Image: Jeff Crow.

Australian motocross number two Kirk Gibbs soared to victory at Horsham’s opening 2015 MX Nationals round on Sunday, sweeping the premier MX1 ranks for the overall.

KTM rider Gibbs was untouchable at the Victorian venue, going 1-1 for the overall ahead of Kade Mosig (CDR Yamaha), who posted 3-2 finishes in a strong outdoor debut for the team.

Completing the podium in his comeback to Australia was Gibbs’ new KTM teammate Luke Styke, charging to second in moto two and fifth in the second leg to secure the podium.

In fourth was Lawson Bopping (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) after displaying impressive speed in the motos for a pair of fourth places in the motos, edging out Cody Cooper (Penrite Honda).

Cooper, fresh from winning a third-straight NZ crown, had a mixed day with sixth in moto one and third in the second, capitalising on a holeshot to boost himself into the top five overall.

Kawasaki’s Adam Monea also had both positives and negatives, overcoming a difficult start to both motos including a collision with Dan Reardon in race one and a first-turn crash in the second, to salvage sixth with 7-6 results.

Tattoo Racing Yamaha privateer Dylan Long stunned with his early speed on the way to seventh for the round, battling amongst the factory riders during both motos.

Penrite Honda’s Super Pole winner Ford Dale endured a tough couple of motos for eighth, taking home 10-8 placings, with Cheyne Boyd (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) and Jesse Dobson (Husqvarna) finalising the top 10.

Kale Makeham’s MX1 debut for Team Motul Suzuki resulted in 11th on paper, tied with Boyd and Dobson, but he was inside the top six during both motos before crashes stalled his progress.

Another standout privateer was Daniel McEntee (Kawasaki) in 12th, stepping up to MX1 for this season, and more importantly ahead of defending double champion Matt Moss (Team Motul Suzuki), who was 14th in both outings.

Moss went down early in moto one and the second didn’t go any better for him, finishing a lap down and now facing a 36-point deficit to Gibbs in the standings.

Check out the new Race Feed feature on MotoOnline.com.au, posted direct from the circuit moto-by-moto, for further details on each of the motos.

2015 MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship
Round one – Horsham, Victoria

MX1 overall results:
1. Kirk Gibbs 70
2. Kade Mosig 62
3. Luke Styke 58
4. Lawson Bopping 56
5. Cody Cooper 55
6. Adam Monea 49
7. Dylan Long 47
8. Ford Dale 45
9. Cheyne Boyd 40
10. Jesse Dobson 40
11. Kale Makeham 40
12. Daniel McEntee 35
13. Matt Moss 34
14. Aaron Tanti 32
15. Nick Murray 30
16. Daniel McCoy 29
17. Darcy Jones 27
18. Daniel Reardon 26
19. Daniel Banks 24
20. Tyson Whillas 23

MX1 championship standings (includes Super Pole):
1. Kirk Gibbs 74
2. Kade Mosig 64
3. Lawson Bopping 59
4. Luke Styke 58
5. Cody Cooper 55
6. Ford Dale 50
7. Adam Monea 49
8. Dylan Long 47
9. Cheyne Boyd 40
10. Kale Makeham 40
11. Jesse Dobson 40
12. Daniel McEntee 35
13. Matt Moss 34
14. Aaron Tanti 32
15. Nick Murray 30
16. Daniel McCoy 29
17. Darcy Jones 27
18. Daniel Reardon 27
19. Daniel Banks 24
20. Tyson Whillas 23

Click here for detailed results