Yamaha's Wilson Stretches His Advantage   21 Jul 2015

Yamaha's Wilson Stretches His Advantage

JULY 21, 2015: It was a special day for Jay Wilson on Sunday.

Not only was the New Zealand MX2 (250cc) champion from Tweed Heads, near Coolangatta, celebrating his 21st birthday at the seventh round of 10 in the Australian Motocross Championships on Sunday, but he was also able to extend his championship advantage at the top of the 250cc class standings.

With help from Yamaha on both sides of the Tasman Sea, the fast-maturing Australian lined up with his Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team YZ250F to fend off his many challengers and signalled his fighting intentions by setting the fast time in qualifying.

Although the afternoon was far from perfect for Wilson as he ended the day third overall, behind fellow Australian Caleb Ward and Japan's 2013 MX2 champion Takeshi Katsuya, Wilson still increased his series lead by one point and he is now six points ahead of Serco Yamaha's defending national champion Luke Clout in the championship chase.

Wilson finished 4-2 in his two outings, while Clout delivered a 7-1 score-line, giving the final podium position to Wilson by one point from Clout.

Wilson's Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team boss Josh Coppins, of Motueka, himself a former world No.2 and Australian and New Zealand national champion, explained it was a tough day at the office for his rider.

"It was not a great day really. We celebrated a couple of highlights, like having Jay (Wilson) qualify fastest and then grab the holeshots in both his races.

"But he really struggled in the first race and fourth place was not really where we wanted him to be. He didn't ride to his potential.

"We had a big talk after that and he came out swinging for the second race. He battled all race long with Clout and settled for runner-up spot, with maintaining his championship lead the main focus.

"The riding he showed in that second race is the sort of thing we need him to show for the rest of the season. It was a real dogfight."

Instead of returning to the Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team base in Motueka, Wilson will remain in Melbourne where he will now prepare for round eight of the series, set for Nowra, south of Woolongong, New South Wales, in two weeks' time (on August 2).

The Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing team is supported by Altherm Window Systems, Yamaha, JCR, CRC, Ados, GYTR, Yamalube, Fox Racing, Hollands Collision Centre, Star Moving, Ward Demolition, Fulton Hogan, Pirelli, FMF, DID, NGK, Matrix, Renthal, Motomuck, Workshop Graphics, Motoseat, Hammerhead, SKF, Vertex Pistons, Rtech Plastics, Etnies, Biketranz and Fulton Hogan.

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