Features 30 May 2023

Debrief: 2023 ProMX Rd5 Gillman

Overall winners Webster and Todd recall fifth round in South Australia.

After a tough start to the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship, Kyle Webster (Boost Mobile Honda Racing) bounced back at round five in Gillman to take a commanding 1-1 victory in the MX1 class. Meanwhile, it was Wilson Todd (Terrafirma Equipment Sales Honda Racing) who was back to his winning ways in MX2, also taking a 1-1 to make it a Honda clean sweep. MotoOnline caught up with both riders after the races for this Debrief interview.

MX1

Image: Foremost Media.

First of all, congratulations on the win. Fastest in the top 10 shootout and both moto wins. How’d that feel?

Yeah, it definitely felt good to win the superpole and then both races. I feel like it’s pretty hard to do in the class we have at the moment, there are a lot of fast guys. It was definitely a good feeling and it’s not something that I’ve done a lot in my career, where I’ve won both races. So, I was stoked with that, it was a good weekend.



It’s been a tough start to the season for you. Talk us through that and how you managed to put that behind you and come out here and dominate.



Obviously, the first part of this year has been hard for me, I feel like I’ve had a lot of unfortunate things go wrong, like Albury and getting hit with that rock at Maitland, just things that didn’t really help. But, Appin wasn’t really the best for me in general, I don’t think I was riding all that well, so it’s been hard. But, I just try to forget about what’s happened and push forward I guess, instead of just dwelling on things. I feel like I didn’t struggle too much getting over it, I just try to forget about the bad stuff I guess.

The track turned out pretty good despite all the rain and we know you’re a sand guy. You didn’t get to race here last year, but did you feel more comfortable in these conditions compared to the more clay-based tracks we’ve seen over the last few rounds?

The track was actually sick. Like, with how much rain was expected and what they did get in the days leading up, it was really good. It turned out a lot better than I expected. But yeah, it was sandy on top, but it definitely had a really hard base. There were a few berms in turns, but the base was rock solid and still super slippery. But, I did like the track, it got pretty rough and choppy, but it was a cool track. It was fast and it flowed pretty well, so I was a big fan of it. I don’t mind the clay-based tracks, but I’d say I’m not as comfortable as I am on a track like that, but I still have the speed on the clay tracks, I think I just put it together a little easier on the sand.

MX2

Image: Foremost Media.

Wilson, congratulations on the win. Dominant day for you, P1 in every session today.

The day wasn’t too bad. I got a lap in early in qualifying before the sun got really bad, then just ripped two gangster starts. Nathan [Crawford] pushed me in the first one, he was right on my wheel. But, I feel like in the second one, with my Brodie [Connolly] being in between us, I was able to pull away a little bit. So I feel like I was able to maintain that easier because Nathan wasn’t right behind me, he didn’t really have anything to chase, so the second race was good for me, just out front and doing my own thing.

You’ve kept the red plate all season despite not being 100%, we know you’ve been battling injuries and different sicknesses. How’d it feel to bounce back here and show that speed we’re all so used to seeing?

I came into the weekend in a better mood than the last few rounds. I didn’t necessarily have all the bike time I wanted, but I wasn’t sick or hurt coming into it, so I was just in good spirits from the moment I got there and that obviously translated into some good riding.

You mentioned being in a better mood, as a spectator I think it was really noticeable. Was that due to coming into the round healthy and not having to battle those injuries?

It was a bit of everything. You know, I like the track, I wasn’t hurt. I’ve been in a bad mood all year, there wasn’t a day where I wasn’t sick or hurt, it just runs you down. But, I felt pretty good coming into the weekend and I was ready to go.

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