Posted: Tuesday, 12th May, 2009 : 9:30 PM - - 3,337 Reads

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	Jay Marmont leads team-mate Cheyne Boyd

Toowoomba’s Echo Valley track will make a welcome return to the MX Nationals calendar after the hilly, technical track was a notable absentee in last year’s series.

The event will also see the return of the traditional twin moto format for both the Pro Open and Pro Lites category.

After finishing on the podium at the previous two rounds of the series, defending Pro Open MX Nationals champion Jay Marmont believes additional testing completed in the lead-up to this weekend’s event will provide him with the edge needed to claim his first victory of 2009.

Marmont and his teammate Cheyne Boyd last week completed a two-day intensive test session with the CDR Rockstar Yamaha mechanics, with both riders recording times significantly faster than their pre-season test.

“I went to Melbourne last week and spent Wednesday and Thursday testing with the team," Marmont said.

"I was a lot quicker than the previous test and we spent a lot of time fine-tuning the bike so it is even more responsive.

“I am feeling a lot more comfortable on the bike and this weekend I will be aiming to take the advantage wherever possible.

"One thing in my favour is that the Toowoomba track is a lot like my test track in Wollongong which should definitely see me adapt to the track quite quickly."

Marmont said that after the introduction of two new race formats at the previous rounds of the championship he was looking forward to returning to the traditional moto format which rewards the fittest riders in the field. “Personally I prefer the old format, it is what I am used to racing and my endurance is good. I’m really looking forward to returning to the two race format and hopefully this will play in my favour."

Boyd is striving to finish inside the top three after showing great speed at the two opening rounds of the series.

In the Pro Lites class Kirk Gibbs is also looking for a return to the podium this weekend with the YZ250F rider starting to see the benefits of re-locating to Queensland to be closer to his Serco Yamaha team.

In his motocross debut with Serco Yamaha, Gibbs finished third and remains fourth on the series point score. The 20-year-old is feeling stronger and more settled after moving into his new home in the Brisbane suburb of Jimboomba.

“I moved to Jimboomba at the start of the motocross season to be closer to the team and so far it is paying off with my riding the strongest it has ever been,” said Gibbs.

“I had a bit of a rest after Canberra and I’ve re-focused my schedule so that it includes quality time on the bike and training rather than just doing it for the sake of it. I am really looking forward to this weekend.”

Gibbs’ teammate, Mitch Hoad is currently fifth in the series. The Hunter Valley rider recently contested a series of state events to increase his time on his YZ250F and ensure he prepared for this weekend's challenge.

After winning the second round of the Under 19s Championship, GYTR Yamaha Junior Development Team rider, Luke Styke is hoping to keep the momentum going at the third round of the series at Toowoomba this weekend.

Styke, who completed a clean sweep at the previous round of the championship, said he was feeling fit for the weekend’s event.

“I have been training hard in between events and I’ve been focusing on maintaining my fitness by doing a lot of intensity work," said Styke.

"It is just a matter of fine-tuning everything I did in Canberra last month and carrying it through to Toowoomba and hopefully taking the series lead."

The GYTR Yamaha Junior Development Team also has strong podium hopes with Harley Quinlan and Ross Beaton with both riders taking victory at their respective state titles.

Styke, Quinlan and Beaton have all just returned from Canberra where they participated in the selection process for the Australian team to contest the 2009 FIM World Junior Motocross Championship which will be held in New Zealand in August.

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