Image: Foremost Media.

An extended time sidelined will make for a cautious wait for Australian motocross teams, uncertain when or how the 2021 Penrite ProMX Championship will be completed.

Covid-19 has thrown a spanner into the works of the season yet again, with both the QMP and Coolum rounds now postponed as a result of ongoing restrictions.

With the recently-cancelled Queensland rounds of the ProMX calendar to be pushed back until after Gillman on 4-5 September, this year is shaping up to be back-end heavy with little to no turnaround and potential overlap between the motocross and supercross seasons.

Honda Racing team owner and Australian Motocross Group (AMG) member Yarrive Konsky expressed that AMG and Motorcycling Australia (MA) are working together to ensure clarity and the best possible solution is provided to benefit all riders and teams involved.

“Whilst it’s difficult for everyone to comprehend what we are all experiencing through the coronavirus, I think that AMG and MA are working closely together to ensure that there is parity and that no one is disadvantaged,” Konsky stated.

“They could push forward and run some of these rounds, for example, but then not be able to come home without isolating. The group as a whole are truly thinking of the most fair and just way to move forward. I agree with the direction MA is going as it’s the only way it’s fair to every rider.”

Konsky also provided MotoOnline with a perspective on how the ongoing pandemic has affected his team and what they are doing to ensure obligations are being upheld.

“We have other activities and activations we’re contractually obliged to complete and facilitate for several of our sponsors, that we schedule in and around the calendar of events at the start of the year,” he added. “Now that the dates are changing, we are trying to adapt the activities in and around the changing dates.

“From our perspective, it’s business as usual. They are rescheduling events, but the number of events will be the same. Our entire operation will still be kept busy.”

As the current CRF450R was a brand new bike that was rolled out this season, the Covid-19 also slowed the rate at which Honda Racing was able to source parts for it, with the extended break now allowing for more development to be done on the new model.

“The pandemic has definitely slowed the availability of several resources,” explained Konsky. “This has definitely given us more time to develop that motorcycle, which is shown in Kirk [Gibbs’] improved results at Maitland with second overall. Brett [Metcalfe] rode strong in the sand, but with Victoria’s lockdown we weren’t able to continue testing for Maitland, we hope he will be better equipped when the championship resumes”

“There were many things that were holding us back from being where we wanted to be, but this break has given us more time to understand the bike and develop it to Kirk’s and Brett’s liking.”

The next round of the Penrite ProMX championship is now scheduled for the first weekend of September in South Australia, with QMP and Coolum anticipated to follow in the lead-up to the Australian Supercross Championship.