Image: Rhys van Slooten.

KTM Motocross Racing Team’s reigning Australian Motocross Champion Kirk Gibbs departed Horsham on Sunday afternoon tied for the MX1 points lead with round one winner Matt Moss, in what was a shock result even for the number one plate holder.

Gibbs is still working toward 100 percent fitness after suffering multiple fractures to both his hip and pelvis in a supercross practice crash last year. He began riding again late in January.

However a full three months off the bike hasn’t slowed the 27-year-old outdoors, going 2-2 on Sunday for second overall. He’s tied with Moss in the points by virtue of scoring a single point for third in Super Pole.

“I surprised myself to tell you the truth, I didn’t think I was actually going to be that competitive,” Gibbs commented. “I’m really happy. My starts weren’t too bad, but I feel like I can get them better, and I wasn’t strong for the whole 30 minutes in that first moto.

“In the second I didn’t get through my first couple of laps the cleanest and got passed by a couple of people, but it’s all a work in progress. There’s probably five or six guys that are really on pace at the moment, so I feel like it’s going to be a great year.

“Maybe there were first round jitters for a couple of people, so it worked out better for some than it did for others. I’m just happy to come away tied for the lead.”

It’s suspected the renowned consistency of Gibbs will shine through to place him in true title contention throughout the 2016 season, which has been competitively bolstered by the return of Australia’s MXGP exports Dean Ferris and Todd Waters.