Image: Jeff Crow.

Team Motul Suzuki’s Matt Moss is adamant he can rebound to battle for a third MX1 MX Nationals title in 2015 despite exiting Horsham’s opening round a massive 40 points behind arch-rival Kirk Gibbs.

While Gibbs sprinted to both moto wins with relative ease, Moss crashed heavily in moto one on his way to 14th and then he battled home to that same position in moto two.

“I had a bit of a crash on the Friday before Horsham and I wasn’t feeling the best leading into the round,” Moss explained. “Obviously I crashed in the first moto and hurt my neck, and then threw up after the second race. To be honest I just wasn’t feeling good and it’s just bad luck really.”

After finishing a lowly 13th overall at round one, Moss has nine opportunities to close on Gibbs in a bid for his third premier class crown in as many seasons on board the RM-Z450. But he will have to minimise mistakes from this point.

“Obviously if I have rounds like I did at Horsham it’s going to be really hard,” he added. “But I know I’m behind in the championship now and I know what I need to do and that’s just win races. I think it’s easier to chase it down, but not as easy being 40 points behind. It’s very doable.

“I’m not really worried about being behind. As long as nothing else goes wrong and I don’t have any other little crashes the championship is still very much in my reach.”

Round two will take place this Sunday at Appin in New South Wales, where Moss dominated last year with both moto victories.