Kirk Gibbs revelled in difficult qualifying conditions at Broadford. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Motorex KTM’s Kirk Gibbs has taken a lot of confidence from his maiden MX1 podium, captured last weekend at Broaford’s fourth round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals.

After qualifying second in Super Pole, Gibbs went 4-6 for second overall. His four points scored in Super Pole elevated him from fifth outright onto the podium.

It was an inspiring day for the popular South Australian, less than 12 months after his life-threatening incident at Coolum’s season finale in 2012.

“You train so hard and put the time and effort in, so days like today are really good and I’m stoked with it,” Gibbs reflected. “I just want to keep moving forward with it now.”

Broadford went smoothly for Gibbs from the outset, a memorable weekend aboard the 450 SX-F to keep KTM’s podium streak alive.

“We started off great with second in Super Pole, then in that first race I got a little arm pump and got fourth,” he explained. “The gate dropped real quick in the second and I blew the start, but I had a good battle with Tye [Simmonds] and we had a nice pace going – we were actually catching the front boys on the last few laps.”

Gibbs will continue racing this weekend with a round of the Sunshine State series at Coolum, before heading to Conondale next weekend – a venue he won at in MX2 last year. He’s confident his recent experience will pay off at Conondale.

“I’ve got a Sunny State race this weekend at Coolum then we’re off to Connondale,” Gibbs said. “I did well there last year, it’s pretty different to most tracks – sort of like a big grassy paddock up on a hill with a few jumps in it.

“Pretty open, which is good, a bit more like the tracks in New Zealand.”

Gibbs now sits eighth in the standings after four of 10 rounds.