Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing press release:

Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing riders Kyle Webster and Rhys Budd are both celebrating podium placings after turning on strong performances at yesterday’s (April 14) third round of the MX Nationals Australian motocross championships staged at the Broadford circuit in Victoria.

The famed Broadford track at the Victorian State Motorcycling Complex just north of Melbourne has long played host to premier dirt bike events, including the legendary Mr Motocross series in the 1980s and a round of the World 500cc Motocross Championship, and was in prime condition for the weekend’s MX Nationals third round.

In the Pirelli-sponsored MX2 category, KYLE WEBSTER qualified his VP Racing fuelled Honda CRF250R race bike in a strong third place, overcoming illness just 48 hours earlier which had left him unwell and vomiting.

“I was definitely under the weather on Friday,” Webster explained, “but thankfully that cleared by race day and it turned out to be a solid weekend.” By the time the day’s opening MX2 moto fired into life, Webster was ready to click top gear and go after the top step of the podium.

“The first moto was good,” Webster said. “Right away I was able to make a bunch of passes and got myself up into second behind Wilson Todd (Husqvarna). In the closing stages of the race I made a charge at Wilson, but just couldn’t get him.”

Just nine-tenths of a second split Wilson and Webster at the chequered flag in a thrilling finish to moto one.

“Then in the second moto I got an okay start,” Webster continued, “but Wilson got away from me a bit, and we just stayed the same gap through the rest of the race and I finished second, with a 2/2 score giving me second overall on the day.”

Webster’s solid Broadford performance has boosted him to fourth in the Pirelli MX2 championship standings after three rounds. The Honda rider has 126 points, behind leader Wilson Todd (Husqvarna) on 170, Jay Wilson (Yamaha) on 142 and Aaron Tanti (Yamaha) with 133.

In the MXD category, RHYS BUDD continued the impressive form he showed at the opening two rounds of the series at Appin (NSW) and Wonthaggi (Victoria), by putting in two strong motos at Broadford to capture third overall for the round and another podium placing.

Riding his MCD Performance tuned Honda CRF250R, Budd laid down fastest time in Qualifying to set up his day.

“P1 in Qualifying is always a great start to the day!” Budd enthused. “I then made a good start in the first moto and made my way into the lead on lap one and held the lead until two laps to go and eventually finished second just 4.6 seconds behind Maximus Purvis (Yamaha).”

In race two, Budd once again set the pace early as he made the running out front.

“I made another great start in race two and made my way into the lead early,” said Budd, “but unfortunately I didn’t have the pace to hold it, as the track was pretty brutal by the end of the day. So I was happy to eventually finish third behind Regan Duffy and Mason Semmens and take third overall for the round with 2/3 placings.”

After three rounds, Budd sits second in the MXD championship, just five points down on Regan Duffy (KTM).

The 2019 MX Nationals championship continues on May 4/5, with double-header rounds four and five to be staged at Murray Bridge in South Australia.

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