So far the 2024 Penrite ProMX Championship has been right up there with the best in terms of on-track action, with intriguing battles, plot twists and underlying storylines at almost every round. In this edition of Q&A, MotoOnline answers the key questions six rounds into the current season.

Image: Foremost Media.

Q: Is the MX1 momentum with Kyle Webster or Jed Beaton?

A: Let’s start by addressing the main burning question. We’ve been treated to some world-class racing at the front of the MX1 pack, as Boost Mobile Honda Racing’s Kyle Webster and CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Jed Beaton distance themselves from the field and duel it out for the title. With two rounds remaining, there are just seven points between them, with Webster holding the slight advantage. While it’s a far from comfortable gap in a sport where anything can – and often does – happen, Webster will take some comfort in the knowledge that Beaton must beat him in three of the remaining four motos (providing they finish 1-2 in these races) in order to take the points lead. At this rate, the MX1 title will go down to the final moto of the season.

Q: Can Brodie Connolly wrap up the MX2 championship early?

A: There’s no doubt that Polyflor Honda Racing’s Brodie Connolly has been the class act of the MX2 division, and with two rounds remaining, he holds a 54-point advantage with two rounds remaining. There’s a very real prospect that he could leave MX Farm with the title if QMP multi-day finale remains a two-moto weekend and Connolly retains his 50-plus point advantage over Ryder Kingsford and Noah Ferguson, which would see the Kiwi will clinch at Gympie.

Image: Foremost Media.

Q: Who are – and aren’t – we likely to see for the remaining two rounds?

A: All motocross championships see an attrition rate and 2024 has been no different. In MX1 we lost Wilson Todd early due to a horrific friction burn to his leg during a practice crash, reigning champion Dean Ferris to a concussion and broken hand at Maitland, while in MX2 Bailey Malkiewicz (Yamaha) hurt his lower back at Murray Bridge, plus GasGas Racing Team rookie Byron Dennis was again sent to hospital at his return from a broken arm at Toowoomba after injuring his hand in a first-moto crash. Todd (Terrafirma Honda Racing) told MotoOnline at Toowoomba that he’s potentially able to return for MX Farm, while CDR team boss Craig Dack has revealed it’s unlikely Ferris will be back this year. There’s been no official word on Malkiewicz or Dennis, but we’re hoping they’ll return for the final two rounds.

Q: Can Koby Hantis hold on for the MX3 crown?

A: One of the most fascinating storylines this year has been the chase for the MX3 championship. The WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha Racing team locked out the podium at Wonthaggi, while Honda Racing’s Jake Cannon missed the opening round as he recovered from a pre-season injury. Despite being 50 points behind series leader Koby Hantis, Cannon has been on a mission since he returned at Horsham, and has out-scored Hantis at every round since Gillman. As we stand right now, Cannon has leapt up the leaderboard into P2, and is just seven points off the championship lead… ironically, the same points gap we see in MX1. With four motos remaining in the unpredictable MX3 class, this is another title that’s likely to go down to the wire.

Image: Foremost Media.

Q: Are there any riders who could upset the points over the next two rounds?

A: In MX1, there are a range of contenders who could cause headaches for the two front-runners, and all of them are familiar with MX Farm and QMP. KTM Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford is the only rider to have stolen race wins from Webster and Beaton this year, and would love nothing more than to chalk up a career-first MX1 round win at one of the Queensland circuits. Meanwhile, Kirk Gibbs (GasGas Racing Team) and Empire Kawasaki’s Luke Clout ride MX Farm almost weekly, and have an intimate knowledge of the final two tracks. In MX2, Boost Mobile Honda’s Noah Ferguson has spun countless laps around both MX Farm and QMP, as has Yamalube Yamaha Racing duo Jayce Cosford and Kaleb Barham (who took a moto win at Toowoomba), and Reid Taylor (Empire Kawasaki).

Q: Have there been any standout privateer performances?

A: There have some honourable mentions of privateers who have stepped up this year. In probably his last year of racing, the legendary Brett Metcalfe (Penrite GO24 Racing Kawasaki) has continued to prove he’s a worthy opponent at a national level, currently sitting sixth in the MX1 class. His best result this year was a credible fifth overall (4-7) at his final home round at Murray Bridge. At the sixth round in Toowoomba, former MX Nationals regular Caleb Ward turned up on a Husqvarna and put in an impressive MX1 performance to finish fourth overall, with a 6-4 result. Staying with the premier class, Zachary Watson (Husqvarna) and Joel Evans (Yamaha) have been rewarded for their consistency so far, as they sit a solid eighth and ninth overall respectively. In MX2, MotoGo Yamaha Racing’s Cambell Williams has gradually improved as the season’s progressed, with a P5 moto result at Toowoomba being his best showing on the way to P7 overall.