Moss proud of Aussie Qualifying effort

Australian Team Coach Greg Moss is certainly not getting ahead of himself after what was an extremely successful Practice and Qualifying performance by the Australian riders at the 2009 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship on Saturday in Taupo, New Zealand.

In horribly wet conditions which resulted in the Taupo track deteriorating as the day drew longer, the Australians dominating the top ten placings in each of the 85cc and 125cc class during Saturday’s 40-minute Qualifying sessions, and Moss is quietly confident of success when the final races take place tomorrow.

“I think we’re learning a little bit more as we go along,” Moss said.

“You look at Eli Tomac [in the 125cc class] and he was still setting good lap times later on in the mud, and Glenn Coldenhoff was jumping into the corners extremely fast, so we won’t get over-excited, it’s going to be a real race [tomorrow].

Moss has always held a strong belief that the Aussie riders will succeed at these Championships, but sensed that some of his riders have been underestimated in the lead-up to the event.

“It’s going to come down to the starts and a good race, but we’re in there... we’re in there probably a lot more than some people expected,” Moss continued.

Moss was also extremely impressed with young French rider Dylan Ferrandis, who qualified fastest, over four seconds quicker than any of his rivals in the 85cc class.

“He’s a class act on the bike,” Moss said, “but I think their lifestyle means they are on their bikes more, and the young Aussies will definitely learn from him which will set them up well for the future.”

With Saturday’s Qualifying sessions now out of the way, the Australians can now concentrate their thoughts and efforts toward tomorrow’s races.

“We’ll just wind down now, but mainly we want to get the boys warm.

“It’s so cold here in New Zealand so it’ll be straight off with their wet gear, get something warm on, get back to the hotel, feed them up and then they’ll just hang out and talk about how they all went,” Moss concluded.

To listen to the full interview with Greg Moss – and for all other interviews, news, results, photos and videos from the 2009 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, visit the Motorcycling Australia website at www.ma.org.au/2009worldjuniormx.