Image: Foremost Media.

Western Australia’s hard border to Victoria will only have a minor impact on the 2021 Berry Sweet Manjimup 15,000, with Hayden Mellross the sole All-Stars rider forced to withdraw over the heightened travel restrictions.

The outbreak of Covid-19 that sent Victoria into lockdown and prompted the postponement of Gillman’s ProMX round last weekend had promoter of the Manjimup 15,000, Willie Thomson, worried for this year’s event, with a list of national riders set to travel to Western Australia this week.

The event, which was forced to cancel in a pandemic-affected 2020, has managed to escape the latest scare of Covid-19 with minimal impact, and will continue to run with a star-studded line-up headlined by Regan Duffy (KTM Racing Team), Todd Waters (Husqvarna Racing Team), and Luke Clout (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) amongst many more.

“There’s only one person, and that’s Hayden Mellross, who’s failed to get here because of the borders,” Thomson declared to MotoOnline.com.au. “It’s not really affected us too much – we were really worried, but in the end, it turned out really well. It was minor, for sure.”

The Manjimup 15,000 will kick off this Friday with an optional practice day before juniors take to the track on Saturday, followed by the senior programme on Sunday.