BILLY MACKENZIE BIG IN AUSTRALIA!

After winning the British Motocross Championship in both 2007 and 2008 then a injury ravaged 2009 making things pretty impossible for our man Billy MacKenzie, he decided it was time to freshen things up and look for a new challenge. Billy signed for the Kawasaki Racing Team and would now be showing off his silky skills in the Australian Motocross Championship for 2010.

Billy kicked off his 2010 racing season in spectacular fashion at the opening round of the 2010 Australian Motocross Championship at Horsham Vic on 28 March. He qualified his KX450F in pole position before going on to take the round win in convincing fashion, giving himself an 8 point lead in the Championship.

With a wealth of successful international racing experience under his belt and some blistering fast lap times clocked at the team’s QLD practise track, KRT was quietly confident of a successful opening round from newly signed Scottish import rider Billy Mackenzie. The 25 year old did not disappoint, taking the overall round win at the series opener. Billy quickly showed the Australian racing community his intentions by qualifying his KX450F in pole position at the overcast and drizzly Horsham track. In the first moto, Billy got off to a great start and quickly found himself in the lead. A late charge from another rider meant Billy had to settle for 2nd place. Another great start in the second moto saw Billy in 2nd place for the majority of the 20 minute race. A last lap pass on the leader gave Billy his first moto win on Australian soil. In the 3rd moto Billy had his work cut out. Finding his KX450F in neutral after releasing the clutch on the start line, Billy left the gates in last place. Then a first turn crash in the wet and muddy conditions sealed Billy’s position at the very back of the field. Unperturbed, Billy got to work and immediately started passing riders one by one. In an inspiring display of motocross riding, Billy handled the muddy conditions with perfection and pushed himself all the way into 3rd place by the time the chequered flag waved. Billy’s 2-1-3 results were more than good enough to give the KRT rider the red plate heading into the second round.

Billy says, “I’m really happy with my start to the season. I loosened up a lot after the first moto and aside from a small hiccup at the beginning of the third moto when I let the clutch out on the starting line and found myself in neutral, the day went well.”

“The bike’s really awesome. That’s one reason I set out to ride a Kawasaki this year because I knew the Kawasaki’s a good bike. The team has done a great job getting it to where I want it. Power’s great, suspension’s great and the help from Pro Circuit’s been unbelievable. The team’s given me the package to go out there and win and that’s what we did. I’m pumped.”

“I’m going back to Europe on Tuesday and I’m going to do a race over there, get myself out there and keep riding.”

Billy Mackenzie takes the red plate to the second round of the Australian Motocross Championship at Canberra on 18 April where KRT will look to further their points haul in the series.