Class rookie Evans impresses with second as Clout takes third.
Image: Foremost Media.
CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team’s Dean Ferris has recorded his third overall from as many rounds in the premier class of the Pirelli MX Nationals today in Wonthaggi, Victoria, marking the first of two rounds to be hosted at the venue this weekend.
The defending champion won the opening moto of MX1 by a full 35.132s ahead of KTM Motocross Racing Team duo Kirk Gibbs and Luke Clout. It was Ferris who shot out front early with the hole-shot, stretching out a lead in the early laps and was never challenged from there.
Gibbs eventually overcame teammate Clout for the runner-up position – the latter benefiting from bike issues of Brett Metcalfe (Penrite Honda Racing) on the final lap.
That also boosted New Zealand’s Rhys Carter (Complete Parts Kawasaki Racing) to fourth in a solid performance, as rookie Mitch Evans (Raceline Pirelli KTM) claimed fifth. In sixth came Dylan Long (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team), with Caleb Ward (Davey Motorsports Husqvarna) recovering from a start crash to take seventh.
Next was Kayne Lamont (Altherm JCR Yamaha), with Kade Mosig (DPH Motorsport Husqvarna) also bouncing back from a crash out of the gates to cross the line ninth. Reigning off-road champion Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team) finished in 10th. Metcalfe pushed his bike to the finish, but wasn’t included in the final results.
There was no denying Ferris another double in moto two of the premier class at Wonthaggi, going away to another assertive win and maintaining his perfect overall streak so far for 2018.
In the beginning it was 2015 champion Gibbs who put his KTM into the early lead, but his day would soon be done when a crash on lap two damaged his bike enough to force him into the pits for an extended period. That left Ferris to go on and win by 15.538s ahead of rookie pair Evans and Ward, while Clout and Metcalfe managed to round out the top five.
Mosig made headway for sixth this time out, followed by Carter, Long, Tierney and Milner, who again met his pre-race expectations inside the top 10.
Overall for the round it was Ferris unstoppable once again, joined on the rostrum by Evans and Clout for Saturday’s proceedings in Victoria. The MX Nationals contingent will be back out on circuit tomorrow at Wonthaggi for the fourth round of the series.
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