Round five of the Monster Energy Super X championships arrives at “The House of Pain”, Carisbrook Stadium, in Dunedin, this Saturday night with plenty at stake.

Kawasaki rider Josh Hansen leads the Open class and KTM rider PJ Larsen leads the Lites (250cc) division, while KTM riders Ryan Marmont and Tye Simmonds, Suzuki brothers Jake and Matt Moss and Honda stars Daniel Reardon and Todd Waters all look primed to strike, but it is the Yamaha men who perhaps exude the most confidence ahead of race night in Dunedin.

Across all three of Yamaha’s factory supported teams, the vibe was high as each rider turned in season-best results and now they look to Dunedin to carry the momentum forward.

After a string of top five results, CDR spearhead Jay Marmont broke through for his first podium of the season. The three time motocross champ finished the night at Auckland in second place and moved into second overall in the championship standings with three rounds remaining.

Marmont expects the Auckland round to be the turning point in his championship, especially after winning the final moto of the night in North Harbour Stadium. Marmont is looking for a big finish in the championship with only Sydney and Brisbane to follow the Dunedin event.

“I feel I have been building for a while and a few more pieces came together at Auckland. I was able to get good starts and combine that with decent track speed and that gave me my best finish so far. If I can continue to improve again this week as I have done over the previous rounds then I should be right in contention,” Marmont explains.

Joining Marmont will again be American Jeff Alessi. Alessi was in sensational form throughout the practice and qualifying sessions in Auckland only to face bad luck in the main events. Alessi showed he has the speed and skill to match anyone in the Pro Open class and with a little bit of luck can challenge for a podium spot.

The Serco Yamaha Pro Lites one-man band of Ford Dale was in great shape at the Auckland round being the fastest qualifier in the Pro Lites class and finishing 5-1 in the first two main events of the Triple Challenge. Only a flat tyre caused by a screw on the track derailed Dale’s hopes of a podium but that has only fired the Sunshine Coast based rider up and he has his sights set on a podium finish.

“I felt great last week but just couldn’t get it done in the final race due to the flat tyre. It is rare to get a flat in Super X, but that’s the way it goes so this weekend I’m out to finish the job properly and get my Serco Yamaha on the box.”

GYTR Rockstar Yamaha’s Luke Styke rode the rollercoaster of emotion all the way to a third place in the Pro Lites at the Auckland round. With the injury to his team-mate Harley Quinlan fresh in his mind, Styke pulled down his best result of the year and dedicated to Quinlan.

The result was just the confidence booster Styke needed and this weekend is out to prove the Auckland result was no fluke.

“I have had a pretty good week this week with my training. I was able to get in a couple of rides, hit the gym and the pool and I feel fresh and ready to go. I can’t wait to get racing again,” Styke said.

There’s no reason to count out privateer Yamaha rider Nick Sutherland from featuring as well.

The 19-year-old from Inverell, New South Wales, finished 9-11-9 in his three Lites (250cc) class races in Auckland, good enough for seventh overall for the night.

That also meant he finished top privateer for the night and elevated himself from 15th equal in the championship standings to 13th overall.

Perhaps we can expect another good showing from this man as well.

Series Standings – After Round Four of Seven:

Pro Opens

1st Josh Hansen -225

2nd Jay Marmont – 193

3rd Jake Moss – 152

4th Tye Simmonds – 149

5th Daniel Reardon – 138

6th Todd Waters – 128

7th Daniel McCoy – 127

8th Justin Brayton – 121

9th Lewis Woods – 107

10th Mike Alessi – 107

Pro Lites

1st PJ Larsen – 210

2nd Matt Moss – 201

3rd Ryan Marmont – 176

4th Cody Mackie – 136

5th Lawson Bopping – 130

6th Steven Clarke – 111

7th Josh Cachia – 110

8th Ford Dale – 105

9th Luke Styke – 103

10th Robbie Marshall – 102

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com