Kirk Gibbs will step up to MX1 for the 2013 season. Image: iKapture.

South Australian Kirk Gibbs continues to acclimatise to the KTM 450 SX-F that he’ll race in this year’s Monster Energy MX Nationals, gaining vital experience in New Zealand’s second national last weekend.

Contested at Patetonga, Gibbs had a challenging day, overcoming an early fall to eventually seal seventh overall.

Gibbs scored 11-5-4 results in the trio of motos to maintain his fourth position in the championship.

“The track was full-on and another good experience, but I didn’t particularly gel with it,” Gibbs explained. “I couldn’t get the best from the concrete starts and really struggled to time my passing opportunities around the places that were narrow.

“Where I fell in race one we sort of funneled into a corner after a section of tabletops and jumps. I made a pass and thought I had the line, but he mustn’t have seen me and the two of us jumped for the same entry point.

“Overall I’m not happy with how I went today but hey, if motocross was easy, everyone would be good at it.”

Gibbs and teammate Todd Waters are contesting the New Zealand outdoors in preparation for the upcoming Monster Energy MX Nationals.