Image: Foremost Media.

Australian duo Bailey Malkiewicz and Braden Plath have been crowned champions at Horsham’s 2018 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship today in Victoria, as Team Australia took out the Nations trophy.

It was a special result for Husqvarna-supported Queenslander Plath, using consistency to take the overall and the biggest result of his young career in the 65cc World Cup class.

The 11-year-old Plath’s 5-2 results saw him capture victory, while the moto wins belonged to Vitezslav Marek (Czech Republic, KTM) and American Logan Best (Yamaha). Joining Plath on the podium were Enzo Temmerman (United States, KTM) and Brando Rispoli (Italy, KTM).

Australians were ultra-competitive in the 65cc division, with Jet Alsop (KTM) in sixth, Kayden Minnear (KTM) seventh, Seth Burchell (Yamaha) eighth and Koby Hantis (Cobra) 10th, also riding to top 10 results overall.

Image: Foremost Media.

In the 85cc World Championship it was American Caden Braswell (KTM) who took home the title this afternoon from Dutch duo Kay de Wolf (KTM) and Kay Karssemakers (KTM).

The motos were won by Liam Everts (Belgium, KTM) and Braswell, but unfortunately for Everts he was ruled out of moto two on lap one with what appeared to be a mechanical problem, ultimately awarded P9 in the final rankings.

Best of the Australians in the field was Kawasaki rider Brad West, going ninth in moto one and then eighth in the second affair. Those finishes resulted in eighth overall, three places ahead of next-best local Zac Watson (Yamaha) in 11th.

Image: Foremost Media.

Recently-crowned national MXD champion Malkiewicz captured the elusive 125cc World Championship after delivering 2-1 results this afternoon, further establishing himself as one of Australia’s most promising up and coming motocross racers.

Top-qualifier Mattia Guadagnini (Italy, Husqvarna) won the opening encounter, however it was Malkiewicz who turned the tables on him for the overall in a phenomenal performance following moto two. A late error from Guadagnini denied him his hopes of a perfect weekend.

The title was won by Malkiewicz, standing atop the podium ahead of Guadagnini and Petr Polak (Czech Republic, KTM) after he went 3-2. Additional Aussies in the top 10 included Korey McMahon (KTM) in eighth after finishing P4 in race two, as well as Blake Fox (KTM) ninth and Regan Duffy (KTM) 10th.

Australia headed the all-important Nations classification as a result of the team’s success on race day, topping the Netherlands and Italy to stamp their authority on the round.

Detailed results