Features 15 Apr 2018

Racefeed: 2018 MX Nationals Rd1 Newry

Pro class updates direct from round one of the season in Victoria.

Post-race updates from the MX1 and MX2 classes at round one of the 2018 Pirelli MX Nationals, direct from Newry in Victoria.

Image: Marc Jones (Foremost Media).

Pirelli MX2 qualifying (results only):

Pos Rider Best Lap
1 Wilson Todd 1m55.369s
2 Dylan Wills 1m55.462s
3 Kyle Webster 1m55.938s
4 Egan Mastin 1m56.191s
5 Nathan Crawford 1m56.252s
6 Jay Wilson 1m56.295s
7 Cody Dyce 1m56.512s
8 Lochie Latimer 1m56.726s
9 Aaron Tanti 1m56.968s
10 Richie Evans 1m57.250s

Thor MX1 qualifying (results only):

Pos Rider Best Lap
1 Mitch Evans 1m54.861s (SP)
2 Brett Metcalfe 1m56.922s (SP)
3 Kirk Gibbs 1m57.163s (SP)
4 Dean Ferris 1m57.216s (SP)
5 Luke Clout 1m58.905s (SP)
6 Caleb Ward 1m58.795s
7 Dylan Long 1m59.501s
8 Kade Mosig 1m59.726s
9 Kayne Lamont 1m59.837s
10 Connor Tierney 2m00.423s

Pirelli MX2 moto one:
The opening MX2 race of the season was dominated by Serco Yamaha’s new signing Nathan Crawford on return to the class, 9.210s ahead of early leader Hamish Harwood (Davey Motorsports KTM), as Aaron Tanti – who claimed the first hole-shot of the season – put his Complete Parts Kawasaki on the podium in his first appearance with the new-look team. A charging Richie Evans (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) made his way to fourth by race’s end, while defending champion Egan Mastin (KTM Motocross Racing Team) was P5 after crashing out of the lead in the opening laps. Sixth was former champion Jay Wilson (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) in an inspired ride through the pack, followed by supercross champion Jackson Richardson (Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing), Kale Makeham (Yamaha), pole-setter Wilson Todd (Serco Yamaha) and Kyle Webster (Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing).

Pos Rider
1 Nathan Crawford
2 Hamish Harwood
3 Aaron Tanti
4 Richie Evans
5 Egan Mastin
6 Jay Wilson
7 Jackson Richardson
8 Kale Makeham
9 Wilson Todd
10 Kyle Webster

Thor MX1 moto one:
Reigning champion Dean Ferris stood atop the podium in the opening race of the MX1 season with the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team, topping Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team) and first lap leader Kade Mosig (DPH Motorsport Husqvarna). Ferris and Gibbs went back and forth during the early laps, but it was Ferris who remained composed and eventually stretched an assertive lead, scoring victory by 3.075s. Mosig followed Gibbs directly across the line in third after withstanding all kinds of pressure from Brett Metcalfe (Penrite Honda Racing),  who in turn kept rookie Mitch Evans (Raceline Pirelli KTM) at bay as he completed the top five. Sixth was a strong finish for another class debutant in Caleb Ward (Davey Motorsports Husqvarna), making his way by Rhys Carter (Complete Parts Kawasaki Racing) late in the moto, with another Kiwi Kayne Lamont (Altherm JCR Yamaha) eighth after he surged out of the gates for the hole-shot before gradually dropping further down the order. Early troubles caused Luke Clout (KTM Motocross Racing Team) to climb through the order to P9, as Dylan Long (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team) also recovered from a difficult start to round out the top 10.

Pos Rider
1 Dean Ferris
2 Kirk Gibbs
3 Kade Mosig
4 Brett Metcalfe
5 Mitch Evans
6 Caleb Ward
7 Rhys Carter
8 Kayne Lamont
9 Luke Clout
10 Dylan Long

Pirelli MX2 moto two:
The second MX2 moto of the round saw a determined Tanti fire out of the gates to his second hole-shot in two races and he was never headed, sprinting off to an emphatic moto win that secured him his first-career overall in the nationals. Tanti won the race by 4.736s ahead of a fast-finishing Webster, as Todd improved to third this time around. Crawford was unable to match his opening performance, having to claw his way up the order to fourth, as Harwood followed him home for fifth after running as high as second. It was a consistent day for Evans in scoring sixth, from Richardson, Dylan Wills (DPH Motorsport Husqvarna), Jesse Madden (KSF Ecstar Suzuki Racing) and Jay Wilson (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) in 10th. Overall for the round it was Tanti who took victory, from Crawford and New Zealand champion Harwood.

Pos Rider
1 Aaron Tanti
2 Kyle Webster
3 Wilson Todd
4 Nathan Crawford
5 Hamish Harwood
6 Richie Evans
7 Jackson Richardson
8 Dylan Wills
9 Jesse Madden
10 Jay Wilson

Thor MX1 moto two:
There was no denying Ferris the race two victory in moto two at the opener, overcoming KTM-mounted privateer Daniel Banks on the opening lap and accelerating away to the perfect scorecard from there. Ferris won by a controlled margin of 7.639s following the 30 minutes plus one lap duration, once again ahead of Gibbs, with Evans third to complete the rostrum. Fourth was an improved showing for Clout this time around, marginally ahead of Ward on return from GPs, with Long another improved result this afternoon. The top 10 was rounded out by Carter, Mosig, Tierney and Joel Wightman (Ride Red Honda). A big-name casualty late in the race was Metcalfe, who experienced back-end issues with his CRF450R while running third and was forced out during the final laps. Overall for the weekend it is Ferris who departs round one with the red plate after scoring a triumphant overall, with the ever-consistent Gibbs runner-up and Evans third in his maiden premier class appearance.

Pos Rider
1 Dean Ferris
2 Kirk Gibbs
3 Mitch Evans
4 Luke Clout
5 Caleb Ward
6 Dylan Long
7 Rhys Carter
8 Kade Mosig
9 Connor Tierney
10 Joel Wightman

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