Lockhart and Cooke take aim at home national 
by Roddy MacLeod
28 July 2004

Springhill, Nova Scotias Ryan Lockhart will be among the pace setters this Sunday at Round 2 of the CMRC 125 East Motocross Championship in Moncton, NB. Lockhart, who races for BMR Yamaha, will spearhead a contingent of Atlantic Canada motocrossers at Riverglade MX Park that includes Brookfield, Nova Scotias Mitchell Cooke.



For Lockhart, 2003 Atlantic Canada 125 Champion, the 04 motocross season almost ended early when he dislocated his ankle and subsequently broke his fibula while racing Round 3 of the 250cc National Tour in Calgary five weeks ago.

Lockhart aggravated the ankle injury when he twisted his leg during a qualifier at the Barrie National. Ignoring the pain, the Springhill Ironman managed to win the qualifier. Lockhart was severely hampered by his injuries in Sundays feature race, however. He finished seventh overall on the strength of 7-8 moto results.

Although it was feared Lockhart might have to sit out Round 2 of the 125 East hes been given the go-ahead by his physician to race.

Ive been on the start line with worse injuries but of course this changes things. My goal to win the 125 Championship this year has now been reduced to finishing top three in the points, said Lockhart. In a four-round series like the 125 East you have to finish on the podium pretty well every weekend to have a shot at the title. Im not training this week to give the ankle a rest and Im going to physio every day. My leg is fine now and the ankle should be okay by Sunday. Im confident of finishing top three in Moncton.

Lockhart, finished fourth in the 125 East points standings last year.

Cooke, meanwhile, who didnt join the CMRC Championship Tour till Barrie, will be proving his mettle in the gruelling 250cc Nationals for the rest of the season.

The likeable Brookfield native put on an impressive performance at Round 5 of the eight-round 250 series last weekend. Unfortunately, he was taken out of action by another rider in the first moto but finished seventh in moto number two.

Although Cooke was looking at doing the final four rounds as a privateer, he was picked up by Montreal based Diablo Performance Honda in a last minute deal.

Racing for a top team like Diablo means I have equipment at my disposal I wouldnt have as a privateer, said Cooke. Im looking forward to top-ten finishes in the remaining rounds and scoring enough points to end the season with a top twenty ranking.

Both Lockhart and Cooke will have their hands full in their respective classes at Riverglade MX Park. In the 125cc East, American riders Gavin Gracyk (Richmond Racing Kawasaki), Jim Neese (Coors Light Suzuki), and Donnie McGourty (Richmond) will be the ones to beat. Ontarios Doug DeHaan (BMR Yamaha) and Chuck Mesley (KTM Canada) will also be on the gas to keep Lockhart off of the podium.

Cooke will have to deal with the likes of defending three-time 250cc National Champion Jean Sebastien Roy (Blackfoot Racing Honda) and former national champion Marco Dubé (Dubé Racing Honda). Roy has won every race so far this season. Dubé, who is currently fifth in the points standings, is the second highest ranked Canadian.

Lodged between Dubé and fellow Quebecer Roy in the points as of Round 5 are Californias Damon Huffman (Blackfoot), currently in second, Massachusetts native John Down (OTSFF Suzuki), third, and Californias Craig Decker (Coors Light Suzuki), fourth.

Huffman, runner-up in the 04 World Supercross Championship, finished second in the 250cc National Championship last year. Decker was third in the 03 points chase.

Media release by Bulls Eye Media Relations