Round two of the Maxxis Australian Motocross Championship ‰ÛÒ aka the Mr Motocross Outdoor Nationals - will be played o
ut in the Victorian township of Horsham on May 23, with all the momentum currently with the factory Honda equip.
The team, racing under the No Fear banner, dominated the opening round at Barrabool (Vic) last Sunday, with New Zealanders
Shayne King (CRF450R) and Cody Cooper (CRF250R) scoring maximum points in the Pro Open and Pro Lites classes respectively,
laying solid foundations for their tilt at maiden Australian championships.
In a continuation of where he left off in last year‰Ûªs title, King, the 1996 world motocross champion and five-time grand
prix winner, was faultless at Barrabool, qualifying fastest before scoring two emphatic victories ‰ÛÒ the second one over
Motorex KTM‰Ûªs Jay Marmont (KTM 450SX) by a massive 10.081sec.
"Everything went to plan in round one," said Shayne. "I‰Ûªve been looking forward to the start of the series and have been doing
everything I can to prepare for it both physically and mentally."
The New Plymouth-domiciled King, 33, has now won four of the last five Aussie motocross races, with his start to this year‰Ûªs
campaign the antitheses of his poor start to the 2003 proceedings ‰ÛÒ which ultimately cost him a legitimate shot at championship
glory.
Now, with a flawless start behind him, King heads to Horsham ‰ÛÒ which has a massive 31-metre table top as part of its repertoire ‰ÛÒ
with an 8pt (50 to 42) lead over sibling and two-time Australian champion, Darryll (CDR/Boost Mobile/Yamaha YZ450F). The latter,
who never once finished outside the top three en route to last year‰Ûªs title, finished second and third in the two 17-lap motos at
Barrabool, with Shane Metcalfe (CRF450R) the only other rider to finish on the podium.
Metcalfe, 21, who is just returning to full fitness after injury extinguished his challenge in the April-ending Australian
Supercross Nationals, then went on to DNF moto two after tangeling with a lapper, leaving the reigning number three 10th in the standings
on 20pts. Meanwhile, Marmont, who is planning to switch his allegiances to the American scene in 2004, is third overall on 40pts,
seven in advance of teammate Cheyne Boyd (33). Last year‰Ûªs Pro Lites winner, Troy Carroll (CDR/Boost Mobile/Yamaha YZ250), is
fifth on 32pts from fellow two-stroke punter Danny Ham (Shift Motul Suzuki RM250, 28).
