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TEN YEAR TURN-BACK: 1st to the 7th of April 2004

Author: Aaryn Minerds

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Welcome to the Fullnoise.com.au TEN YEAR TURN-BACK Presented by One Industries

It is amazing to think that Fullnoise.com.au has been Australia's online source for dirt bike news for the past ELEVEN years! Started back in 2003 by Garry Morrow, Fullnoise has grown to be the number one choice when it comes to Online Dirt Bike News in Australia and is a virtual online encyclopaedia of Off-Road dirt bike news and results from Australian and around the world from the start of the digital age covering every discipline of Dirt Bike Riding and Racing.

For 2014 we will be running this new weekly feature that will highlight some of the biggest news articles from the upcoming week 10 years ago! staring with the first week of January and running through to the final week in December 2004.

Thursday the 1st to Wednesday the 7th of April 2004:

Ricky Carmichael Signs With Suzuki:
Ricky Carmichael ten years ago signed with Suzuki as a racer and now co-manages a Suzuki Factory team in the AMA
The biggest news since Ricky Carmichael signed with American Honda, Carmichael in 2004 officially signed for the 2005 season with American Suzuki Motor Corporation.

The deal saw then current AMA Supercross and Motocross Champion on the Yellow machines after November 1 2004 - Carmichael would still defend his 2003 AMA Motocross title in the 2004 US Outdoor Nationals abaord a Honda, reportedly aboard a CRF450.

Ryan Marmont Wins SX Nationals Pro Lites Crown:
Ryan Marmont wrapped up the 2004 Supercross Nationals title - Credit: Graeme Baynes
Motorex KTM's Ryan Marmont won the Pro Lites Australian Supercross Nationals crown after points leader, going into the final event, Daniel Reardon (Whales Kawasaki) failed to qualify for the main event at Rod laver Arena.

Proceedings got of to a dubious start for Marmont as a crash in his semi final almost ended any chance of a championship. Due to a rider needing medical attention the race was red flagged leaving Marmont with a second chance. Although riding in some pain after a bike had landed on his shoulder in the preceding crash, he went on to win the semi and qualify straight to the nights main event.

Reardon mirrored Marmont's semi final effort when he too crashed, unlike Marmont circumstances there would be no re-start to his race and the 17 year old Queenslander would not be able to make up enough places to qualify.

With the championship virtually in the bag Marmont made no mistake when the final rolled around. As carnage took place all around him he rode a smart race to finish third, taking 17 points and in so doing joined brother and team-mate Jay in becoming an inaugural Australian Supercross Nationals champions. American Greg Schnell (Red Bull KTM) was the main event winner followed by Team No Fear Honda's Cody Cooper.

With Jay Marmont being declared the Pro Open champion last week in Brisbane all focus for the final round was on the battle for second and third for the series. Team Suzuki's Danny Ham took his second Victory of the season and in so doing leap frogged Victorian's Cheyne Boyd (Motorex KTM) and Cameron Taylor (CDR Boost Yamaha) to take third for the series.

No Fear Honda's Troy Dorron secured second outright for the series with a fourth place garnering enough points to beat Ham for the spot by one point.

In the Junior 1800Reverse development class newly crowned champion Wade Thomson (Serco Yamaha) added another win to his impressive season beating home promising young Victorian Justin Carafa and Matt Moss (AXO Yamaha).

Aprilia Launch Stunning Modena SX2 Supermoto:
The Terra Modena 450cc Supermoto machine
Following the launch in November 2003 of Aprilia's radical 4.5V2 450 V-Twin Supermotard machine, Aprilia launched another impressive release with the launch of the Terra Modena 450cc Supermoto machine.

The result of a collaboration between I-TEA (Iniziative Tecnologiche Applicate), a company recently founded by Dario Calzavara, and HPE belonging to Piero Ferrari.

The Terra Modena SX2 as it was known was powered by 450cc engine, an exclusive extractable 6-gear transmission, a rectangular box-type chassis paired with an elliptical-section dual-girder system, a wide frontal air intake and a "chimney flue" Exhaust.

Mickael Pichon and Ben Townley Win In Portugal
The MX1 field heads through the first turn in Portugal in 2004
After threatening to do so in the first two rounds of the 2004 FIM Motocross World championship, Tiscali Martin Honda rider Mickael Pichon finally had the cards fall his way and won round three of the 2004 Motocross World Championship at Agueda, Portugal

Kiwi Ben Townley (Champ KTM) has bounced back form a disastrous bike failure at round 3 to take the MX2 overall with a 2-1 result ahead of Britain's Steven Sword.

Other News
Over 110 entries greeted the lush surrounds of Raleigh Raceway near Coffs Harbor, NSW on 4th April for the inaugural Yamaha Supermoto State of Origin Challenge - Phil Smith
- Over 110 entries greeted the lush surrounds of Raleigh Raceway near Coffs Harbor, NSW on 4th April for the inaugural Yamaha Supermoto State of Origin Challenge promoted by Australian Supermoto stalwart, Mark Avard, with Queensland taking the win.

- Following a weeks hiatus Australian Chad Reed (Yamaha) has got straight back to work in the best possible way, with a comfortable win at round thirteen of the THQ AMA Supercross Series held in Pontiac, Michigan. The win was Reeds ninth for the season and moved him 37 points clear of fading championship rival Honda's Kevin Windham.

- Australian No Fear Honda motocross team, team manager Peter Luczkowski (AKA Buddha) officially left the team. 42 year old Luczkowski had managed the team since long time manager Pip Harrison vacated the job in late 2003.

- Repsol - Montesa HRC riders Dougie Lampkin and Takahisa Fujinami have dominated the opening round of the 2004 World Trials Championship held in Bangor Ireland. The duo each scoring a day victory over the two days of competition.

Photo Galleries:
Pro Lites start at the final round of the 2004 Supercross Nationals - Credit: Graeme Baynes
Check out all the action from the 2004 Supercross Nationals - Round 10 - Melbourne held on the 3rd 2004 of April Thanks to Graeme Baynes by Clicking Here

Check out all the action from the 2004 Yamaha State of Origin Supermotard Challenge held on the 4th of April 2004 Thanks to Phill Smith by Clicking Here
Check out all the action from the 2004 Australian Supermoto State of Origin in the above gallery - Credit: Phil Smith
All News from the Thursday the 1st to Wednesday the 7th of April 2004:
Supermotard: Stunning Modena SX2 Supermoto launch - Thu, 1st Apr, 2004
Motocross: Ricky Carmichael signs with Suzuki - Sat, 3rd Apr, 2004
Supercross: Ryan Marmont wins SX Nationals Pro Lites Crown - Mon, 5th Apr, 2004
Supercross: Chad Reed moves closer to the inevitable - Sun, 4th Apr, 2004
Motocross: Ramon quickest for GP of Portugal - Sun, 4th Apr, 2004
Industry: Peter Luczkowski leaves No Fear Honda - Mon, 5th Apr, 2004
Motocross: Pichon delivers GP of Portugal win - Mon, 5th Apr, 2004
Trials: Lampkin draws first blood in World Trials Championship - Tue, 6th Apr, 2004
Supermotard: QLD Wins Australian Supermoto State of Origin - Wed, 7th Apr, 2004
Industry: Appointments to Motorcycling Australia Commissions - Wed, 7th Apr, 2004

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