Suzuki Australia press release:

The KSF ECSTAR Suzuki Racing team riders are looking forward to the challenge of the Wonthaggi doubleheader as they ready themselves for back to back rounds of Pirelli MX National racing this Saturday and Sunday the 19th and 20th of May.

Leading the team’s charge in the MX1 class will be Keiron Hall who is confident of putting in four solid 30 minute plus one lap races aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450.

Hall who missed the opening round tried to return early from a thumb injury at Appin for round two and though he was able to complete qualifying was forced to pull out of the opening moto early due to continued pain.

With another two full weeks to rest his thumb, Hall will look to make the most of two days of racing action to work his way into the series.

“We have had another two weeks to allow my thumb to heal up some more, so things are looking a lot more positive heading into this weekend,” Hall commented.

“With or without an injury, this weekend is going to be demanding, the Wonthaggi track can get beat up and rough usually, but with two days of back to back racing, it could be pretty gnarly.

“The doubleheader round will be interesting for sure; we will see how it plays out and give it our all.”

The team’s second MX1 rider Jesse Dobson will sit out both the upcoming Wonthaggi doubleheader along with the following weekends round at Murray Bridge in South Australia after suffering a shoulder injury in the lead up to the opening round.

With a five-week break after the Murray Bridge round the team are hopeful to have Dobson back at 100% for the second half of the season.

With Dobson sidelined, 22-year-old Wollongong racer Corey James will step in to race the next three rounds in the MX1 class alongside Hall

Jesse Madden has been the team’s rock in the opening rounds of the year, opening the season with a 10th place overall result followed by another rock solid 12th place result last time out.

Despite a small set back, due to back pain in the lead up to this weekends event, Madden is confident of another good result at Wonthaggi.

Jordan Hill is also looking forward to a good weekend at Wonthaggi. After being drafted into the team in the days leading up to round two, Hill came straight off the bench to post a 15th place finish in his opening moto, before landing in the hands of race-safe to end the day.

“The last few weeks have been pretty quiet for me “ Madden explained. “I haven’t really done a whole lot, after racing Appin as I have been suffering from some back pain but I should be good to go on the weekend.

“It’s going to be an exciting weekend having two days of racing and having to prepare for those two days.

“My team and my mechanic Josh have been working crazy hours to get everything ready, I can’t thank them enough, and it’s time to go out there and do my best.”

Suffering no significant injuries, Hill raced to a podium at a local Queensland Sunshine State series race and in the process took over the lead of that series and is looking to carry that momentum in Wonthaggi.

“It has been a busy few weeks since Appin. I still work full time and have been putting in some long days’ working from sun up to sun down most days. “ Hill commented.

“While there has not been a great deal of riding, the team drove my race bike up from NSW for the last round of the Sunny States. It gave me another chance to get a feel for the Suzuki RM-Z250, and we came away with the podium.

“The doubleheader format is certainly going to be tough; the body was quite sore after one day of racing at Appin, two days of back to back racing on a whooped out Wonthaggi track will certainly put us to the test.”