Team Motul Suzuki press release:

Team Motul Suzuki have rounded out the 2015 MX Nationals at Coolum on Sunday the 30th of August with young recruit Egan Mastin once again showing great speed in just his second MX1 event.

The 17 year old took like duck to water in the heavy black sands of Coolum, kicking off his weekend with a fine effort in qualifying, finishing Saturday afternoons session in 7th place, while team-mate Kale Makeham managed the 11th fastest time.

When the gates dropped on moto one on Sunday morning, Mastin once again showed he has what it takes to run with Australia’s best, running deep inside the top ten for the entire race. Unfortunately for Mastin with just half a lap remaining and sitting in sixth position, he became one of a handful of riders on the day who ran out of fuel in the heavy, deep sandy conditions.

Lining back up for the second moto, Mastin settled into an eleven rider freight train at the front of the field. Keeping pace with the front runners for the entire moto, the New South Welshman crossed the finish line in a very respectable 8th place to end his two event appearance aboard the Team Motul Suzuki RM-Z450.

“It was a great weekend out at Coolum and it felt great to qualify in 7th, then back it up in both races running near the front of the field.” Mastin commented. “It was unfortunate to run out of fuel in race one after working my way through the field, but we made up for it in race two with a very good result.”

“Overall I am happy with the results, though I am always aiming to do better. I can’t thank the team enough for this opportunity, Jay and the team have been fantastic to work with and it was a great experience.” Mastin added.

For Makeham Sunday’s race day got off to a tough start when he came up short on the giant double at the Coolum track. Despite crashing hard and giving his head a good rattle, the Victorian was able to gather himself and re-join the race, though a good half a lap behind the field.

Not one to give up, Makeham raced through to a 13th place finish in race one before backing up with a 12th place finish in race two, rounding out the day in 11th overall. At seasons end, the 21 year old completed his maiden MX1 series in 9th place in the final championship standings and is now looking forward to his first Supercross assault in the 450 class aboard a 2016 Motul Suzuki RM-Z450.

“It was not really the way I wanted to finish out the year, that crash in the first race was a big one,” Makeham commented. “I was coming up to the big double and another rider crossed over in front of me, I lost a little bit of momentum and came up short. It was a big crash but I was lucky not to be hurt. I did hit my head and it left me with a head-ache, but it could have been a lot worse.”

“After a great start to the season, it has been a tough second half of the year but I am glad to walk way from my first year in the MX1 class inside the top 10 and have learned a lot throughout this championship.

“I have to thank the team for the opportunity and look forward to taking what I have gained from Motocross and using it during the supercross season. I am really looking forward to Supercross,” Makeham concluded.

Team Manager Jay Foreman, was pleased to see Mastin once again compete with Australia’s top MX1 riders and is looking forward to re-setting and heading into the upcoming supercross season.

“Mastin impressed again this weekend, he set a very good time in qualifying and despite some mid pack starts in both races was able to work his way forward and pass some well established riders,” Foreman commented. “It was unfortunate that he ran out of fuel in that first race, he has a very aggressive riding style and that combined with the deep, thick, sandy conditions caught us a little short.

“It was another tough day for Makeham after his crash in race one. He was still able to finish out the season inside the top ten and will use the next six weeks to re-set and focus on the upcoming supercross season.

“It is time to put a tough motocross season behind us and start supercross testing as we look towards defending the title we have won for the past two years.” Foreman concluded. Team Motul Suzuki will now turn their attention to the Australian Supercross Championship with the first round due to kick off on 17th October in Jimboomba, QLD.

For further information on Team Motul Suzuki visit www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au. Like Suzuki Motorcycles Australia on Facebook; Also follow @suzukiaustralia and @suzuki_mx_aus on Instagram.