Kimmy's Motor X Park

Mike Cotter

FLY TEAM GREEN RACE REPORT

EVENT: Round 2 Senior MX Nationals, Rotorua - 18^th October 2009

RIDERS: Mike Cotter – 125cc

Nick Saunders – 250F

Mason Phillips – 450F

MC NS MP

Moto 1 5^th5^th4^th

Moto 2 4^th7^th6^th

Moto 3 2^nd3^rd1^st

Overall for day
4^th5^th4^th

Championship O/A
4^th5^th3^{rd (unconfirmed)}

COMMENTS:

Rotorua lived up to it's reputation of being wet, cold, muddy and physically demanding.

All in all it was a good day for Fly Team Green with the riders all posting impressive results in their last moto's. The Team got their first moto win through Mason Phillips aboard his KX 450 in the last round, which set a precedent both Nick and Mike tried to follow.

All three Team riders started the Day using Bridgestone's M203/M204 combination but as the track dried out, made the change for the last moto to the Medium compound M404 – the results speak for themselves in the difference this change made.

A big thanks to the Team of Craig Guy, Fred Saunders, Geoff Phillips, George and Barry for keeping the Team running during the day – Cheers Guys.

There is now a three week break before round 3 at Patetonga on November 8^th. This coming Sunday will see Nick and Mason compete in Taupo's annual Labour Weekend Extravaganza where we hope to carry the results on from this weekend!!

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EVENT: Round 3 Senior MX Nationals - 8^th November 2009

RIDERS: Mike Cotter – 125cc

Nick Saunders – 250F (MX 2)

Mason Phillips – 450F (MX 1)

MC NS MP

Moto 1 3rd 2nd 5th

Moto 2 5th 4th 4th

Moto 3 2nd 3rd 2nd

Overall for day:

3rd 3rd 3rd

Championship O/A:

3rd 3rd 3^rd

COMMENTS:

The track and weather conditions today were perfect. Patetonga did a fantastic job with track prepping and making it a little less one lined in a few places.

The boys had put a lot of work in the last three weeks since round 2 at Rotorua. Nick was aboard a new 2010 250F for this round and Mason had made small but important adjustments to his 450 race machine.

Bridgestone's 403/404 combination were the pick for this round and they didn't disappoint.

Mason had a hard day at the office with having to come from last place in moto 1 to secure 5^thplace for the race. Moto 2 was a battle royal between Mason, Groombridge and series points leader Justin MacDonald, unfortunately Mason had to settle for 4^th. Moto 3 was a different story as Mason chased Cody Cooper home to finish an easy second.

Nick had an outstanding first moto with a holeshot on his new bike and managed to take 2^nd at moto's end. Nick stayed very consistent in all his three moto's and combined with excellent starts saw him leap up the championship points ladder to third.

Myself, well I seem to get better each round!!I lead the first moto for a couple of laps to finish 3^rd, crashed twice in the 2^nd moto to finish 5^th and holeshoted the last race to lead for 8 laps but was unable to hold off Damien King to finish 2^nd.

A big thanks to the Team of Craig Guy, Fred Saunders, Geoff Phillips, George and Barry for keeping the Team running during the day – Cheers Guys.Also good to see our supporters out in force, it does make a difference seeing you on the sideline during the race.

At the end of the day all of the Team have moved up into top 3 positions for the Championship.All of us will need to go into the 4^th and final round at New Plymouth next weekend super prepared and focused as our lead over 4^th place is only by 8 -9points. The battle has only just begun!

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EVENT: Whakatane Summer X - 27^th/28^th December 2009

Nick Saunders – 250F (MX 2)

Mason Phillips – 450F (MX 1)

NS MP

Moto 1 7th 6th

Moto 2 8th 4th

Moto 3 DNF 4th

Overall for day 19^th 5^th

COMMENTS:

After a six week break the racing schedule was about to get busy again with Summer X, the Super X Nationals then Woodville hardly giving the riders a rest throughout Jan.

The racing on the Monday was going to be a little special as this event marked the return of Ben Townley competing aboard a Kawasaki KX 450.

Unfortunately Nicks run of bad luck continued as he crashed out of race three on lap 1, re-injuring his shoulder that he crashed heavily on a month earlier at the Hamilton SX. Nick has now decided to take a few weeks off and won’t be competing at the first two rounds of SX down South. Here’s hoping some rest and rehab will get Nick back on the gas with his return in 2010

This was Mason’s first outing on the 450 since “the crash” during the final round of the MX Nats back in November. Since then he had several weeks off to rehab the shoulder and has been getting up to speed on his 250F ready for the SX Series.

The first moto was a little rusty with arm pump etc but moto 2 was better as he found his rhythm half way through finishing 4^th- less than a second off third.

Moto 3 started the same way moto 2 ended, with Mason riding aggressively fast, he stayed third till the last lap even catching BT and posting a faster lap time by 200^th of a second!. Mason couldn’t maintain the pace and was caught by Brad Groombridge with a lap to go. They traded places several times during the final lap with Mason going down trying one last time to get Brad back before the finish.

Great result for Kawasaki with Ben making a successful return to racing, Mason showed great speed but just needs to be able seal the deal at the end so to speak, while Nick needs to get his confidence back up again.

With Nick’s withdrawal from SX, Mason has decided to ride both classes as he feels this will benefit his MX2 title chase. Good luck to Mason for the first two rounds next week in Timaru and Motueka.

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EVENT: Round 3 NZ Supercross Championships

Tokoroa, Saturday 16^th January

Haki Waller – KX85 (13 to 16 years 85cc)

Mason Phillips – 450F (MX 1)

Mason Phillips – 250F (MX2)

Nick Saunders – 250F (MX2)

Haki Mason Mason Nick

(85cc) (MX1) (MX2) (MX2)

Qualified 1st 3rd 1^st 10^th

Moto 1 2nd 2nd 1^st 7th

Moto 2 2^nd 2nd 2nd 6^th

Moto 3 1st 3rd 2nd 7^th

Round 3

Overall: 2^nd 2^nd 2^nd 7^th

COMMENTS:

Having missed out on the first two rounds of SX action down South, I was excited to get to Tokoroa for Round 3 and see first hand how the Team were performing.

The track was very different this time round. The club had pretty much redesigned the layout making it wider everywhere increasing the flow with still some technical rhythm sections to make it interesting.

Weather wasn’t the best with light drizzle coming and going during most of the evening programme. The track held up well with traction still fairly good considering the dampness.

Haki looked great all night, he set the fastest time in qualifying and could’ve had the overall for this round “but”….

Haki had the lead during moto 1 but went down, he remounted to finish 2^nd, then got 2^nd again as he ran out of laps to get Micah in moto 2. In the final moto Haki made a good block pass on Micah and basically ran away with it to finish the night with a win. Haki sits 21 points behind Micah with a round to go so unless he makes a big mistake Haki will just have to aim for the round win.

Mason had a near brilliant night, it was only a small mistake in moto2 of the MX2 class that really put the damper on what was truly gritty riding for him. Mason lead moto 1 from start to finish and looked to do the same in moto 2 when with 2 laps to go he ran wide on a corner making himself hit the brakes hard to prevent crashing, this allowed Scott Columb to sneak past and take the win.

Moto 3 was impressive as both Scott and Mason suffered terrible starts, with Mason only just inside the top 10. They both worked their way through the pack in just 5 laps with Mas finishing 2^nd right on Scotty’s rear wheel, if only there was another lap!!! Columb now has a 9 point lead over Mason which means Mas has to win 3 from 3 next Saturday night in Auckland to take the title.

After having a couple of weeks off, Nick fronted up for Tokoroa and got better and better as the night went on. Nick’s final moto was his best with him dicing for 4^th and looking very comfortable considering it was his first SX race in a year. He was super happy to finish the night on two wheels and he will only improve from here.

MX1 was the best SX racing I have seen in quite some time. BT went down hard half way through moto 1, he was a little bruised and battered plus the bike was bent up. With it being back to back motos there was little time to straighten things. A new brake lever was fitted and the left hand grip had to be rewired on as well.

Ben regrouped to take the wins in the final two motos while Cody, Mason and Justin were dicing it out hard. Cody took the overall for the round due to Ben’s crash in moto1 with Mason taking second and Ben third. BT still has a good points lead, while Justin is only 1 point ahead of Mason and Cody who are tied on points – it will be intense, hard racing at the final round between these three that’s for sure!

Thanks to all of the Team sponsors for their continued support, I hope you will be able to make It to the final round this coming Saturday at Manukau.