CRF Honda Racing press release:

In what can only be described as an absolute feast of world class dirt bike racing, the MX Nationals Australian championships delivered a sensational grand finale this weekend with rounds nine and ten – the final two in the series – staged as an epic double-header event at Coolum Pines on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.

The brutal Coolum track, with its endless stretches of bike and rider swallowing sand whoops, ensured the MX Nationals went out with an almighty bang, as only the strong survived to lay their claim to championship glory.

And when the big lady sang for the final time and the silverware was handed out after a massive national championship chase, Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing riders Kyle Webster and Rhys Budd duly enjoyed their moment in the spotlight, each taking their place on the overall podium in their respective championships, in a memorable day for the close-knit Honda team.

In MX2, Webster finished second in the championship behind arch-rival Wilson Todd (Husqvarna), Webster wrapping up his season in the best way possible with a big win in the final moto of the season.

Meanwhile in MXD, Budd maintained the speed and consistency that has made him a front runner in the class all year long to wrap up third place in the title, in a satisfying result in his first season with the Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing outfit.

“To have both team riders finish top-three in their respective MX Nationals championships is a fabulous result for Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing,” enthused team principal Mark Luksich MARK following the conclusion of racing at Coolum.

“For the past four years we have worked with Kyle and it is so pleasing to see him develop into one of the very best motocross racers in the country, while Rhys, in his first year with the team, has shown fabulous potential, and most importantly has a very clear willingness to listen and learn, traits which will stand him in good stead for the future.

“2019 has been a great MX Nationals campaign and I wish to convey my thanks to the riders and the entire Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing crew, and all our sponsor partners who make our racing possible.”

Dedicated to Breast Cancer Research, Saturday’s round nine of the MX Nationals at Coolum took on a decidedly pink hue, with the Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing team getting in on the action with their potent Honda CRF250R race bikes decked out in custom pink flavoured graphics courtesy of team sponsor SK Designs.

In MX2, Webster knew he would have to give it his all at Coolum if he was to try and reign in the 28 point deficit to leader Wilson Todd in the Championship standings.

Despite ‘only’ putting in eighth fastest time in Qualifying, Webster remained confident in the fact he knows the Coolum track well and is a previous winner in the venue’s punishing sand whoops.

And when the gate dropped on the day’s first of two MX2 motos, Webster was soon amongst the thick of it at the very sharp end of the pack, pushing his Autolite spark plug equipped Honda into an enthralling battle with title rivals Wilson and Todd, in which they each took a turn in the lead.

After battling with Nathan Crawford (Yamaha) mid-moto for third, Webster lit the taper in the later stages of the race and closed in on leader Todd, who ultimately took the win, Webster snapping at his heels, just 0.76 seconds behind at the flag.

In moto two, the battle between Todd and Webster continued, with Todd setting the front running pace as yet again Webster launched a late moto charge. But try as he might, Webster had to settle for runner-up again, 5.6 seconds down on Todd.

“Two second places on Saturday was not too bad, but not the best either,” admitted a candid Webster, who knew he would go into Sunday’s title decider with big ask to haul in championship leader Todd.

“The track was really tough, Coolum always is, but I can’t wait to back up again tomorrow and hopefully go one step better,” Webster added.

In the MXD category, Budd eased into the day with seventh fastest time in Qualifying, but then used boomer starts in both his motos, including a cracking holeshot in moto two, to ultimately card 6-4 scores in his races.

“Coolum is a rough track and always a challenge, and while my starts were good in both motos, unfortunately I couldn’t keep the intensity to stay up front,” Budd explained after Saturday’s motos.

Budd’s results gave him fourth overall for the day, which saw him comfortably maintain third in the championship standings behind Regan Duffy (KTM) and Maximus Purvis (Yamaha) with Sunday’s final round remaining.

Round 10, Sunday

With blue skies bathing the Coolum venue again on Sunday, the stage was set for a classic MX Nationals grand finale.
Sunday’s MX2 racing featured back-to-back sprint motos in the morning, followed by a longer afternoon race.

Fifth fastest in Qualifying, Webster came out in the first sprint and waged yet another close battle with Wilson Todd for the win, which Todd took by just two seconds.

In the second sprint race, Nathan Crawford took the win, with Todd second, Jay Wilson third and Webster fourth.

Regrouping for the afternoon’s longer final moto of the season, Webster dug deep and once more displayed the form that has made him a multiple MX2 moto and round winner this year. Webster won the race by almost five seconds from Jay Wilson, with champion-elect Wilson Todd finishing third.

“The track was absolutely brutal again today,” said Webster, “so getting the win in the final moto was a great way to end the championship, I’m absolutely stoked with that. And to finish second in the championship, well, I couldn’t be much more happy with that as well. It’s been a great MX Nationals and I just want to thank the entire Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing team and all our sponsors and supporters for everything they do; I really want to carry this momentum into supercross.”

In MXD, Budd was sixth fastest in Qualifying, before turning in 7-6 placings in his two championship races to lock down third overall in the final championship standings behind Regan Duffy and Maximus Purvis.

“Coolum was definitely tough for me, both days,” Budd offered. “But I did what I needed to do all weekend to finish third in the championship, and that’s what really counts. The whole Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing team has been fully behind me through the series, and without them I wouldn’t be here today.”

With another MX Nationals series now run and won, the Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing team will turn its focus to the fast approaching Australian Supercross Championship, which kicks in Brisbane (Qld) on October 10.

The Australian Supercross Championship then continues with further rounds at Gilman (SA) on October 19, Wollongong (NSW) on November 9 and Auckland (New Zealand) on November 16, before reaching its crescendo with the AUS-X Open event being staged at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne (Vic) on November 30.