Moss Wins Australasian Lites Super-X Title

Team Shift Motul Suzuki's Matt Moss has been crowned the inaugural winner of the Australasian SuperX Pro Lites title after clinching the Championship victory on Saturday during the series' penultimate round in Townsville in Australia piloting his Suzuki RM-Z250.

Moss has been a standout performer and a model of consistency this season; the 20 year old New South Welshmen has not stood lower than second on the podium at every round with just one outing remaining next weekend in Brisbane.

Moss has won three events and been runner up three times in 2008, and although he was pipped for victory in the final stages at Townsville, second place behind Tye Simmons was enough for the Suzuki camp to start celebrations as Moss now takes an unassailable lead into the Championship's final round.

In the Pro Open category, Chad Reed was defeated for the first time in Australasian SuperX history. His run of five straight round victories aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 ended when he was knocked out of the semi final of the new man-on-man format in Townsville.

Reed was third overall in Townsville and holds a 14 point lead over Jay Marmont as an array of new race formats have been wheeled out in the Australasian SuperX this year adding spice to the inaugural Championship and thrilling race goers all over Australia.

The opening heat was always going to be a case of a sweet and sour result for Suzuki, with Reed and Team Shift Motul Suzuki's Cameron Taylor drawing each other in heat 1: Reed progressed but it wasn't easy as he fought off Taylor to win by just over a second.

Taylor finished ninth at the weekend and currently sits sixth on the Pro Open point's table just six points outside the top five.

Needing only 12 more points to give Suzuki double Australasian SuperX Championships in 2008, Reed will head to Brisbane confident he can get the job done, but certain to leave no stone unturned until the title is assured.

Ricky Girdwood placed 15th for the Team Shift Motul Suzuki development squad in the Pro Lites category.

Matt Moss:

"To wrap up the Championship is just a great feeling, not only for me personally but for everyone at Team Shift Motul Suzuki. I knew that if I kept my head down I was a contender this year and I think my consistency has really paid off,  it's hard to describe how good a feeling it is to be the first winner of the Pro Lites SuperX title for Suzuki.

"The RM-Z250 has been amazing to ride and it's played a huge part in this Championship. Hopefully I can have some more success in the next Motocross season and be back to defend this title as well for Suzuki in 2009. We celebrated over the weekend with the team, but its straight back into it with one round remaining and it would be perfect to go out on a winning note to top off the Championship."

Chad Reed:

"The new formats have really added some spice to SuperX and all credit to Jay and Daniel - they rode very well this weekend.

"With a knock out format, anything can happen and although my form has been great this season, I was beaten on the night and it just goes to show how exciting these new formats can be. I've still got the lead in the Championship, and it has always been the goal to win the first Australasian SuperX title for Suzuki and that's what we are going all out to do this weekend in Brisbane."

Cameron Taylor:

Drawing Chad in the first heat was a bit of a catch 22 situation, one Suzuki rider was going to go and Chad is the best in the business but I was happy with my heat: I definitely had a crack. I hope to really finish strongly in Brisbane and get myself into the top five in the Championship that would be a great result to have two Suzuki's finish in the top five."

2008 Australasian SuperX Standings (after 5 rounds):

PRO OPEN: 1 Chad Reed (Suzuki RM-Z450) 145, 2 Jay Marmont 131, 3 Chayne Boyd 101, 4 Daniel McCoy 101, 5 Troy Carroll 88, 6 Cameron Taylor (Suzuki RM-Z450) 82.

PRO LITES: 1 Matt Moss (Suzuki RM-Z250) 141, 2 Tye Simmons 99, 3 Ryan Marmont 94, 4 Luke George 90, Danny Anderson 82.