Raceline Pirelli KTM press release:

Raceline Pirelli KTM’s Jayden Rykers and Morgan Fogarty took further steps forward despite recording mixed results at Appin, at what was a technically challenging Round 2 of the MX Nationals over the weekend.

Both riders fought hard in their respective motos yesterday, however the pair were struck with bad luck, forcing Fogarty and Rykers to hang it all out in a bid to salvage important championship points.

In the MX2 class, Rykers suffered a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time on the weekend. After qualifying in 10th, Rykers raced to 12-8 race results, suffering a number of crashes in both motos, placing him in 11th overall at the conclusion of the round.

“My weekend involved a lot of being in the wrong place at the wrong time unfortunately,” Rykers said.

“In the first moto I got to a top five start but another rider ran straight into me leaving the up-ramp which caused me to high side off the jump – then I had to try and dodge the other 35 people coming around one. Three laps later I was coming through the pack and had a rider jump across the track and hit me which left me a fair way back but I was able to get to 12th.

“In the second moto I got to not a bad start but had another rider fall straight in front of me, forcing me to have to come from dead last back to eighth. It wasn’t the weekend we wanted, but we’ll regroup and be ready for Conondale.”

It was a similar fortune for teammate and MXD pilot Fogarty. After qualifying in 12th the MX Nationals rookie raced to 14-4 results handing him sixth overall for the round.

“The weekend didn’t really go as planned for me, it was just one of those days but we will keep working on being better and make round three one to remember,” Fogarty shared.

“In Moto 1 I got a great start but just as I went in to a rut my front end grabbed. I ended up being in dead last but put in a fight and made my way up a long way but then a lapper cut across on me coming down the far back hill which led to me having a big one. I did my best to make it back to 14th.

“In Moto 2 I got another good start and I just rode my own race and finished fourth. We ended up sixth overall for the day so we are still up there, but I’ll definitely be looking for a little more next round.”

The 2017 MX Nationals will continue at Conondale in Queensland on Sunday, May 7. Visit the official series website at www.mxnationals.com.au for further information.

To follow Raceline Pirelli KTM’s progress this year, like ‘Raceline’ on Facebook or follow @raceline_motosport on Instagram.