Follow the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship with direct MX1 and MX2 updates from the first round of the season at Wonthaggi through Racefeed.

Image: Foremost Media

MX2 qualifying:
GasGas Racing Team charger Noah Ferguson has posted the fastest time in this morning’s MX2 qualifying session at Wonthaggi, securing the first gate pick in class for the opening round of the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship. Ferguson’s best effort of 1m50.416s saw him emerge .598s quicker than KTM Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford in P2, as Jesse Dobson (Serco Yamaha) completed the top three courtesy of a 1m51.357s.Terrafirma Honda Racing’s reigning champion Wilson Todd banked a 1m52.633s relatively late in the session to elevate to fourth, with Alex Larwood (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) rounding out the top five roughly one and a half tenths adrift. Husqvarna-mounted Kaleb Barham qualified sixth fastest, leading Ryder Kingsford (WBR Yamaha), freshly-minted Polyflor Honda Racing rider Brodie Connolly, Rhys Budd (Serco Yamaha) and Ryan Alexanderson (KTM) who completed the top 10. MX2 debutant Kayden Minear (KTM Racing Team) posted the 11th fastest time, last year’s MX3 champion stopping the clocks with a 1m55.758s lap time.

MX1 qualifying:
CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Luke Clout fired an early warning shot with the quickest time in MX1 qualifying, notching a 1m50.822s to edge returning international Jed Beaton (Boost Mobile Honda Racing) by .826s. Making it two CRF450Rs in the top three, Kyle Webster (Boost Mobile Honda Racing) was third fastest, ahead of reigning champion Aaron Tanti (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) and Brett Metcalfe (GO24 KTM) who moved up to fifth in the closing stages. KTM Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs slotted into sixth, as Brisbane Motorcycles Yamaha rider Dean Ferris, Todd Waters (Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing), Levi Rogers (Yamaha) and the returning Regan Duffy (GasGas Racing Team) completed the top 10. Each rider listed has earned a spot in the AMX MX1 pole shootout, where the top 10 gate picks will be decided.

MX2 moto one:
A thrilling MX2 moto one saw reigning champion Todd emerge from the chaos that ensued to take the chequered flag as the leading rider, notably remounting from a heavy collision with Crawford. With 18 minutes remaining, the race was red-flagged due to medical attendance required for a multiple rider incident in the early stages, Todd leading teammate Connolly and Dobson at the time. Following the staggered restart, Crawford swiftly made his way past teammate Minear for P4, then Dobson for the podium. With 11 minutes left in the moto, the number 199 made a move on Connolly for second and set after Todd at the front, making his way past the reigning champion as five minutes remained. Todd was able to regain the lead in the closing stages, but with Crawford eager not to let the lead slip he attempted a move up the inside of the number one, bringing both riders down in what was a spectacular incident. This allowed third-placed Dobson to briefly take the lead, before the Serco Yamaha rider fell shortly after, remounting just in front of Crawford as Todd was able to regain P1. Todd ultimately rode to a 3.549s victory ahead of Crawford, with Dobson completing the top three. Fastest-qualifier Ferguson finished fourth, ahead of impressive rookie Minear who took the chequered flag P5. A fall dropped Connolly back to sixth, as Larwood, Liam Andrews (Honda), Cody Cooper (Empire Kawasaki) and Jayce Cosford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) completed the top 10, ahead of last year’s number two Rhys Budd (Serco Yamaha).

MX1 Pole Shootout:
In the pole shootout, Beaton edged reigning Penrite ProMX champion Tanti to emerge on top ahead of the highly-anticipated season-opening motos at Wonthaggi. Beaton’s fastest time of a 1m47.373s came in the closing stages of the session, ultimately seeing him 1.256s ahead of the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy rider. Securing third gate pick was Webster, the number 96 less than half a second from Tanti and ahead of Metcalfe and Gibbs who completed the top-five. Clout posted the sixth quickest time in the shootout, as Ferris, Waters, Duffy and Rogers rounded out the top 10.

MX1 moto one:

Remaining races have been cancelled due to a serious incident. 

MX2 moto two:

Remaining races have been cancelled due to a serious incident. 

MX1 moto two:

Remaining races have been cancelled due to a serious incident.