Image: MXN.

CDR Yamaha’s defending MX1 champion Dean Ferris again dominated a mud-soaked fourth round of the 2017 Motul MX Nationals at Horsham, Victoria today, continuing his impressive streak of round wins this year.

After Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s former MXGP star Todd Waters claimed Super Pole points from Ferris in qualifying, Ferris was quick to again stamp his authority on the MX1 field with a big hole-shot in the opening race.

He was never headed throughout as he negotiated the extremely muddy conditions to lap as high as sixth place, with a 47-second gap over a fast-starting and consistent Luke Clout (Crankt Protein Honda Racing).

KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Luke Styke put in a great ride for third place, ahead of Kade Mosig (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) in fourth, Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team) in fourth and Waters, who surged through the field after going down in the first corner.

The top 10 was completed by Aleksandr Tonkov (MEGA Bulk Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki), iron-man Hamish Harwood (Davey Motorsports KTM), Kyle Peters (Wilson Coolair Motul Suzuki) and Lachlan Davis (KTM).

The most notable non-finisher was MEGA Bulk Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki rookie Nathan Crawford, who exited with a wrist injury in the mid-stages amid the challenging conditions.

The second race was held in drying, but no less technical, conditions and again Ferris put the field to the sword, with another authoritative wire-to-wire victory, 42 seconds ahead of Gibbs. Waters was another 30 seconds behind in third place.

Styke again had a strong showing as he kept Kyle Peters at bay for fourth, with Harwood soldiering on in sixth position. In seventh was Mosig, while Tonkov, Davis and Joel Green (KTM) rounded out the top 10.

Clout would have to have the hard-luck story of the round, when a mechanical issue while running in second place in the moto put an end to any chances of securing his maiden MX1 overall podium.

Ferris took the round overall, with KTM team-mates Gibbs and Styke rounding out the podium, both with 58 points. In the championship chase Ferris extended his points lead to 45 points over Gibbs, with Waters’ solid showing seeing him clamber up to third overall.

Image: MXN.

The MX2 class again saw a Yamaha dominate from the front, with DPH Motorsport Yamaha pilot Wilson Todd in a league of his own in the heavy mud and deep Horsham ruts, coming away with the points-leading red plate in the process.

After scoring pole position, the Queenslander put on a clinic for a dominant victory in the opening MX2 moto, a whopping two minutes and 27 seconds ahead of Kiwi flyer Harwood and Kyle Webster (CRF Honda Racing).

During the crushing victory Todd lapped all the way through the pack to second place, with just 13 of the 29 qualifying riders completing the gruelling race.

Former red plate-holder Mitch Evans (Serco Yamaha) managed fourth, while Dylan Wills (KSF Racing Husqvarna) rounded out the top five. Sixth went to Ricky Latimer (Yamaha), with Tomas Ravenhorst (Yamaha), Aaron Tanti (WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha), Lachlan Wilson (Yamaha) and James Brown (Yamaha) completing the top 10.

MX2 title contender Jackson Richardson (Serco Yamaha) crossed the line down in 11th. Amid the chaotic race DNFs were Raceline Pirelli KTM’s Jayden Rykers and hard-charging privateer Richie Evans (Yamaha).

Faced with improving conditions, Todd again charged to the front of the MX2 pack and control the field from the front on his way to a perfect day of racing. Behind him in moto two came Harwood (who went straight to the start-line of MX1 following the podium) and an impressive result for privateer Latimer.

Fourth came Webster to seal himself a hard-earned overall podium, followed by Richardson and Egan Mastin (Davey Motorsports KTM). Wills crossed the line in sixth place, ahead of Rykers, Evans who clawed his way from the rear of the pack, with Mitch’s older brother, Richie Evans rounding out the top 10.

Following his commanding display, Todd topped the podium ahead of Harwood and Webster, and regained the championship points’ lead. Todd now leads Evans by 11 points, with Richardson a further 22 markers back.

In the MXD class, Husqvarna Australia pilot Jy Roberts chalked up his maiden round victory in the class with a classy 1-2 result from the two races. Yamalube Yamaha Racing’s Cody Dyce overcame a sixth place in the opening moto to claim the second race victory and finish the day in second overall.

Tasmania’s Hugh Mackay (Bulk Nutrients WBR Race Team) rounded out the podium with a consistent 5-4 result. Cooper Pozniak (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) finished fourth overall and Brodie Ellis (Yamaha) rounded out the top five. In the MXD championship, Dyce leads from Roberts and Morgan Fogarty, who finished Horsham with a 10th overall.

The 2017 Motul MX Nationals series will continue at Murray Bridge in South Australia next Sunday, 28 May.