American PJ Larsen missed the double Australian Championship by two points after Matt Moss took the 2010 Super X, Australasian Supercross Championship in the final race of the year at Brisbane's QSAC Stadium on Saturday 4 December.
Contested in treacherous muddy conditions, Larsen was forced out of final number one of three on the night when he crashed at the start of the race, suffering an injury to his wrist in the process.
The 20-year-old bounced back to take second in final two, setting up an all-out battle for the title as he and arch-rival Matt Moss entered final number three tied on points.
Larsen and Moss battled hard in the last six-lap final of the night, however it was Moss who managed to cross the line in second ahead of third placed Larsen, forcing him to settle for the runner-up position in the series and fifth overall on the night.
Larsen, who wrapped up the Australian Lites Motocross title earlier in the year, was disapointed but gracious after falling short at the line.
"It was a tough night," Larsen reflected. "After my crash in the first final I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish the night out, but I went and saw RACESAFE and they said we should be okay. I was tied going into the final race with Matt Moss but he ended up getting it, so congratulations to him. It was a good night to come out after the complications we had to finish second overall and I really have to thank JDR Motorex KTM for all their support while I've been out here in Australia."
Teammate Ryan Marmont finished seventh in Brisbane, sealing third in the series to assist in JDR Motorex KTM's Teams championship victory. Marmont scored 4-9-10 results in Brisbane.
"What a tough night ‰ÛÒ the track was really, really difficult," Marmont said. "Some sections of the track wore down to the wood floorboards beneath the dirt and they were like ice. I got third overall in the championship so I'm stoked with that ‰ÛÒ happy to put the JDR Motorex KTM up on the podium."
KTM also scored runner-up in the Manufacturers point standings in the Lites category for 2010 with a host of riders impressing aboard the 2011 model KTM 250 SX-F.
The Open category saw 18-year-old wonder kid Tye Simmonds race to his second podium of the season, taking 3-2-7 results to clinch fourth in the championship aboard the revolutionary 2011 model 350 SX-F before he now focuses on a career in the United States.
"Coming into tonight I knew it was going to be tough with the rain, so we just had to keep it fun and stay upright," Simmonds explained. "I finished fourth in the championship, which is pretty good after an up and down year. We head to the States on Wednesday, look for bigger and better things over there so I can't wait to get testing."
Simmonds' result boosted KTM to the Manufacturers title in the Open class, while JDR finished third in the Teams title for the season thanks to Simmonds and American Mike Alessi ‰ÛÒ who finished seventh in the Open points despite returning to the U.S. before Brisbane.
JDR Motorex KTM team manager Jay Rynenberg was proud of the team's results during the 2010 season, thankful for KTM's factory support throughout the year and again for next season.
"Both of our guys finished on the podium overall in the Lites and that's a good outcome," Rynenberg said. "We're all here to win and that's what we want to do, but coming second and third was a good result for the riders and also for KTM ‰ÛÒ it shows just how good the 2011 models are. Losing the title in the last moto of a mud race is tough, but we will keep our chins up high and hopefully come back stringer to win next year.
"Tye started out the season slow, but his true ability came out in the final rounds with a couple of podium results and he again put in a good performance in Brisbane," he continued. "His attitude toward racing has improved over the past month or so, he's having a lot more fun and it shows."
Also on hand in Brisbane was JDR Motorsports KTM's new U.S. team manager Nathan Ramsey, the ex-professional racer working with the team at a race meeting for the first time in preparation for next month's AMA Supercross season opener in California.
"My first experience with the JDR team at an event was good," Ramsey said. "They surround themselves with good people who are willing to work hard and that's cool. It's all about putting in 100 percent effort and at the end of the day you can walk away proud knowing that you did your best. I'm happy to be a part of JDR Motorsports and can't wait to get things rolling in the U.S."
