MOTOCROSS 1

Motorcycling Australia has announced the Australian Team which will compete in the 2006 Oceania Motocross Championship at Taupo in New Zealand, from November 3-5.

The Australian riders who will take part in the Pro-Open class are Peter Boyle, Lee Ellis, Josh Strang and Nathan Brochtrup, while the Pro-Lite class will be made up of Michael Addison, Cody Mackie, Ryan Marmont and Kade Mosig.

Competing in the Junior class will be Joel Paslow, Harley Quinlan, Tye Simmonds and Todd Waters.

Of the riders in the team, only Addison, Mosig, Paslow, and Simmonds were part of the successful Australian squad that won the 2005 event at Barrabool in Geelong.

Photo: Tye Simmonds

While the 2005 team included some more experienced names such as Brett Metcalfe, Craig Anderson and Cheyne Boyd, the squad chosen will be doing its best to ensure that the title remains on Australian soil.

Strang, this year's Australian Off Road Series runner-up, was quick to point out that while the Australian team could be seen to be not as strong as in previous years, all riders chosen would give more than worthy accounts of themselves.

"It's obviously not the strongest team that has been picked to go over, but we will be doing our best to make sure that we win," he said.

"I was already going over to represent Australia at the Six Day Enduro, but to be picked for this and to have another chance at representing my country is just great.

"Everyone will be doing there best out there, and I am confident it will bring about some great results."

Pro-Lite rider Mackie echoed Strang's sentiments, and added that the thrill of riding for his country will have to be tempered by the fact that at the end of the day, it is just another Motocross race.

"I was definitely pumped to be chosen and to go over to New Zealand," Mackie explained.

"It is your whole country that you've got to represent, and obviously we'll be going over there with a bit of weight on the shoulders, but I'll just be treating it as another race and hopefully we can come out on top."

Junior rider Simmonds has capped off a fantastic fortnight with his selection, after dominating proceedings at the Australian Junior Motocross Championship in Canberra.

Simmonds is stoked to be part of the team for the second year in a row, and the 14-year-old is looking forward to riding overseas.

"I am really excited to be riding for my country, and especially overseas in New Zealand," Simmonds said.

"It has been a good few weeks, and I'm pretty happy to be chosen in the team for the second year in a row."

The Oceania Motocross Championship includes two races being held in each class, with points gained from each race being combined together to end up with an overall winner.

For more information, visit: www.ma.org.au

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