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Last weekend saw 133 Quad riders race for the Australian Championship Titles at the AJS Motorcycle Club in Perth Western Australia. The largest Quad turnout at a single event with spectators lining the course numbering somewhere around the 1000 was a spectacular site.
AJS Showcased a professionally run event acknowledging and awarding Quad racers in all classes in the Motocross discipline.

The event started out with the full grid of Pro’s standing to the side of their Quads to the National anthem. One rider Stated it was the proudest motocross moment and was the highlite of his 16 year career in Quad racing, almost had a tear in his eye, I know it gave me goosebumps.
11am and it was the 90cc Juniors standing for 1 minute silence, funny when you think about asking kids to stand quietly for one minute in front of the whole crowd, you could hear a pin drop.
Racing was under way for the Juniors with the 90cc Cobra making a meal of AJS Circuit, Lauchlan Stone from Darwin taking out 4 motos over the weekend giving him enough points to dethrown current star Jake Emanuelli{Eton - Vic}Kalgoorlie Youngster Daniel McKay{Honda} came in third.

Jake entered the 200cc Class as well and showed he is a force to be reckoned with whatever he rides taking out 3^rd place in the 200cc class. Mitchell VanVliet[14] from Victoria on Board the Yamaha has tussled it out Nationally with WA’s Luke Gaisford{15} since the 2003 Nationals. Luke getting the better this year claiming the Australian Championship.

The Ladies fielded 10 riders this year in the Pro Womens Championship class, Jeanette Lindsay{Honda}was flying around the notoriously technical AJS Track, NSW’s Patrisha Bartley a close second with WA’s Cathy Bush on Board the North City Yamaha in third.

The Vets 35+ Class had a mixture of Pro’s, Inters, Clubmans with the expected result of WA’s Anthony Yewers{Honda Shop} taking the Championship with Wayne Dickinson{Suzuki} making a welcome return to Quad Motocross taking second with Brett Yewers{Yamaha} on the podium in third.

40+Vets fielded riders from across Australia. Honda Countrys Grant Gaisford{WA} going for Back to Back titles swept the field with a perfect 5 wins. Len Pipiciello{NSW-Honda} came in second with Esperance rider Scott Higson{Suzuki} losing to third on a count back.

Production Class was a battle of the Suzuki’s with Pro Rider Paul Smith{Vic} taking the honours over Cameron Wade{Vic} with WA’s Bradd Jefferies{Yamaha} in 3^rdCameron Wade did the Ironman also taking on two classes 4 wins in the Clubman classs should see him upgraded to Intermediates in the non to distant future, previous star in the 200cc Junior Classs, it would have been interesting to see him battle it out with Last years 200cc Junior winner Josh Higson who won the Intermediate Class. The junior progression seems to be paying dividends for these young riders learning their craft in the Junior ranks before advancing to Seniors.
WA’s newest Father Corey Stratton came a creditable 2^nd in clubman with a well fought victory in the last race, North West Rider Scott Jones{Yamaha} claimed 3^rd.

Intermediates fielded almost a full grid and this was going to be the battle of the youngsters. Esperance Boys Josh Higson{Suzuki} managed 4 wins and straight to Pro’s for next season, Coby Holland{Honda} took second and entertained us with some high flying into the quarry, while Legend Quads Tom Stevens bettered his Clubman Podium finish from last year to a 3^rd in Intermediates for 2006. Certainly a shining star at the rate Tom is improving each year.

What a lead up to the Honda Pro Championship for 2006
Chris Brenton 10 weeks post Op for a broken Ankle, Ant Yewers Broken Ankle, Chad Mckay Back injury, the WA Stars must have been wandering how they would manage the 5 Moto’s at 15minutes + 2 laps each.

Moto1 saw the familiar site of Ant Yewers thunder past the McKay drilling Holeshot marker to the applause of the Honda Shop sponsors, Both their riders in 1^st and 2^nd and a pretty major Pile up in the first corner with Luke Beechey{Yamaha-Vic} caught up in traffic and fighting to catch the leaders, Graham Terry{Yamaha WA} made his way through to take the third.

Moto 2 saw Brenton power to the McKay Drilling Holeshot Marker and head for clear air on the rough AJS Track, Ant Yewers stayed in touch for 7 laps before being overtaken at the 15minute siren by Graham Terry, Yewers held on for third, Beechey coming in 4^th with Glen Ashworth{Yamaha WA} who having stayed at Beecheys back wheel the entire race followed him through in 5^th
Moto 3 Sunday Morning saw a freshly groomed Track, with “Fast” written all over it.
This would be a whole different ball game to Saturday with the Youngsters of Mckay and Jefferies chasing down Brenton and Beechey. Paul Smith{Suzuki} got his nose into the top 5 with GT finishing 7^th and Ant Yewers who limped his Quad with a flat tyre almost the entire race into 14^th
Moto 4 Ant Yewers was determined to make up for lost points in the previous moto, the lead changing hands with Brenton 3 times with McKay holding 3^rd place. Beechey Ashworth and GT exchanged places through out the race chasing those important points to get them on the podium. Colin Jefferies in 7^th and John Maragozidis on the Polaris were the only others not to be lapped.

This Championship was amazing, Brenton Knew he had it in the bag, but second, third fourth and fifth were up for grabs. Blistered hands and tired muscles, Massages and bandages were called for,
Moto 5 would see 15 riders start and only 5 riders finish on lap 9 the rest being lapped as the battle took place. Ant Yewers rode the race of his life with Beechey, Jefferies, McKay and Ashworth battling for the minor positions. GT having had a nasty Crash on Saturday and suffering terrible pain, could take no further part of the race and disappointingly watched on to see a possible podium finish vanish.
Chris Brenton Aus #1 Pro Quad Champion
Anthony Yewers 2^nd
Luke Beechey 3^rd
Chad McKay 4^th
Glen Ashworth 5^th.
What an amazing top 5 of pure Pro Quad Motocross Talent, and an amazing 5 Moto series.