Denoting his position at the top of the series points standings, Craig Anderson's #100 Woodstock Honda Thor CRF450R will carry the prestigious, red, series leader number plate for the first time in this weekend's Australian Motocross Championship event at Conondale (QLD).
Marking an extraordinary feat, the newly-established Woodstock Honda Thor Racing team has taken just two rounds to gain the series lead in its debut season.
Assembling a team of vastly experienced personnel, including technicians, riders and management, with the factory backing of Honda Australia, the team clearly has all of the ingredients to achieve great success.
It is the speed with which the powerhouse operation has gelled into a cohesive racing unit at the top of the game which is most impressive.
Fully aware that it is still very early in the series and the Australian Motocross Championship is a long and fierce battle, the Honda team is far from celebrating its success, but instead is firmly focused on maintaining and extending its advantage.
Also extraordinary, is the fact that 12-time Australian Champion, Anderson has only once raced with the red number plate since its introduction in 2006, despite winning the title that year.
Pleased to be heading the series, Anderson is also keenly aware that his early advantage is only four points and will take an enormous effort on behalf of himself and the team to maintain, but hopes it will provide a slight psychological advantage over his key rivals.
Having visited the podium every single time he has raced at Conondale, Anderson also hopes that his exceptional string of results at the popular Sunshine Coast circuit will continue this weekend, as he resumes his championship assault.
"I've only carried the red plate once before," Anderson said. "I had the championship lead going into round nine in 2006 at Raymond Terrace, and I won the title there with a round to spare, but I was injured and missed the final round.
"Then I had a tough season with injuries last year and never led the series, so I only got the leader's plate for that one round in '06‰Û_ until now.
"From a mental point of view, it's just good that everyone knows that you've got the red plate and they're all looking at you as the guy they need to chase.
"I'd always rather be four points in front than behind, but with or without the red plate I know I've just got to charge all the way to the end, and that's what I'm going to do.
"At the end of the season after nine rounds is when I really want the red plate; just so long as I'm in front at the end.
"I really enjoy riding at Conondale, it's a great track and I've always gone well there‰Û_ I've been on the podium every year since I first started racing there in '97 - other than '03 and '04 when I was racing in the States.
"When we first arrive, it always feels like you're riding on a golf course or something because it's all covered in grass; it's just really good fun."
Team manager Brad McAlpine was also pleased to be leading the championship, "This is the first time that a Woodstock Honda machine has ever carried the series leader's red plate, so it's pretty exciting for our team sponsors and partners," MacAlpine added.
"In a way, this is a landmark of sorts for us, and in years to come it will become a tiny bit of our history as we grow and develop into an established team.
"Clearly, we've had a good start to the season, and it's exciting to be in this position heading to Conondale, but the pressure is on us now to maintain the series lead for the next seven rounds to be on top at the right end - and that's a huge task in this game.
"We've got a long way to go till the series wraps up at Coolum in August and anything can happen, but given we are still bonding and getting stronger as a team, I think we'll be up to the challenge."
Anderson's red-plated #100 CRF450R will launch into action this Sunday at Green Park, Conondale for round three of the Australian Motocross Championship.
