Monster Energy Kawasaki's Billy Mackenzie won the Pro Open category at Murray Bridge. Image: Alex Gobert.

Scotsman Billy Mackenzie stormed to his second victory of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, season with a solid victory at Murray Bridge in South Australia on Sunday, 8 May.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s national number two Mackenzie, 26, was relentless in his pursuit for victory in his first visit to Murray Bridge, winning overall with 1-1-3-1 results.

The victory boosts Mackenzie up to third in the standings following four of nine rounds, now sitting 17 points off the championship lead despite suffering from injuries in recent rounds.

“It feels really awesome to win, I can’t describe the weight that’s off my shoulders,” the ex-grand prix winner said. “I’ve been sat at home, couldn’t even get off the couch with a fractured shoulder blade, plus a rib injury.

“I just dug deep for the past couple of rounds for points, but I won the overall here and it’s given me motivation to go and win the next round. I just want to keep having fun, so thanks to Monster Energy Kawasaki.”

The series lead returned to Mackenzie’s 20-year-old Australian teammate Dean Ferris, who was second overall on the weekend with 10-2-1-2 results across the four 20-minute motos.

“It was great for Kawasaki to get a 1-2 finish and even better for me to reclaim the series lead,” Ferris said. “I rode decent today with three really good finishes and that’s always the aim to be consistent here. It’s just great to have so much support from my team.”

Rounding out the podium was another international in New Zealander Michael Phillips, the Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing contender battling up front to seal third overall with a scorecard of 3-3-4-7.

“I just put some solid starts together and went from there,” Phillips said. “It was a tough track to pass on, but I felt comfortable with my speed and the bike. To finish on the podium with these guys is a good result.”

Fourth for the round was defending triple champion Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) despite suffering a finger injury ahead of the weekend, while 2009 Murray Bridge winner Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) completed the top five.

Kiwi former world runner-up Coppins finished sixth overall, a crash and subsequent DNF in the final moto denying him of what would have been a sure podium finish.

Another rider to crash out of moto four was JDR Motorex KTM’s Ryan Marmont, transported to hospital with an unconfirmed foot injury, however he remained eighth overall. His teammate Dan Reardon was earlier ruled out of the round with a wrist injury.

Leading KTM rider in the Open class for the round was Lewis Woods, the Top Gear KTM team rider taking a strong seventh for the round in his debut on the 450 SX-F.

Ferris has now claimed the Rockstar Energy Pro Open series lead by nine points over former leader Coppins, while Mackenzie re-climbed the points ladder from sixth to third.

South Australian Kirk Gibbs was a popular home round victor in the Pro Lites. Image: Alex Gobert.

South Australian home state hero Kirk Gibbs raced to his first victory of the season for Serco Yoshimura Yamaha in the Motul Pro Lites, a perfect score of 1-1-1-1 results boosting him to the overall.

Gibbs’ result slashed the previous 85-point advantage of title leader Matt Moss (JDR Motorex KTM) to 37, becoming the first Lites rider of the year to gain a clean sweep for the round.

“I had a heap of family and friends here this weekend and it feels good to be the first to win four races in a row for the round and I was able to take a big chunk out of Moss’ points lead,” 21-year-old Gibbs said. “I just want to keep chipping away, take it round by round and see where we end up. It feels so good to get this one in my home state.”

Meanwhile, Moss had a nightmare round after winning the opening three events of this year, crashes and bad starts forcing him to settle for an uncharacteristic seventh overall with 7-2-16-10 results.

While Matt struggled in South Australia, twin brother Jake made it a Serco Yoshimura Yamaha 1-2 finish on the podium after scoring second overall on Sunday.

Returning to form and fitness following a shoulder injury sustained earlier this season, Moss took 5-8-2-4 results to clinch the runner-up from Kiwi Justin McDonald (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda). McDonald had 3-3-5-9 results across the round.

Completing the top five positions in the Lites were McDonald’s impressive teammate Keiron Hall and Rockstar Motul Suzuki’s Daniel McCoy, who in turn boosted himself up a spot to fourth in the series.

Rising star Errol Willis became the first two-time winner of 2011 in the Under 19s. Image: Alex Gobert.

The Pirelli Under 19s development category saw championship leader Errol Willis extend his advantage for Raceline Pirelli Suzuki with a hard-fought victory at Murray Bridge.

Willis became the first two-time overall round winner of the season with 1-4-4-1 results, edging out local favourite Luke Arbon (GYTR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) by just three points.

“I can’t thank the whole Raceline Pirelli Suzuki team enough, I’m just pumped,” Willis said. “We’re just going to keep chipping away, I’m feeling comfortable and I feel like I can beat them pretty easily. My determination at the moment is 100 percent and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Gawler’s Arbon was in form all day for the South Australian fans, narrowly falling short of victory after taking 4-2-1-4 results – a bad start in the final moto dashing his hopes of what could have been a popular home round win.

Rounding out the podium was Victorian rookie Jake Emanuelli (Yamaha Australia/Hart and Huntington), who enjoyed a consistent round with 2-8-2-2 results.

Round three winner Dylan Peterson (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda) won moto two of the day, securing fourth overall from Arbon’s teammate Shaun Redhead.

Round five of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be contested at Toowoomba in Queensland on Sunday, 21 May. Practice and qualifying will commence at 8:30am with the official opening ceremonies taking place at approximately 10:30am.

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au on the web for complete series and round information on the 2011 season.

2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals
Round 4 Results:

Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open
1. Billy Mackenzie (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 95
2. Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 80
3. Michael Phillips (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) 72
4. Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 66
5. Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) 65
6. Josh Coppins (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 62
7. Lewis Woods (Top Gear KTM) 51
8. Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) 43
9. Riley Graham (Kawasaki) 36
10. Adam Monea (Berry Sweet Strawberries/Lucas Oil Honda) 33

Motul Pro Lites
1. Kirk Gibbs (Serco Yoshimura Yamaha) 100
2. Jake Moss (Serco Yoshimura Yamaha) 69
3. Justin McDonald (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda) 68
4. Keiron Hall (Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda) 59
5. Daniel McCoy (Rockstar Motul Suzuki) 57
6. Brenden Harrison (JDR Motorex KTM) 54
7. Matt Moss (JDR Motorex KTM) 52
8. Ford Dale (Serco Yoshimura Yamaha) 50
9. Luke Styke (Yamaha) 48
10. Josh Cachia (JDR Motorex KTM) 46

Pirelli Under 19s
1. Errol Willis (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) 86
2. Luke Arbon (GYTR Rockstar Yamaha) 83
3. Jake Emanuelli (Yamaha Australia/Hart and Huntington) 79
4. Dylan Peterson (Team 07 Axis Motorsport Honda) 69
5. Shaun Redhead (GYTR Rockstar Yamaha) 68
6. Dan Banks (Eco-Pest Control KTM) 59
7. Dylan Long (Top Gear KTM) 47
8. Kyle McKeddie (Mornington Kawasaki) 39
9. Mitch Norris (JDR Moss Institute Suzuki) 38
10. Sam Martin (Byrners Suzuki) 35

Championship Standings (after 4 of 9 rounds):
Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open
1. Dean Ferris 299
2. Josh Coppins 290
3. Billy Mackenzie 282
4. Jay Marmont 265
5. Cheyne Boyd 255
6. Michael Phillips 235
7. Lawson Bopping 219
8. Ryan Marmont 206
9. Daniel Reardon 164
10. Louis Calvin 156

Motul Pro Lites
1. Matt Moss 329
2. Kirk Gibbs 292
3. Brenden Harrison 239
4. Daniel McCoy 231
5. Cody Mackie 216
6. Josh Cachia 215
7. Keiron Hall 212
8. Justin McDonald 204
9. Ford Dale 199
10. Phil Nicoletti 197

Pirelli Under 19s
1. Errol Willis 345
2. Luke Arbon 316
3. Dylan Peterson 272
4. Shaun Redhead 253
5. Jake Emanuelli 227
6. Kyle McKeddie 185
7. Dylan Long 159
8. Jay Wilson 143
9. Jacob Mcleod 123
10. Kale Makeham 114