the Parramatta round of the Super X last weekend, and they put out a sick video with a big helicopter fly-in over the track, a war-of-words between Larsen and Moss with a few words said and the Sydney round’s afterparty. Check out the video: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000104511/features/dirt-shark-monster-sydney-super-x/#idc-cover).
McLeod Accessories had their riders at Team Kawasaki dressed in some pretty funky 2011 No Fear gear at the Parramatta round of the Super X. It was looking crazy, and as with most of the gear nowadays it looks totally different once you’ve seen it being worn on track. Now we’re keen to see the rest of the product line.
Husqvarna Australia’s “all new” TE 449/511 are being released to the media next week at their Southern Highlands test area in NSW. It seems like their purpose-built test area in Kyogle will never hold a launch due to the ongoing weather issues.