While much of the attention is on-track at each round of the 2017 Motul MX Nationals series, Trackside takes you beyond the action at Horsham in Victoria last weekend for brief pieces of interest.

Image: MXN.

– Team WBR Bulk Nutrients added another machine to their fleet in Horsham, and it was something slightly out of the ordinary for the team, a Yamaha YZ125. Former factory MX1 contender and Team WBR Bulk Nutrients rider Kale Makeham revealed he will swing a leg over the two-stroke at the final two rounds of the 125cc Gold Cup, that’s definitely going to mix things up in that support class!

– Although he took a step back from racing, Wilson Coolair Motul Suzuki’s Luke Wilson continues to take part in practice and running laps for the MX Nationals crew with GoPro cameras mounted all over him. Be sure to head to the MX Nationals YouTube channel and check out his lap around Horsham using some of the latest stabilising technology, it’s some super smooth footage and a really unique clip.

– When it’s a mud race, riders and mechanics definitely try everything they can to prepare for the slop, but can you do too much? Aleksandr Tonkov, like many others, chose to run with hand guards for extra protection and after going down found himself struggling as the guard bent and pushed into his clutch slightly engaging it throughout much of moto one in the MX1 class.

– Wilson Todd does not consider himself a mud rider! He was surprised with his performance at Horsham admitting post-race that he did not expect to do so well in the challenging conditions. Todd absolutely dominated the MX2 class and following that performance we think he may need to consider placing himself in the ‘great mud rider’ category.

Image: MXN.

– Kade Mosig wants more. The DPH Motorsport Yamaha rider was visibly frustrated following moto two in Horsham and it was a reminder of how much effort and work these guys put into their racing. The Victorian is one of the most focused guys out there and he definitely wasn’t impressed with himself following an seventh-place ride in moto two.

– Although out of action for the weekend, Brett Metcalfe made his way to Horsham and was cruising around the pits keeping an eye on the action. It was good to see the former AMA motocross and supercross champion at the event and it’s definitely good news that he’ll be lining up this weekend in Murray Bridge aboard a locally-backed KTM 450 SX-F.

– Hamish Harwood literally made his way to the line for MX1 moto two covered in champagne following his MX2 runner-up result. Have a good think about that, he was celebrating on the podium as the MX1 riders were lining up at the gate! It’s incredible what the Kiwi rider does every weekend and we’re sure racing with champagne all over you doesn’t make it any easier.

– The mud was so thick and sticky in Horsham that one rider had to be carried back to the start line with his bike in the bucket of a bobcat – yes, a bobcat. It definitely was the first time we’ve seen that on race day and after seeing how many riders were stuck out there struggling, it was probably a great choice to take up the free ride back!