2008 OUTLAW TRI-STATE ATV MX SERIES
ROUND 1 – CANBERRA

As the sun rose, the smell of petrol filled the air and the anticipation grew among the riders, the teams were hard at work as they prepped their quads ready for the 1st race of the season.
LBM Polaris Race Team, Can Am and Hardiman ATV Kawasaki were all present in their well laid out pit tents looking professional and ready to tear the track apart.

The Pro race had a few major upsets and rider errors leaving room for other riders to make up points.
In the 1st moto of the day Barry Francis Suzuki Victorian rider Paul Smith managed to loose his seat in the 1st couple of laps making his 15 minute moto one of the longest of his life. Smith had a pretty respectable start but after his mishap relegated himself back down the field to 6th Anthony Dellios had a great start to the day but found himself falling behind due to fitness as did quite a few riders. LBM Polaris Race Team Queensland rider Luke Beechey took the lead early and held on to it pulling away from the rest of the field. LBM Polaris Race Team rider Aaron Ovens made up a lot of ground through out the race and managed to pull in 3rd proving he is one of the contenders to take out a trophy. Young Victorian rider Cameron Wade has certainly given the Pro riders something to think about showing that in his debut Pro race coming 2nd he is going to make a huge threat to these race teams. NSW Rider Paul Worth who has signed up with Hardiman ATV Kawasaki Team certainly put on a show with his skill and agility coming a very comfortable 4th.

In the 2nd moto for the day Smith proved that he was there to win taking out the holeshot and never losing the lead. The rest of the field had to give chase with a bit of pushing and shoving trying to make up ground on him. Myles Dillon who made the long haul from Central Queensland also had a great start but the dreaded fatigue set in relegating him down the field, however due to a mishap managed to DNF along with Worth. Wade put in a tremendous effort coming in 2nd once again and Beechey held 3rd.

The 3rd moto proved the hardest with all riders feeling the heat and exhaustion causing a few upsets. Ovens had a major get off flipping through the air and after winding himself managed to haul himself back onto the quad and finish a respectable 5th Another major get off involved Dillon with a few being tangled up in the mess. Dillon had a unfortunate DNF leaving the rest of the field to do a bit of catch up to the rest. Smith put in another fantastic race taking the lead from the start of the race leaving Beechey to do the chasing this time and held onto 1st place leaving Beechey to contend with 2nd.

Due to Beecheys consistent riding he held onto overall 1st place leaving Smith to be delighted with 2nd and an extremely happy Wade with 3rd.

Expert Class saw the 1st moto with Victorian rider Mitch Van Vliet, just recently turning Senior, to take out the holeshot . Justin Agosta got caught up in the 1st corner catching someone’s wheel, throwing him clean across the other side of the track through the air. Once Agosta got his breath back he took to the track like a possessed but sore man trying to catch the rest of the field. Victorian Rider Tait Ovens who has been working on his fitness proved that he was there for the chase never giving up on trying to catch Van Vliet. 2nd and 3rd moto showed Van Vliet was there to win in his debut ride for Expert and he wasn’t going to let anyone pass him as he doubled the stutters and cleared the table tops.
Taking his 1st ride to the extreme Van Vliet clearly took out 1st with 3 straight wins with Ovens taking 2nd and Agostas consistency giving him 3rd.

Vets 35+ were distinctly the biggest field with 17 riders out to get those elusive trophies. NSW rider Peter Middleton was a force to be reckoned with as he took out all 3 motos leaving the rest of the field behind. Victorian rider Dean Poke was giving his quad a squirt when unfortunately the track got the better of him and he had a major get off. Can Am rider Rick Beer showing great sportsmanship jumped off his quad and sat with Poke until help arrived. Ian Haggie had a bad start in the 1st moto but managed to be placed 3rd in the next two races and Marco Mestrinaro had a great consistent day in all 3 races placing him 2nd all 3 motos.

Senior Production was a very consistent race with not much changing throughout the day. Can Am rider Rick Beer put in a huge effort as did Tait Ovens and Marco Mestrinaro.
The Junior 300 class saw much improved young rider Luke Nixon give Adam Larson a run for his money but Larson proved the stronger rider taking home the 1st place trophy leaving Nixon with a well deserved 2nd. Jake Van Vliet who has also stepped up the pace was very consistent which gave him overall 3rd.

The event was very successful with a real mix in the field between all states present.
Next Outlaw Tri- State Series round is May 18 in Mt Gambier.