GIllespie (2) won the Women's Motocross Championship over defending champion Dare (1) on Sunday.

GMR Motorex KTM’s Kristy Gillespie reclaimed her national title taking out the 2010 Motul Pirelli Australian Women’s Motocross Championship in fine style on Saturday 24 October at the Albury Wodonga Motorcycle Club.

In a first for Aussie Women’s Motocross, the stand alone event saw Gillespie take out all four race wins, ahead of 2009 Champ and Yamaha rider Tori Dare, and New Zealand’s Kimberley Murphy (Yamaha).

In the first race of the day Albury Wodonga’s local hero Gillespie scored a massive holeshot and in a determined effort to win her crown back, checked out, leaving the rest of the field to battle it out behind her.

Extending out to a massive 16 second lead by the end of the race, Gillespie put her competitors on notice, with 2009 Champ Dare managing second place, despite a recent bout of Glandular Fever, and Yamaha’s Courtney Knight wrapping up the top three in third place.

The second moto looked set to mix things up, with Dare taking the holeshot and the lead, while New Zealand Women’s Motocross Champ Murphy and Gillespie battled it out for second and third places.

Dare appeared to have a massive lead however after putting the move on Murphy, Gillespie began closing the gap on Dare – with the reigning champ starting to fade. With two laps to go Gillespie made her move, taking the lead for her second race win of the day, with Dare and Jessica Moore (Honda) rounding out the top three.

As gates dropped on the third moto, Dare once again took the lead, however she wasn’t able to shake determined riders Gillespie and Murphy.

By mid-race Gillespie overtook Dare, with the local rider storming out to a 10 second lead while the New South Welshwoman held off a late charge from Murphy to secure her third second place finish for the day.

With only one race to go, Gillespie was gunning for the clean-sweep in front of a home-crown, and within a handful of laps had taken the lead ahead of Kiwi rider Murphy and Knight.

Gillespie continued to extend her lead with every lap and did not disappoint local supporters – taking the win by seven seconds ahead of New Zealand’s Murphy and Knight who rounded out the top three.

At the end of the day Gillespie romped it home with an awesome 18 point lead, while Dare managed an impressive second place.

Third became an epic battle in the final moto between three riders; Murphy, Knight and Moore, with the Kiwi rider cinching third place by only four points.

Speaking after the final race Gillespie said that to win all four races was beyond her expectations.

“If you had have asked me at the start of the day I would never have thought I would win four races from four and take out the Championship that way,” Gillespie said. “I had some amazing support in the crowd and it certainly helped me having people at every turn cheering and supporting me in every race.

“Getting the first race win settled my nerves a bit and made me feel calmer for the rest of the day and I really think that helped my racing and allowed me to ride without that added pressure.”

Despite battling with Glandular Fever for the previous two months Dare was satisfied with second place.

“I’m pretty stoked with a second place considering I’ve had glandular fever for a while now,” Dare said. “I didn’t get to do much training in the build up and had to rest a couple of weeks before this event so I was really happy with my results and I’ll definitely be back next year fit and healthy.”

After battling with Knight and Moore for the remaining podium place Murphy was thrilled to get on the podium.

“I’m absolutely wrapped with how the event went for me,” Murphy said. “When I decided to come over for this event it was my goal to get on the podium and to achieve that was fantastic. To perform so well against these girls, who race so fast, was something I’m really proud of.”

Speaking after the event, promoter and director of Rebel Media Group, Fiona Collins, said she couldn’t believe the day had already been and gone.

“I’m exhilarated, astonished, and overwhelmed with how today went,” she said. “I can’t believe we’ve actually done it – the feedback from the girls, the smiles on their faces, and the change in attitude where the girls knew they were put first is just amazing.

“We had a number of people who had never been to Motocross before and the first thing they said to me was they had goose bumps from the racing – they couldn’t believe the level of talent and were blown away – and a lot of people have seen that these girls have really stepped it up.”

With the McGrath Foundation on board, Collins said it was an awesome opportunity for these girls to give something back.

“Motocross is a very individual sport and we often have such a perfect opportunity to give something back – this is a sport for women so why not do something that supports and gives back to women,” she said.

“The McGrath Foundation is quite close to home at this event, as some riders the championship have loved ones who have battled with the disease, so this was a great way for Motocross to give back and support them.”