Suzuki Dominates at Supercross Masters Brisbane
Suzuki dominated the Supercross Masters event at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Queensland with Team Shift Motul Suzuki rising star Lawson Bopping winning the Pro Lites class while Troy Carroll piloted his RM-Z450 to victory in the Pro Open class and Suzuki hero Daryl Hurley capping off the night with a Pro Open podium finish.After a difficult start to the evening, which included a crash in his qualifying heats, Bopping was lucky to make it into the 12-lap Pro Lites Final, but from the moment the gates dropped he was in a league of his own.
Bopping took the holeshot and charged away from the field on the Team Shift Motul Suzuki RM-Z250 and remained unchallenged to the chequered flag.In the Pro Open Final, Hurley made a reasonable start to be running in third place and was pushing forward before Troy Carroll came from behind and surged past into the race lead, with Hurley running in second place.
The Suzuki pair ran 1-2 on the track until the closing laps of the race when Ryan Marmont slipped by Hurley, dropping the New Zealander to third place and Carroll scoring the win.
Lawson Bopping, "I made some mistakes and fell off during qualifying so I was pretty pleased to make it into the Final. "The bike was good and I knew I had the speed It was good to put it altogether when it mattered."
Daryl Hurley, "The track was pretty straight forward but very slippery and hard to pass - a normal indoor circuit.
"The RM-Z450 was really good; I was very happy with the bike, but I came here a little under prepared and tired after coming back from America and having the concussion and everything and hadn't been able to do any Supercross preparation. I came here with a plan to go top three and go home healthy; I got through the weekend alright and I didn't hurt my shoulder again.
"In the heat races I got a third, a second and a first. In the Final, I rode really steady but I got tired because of all the traveling and faded to third. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't ride to my full potential, but under the circumstances I was happy that I got through the night and got on the podium."
Jay Foreman, Suzuki Team Manager, "Lawson had a really difficult time in qualifying; he needed a top-three placing to make it in to the Final and he only just scraped in. But once we got to the Final, Lawson was in a class of his own - he got the holeshot, rode fast and pulled away out front and led from start to finish.
"It was great to see two Suzuki's at the front of the pack in the Pro Open Final and Troy Carroll did a brilliant job out there. Despite not being able to prepare as much as he normally would, Daryl rode really well, too, and it's good to have a couple of RM-Z450's on the podium."
