Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Matt Moss has been crowned the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, MX1 champion after finishing third overall at today’s season finale in Coolum.

The 25-year-old added the MX1 crown to his 2009 and 2011 MX2 titles, winning the first 30-minute moto at Coolum before sealing the title with a calculated ninth in moto two.

It was Suzuki’s first title since Daryl Hurley won in 2005, a fitting result upon Moss’ return to Australia with the Motul Pirelli Suzuki outfit.

“I feel really good,” said Moss. “I’d just like to thank Motul Pirelli Suzuki, Jay Foreman, and the Foreman family. It’s such a loving family and we get on so good.

“I’m a happy guy at the moment, we’ve had such a great year. It was a little bit out of reach at the start but Jay Foreman turned me around and said, you can win this, and we’ve done exactly that.”

Winner of Coolum was Motocross World Championship-bound Todd Waters (Motorex KTM), taking out the GoPro Super Pole and then racing to 3-1 results for the overall.

Billy Mackenzie, Todd Waters and Matt Moss were top three at Coolum. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Waters was gracious in defeat, finishing runner-up for the second season in a row with a 16-point defecit to Moss following a hard-fought season.

“We did everything we could and I’m proud of this championship,” said Waters. “We started off strong, and had a few mishaps, so to be on the box still with a broken collarbone and a few other injuries, I’m proud of.

“We gave it everything we could, and congratulations to the other two boys. I’ve got to give it to the Motorex KTM guys – Robby T, Jeff Leisk, Mum and Dad, teammate [Kirk] Gibbsy as well, and my mechanic Ryan. These guys work so hard, and its been a pleasure this year.”

Rounding out the podium was CDR Yamaha’s Billy Mackenzie, racing to a pair of seconds during the motos. He led much of moto two, but a crash mid-moto forced him to settle for second.

Mackenzie wrapped up third overall in the championship, with his lone victory of 2013 coming at Hervey Bay’s seventh round.

“It’s been a solid season, but not solid enough, I’ve finished second and third way too many times this year,” said Mackenzie. “I would have liked more wins, we’ve been building on it all year and CDR Yamaha have really helped me.

Matt Moss is your 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 Champion. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

“The bike was awesome and everything about the team was just super-professional. Any little modification we needed or had to do was done straight away.

“I look forward to the 2014 bike, I had a little ride on that today and that was pretty special, so hopefully we can continue and get together for a strong year and try and win this thing.”

Moss’ teammate Cody Cooper put forward a consistent effort in fourth with a 5-3 scorecard, beating home Waters’ teammate Kirk Gibbs. Gibbs was eighth in moto one despite a heavy early fall, but rode to fourth in the second moto.

Sand specialist Gareth Swanepoel (Carlton Dry Honda, 4-6) was sixth, as Adam Monea (Monster Energy Kawasaki, 6-5), Jake Moss (Campbell Mining Suzuki, 7-7), Jay Marmont (Monster Energy Kawasaki, 9-8) and Sam Martin (DPH Suzuki, 11-10) rounded out the top 10.

In the Motul MX2 ranks it was Luke Styke who again confirmed his form as Australian champion, the newly-crowned title winner going 1-1 for his ninth overall of the season.

“All the hard work has paid off,” said Styke. “It was a tough track today, definitely the roughest I’ve ever ridden, and the new layout was awesome.

Todd Waters took the round win at Coolum and claimed second for the series. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

“I just can’t thank Serco Yamaha enough. They worked hard and the results showed this year. Two years ago I was about to quit, and Serco gave me the lifeline and we’ve worked super hard to get to this point.”

Second overall was Sunshine Coast local Brock Winston (Choice Motorsports KTM) with 2-2 finishes, however he led much of the opening moto before Styke struck in the closing laps.

That result cemented him third overall for the season, one of the year’s revelations in his full time return to the sport.

“Luke [Styke] got me there at the end of that first moto, I had the crowd there for me and cheering, I put in as much as I could but he had a bit more at the end,” said Winston. “I’m still happy, I’ve never even led a lap of a national so I’m pretty happy to do that today.

“To lead a moto is a lot different to being second or third, the pressure is way higher. It’s all just experience. I’m happy with second, and happy with the season, and very thankful for all they’ve done.”

Completing Coolum’s MX2 podium was rookie wonder Kale Makeham (Tune Tech Racing KTM), making it six straight podiums to close the season on his way to runner-up in the title race behind Styke.

Brock Winston, Luke Styke and Kale Makeham atop the MX2 podium. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Makeham rebounded from a frustrating fall in moto one to end up third, and he replicated that result in the second outing of the weekend.

“I had a really disappointing round at Broadford, I think I went 22-10,” said Makeham. “Ever since then it has been my mission to learn from that and finish on the podium at every round, and I’m so happy to have done that.

“It shows I’ve matured, which is what this year was for, it was a learning year. It’s been awesome, honestly in myself I didn’t expect to finish runner-up in this championship.

“I knew I worked hard and I’ve got awesome people around me. I just knew if I kept my head down and kept working I’d eventually finish up on this podium at the end of the season.”

Fourth for the round was Kiwi Rhys Carter (Suzuki) with fourth in both motos, while young Victorian Dylan Long (KTM) raced to fifth via 6-5 results.

Privateer Beau Ralston was a solid sixth, riding his YZ250 to fifth in moto one, before borrowing Luke Clout’s factory Serco Yamaha YZ250F for the second and impressing on his way to sixth.

Luke Styke capped off his title-winning season in style at Coolum. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Positions seven through 10 were filled by Ryan Marmont (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki, 7-7), Kayne Lamont (Choice Motorsports KTM, 8-9), Kieran Scheele (Honda, 10-10) and Peter Boyle (Carlton Dry Honda, 9-11).

CMR Red Bull KTM rider Hamish Harwood made it the second year in succession that a New Zealand rising star won the Pirelli MXD title, following in the footsteps of Lamont 12 months ago.

Harwood clinched the title with third in moto one aboard his 250 SX, before winning moto two in style to conclude his Under 19s campaign.

“It’s good to get the last moto win in the series and finish strong,” Harwood said. “I’ll go home for a couple of weeks, chill out and then start training for next year’s New Zealand Championship. I’d like to race MX2 next year, it just depends if hopefully I get a deal so that’s what we’ll be aiming for.”

Winning overall at Coolum was series runner-up Jay Wilson (GYTR Yamaha), claiming the first moto victory before finishing behind Harwood in the second.

“We put a lot of hard work in, but the first half of the season didn’t go to plan for whatever reason,” Wilson said. “I can’t give it up enough for everybody who stuck behind me the whole time.

Hamish Harwood wrapped up an impressive Pirelli MXD title at Coolum Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

“I’m looking forward to Supercross, so a big thanks to everybody who helped me get to this point. It’s definitely nice to finish the season with a win.”

A new face stood upon the podium in MXD at Coolum, Caleb Ward (KTM), who made his return from injury at Toowoomba and then rode to third today with 2-3 performances.

The top five overall for the season final at Coolum was filled by Kyle Webster (Yamaha, 4-5) and Joel Wightman (Yamaha, 7-4).

Coolum’s KTM 2-Stroke Cup round was won by TM Racing Australia’s new signing Nick Sutherland, while former MXD title winner Errol Willis (Yamaha) wrapped up the title with second overall. Second in the series belonged to Tyson Cherry (Yamaha), with Ryan Perry (Yamaha) third.

In the Veterans 30-39 Years it was Cheyne Boyd (Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil Yamaha) who swept the round and took his maiden national title from Cameron Taylor (Yamaha) and Travis Regeling (Honda).

The Veterans 40 years title was captured by Mark Oberthur (Suzuki) ahead of Paul Novak (KTM) and Clint Andrewartha (Suzuki). Today’s round was topped by Oberthur over Novek and Mitch Rowe (KTM).

2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals
Round 10 – Coolum, Queensland

Monster Energy MX1 results:
1. Todd Waters 70
2. Billy Mackenzie 67
3. Matt Moss 61
4. Cody Cooper 57
5. Kirk Gibbs 53
6. Gareth Swanepoel 53
7. Adam Monea 51
8. Jake Moss 48
9. Jay Marmont 45
10. Sam Martin 41

Monster Energy MX1 championship standings (after 10 of 10 rounds):
1. Matt Moss 643
2. Todd Waters 627
3. Billy Mackenzie 583
4. Cody Cooper 535
5. Kirk Gibbs 528
6. Jake Moss 492
7. Jay Marmont 428
8. Adam Monea 427
7. Lawson Bopping 407
10. Sam Martin 335

Motul MX2 results:
1. Luke Styke 70
2. Brock Winston 64
3. Kale Makeham 60
4. Rhys Carter 56
5. Dylan Long 51
6. Beau Ralston 51
7. Ryan Marmont 48
8. Kayne Lamont 45
9. Kieran Scheele 42
10. Peter Boyle 42

Motul MX2 championship standings (after 10 of 10 rounds):
1. Luke Styke 683
2. Kale Makeham 564
3. Brock Winston 536
4. Ryan Marmont 446
5. Dylan Long 440
6. Rhys Carter 407
7. Takeshi Katsuya 398
8. Kayne Lamont 392
9. Geran Stapleton 349
10. Wade Hunter 330

Pirelli MXD results:
1. Jay Wilson 67
2. Hamish Harwood 65
3. Caleb Ward 62
4. Kyle Webste 54
5. Joel Wightman 52
6. Jake Emanuelli 50
7. Corey James 47
8. Dakota Court 46
9. Tomas Ravenhorst 44
10. Dylan Wills 41

Pirelli MXD championship standings (after eight of eight rounds):
1. Hamish Harwood 504
2. Jay Wilson 453
3. Jack Simpson 400
4. Corey James 383
5. Joel Wightman 369
6. Jesse Dobson 353
7. Jake Emanuelli 329
8. Joel Dinsdale 325
9. Logan Blackburn 293
10. Dakota Court 269

Click here for detailed results