Image: Simon Makker.

GYTR Yamaha’s Jed Beaton has reclaimed the MXD red plate as the Under 19s series resumed at Conondale’s seventh round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals.

Beaton rode his retro-inspired YZ250F to first in qualifying, before a progressive effort of 3-2-1 finishes handed him a comfortable overall victory.

The result sees Beaton now 10 points ahead in the standings over Jack Simpson (Tunetech Racing KTM), who was second overall at Green Park – 12 points in arrears of Beaton. Simpson went 7-1-4 for the round.

Third overall for Wilson Todd made it two YZ250F four-stroke entries on the overall podium for the weekend, he too gaining momentum throughout the motos with 6-4-3 results.

Aaron Tanti and Nathan Crawford rounded out the top five. Crawford was demoted from second to fifth in moto one after his muffler came off during the moto. Former red plate holder Egan Mastin was sixth.

Returning rising star Joel Wightman starred with first position in moto one and carried that solid form to sixth in moto two, but a DNF in the final outing dropped him to 10th overall.

The opening moto saw what some considered to be the biggest surprise of the day, with privateer Yamaha rider Wightman taking an unexpected holeshot. Not overawed by the situation, Wightman took command of the race and looked mature beyond his years – leading from start to finish to claim a memorable race win.

He took the initial lead from KTM pair Jayden Rykers and Tanti, with the former looking comfortable in third for most of the race before being overtaken by Beaton on the last lap to cross the line in fourth.

It was an amazing effort from Beaton, having been dead last off the starting gate before working his way into third place and setting the scene for a successful day.

But there was drama to come when Crawford, back in MXD after a successful stint as a Wildcard in the MX2 class, crossed the line in second place. He had done well to work his way into second after jumping in fourth, but he clearly had some bike issues as it zipped around the track making a huge amount of noise.

Once the race was finished, Crawford was penalised under Motorcycling Australia’s noise regulations and was relegated back three spots into fifth (pushing Beaton into second, Rykers into third and Mastin into fourth).

The second race in the class was less dramatic as Simpson took the holeshot from Crawford, with Tanti, Beaton, Rykers and Todd all close behind. Not much changed throughout the race as Simpson held his lead the whole way through to claim top spot on the podium, with Beaton working his way into second for the race and Crawford finishing in third.

In moto three it was Tanti’s turn to take the holeshot, leading from Beaton, Simpson, Kyle Webster (Cully’s Yamaha) and Todd, with Crawford back in ninth and Mastin in 13th.

It wasn’t until lap six of the race that Beaton took the lead from Tanti which was never surrendered – the pair finishing the last race in first and second. Third place went to Todd which secured him an overall podium placing for the round, while Simpson and Webster finished the race in fourth and fifth respectively.

Beaton’s round seven results means he now holds a 10-point championship lead ahead of Simpson, with Mastin and Crawford a further 13 and 15 points behind.

The series now heads to Raymond Terrace in New South Wales for round eight, which takes place on 3 August.

2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship
Round seven – Conondale, QLD

MXD overall results:
1. Jed Beaton 99
2. Jack Simpson 87
3. Wilson Todd 83
4. Aaron Tanti 81
5. Nathan Crawford 79
6. Egan Mastin 73
7. Kyle Webster 72
8. Jayden Rykers 72
9. Brock McLeary 66
10. Joel Wightman 60
11. Jett Anderson 59
12. Zak Small 55
13. Jesse Madden 54
14. Bailey Coxon 54
15. Ty Pearce 50
16. James Alen 47
17. Izak Maule 44
18. Brad Polsoni 41
19. Kane Watson 33
20. Hamish McGrath 32

MXD championship standings:
1. Jed Beaton 369
2. Jack Simpson 359
3. Egan Mastin 346
4. Nathan Crawford 344
5. Wilson Todd 292
6. Kyle Webster 278
7. Jayden Rykers 271
8. Aaron Tanti 258
9. Brock McLeary 242
10. Daniel Price 179
11. Jett Anderson 177
12. Bailey Coxon 175
13. Zak Small 167
14. Ty Pearce 163
15. Izak Maule 156
16. James Alen 136
17. Wayde Carter 132
18. Dylan Wilson 129
19. McNally McNally 128
20. Blake Colleton 106

Click here for detailed results