Post-race updates from the MX1 and MX2 classes at round four of the 2017 Motul MX Nationals, direct from Murray Bridge in South Australia.

Image: MXN.

Qualifying:
Despite rain in the region in the lead-up, when the MX2 bikes hit the track this morning it was in typically good conditions. At the end of the session it was in-form Kiwi Hamish Harwood who led the way ahead of Jackson Richardson, Egan Mastin, Mitch Evans and Kyle Webster inside the top five. Once the MX1 bikes took to the track for practice, qualifying and Superpole, Kirk Gibbs topped regular qualifying, but it was Todd Waters who pulled through for a second Super Pole victory in a row. He topped Brett Metcalfe – now KTM-mounted – as well as Dean Ferris, Luke Clout and Gibbs.

Motul MX2 moto one:
Converting the pole position he claimed earlier this morning, Hamish Harwood (Davey Motorsports KTM) edged out Dylan Wills (KSF Racing Husqvarna) for victory in the opening MX2 encounter. Conditions were clear to begin the moto before the rain came midway through, however Harwood was able to keep a gritty Wills at bay, as Egan Mastin made it two Davey Motorsports bikes in the top three, with early leader Jackson Richardson (Serco Yamaha) crossing the line for consistent points in fourth. Title-leader Wilson Todd (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) claimed fifth. Positions six through 10 were filled by Kyle Webster (Penrite CRF Honda Racing), Mitch Evans (Serco Yamaha), Richie Evans (Yamaha), Jayden Rykers (Raceline Pirelli KTM) and Tomas Ravenhost (Yamaha), while Jacob Wright (Yamaha) returned to the nationals on a YZ250 for P11. Mastin had actually crossed the line first, but a five-second penalty (initially handed out as 10 seconds) from a start infringement bumped him back down the order at race’s end.

1. Hamish Harwood
2. Dylan Wills
3. Egan Mastin
4. Jackson Richardson
5. Wilson Todd
6. Kyle Webster
7. Mitchell Evans
8. Richie Evans
9. Jayden Rykers
10. Tomas Ravenhorst
11. Jacob Wright
12. Joel Evans
13. Ricky Latimer
14. Aaron Tanti
15. Jesse McNally
16. Lochie Latimer
17. Cohen Chase
18. Jayden Conforto
19. Karl Claridge
20. Kye Wilkinson

Thor MX1 moto one:
A dominant performance from CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris saw him virtually unchallenged in the first MX1 moto, going on to win by 24.525s ahead of South Australia’s own Brett Metcalfe (KTM), who worked his way through the top five for a runner-up result, and fellow local Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team). A solid ride from Kade Mosig (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) saw him wind up P4 after coming home strongly in the final laps, overcoming Crankt Protein Honda Racing duo Todd Waters and Luke Clout, as Luke Styke (KTM Motocross Racing Team), Aleksandr Tonkov (MEGA Bulk Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki), a fast-starting Kyle Peters (Wilson Coolair Motul Suzuki) and Zak Small (Husqvarna) completed the top 10.

1. Dean Ferris
2. Brett Metcalfe
3. Kirk Gibbs
4. Kade Mosig
5. Todd Waters
6. Luke Clout
7. Luke Styke
8. Aleksandr Tonkov
9. Kyle Peters
10. Zak Small
11. Joel Wightman
12. Joel Green
13. Daniel Banks
14. James Alen
15. Keiron Hall
16. Mitch Norris
17. Brodie Sims
18. Lachlan Davis
19. Izak Maule
20. Nathan Trigg

Motul MX2 moto two:
The gates dropped on the second MX2 moto with sprinkles of rain drops falling, but it held off enough to make for dry track conditions and in the end it was Evans who emerged with the race win. He finished with a five-second advantage over Mastin and opening race winner Harwood, who was able to clinch his first-career overall. He was able to edge Todd for the result, while Richardson rebounded from an early incident to climb all the way to P5. Sixth came Richie Evans, over Wills, Ravenhorst, Aaron Tanti (WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha) and Joel Evans (Yamaha). Overall for the round Harwood stood atop the podium, joined by Mastin in a Davey Motorsports 1-2, and Evans. The championship still sees Todd on top, with a six-point lead over Evans and Harwood now moving into third.

1. Mitchell Evans
2. Egan Mastin
3. Hamish Harwood
4. Wilson Todd
5. Jackson Richardson
6. Richie Evans
7. Dylan Wills
8. Tomas Ravenhorst
9. Aaron Tanti
10. Joel Evans
11. Jacob Wright
12. Jayden Rykers
13. Jesse McNally
14. Cohen Chase
15. Robin Scheiben
16. Lochie Latimer
17. Kye Wilkinson
18. Karl Claridge
19. Jayden Conforto
20. Levi McManus

Thor MX1 moto two:
With the rain falling more heavily as the gates dropped on MX1 moto two, a good start was critical and it was Gibbs who got out front early. Behind him both Ferris and Metcalfe were attacking for position, however it was the 2015 champion who controlled the race from the front for his second race win of the year. Gibbs finished near six seconds ahead of Ferris, who made his way by Metcalfe for second during the moto – the latter struggling with vision as the race wore on. Fourth was another good haul of points for Mosig, who sat in that position throughout the moto, and in fifth came Peters. It was another inspired ride for Clout in P6, who was followed inside the top 10 by teammate Waters, Styke, Tonkov and Joel Green (KTM). The overall podium saw Ferris maintain his perfect round record for the year, followed by Gibbs and Metcalfe. In the championship at halfway it’s Ferris with a 48-point buffer from Gibbs, while Mosig has climbed back into third.

1. Kirk Gibbs
2. Dean Ferris
3. Brett Metcalfe
4. Kade Mosig
5. Kyle Peters
6. Luke Clout
7. Todd Waters
8. Luke Styke
9. Aleksandr Tonkov
10. Joel Green
11. Zak Small
12. Daniel Banks
13. Mitch Norris
14. Joel Wightman
15. Brodie Sims
16. Hamish Harwood
17. James Alen
18. Lachlan Davis
19. Izak Maule
20. Nathan Trigg