2009 marked a milestone in WA's Motocross Championship history, after just two years of including the Women's Championship on the calendar, as a one off event which saw a Championship awarded after just 3 races, now taken to the next step to a three round series.
Attracting riders from across the large state of WA, NSW and New Zealand, twenty four riders competed across the series, which was a vast improvement in numbers from '07 & '08. Seeing women with all their own gear and bikes, including some with factory sponsorship herald a coming of age for Women's Motocross in WA. The field of riders ranged in ages from 16 yrs to 38yrs and with different ability levels didn't deter any rider from being competitive with each other.
Starting at Southern Capes's Jindong circuit on July 4th, the series kicked off with 16 riders, Dimity Lee Duke leading the way, while New Zealands Josephine Adlam and Chelsea Blakers and Tracey Burns all swapped positions amongst the top 3 throughout the day.
Moving to Noble falls just a week later and the trying slippery pea gravel circuit saw most riders taking care to stay upright across the three races. Adlam took two first places, while Duke took the other separating themselves from there nearest rival Chelsea Blakers while Tracey Burns slipped a little further behind but holding 5th.
This past weekend the series finale was held in conjunction with WA's richest MX Event the King of the Cross. Traditionally held on the first weekend in August, an having a very long history with 2 and 3 generations of some families all having competed in this prestigious event, it was great to see the finale of the series as part of the Queen of the cross event.
Chelsea Blakers ruled the roost in the first race of the day, getting out in front and leading for the entirety of the four lap journey, Josephine Adlam got into second early, as Duke had to work her way through the pack, catching Adlam on the line to retrieve some well earned points.
Race 2 saw Young Blakers suffer one of the two pile ups at the start of the race, Adlam got a great start and finished the race with a 20 second lead in front of NSW rider Racheal Eagle, with Burns, Amanda Stephenson and Duke all crossing the line within a mili second of each other. Unbelievably after 8 races of the series now complete, Adlam and Duke were both sitting on 179 points with one race to go.
Race 3 saw Duke have the worst start and Adlam get into second place behind Eagle, passing her in lap 3 while Blakers bashed bars with Eagle, also wanting to push her back another place, Burns, Duke and Stephenson were all over each other, but it was Josephine Adlam who reigned supreme taking the chequers, the Queen of the Cross prize pool and the WA State Women's Championship.
The WAMX Womens State MX Championship results
1st - Josephine Adlam
2nd Dimity Lee Duke
3rd Chelsea Blakers
4th Tracey Burns
5th Michelle Mullins
