Andrew McFarlane Motosport Xtreme Kawaski Update
Andrew McFarlane crashed at the Kawasaki Supercross track
last week while getting ready for San Francisco, which left
him with a dislocated bone in his hand. We hear the doctors
did what they could to get the errant bone back in place
without surgery…even putting him under so that they could
manipulate it. But in the end, they had to opt for surgery,
which means he’ll be out of action until the outdoor series.
While Andrew will be ready for the outdoor season, his
Motosport Xtreme Kawaski team is looking to fill his spot on
the team through the end of the ’08 Wet…er, West season.
Unfortunately, most of the riders with the speed and talent
necessary are already on other teams, and with the recent
rains in So. Cal., there are few places to try out a new team
member. It will be very interesting to see if they can fill the
spot in time for the final four rounds. vitalmx.com
Zach Osborne Update
We just got a call from Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy's Zach
Osborne and he gave us an encouraging update regarding the
status of his shoulder he injured in his heat race at the
season opening Anaheim Supercross. Zach had high hopes
of producing good results in this year's indoor season with
his new team, and after the practice times, things were
looking positive. It was not to be, however, as he went down
hard, dislocating his shoulder and breaking the scapula bone.
Here's what he had to say:
"Yeah, it was a bummer. I felt good on my new bike, I just
made a little mistake there and seat bounced over the bars.
I did the right thing though and took the time to get it healed
up. I actually went back east to see Dr. Medsker, then I've
been rehabbing it for two hours a day. It's actually back to
full strength already, so I'm going to get back on the bike
and see where I'm at for San Diego."
Zach also commented that the new competition rules for
2008 stipulate that once a rider so much as rides practice in
one series he may not switch coasts. racerxill.com
pics from tedescophoto.com
Andrew McFarlane & Zach Osborne Updates
Andrew McFarlane Xtreme Interview -ozzy go-
Catching Up with Andrew McFarlane 1 17 2008
pic from tedescophoto.com
Andrew McFarlane back to Kawasaki in 2008 -ozzy go- fullnoise.com.au
Australian Andrew McFarlane will ride Kawasaki again in 2008
after being named as part of the line-up for the newly formed,
Xtreme Pro Lites Kawasaki racing team that will compete in both
the 2008 AMA Supercross and Motocross Championship.
Built on its successful amateur program Xtreme Team Green, the
Xtreme Pro Lites program is expected to offer a natural
progression as Kawasaki’s top amateur riders make the transition
into the professional ranks.
“It only seemed right that we have a complete connection
between amateur and pro,” said Dave Gowland, Team Green™
Motocross Supervisor. “This is a true farm club and we are
working together to build a better program that will not only
benefit Kawasaki but provide Xtreme Pro Lites and Mitch Payton
at Pro Circuit with a higher class of rider.”
Led by former MotoSport Outlet Kawasaki manager Bill Keefe, the
rider line-up will include Tommy Hahn, Kyle Chisholm, Phil
Nicolette, and McFarlane. The team will field two riders to
compete in the East and West AMA Supercross Lites along with
the AMA Motocross Lites Series... full story on fullnoise.com.au
pic from vitalmx.com
Andrew McFarlane RacerX Interview -ozzy go-
5 Minutes With...Andrew McFarlane October 05, 2007
Talking to Australian Andrew McFarlane at Glen Helen last month,
he was ready to move on to 2008. In 2006, he was one of the
revelations in the AMA Motocross Lites class. After finishing
second overall in the 2005 World Motocross MX2 (Lites) class, he
became a perennial top-five finisher in his first year as an AMA
pro, eventually finishing seventh overall. Moving to the newly
revamped Rockstar Suzuki Team for 2007, the 30-year-old’s
season started with an injury, setting the tone for his entire
summer. Hoping for a fitting farewell to his team, and 2007,
Andrew was set to make a statement at the Motocross of Nations
as a member of Team Australia. Unfortunately, his day ended
early with a helicopter ride to a nearby hospital. read the
interview on racerxill.com
McFarlane cleared of career ending injuries after MXoN crash
Australia has finished last at the 2007 Motocross of Nations at
Budds Creek in America, with team member Andrew McFarlane
having been air-lifted from the track after breaking three bones in
his back during the opening moto.
McFarlane was involved in a multiple-rider collision that saw a
bike hurtle into him off the gate in the first moto, and he was
taken straight to a spinal clinic for immediate treatment.
Reports from Australian Team Manager Gary Benn over in
America suggest that McFarlane is doing okay, and that
thankfully, the spinal damage is such that he should make a full
recovery.
“I don’t know what the exact names of the bones are but he’s
broken three of them in his spine,” Benn said. “It is not a problem
in terms of loss of movement or anything like that –it’s just one
section of bones that is purely there for protection, it doesn’t alter
function or anything like that.”
With the incident taking place in the first of the three motos,
Australia was never going to be in the hunt - despite Chad Reed
taking out second place in the same race.
In the second race, Michael Byrne was doing well in third overall
before a dislodged water hose meant that he could not finish the
race – one in which McFarlane did not start.
In the third and final moto, Byrne finished 11th overall while Reed
went down in a second-corner pile-up, and did not finish the race.
It was an unfortunate turn of events for the Aussies who had
qualified in fourth overall and were very confident heading into
the main event.
Benn put the results down to bad luck, and pointed out the similar
fortunes of other strong contenders New Zealand and South Africa
in trying to find some solace.
“It was a strange race,” he said. “The three strong teams other
than America were New Zealand, Australia and South Africa and I
think we came last, second last and third last. “It wasn’t even a
lap (McFarlane’s crash) - it was only 10 metres that he went, off
the start. So it sort of was a bit of a bummer for everybody. “It
was all pretty much downhill from there.” Fullnoise.com.au
pictures from transworldmotocross.com
Full Story From Motorcycling Australia - www.ma.org.au -ozzy go-
Chad Reed to lead Team Australia at the Motocross of
Nations this weekend
Chad Reed will live out a childhood dream this weekend
when he captains the Australian team at the Motocross of
Nations conducted at Budd’s Creek in America.
Billed as the ‘Olympics of Motocross’ the event will see
the best three riders from each nation do battle against
each other in an effort to win the accolade of being the
best country in the dirt bike discipline of motocross.
Reed will return to Motocross of Nations this year after
injury and contractual obligations restrictions have meant
the Yamaha star has been unable to take part in the
international event in recent years.
The 25 year-old is relishing the opportunity to represent
his country whilst leading the team made up of fellow
Australian riders Michael Byrne and Andrew McFarlane.
“I think as a kid everybody had a dream of representing
their nation in their chosen sport and this weekend I will
get the opportunity to experience this once again but this
time as the Captain of the Australian team,” Reed said
from his home in Florida where the Australian team have
been bonding all week.
“One of my ambitions for this year was to be available for
Motocross of Nations and it was also the reason why I
raced my only AMA MX round at Budd’s Creek as it
provided me the chance to get familiar with the venue
prior to this weekend.”
Reed first put on the green and gold jersey at the
Motocross of Nations in 2001 and on debut he took a
moto victory.
“I was part o the squad which took victory at the
international teams event staged at Glenn Helen in 2002.
This year as a team we are focused on returning the
Australian flag to the winner’s podium,” Reed said.
Reed will return to Australian soil again in late November
to finalise plans for the much anticipated 2008
Australasian Supercross Series.
Reed and business partner Mike Porra secured the series
rights earlier this year and will launch the new look series
later this year with the goal of re establishing Supercross
as a mainstream sport. Motorcycling Australia
Chad Reed (22) Michael Byrne (26) Andrew McFarlane (30)
at Budds Creek in June - pictures from tedescophoto.com
Andrew McFarlane AMAMotocross.com Interview -ozzy go-
Asking Andrew McFarlane Jim Kimball 09-9-07
I first met Australian Andrew McFarlane at the 2005
Motocross of Nations in France – where he had just
finished runner-up in the World Motocross MX2
(Lites) Championships and was preparing to move to
America. Racing for Yamaha of Troy, McFarlane
was a revelation in last years AMAToyota Motocross
Lites Championships. A perennial top five, and often
podium finisher, I really thought 2008 would be an
even better year as he now had some time to adjust lo
living in America. But after being injured during
supercross, McFarlane has yet to really find his
previous form. Now with news on his team (Rockstar
Suzuki) disbanding, and after talking with him at
Thursday night’s MotoBowl event, I corralled Andrew
in his motor home to ask him about his current
thoughts on 2007, and the future. click on ozzy go to
the interview on amamotocross.com
Andrew McFarlane at Thunder Valley - vitalmx.com
Australian Motocross of Nations Team named
Motorcycling Australia has today announced the team that will represent Australia at
the 2007 Motocross of Nations to be held in the United States in September.
The event that will take place in Budds Creek on 22-23 September will feature a
strong Aussie line-up, consisting of Michael Byrne, Andrew McFarlane and Chad
Reed, as well as Team Manager Gary Benn.
All three of the chosen riders currently ride in America, and with previous experience
at the Budds Creek track, Australia is sure to be one of the top teams in contention
for outright honours.
Brett Metcalfe and Daniel Reardon have been named as the reserve riders for the
team, and having formed part of the 2006 team that competed in England, will add
valuable back-up if needed.
Speaking of the team selection, Team Manager Gary Benn noted that it is possibly
one of the best line-ups for a Motocross of Nations that Australia has named in
years, and admitted that he has high hopes of a podium finish.
“Seeing that it is in America, and given that it is those three guys riding, you would
think that if we don’t finish on the podium we must have had some sort of a mishap,”
he said.
“That would be the only thing I could think of that would stop us being on the podium
- as long as we don’t have any bad luck, or any breakage or crashes, I can’t see
why we wouldn’t finish on the podium.”
Benn revealed that the whole team will be catching up in the week prior to the event
at Chad Reed’s property in Florida, and said that the riders had a fairly strong bond
which was likely to benefit the team. 
“They are all going to Chad’s place in Florida for the week before,
so I will get over there on the Tuesday morning and we will have
that as time leading up before the event as a week spent
together,” he said.
“I know that they are in different teams, but I guess it’s sort of
natural that any Aussies who are in another country, and have
the same interest, and same job, always have a sort of a bond
anyway.
“You wouldn’t say that they’re the best of mates, but there is
always that factor that at the end of the day they are all Aussies,
and I know that they get on very well.”
Benn also revealed that Metcalfe was not considered for selection
in the team due to an injury at the time of selection.
“When the team was picked, Brett was injured, and although at
the moment he is riding really well, the reason why he was made
a reserve was due to the fact that he was coming back from
injury when the team had to be picked.”
Speaking of his selection from his home in America, McFarlane
admitted to being ecstatic with the news, and said that it meant a
lot for him to be able to represent his country. 
“I think for any Aussie, you have the dream to one day wear the
green and gold in whatever sport. Whether that’s for Motocross or
in the Olympics or any sport, it’s definitely something special and
always something I have wanted to do,” he said.
“I like to wear the green and gold gear, and I love representing
my country event though I haven’t been home for a long time.
“I’ve worked hard all my career, and to be chosen and be thought
of as one of the best riders in Australia means a lot to me.”
McFarlane added that he believes the 2007 Australian Team to be
exceptionally strong, and hopes that with the right preparation, a
top-five finish can occur.
“I think it has been a long time coming for us to all get together,”
he said.
“There are a lot of positive things with the line up and it is
something that I am really excited about.
“We will just prepare ourselves as best as we possibly can - I
think it is really possible for us to get a top-five finish, and that’s
what we’re aiming for.” Fullnoise.com.au
pics from expngo.com, vitalmx.com & transworldmotocross.com