00 Elite press release:

Image: Supplied.

Nathan Crawford of 00 Elite Rider Training is a justifiably a proud and happy coach after his squad of ten athletes exceeded expectations at the weekend’s Queensland motocross championships at Hervey Bay.

Crawford and the 00 Elite riders lifted four Queensland Championship trophies, added a further podium, and another three more top-five finishes.

Himself a former factory racer and one-time AMA Supercross racer, Crawford was thrilled with the weekend’s haul, in what were none-too-easy conditions.

“The Hervey Bay track is a sand circuit that hasn’t held a major title race in a few years, and the preparation by the club was an awesome test for every rider. It got super rough and with the moto lengths it challenged each rider for both skill and fitness.”

Ryan Alexanderson led the way with two championship wins on his #62 KTM Australia junior team machines, taking home both the Junior Lites 4-stroke 15 years championship and the Junior Lites 2-stroke 15 years championship. Kobe Drew of the MPE FXR Motorex Futures team took out the Junior Lites 4-stroke 13-u15 championship and a 2nd in the Junior Lites 2-stroke 13-u15.

Husqvarna Junior team racer Heath Fisher won every moto in the 85cc 9-u12 yrs championship to claim a well-deserved title, while Brock Sleader powered his MPE Husqvarna to 5th place in both the 2-stroke and 4-stroke Junior Lites 15 years classes.

In the Junior Lites 4-stroke 15 years championship, Jack Kitchen finished 8th on the MTA Turbos Gold Coast Husqvarna after stopping to help another rider who was trapped under his bike.

World Junior Championship winner and Husqvarna Junior team rider Braden Plath finished 7th in the Junior Lites 2-stroke 13-u15 class, and was disappointed to finish 4th in the 85cc 12-u14 category after an electrical issue in the opening moto – resulted in a 16th place start to the day.

Brenton Wilson finished 10th in the Junior Lites 2-stroke 13-u15 category on the BRW transport entry, while Jacob Wimmer rode his Browns Dirt bike Services machine to 11th in the 85cc 9-u12 class.

The team’s youngest members were certainly not shy about getting into the action either, with Levi Smith having the ride of his young career on the MPE FXR Motorex Futures machine. The result to the 65cc 10-u12 class went right down to the final lap as he tied for 3rd place on points, but ultimately was relegated to 4th on a count back. Riley Morel took out 6th in the 65cc 10-U12.

For coach Crawford it was a highly satisfying result in his first year back in full-time motorcycle coaching. “After choosing to leave a great job at HQVA back in January this year to go back coaching full time, these titles confirm it was a good decision to return to what I love, and I’m super proud of all my athletes.

Crawford’s next target is to help his highest-profile female client – Queensland motocross Champion Tahlia Drew – through the final stages of her campaign to defend the Queensland title at Gladstone in a little under seven weeks.