Kirk Gibbs is looking to turn some heads during his rookie year in the premier class alongside Todd Waters on the Motorex KTM Racing Team. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

Motorex KTM Racing Team riders Todd Waters and Kirk Gibbs continue to put the finishing touches on their race craft as the Monster Energy MX Nationals season opener approaches.

Competing in their third round of New Zealand Motocross Championship racing, Waters and Gibbs rode to solid third and fourth placings respectively in the premier MX1 class.

Although Waters struggled with his starts during the Pukekoh round three event, he beleives his speed was good and enjoyed having the chance to battle with the likes of Cody Cooper and Billy Mackenzie.

It wasn’t a good day for me with starts today, but my speed was pretty good and I had a good battle with Coops in the third moto,” said Waters. “We learned a little bit more with the bike and our suspension setup and I had a lot of fun coming through the pack.

“It was only the third race that I got to battle with Coops. Gibbsy held us off for a few laps then I closed on Coops then he’d pull away again. Billy jumped on the back for a few laps then dropped off. It was a good race. I’m looking forward to the 30-minute races in the nationals when I can get the diesel engine (me) going.”

In a complete opposite situation to his teammate, Gibbs’ starts were on point throughout the event, pulling two out of three MX1 holeshots on the day and avoiding most of the dreaded 450 roost.

“It was a fun track today and I really felt I gelled with a lot better and just flowed better on it,” said Gibbs. “Last round with the concrete starts my starts weren’t very good and today I didn’t feel like getting roosted all day so I thought I’d better pull the finger out and have a go. I kept the front wheel on the deck a lot better and got it driving.

“Being up the front was great – you pick up on the areas where the other boys are faster. It might just be a tenth here or a tenth there but over a lap that might mean a full second. I need to work on my intensity off the start and in those first laps – them boys can turn it up and run away with it if you don’t go with them.”

Gibbs feels that he is gaining confidence and taking his program in the right direction in lead up to round one in Australia.

“I feel like we’re taking steps in the right direction and it’s getting a lot easier,” he added. “My confidence is improving and I hope to keep improving on the lead into the first round of the Aussies.”

Waters and Gibbs hold down third and fourth placings respectively in the overall New Zealand Motocross Championship MX1 standings with just one round remaining.