Image: Jordan Deckert (Foremost Media).

The 2016 Motul MX Nationals championships will go down to the wire after Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha), Nathan Crawford (Husqvarna) and Mitch Evans (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) claimed glory at Echo Valley’s penultimate round in Queensland on Sunday.

After claiming the GoPro Super Pole this morning, the big question was whether Kyle Peters (National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team) would be able to maintain that pace for an entire 30-minute moto.

That’s exactly what he did, getting the holeshot and then leading the entire way for a debut win on the KX450F. Peters withstood immense pressure from Ferris in the closing laps and, before that, title leader Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team), however his charge for the win ended with a front-ender while in second.

Fourth was Todd Waters (Wilsons Coolair Motul Suzuki) after making his way by Kade Mosig (National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team) in the early laps. The top 10 was completed by Dylan Long (Crankt Protein Honda Racing), Jacob Wright (DPH Motorsport Yamaha), Jay Wilson (Crankt Protein Honda Racing), Kurt Gow (Husqvarna) and Michael Menchi (Davey Motorsports KTM).

A gritty ride from Ferris saw him control much of moto two, enabling him to claim the overall and tighten up the championship in the process. He won race two ahead of red plate holder Gibbs, who made a late move on Peters for position to maintain the points lead into Coolum.

It was another strong showing from Peters in third place, backing up his opening moto success in challenging Australia’s current best. Fourth in the moto was Waters as he sees his title hopes fade, while Long, Wilson, Wright, Mosig, Gow and Luke Wilson (Wilsons Coolair Motul Suzuki) were the top 10.

Overall Ferris managed to edge out Peters and Gibbs, while in the standings it’s Gibbs who carries a six-point lead into Coolum from Ferris and Waters another 18 in arrears.

Image: MXN.

The opening MX2 moto of the round saw Crawford convert his pole position to a dominant victory, winning by over 10 seconds to reclaim the points lead.

He led home Wilson Todd (Serco Yamaha) and Jayden Rykers (Davey Motorsports KTM), while Caleb Ward (KTM Motocross Racing Team) and Jed Beaton (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) completed the top five.

Positions six through 10 were filled by Dylan Wills (Raceline Pirelli KTM), narrowly ahead of Kale Makeham (Proformance Yamaha), then Tomas Ravenhorst (KTM), Keiron Hall (BBR Yamaha) and Joel Wightman (CRF Honda Racing).

His teammate Kyle Webster led initially, however his hopes of a strong result were dashed when a bike problem put him out early. Wade Hunter (Serco Yamaha) was also a non-finisher with a crash after qualifying strongly.

When the gates dropped for the second MX2 moto it was Todd who led the initial laps, before Crawford took charge. That was the way it was looking to finish until Ward stormed to the front, going on to win the moto.

Ward’s victory denied Crawford the perfect round, however overall Crawford topped the podium from Ward and Beaton. In fourth was Webster after bouncing back from a DNF in moto one, overcoming Makeham for position. Sixth through 10th featured Hamish Harwood (Davey Motorsports KTM), Hall, Wills, Aaron Tanti (BBR Yamaha) and Wightman.

That result sees Crawford carry a 11-point advantage into Coolum next weekend, over Beaton and another eight ahead of Ward. Todd was an eventual non-finisher with a bike malfunction while leading, as was Rykers after he crashed heavily early on.

Yamalube Yamaha Racing teammates Mitch Evans and Jordan Hill delivered a 1-2 performance in the opening MXD encounter at Echo Valley, important in red plate holder Evans’ quest for the 2016 title.

Completing the opening moto podium was Cooper Pozniak (KTM) in from of Connor Tierney (MXR&D Husqvarna), while Zak Small (Husqvarna), Billy Harth (KTM), Justin Hart (Husqvarna), Luke Abela (KTM), Hugh McKay (Proformance Yamaha) and Kaleb Barham (SD3 Husqvarna) filled the top 10.

The second and final MXD moto was once again won by Evans, continuing the dominant end to his season in the Under 19s ranks. He won by over four seconds in the second moto from Kirkland, with Tierney crossing the finish line in third. Following them was Hill in fourth, as Small, Pozniak, McKay, Barham, Harth and Abela rounded out the top 10.

Overall for the round it was Evans and Hill grabbing the top two places for Yamaha, joined by Tierney on the rostrum. With just one round remaining at Coolum next weekend, Evans has a 15-point buffer over longtime leader Tierney in a bid to capture his first-career nationals crown.