Post-race updates from the MX1 and MX2 classes at round four of the 2017 Motul MX Nationals, direct from Horsham in Victoria.

Image: Jeremy Hammer.

Qualifying:
Thick, muddy conditions greeted the MX2 field from 8:00am this morning, when Wilson Todd registered a time almost four seconds clear of the field to lead Hamish Harwood, Dylan Wills, Egan Mastin and Kyle Webster. Once MX1 hit the track it was in slightly better conditions and once Super Pole was complete, Todd Waters captured his first of the year for Honda ahead of Dean Ferris – who topped the first three of the season – followed by Kade Mosig, Kirk Gibbs and Aleksandr Tonkov.

Motul MX2 moto one:
After scoring pole position earlier this morning, it was Wilson Todd who put on a clinic for a dominant victory in the opening MX2 moto. While DPH Motorsport Yamaha’s Todd led the way out front it was Kiwi Hamish Harwood (Davey Motorsports KTM) and Kyle Webster (CRF Honda Racing) who completed the podium. New red plate-holder Mitch Evans (Serco Yamaha) managed to bring home a strong haul of points in P4, as title rival and teammate Jackson Richardson (Serco Yamaha) crossed the line down in 11th. Meanwhile, fifth was a good finish for Dylan Wills now under KSF Racing branding, as Ricky Latimer (Yamaha), Tomas Ravenhorst (Yamaha), Aaron Tanti (WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha), Lachlan Wilson (Yamaha) and James Brown (Yamaha) were all inside the top 10. To signify the challenging track conditions, despite sun shining, just 13 riders of 29 qualifiers made it to the finish-line.

1. Wilson Todd
2. Hamish Harwood
3. Kyle Webster
4. Mitchell Evans
5. Dylan Wills
6. Ricky Latimer
7. Tomas Ravenhorst
8. Aaron Tanti
9. Lachlan Wilson
10. James Brown
11. Jackson Richardson
12. Egan Mastin
13. Darren Schenk

Thor MX1 moto one:
Winning the first MX1 moto of the round was runaway championship leader Dean Ferris, the CDR Yamaha rider untouched on his way to victory after leading the field out of the first turn. Behind him, fast-starting rookie Luke Clout (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) put in a consistent performance in gruelling conditions for P2, as Luke Styke (KTM Motocross Racing Team) filled the top three. Fourth was Kade Mosig (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) from Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team), just ahead of Todd Waters (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) who surged through the field after going down in the first corner. The top 10 was completed by Aleksandr Tonkov (MEGA Bulk Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki), iron-man Hamish Harwood (Davey Motorsports KTM), Kyle Peters (Wilson Coolair Motul Suzuki) and Lachlan Davis (KTM). Notable non-finisher was Kawasaki rookie Nathan Crawford, who exited in the mid-stages.

1. Dean Ferris
2. Luke Clout
3. Luke Styke
4. Kade Mosig
5. Kirk Gibbs
6. Todd Waters
7. Aleksandr Tonkov
8. Hamish Harwood
9. Kyle Peters
10. Lachlan Davis
11. Keiron Hall
12. Joel Wightman
13. Brodie Sims
14. Joel Green
15. Zak Small
16. Cory Watts
17. James Alen
19. Oliver James
20. Thomas Hill

Motul MX2 moto two:
Another authoritative victory for Todd saw him cap off a perfect round and reclaim the points lead in the process, making the most of the ever-drying conditions at Horsham for the overall. Behind him in moto two came Harwood – who went straight to the start-line of MX1 following the podium – and impressive privateer Latimer. Fourth came Webster to seal himself an overall podium, followed by Richardson, Egan Mastin (Davey Motorsports KTM), Wills, Jayden Rykers (Raceline Pirelli KTM) following a DNF earlier, Evans as he clawed his way forward from the rear of the pack and Richie Evans (Yamaha). That placed Todd on top of the rostrum, joined by Harwood and Webster, while in the standings Todd leads again by 11 over Evans and has a further 22 on Richardson.

1. Wilson Todd
2. Hamish Harwood
3. Ricky Latimer
4. Kyle Webster
5. Jackson Richardson
6. Egan Mastin
7. Dylan Wills
8. Jayden Rykers
9. Mitchell Evans
10. Richie Evans
11. Joel Evans
12. Aaron Tanti
13. Tomas Ravenhorst
14. Lochie Latimer
15. Robin Scheiben
16. James Brown
17. Darren Schenk
18. Karl Claridge
19. Calib Best
20. Jayden Conforto

Thor MX1 moto two:
Defending champion Ferris continued his dominant run of form in the 2017 season to claim a fourth-straight overall and another double. Ferris sprinted away to another moto win second time out this afternoon – the conditions still treacherous – and he eventually crossed the line comfortably ahead of a spirited Gibbs, who was in turn well ahead of Waters in P3. Fourth was another step forward in terms of consistency at the front for Styke, who kept Peters at bay for position and then Harwood soldiered on for sixth. In seventh was Mosig, while Tonkov, Davis and Joel Green (KTM) rounded out the top 10. Hard-luck story went to Clout as he had a mechanical issue in the conditions while running second and fellow rookie Crawford sat out on the second race due to a wrist injury sustained in moto one. Overall Ferris won from Gibbs and Styke, while in the championship Ferris has a sizable 45-point lead over Gibbs, with Waters now climbing to third.

1. Dean Ferris
2. Kirk Gibbs
3. Todd Waters
4. Luke Styke
5. Kyle Peters
6. Hamish Harwood
7. Kade Mosig
8. Aleksandr Tonkov
9. Lachlan Davis
10. Joel Green
11. Keiron Hall
12. James Alen
13. Joel Wightman
14. Cory Watts
15. Brodie Sims
16. Charlie Creech
17. Izak Maule
18. Oliver James
19. Thomas Hill