Image: Jeff Crow.

CDR Yamaha’s Billy Mackenzie rode to his first Monster Energy MX Nationals moto win on Sunday at Wonthaggi, but was denied the overall victory after costly crash in the opening moto.

Mackenzie was running second in the opening moto before the crash, which bumped him down to 11th in the moto. Later that afternoon he dominated moto two, leading from start to finish.

“I thought my riding was good today and I believed I should have won the overall had it not been for that crash in race one,” Mackenzie said. “It was totally my fault and as a rider who has raced for so many years, I shouldn’t be making silly mistakes like that.

“The bike was awesome all day today, we barely changed a thing and it was frustrating not to give the team the result they deserve. But, I’m going to use this as motivation for the next round, put a good day’s racing together and make sure we get up on that podium.”

CDR Yamaha team owner Craig Dack said its vital for Mackenzie to race with consistency at remaining rounds if he’s to challenge for the championship.

“Billy just needs to keep focused, stay in his zone and race like he did in the final moto today,” Dack said. “He is more than capable of doing it and if he wants this championship, that’s what he must produce week in, week out.”

Mackenzie’s now fifth in the championship standings, 57 points behind defending champion Matt Moss after three of 10 rounds.