TEN YEAR TURN-BACK: 13th of May to the 19th of May 2004

Former World Motocross Champion Shayne King and Cody Cooper gave Team No Fear Honda and New Zealand a clean sweep at the opening round of the 2004 Maxxis Australian Motocross Championships at Barrabool, Victoria May 16th 2004.

Around 3000 fans braved the chilli conditions too see the Kiwi duo totally dominate the days proceedings with King winning both 30 minute Pro Open motos un-opposed, whilst Cooper came from behind in both Pro Lite motos for his 2 moto wins.

With a full grid of 40 riders the Pro Open class was jam packed with talent, Shayne King, Darryll King (CDR Boost Yamaha), Shane Metcalfe (Team No Fear Honda), the Motorex KTM duo of Cheyne Boyd and Jay Marmont where all a chance aboard the 4 strokes whilst the 2 stroke's of Troy Carroll (CDR Boost Yamaha) and Danny Ham (Shift Motul Suzuki) where not to be counted out.

Things looked ominous from the start with Shayne King drawing first blood when he qualified almost a second faster than Jay Marmont, 1.4 seconds back was Kings elder brother Darryll whilst fourth fastest was Shane Metcalfe just under 2 seconds away..

From the drop of the gate Shayne King stamped his authority on proceedings when he took an emphatic holeshot, leaving Carroll, Metcalfe, Ham and Darryl King to fight for the minor placings. Carroll surprised many as the 2003 Pro Lites Champion withstood the pressure of Metcalfe's booming CRF450 on his un-fashionable YZ250 2 Stroke which in theory was not suited the vast expanses of the largely natural terrain Barrabool circuit.

As Carroll and Metcalfe battled for the first half of the race Shayne King had already sailed off into the distance leaving any hopes of a race for the lead in tatters. Iron man Darryll King who had just finished a 30 minute moto in the Pro Lites put the hammer down mid race in an amazing display of fitness and strength to pass both Metcalfe and Carroll in one foul swoop to take second and set his sites on his brother ahead.

With ten minutes to run a patient Metcalfe made his move on Carroll when he got the power to the ground quicker and blasted past the Queenslander over the famous Barrabool tunnel jump.

With the first three places set as the moto started to wind down Marmont had snuck up to fourth from a lackluster start and put a small amount of pressure on Metcalfe for the final podium spot but the Metcalfe was having non of it and held on to take third behind the two Kings.

Shayne King showed no mercy in moto 2 getting out to an early lead with Marmont, Darryll King, Boyd, Carroll and Metcalfe all in the hunt. As the race grew longer things pretty much settled in with Marmont maintaining second for the entire race and Darryll King holding third which was an amazing feat in itself considering he was nearing 2 hours of racing for the day.

Shane Metcalfe's run of bad luck reared its ugly head once again - in his first major race back since nasty accident in the opening round of the Supercross season saw him miss almost three months on the bike - he tangled with a lapped rider whilst moving into fourth place on one of the fastest parts of the circuit, the result being a huge fourth gear pinned highside that saw him take a 30 meter trip along the infield on his back. With his bike left un-rideable he retired to the pits shattered battered and bruised.

In the end Shayne King crossed the line ten seconds ahead of Marmont and Darryll King a further 4 seconds back. Cheyne Boyd took fourth to improve on his first moto 6th place whilst Troy Carroll was the first 2 stroke home in 5th ahead of Danny Ham.

Pro Lites