"I am feeling good, but I still need to improve on my starts," said Ellis, who is chasing KTM‰Ûªs first Pro Open title since
Anderson in 2002.
The 40 Pro Open riders will contest two 30-minute (plus a lap) motos at Echo Valley, as will the Pro Lites punters. In the
latter, Taylor, the reigning number two, currently holds way by 16pts (78 to 62) over 21-year-old teammate Robbie Marshall
(Serco Yamaha YZ250F), who climbed am amazing eight spots after claiming the overall in Horsham.
After what has been a topsy-turvy year for most of the Pro Lites luminaries, Danny Anderson (Honda CRF250R) sits in third
position on 61pts ‰ÛÒ despite not yet finishing on the podium. However, consistency is also an important function of championship
success ‰ÛÒ a notion that is currently ringing true with the likes of No Fear Honda teammates Troy Dorron (CRF250R) and defending
champion Cody Cooper (CRF250R), Daniel McCoy (Motorex KTM 250SXF), 2003 champion Troy Carroll (CDR Nokia Yamaha YZ250F),
Daniel Reardon (Whale Kawasaki KX250F) and Mitch Hoad (Chris Watson Motorcycles YZ250F).
The sextet hasn‰Ûªt managed to complete the full quota of races due to mechanical despair and /or crashes ‰ÛÒ although Dorron‰Ûªs
winning record is 100 percent when he does manage to last distance. Dorron, who hasn‰Ûªt finished outside the Pro Lites (nee 125cc)
top three since 1999, sits in equal eighth with Honda Privateer Warren Smart (CRF250R) on 50pts, although fourth-placed Luke
Burkhart (Shift Motul Suzuki RM-Z250) is only 9pts ahead.
Carroll (52pts), who crashed heavily in race two at Horsham, lies in the middle of the logjam from fourth to eighth, and will be
hoping to generate some extra spark in front of his Toowoomba home crowd. The anticipated reversal of fortune also holds for the
pugnacious Cooper, who was back to his sublime best in the first race at Horsham before machine problems extinguished his charge.
He currently languishes in 18th place on 15pts ‰ÛÒ a far cry from his sublime 100pt start to last year‰Ûªs championship.
Finally, Ryan Marmont (Motorex KTM 250SXF), who has been the holeshot master in 2005, finally broke through for his first national
motocross win at Horsham, with his ‰Û÷antics‰Ûª helping him up seven spots on the championship ladder. He‰Ûªs now in equal fifth with
McCoy on 58pts, and with a race-winning confidence to go with his swift getaways, his ascension looks likely to continue at
Echo Valley.
This Sunday‰Ûªs action will commence at 9.00am with qualifying, followed by the first of three 20-minute (plus a lap) National
Cup races at 10.50am. The Pro races will commence with the Lites at 11.20am.
Following Echo Valley, round four of the 2005 Maxxis Australian Motocross Championship will be held at Coolum (Qld) on May 1.
For more information, visit
www.ozmotox.com
CURRENT 2005 STANDINGS (after two of eight rounds):
Pro Open
1 Craig Anderson - Honda - 93pts
2 Daryl Hurley - Suzuki - 91
3 Darryll King - Yamaha 82
4 Shayne King - Honda - 74
5 Peter Broxholme - Honda - 59
6 Danny Ham - Suzuki - 55
7 Lee Ellis - KTM - 54
8 Thomas Jones - Honda - 44
9 Adam Cini - Kawasaki - 41
10 Nathan Brochtrup - Yamaha - 35
Pro Lite
1 Cameron Taylor - Yamaha - 78
2 Robbie Marshall - Yamaha - 62
3 Danny Anderson - Honda - 61
4 Luke Burkhart - Suzuki - 59
5= Ryan Marmont - KTM - 58
5= Daniel McCoy - KTM - 58
7 Troy Carroll - Yamaha - 52
8= Warren Smart - Honda - 50
8= Troy Dorron - Honda - 50
9 Daniel Reardon - Kawasaki 44
10 Mitch Hoad - Yamaha - 39
