KTM Australia press release:

KTM Motocross Racing Team rider Kirk Gibbs has defended his Champion’s title in no uncertain terms at the prestigious Manjimup 15,000 International Motocross, dominating the event ahead of teammate Luke Styke and Mandurah City KTM rider Dean Porter.

Gibbs won every single race in the day’s All-Star Championship and All-Star Eliminator feature at the tough Cosy Creek circuit three hours south of Perth. The famous event again exemplified the brilliance of big-time one-off motocross events that combine a unique location with passionate local crowds.

Deep, energy-sapping sand whoops, famous WA pea-gravel over hard pack, and high-quality local riders give the event plenty of depth and added sparkle to outstanding performances. While Gibbs was in a class of his own, Styke was a level above everyone else, with four second places across the major championship and a comfortable runner-up finish in the eliminator.

It was a special result for Western Australian challenger Dean Porter, who added another Manjimup podium finish to his career tally with 6, 3, 3, 3, finishes on the day, two years after breaking his back at the same event. Super-fast teenager Jayden Rykers and Louis Calvin did their best to do to boost local stocks, but both suffered technical troubles.

Kirk Gibbs – “I won the four motos, and ended up winning all five of the one lap dashes that we had for the Elimination race. The track got really rough as expected. It’s a little bit slippery in the hard-packed area, like around rock ‘n’ roll Hill, so you had to be really patient through there, and obviously it got really rough through the sand sections down the back. There was definitely a tough and technical track and you had to be smart, and I felt like I was today.
We’ll go home now get back into a routine, that’s a really positive thing to do and it’s working for me. I had a week off before Manjimup and I was feeling refreshed, and maybe we’ll try to fit in a couple of local races as well.”

Luke Styke – “I rode okay you know, early on in the piece it took a little bit to get used to the track, but after found some form the speed was not too bad. I struggled a bit towards the end of the day, I had a sore knee and I struggled to stand up around the whoopier sections. But I did what I had to do – Gibbs was a fair bit quicker than me today. B My first Manjimup was 100% worth the trip. I’d come back every year if I got the opportunity, it’s just a well-run event, everyone here is super nice, there are so many entries, so many fans and spectators, it’s just like the old days. Everyone camps out, there’s parties, big fires happening and little kids riding their pushbikes around, it’s just super cool.”

Dean Porter – “Third was probably all I could have hoped for behind Gibbsy and Styke, since they are running one-two in the nationals at the moment. So I was pumped to be able to run them for a couple of laps and give KTM the sweep. After breaking my back at Manjimup in 2013 in the shootouts I was a bit nervous going in there, but I just rode smooth and smart and I think that probably was the key to getting the best from that track. Otherwise you could have a big crash really quick.”

Jayden Rykers – “I felt good, but luck didn’t go my way mechanically. I’m all in one piece though so that’s the main thing. It was a good experience; I got good starts all day that put me up into the top three behind Gibbsy and Styke and think I had enough speed to hang on to Styke for a while, so in that regard it was good, but I’m hoping for better results next time.”

For more information on KTM Motorcycles, visit www.ktm.com.au or www.facebook.com/KTMAustralia.