Image: Rhys van Slooten.

National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Matt Moss has won the opening round of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals at Horsham in Victoria.

Moss was third in the opening leg won by Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha), before he moved forward to dominate the second and clinch the overall in the process.

“I didn’t expect to come here and do this, I really just wanted to run my own race, but it proves that I’ve been training and working hard and also that what we’re doing as a team is working,” Moss said.

“There’s been a lot of people who have doubted me after last year, and a lot of people really wrote me off, this is proof that they’re all wrong – I want to win another championship, and that’s what I’m here to do.

“I really can’t thank the people who have stuck by me enough. A lot of people don’t understand this sport, or don’t realise what we have to do, but to the people who have stuck by me, I’m really happy I could do this for them.

“My team manager Troy Carroll understands how I work, and he’s worked me out as a person pretty quickly. I’m really happy that I got to battle with Gibbsy and that after everyone talking, that we are the two guys standing here on the podium at round one.”

Second on the podium behind Moss was reigning champion Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team) with a 2-2 scorecard, while a fourth in moto two placed Ferris third for the round.

Early moto two leader Kade Mosig (National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki) was fourth, Todd Waters (Wilson’s Coolair Motul Suzuki) fifth despite a flat tyre in moto one.

The top 10 overall featured a mixture of strong riders, as American-based Brett Metcalfe (SD3 Husqvarna) was sixth, Dan Reardon (CDR Yamaha) seventh, Dylan Long (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) eighth, Jesse Dobson (KTM Motocross Racing Team) ninth and Jay Wilson (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) 10th.

Image: Rhys van Slooten.

In the MX2 class it was factory KTM Motocross Racing Team rider Caleb Ward who won the opening moto, but finished fifth in the second. He was joined on the podium overall by Nathan Crawford (Husqvarna) and Jake Moss (National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki).

“I’m actually a bit surprised to be standing on the podium after my result in the last one,” Ward said. “I got a terrible start in the second race and that made my job hard, but I’m really stoked to be standing here on the podium at round one that’s for sure,” he said.

“All of the guys are riding very well, and you can already tell it’s going to be a competitive year. I might have the red plate but it’s going to be some tough racing this season that’s for sure. I can’t thank my team, my sponsors and my mechanic enough – it feels nice to reward them with the win after all the hard work they’ve put in.”

The top five for the round was completed by moto two winner and MX2 rookie Wilson Todd (Serco Yamaha), while Jed Beaton (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) was fifth,.

The MXD category overall was clinched by Husqvarna-mounted rising talent Connor Tierney, winning both motos to win the round from Cooper Pozniak (KTM) and Kaleb Barham (Husqvarna).

“I’m pumped to be on the podium, you can’t do much better than winning both motos,” Tierney said. “The bike handled so well out there and I really need to give a big shout out to Husqvarna and Ryan Marmont and his wife. They have all taken me under their wing and it’s really paying off. I’m pumped to be going to round two at Appin as the championship leader.”

The Motul MX Nationals will now begin preparations for round two of the championship, being held at Appin in New South Wales, on 17 April.