SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI:

Team Shift Motul Suzuki Pro Lite star Matt Moss saved his best for last with a flawless display in the final round to secure the 2009 Australian National Motocross Championship at Coolum.

Moss was without peer in all three motos, scoring the holeshot in each race and was never headed throughout the day.

He won the first moto by seven seconds and moto two by four seconds. The third, and final, moto of the season was red flagged after a crash, which resulted in the final race being reduced to 10 minutes. The drama did little to ruffle Moss’s concentration, and he led from start to finish, taking the chequered flag seven seconds clear of his nearest rival.

The perfect points haul guaranteed Moss his first ever national motocross championship and Suzuki’s first national MX championship since 2005.

Moss’s win also gave Suzuki its first ever Pro Lites motocross title.

The win caps off another sensational year for the talented 20-year-old, adding to the 2008 Pro Lites SuperX championship he won on his Suzuki RM-Z250.

After an indifferent beginning to the season enduring a DNF in the first moto of the championship, he has been in stellar form winning 13 of the remaining 18 races.

Indeed, since the Albury round, he was never out of the top two positions and clean swept four rounds in total.

His final points haul of 422 ensured the red plate, 42 points clear of Tye Simmonds.

Rising star Lawson Bopping also saved his best for last, racking up his best points haul of the season and cementing fourth position overall in the championship.

It was a big day for Suzuki in the Pro Open class, with 2005 champion Darryl Hurley coming out of retirement to show he still has what it takes to compete with the best.

Hurley finished fourth overall for the round, including a sensational performance in the final moto where he pushed 2009 champion Jay Marmont all the way before claiming second position and another podium position.

Team Shift Motul Suzuki’s Cam Taylor secured sixth position overall in the championship with another solid performance, while Adam Monea (Byrners Suzuki / SP Motorsports) finished sixth overall for the round.

GNCC championship leader Josh Strang, on mid year break from his off road duties with Team FMF Makita Suzuki also showed his class on a Suzuki RM-Z450 with ninth place for the round.

A total of eight RM-Z450s battled out the final Pro Open event, representing the highest number of Suzukis in the premier class.

MATT MOSS, TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI
“Just a sensational feeling, knowing all that hard work was worth it.

“It’s been a long season, but I’ve kept my eyes on the prize throughout and it’s great to win another title for Suzuki.

“The bike was great today – as it has been all season – and I’d like to thank Jay for running one of the best teams in the business.”

JAY FOREMAN, TEAM SHIFT MOTUL SUZUKI MANAGER
“A fantastic result by Matt today, I’m really proud of the way he has gone about dominating the championship this year.

“He’s shown all the class and professionalism I always knew was there and it’s a credit to him to have the 2009 title.

“I’d like to thank Matt, Cameron and everyone involved with Team Shift Motul Suzuki for putting together one of the best seasons we’ve ever had.”

PERRY MORISON, GENERAL MANAGER, SUZUKI AUSTRALIA
“Congratulations to Matt. I’ve always known he had champion written all over him since I first saw him as a young rider and it’s a pleasure to see him take the Suzuki RM-Z250 to our first ever Pro Lites MX title.

“I’d like to pay tribute to Jay, who has not only run one of the best teams in the country, but has also acted as a mentor to Matt and guided him through one of the best seasons I’ve seen.

“Another consistent season by Cam resulted in another top 10 finish for Suzuki, and I’d like to especially thank Darryl for his efforts today in showing just how good the RM-Z450 can be. It all bodes well for a real crack at the title in 2010.

“Recognition must go to our sponsors – Motul, Shift, Bridgestone, NGK, RK Chains, Yoshimura, Tag Metals, Hinson, One Industries, Uni Filter, Vortex, RG3 and Braking. Without their fantastic product and ongoing support the championship would not be possible.

“I’d also like to thank Phil Tainton, from our superbike team, who developed the engine for this series and helped build a bullet-proof motorcycle that came through with flying colours.

“Suzuki can’t wait to defend both classes of the SuperX championship aboard our all-new fuel-injected RM-Z250 and RM-Z450.”