Burchell and Rogers Impress at Wonthaggi

Often national motocross events are dominated by team riders with the supporting and backing to do well, so when a rider posts a significant result without the support of a major team or decent funding, it’s worth celebrating.

Tackling the Wonthaggi circuit in Victoria is a tough task. It has a variety of surfaces, gets as rough and nasty as any track in Australia and there is no place to rest, or hide. It is torture and even the best riders in the country know it’s been a long day in the office at a ProMX event in Wonthaggi.

In among the team stars of the MX1 and MX2 class, saw two standout performances by Yamaha riders. Levi Rogers (Caloundra Motorcycles) charged to a sixth-place finish in the MX1 class on his YZ450F, while Seth Burchell (Bulk Nutrients WBR Yamaha) racked up the same result in MX2. Both former YJR riders, both supported by dealer-based teams and both on Yamaha.

Rogers has kept a low profile over recent times as he recovered from a finger injury that had him sidelined for months. After an injury last year, he had surgery to get it fixed but then had an infection which cost him more time off the bike and is still feeling the effects of it today.

But the tall Queenslander got to work on his fitness over the off season, dialled in his Caloundra Motorcycles backed YZ450F and rolled into Wonthaggi hoping to get a top ten to start the season.

He did more than that. He qualified in tenth which allowed him into the Superpole shootout, in the shootout, he improved his position to eighth, so he was confident he could translate that into meeting his goals once the racing got under way.

He finished a career best sixth overall with 8-6 moto scores in a day that sets the benchmark of what he can achieve. Throughout each moto, he battled with the established names of MX1: Clout, Gibbs, Waters and Crawford and never took a backwards step.

“While I had a goal to finish inside the top ten, the best thing for me I was able to put to good races together, with no silly mistakes or crashes and just be a little smarter out there.

“I worked hard on my fitness and concentration over the off season and on the weekend “I felt much clearer in my head, more focused and also not trying to override. Sixth was the best result I could get, so I took it instead of doing something dumb and crashing out.

“The bike was good all weekend so thanks to Zac at Calundra Motorcycles and Jon Hafey who I have worked with during the off season. Now the goal is to keep the same energy and focus for round two at Appin,” Rogers ends.

Seth Burchell is the current SX3 champion and with a great working relationship with Travis and Nathan Whitten of WBR Yamaha fame. Together with Yamaha Australia and some major partners, Burchell was able to put together a deal that gives him great equipment and support but without the full pressure of a national team as he finds his way in MX2.

The weekend was his first national race in the MX2 class and Burchell was not over-whelmed. He kept his cool, stayed calm and raced with some maturity to finish the round in sixth place and with boost of confidence that will carry him through to Appin, a track he is extremely familiar with.

He finished with 7-6 to take sixth on the weekend and a positive start to his campaign. He got solid starts, stayed out of trouble and pushed on all the way to the finish, to record a sensational result and not be overawed by the occasion.

“Probably an increase in speed, but they are all much fitter,” Burchell explains when talking about the difference of MX2 to MX3. “Every rider in the top ten are fit and if you get a little lazy it shows as they just keep on going.

“But I’m happy with how the weekend went. The bike and the Bulk Nutrients WBR Yamaha team worked hard all day, and we were able to get a result we are all proud of.

“Wonthaggi isn’t a surface I like, so hopefully when we get back to Appin, I can match or better that result and be closer to the guys at the front of the pack,” he ends.