Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs is preparing for two of the biggest weekends of his racing career, as the MX Nationals charges on to Toowoomba and then Coolum for the final rounds of this year’s championship.

Since the series commenced in March, Gibbs has dominated the Monster Energy MX1 field and will now face the task of sealing the deal on his 2015 championship campaign, starting this weekend at Echo Valley for round nine.

Gibbs, who carries a healthy 65-point lead on his teammate Luke Styke, says although he isn’t thinking about the championship too much at this point, that it would be nice to wrap things up on Sunday.

“I’m feeling really good ahead of this weekend,” Gibbs said. “I’m obviously not trying to think about the championship too much just yet, because then it starts sort of weighing on you a little bit, but I’m looking forward to getting into the next few rounds and doing my best.

“The championship obviously does play a little bit in the back of your mind and I have been bridesmaid to Matt Moss not only last year, but in the Lites class too – being runner up a few times has been frustrating. But I’ve been doing my best to block that out and just ride to the best of my ability.

“I have definitely done the calculations in my head as to what it would take to wrap it all up at Toowoomba and, I mean, that’s the ideal situation, but you can’t count on other rider’s results. I just need to worry about myself and even if I don’t get the championship wrapped up at Toowoomba, if all goes well, I won’t be far off wrapping it up pretty early at Coolum.”

With the added pressure of sealing the deal on his first ever MX1 title, Gibbs said that racing in the state he now calls home is a welcome bonus for the final two rounds.

“Toowoomba is an awesome venue and it’s a pretty special place for me; I got my first MX1 win there in 2013, so heading back there is pretty exciting,” he added. “I don’t have far to travel, Toowoomba is only a couple of hours from my house, so it does make a bit of a difference having the last two rounds in Queensland.

“I’ve been riding at Toowoomba a bit over the last few weeks leading up and I know the track well. We have a very good set up on the new 2016 model, so I’m feeling a lot more confident and we’re looking forward to this weekend.”

Round nine of the MX Nationals will take place at Echo Valley Raceway on Sunday, 23 August. For further information on the final two rounds of the MX Nationals, head to www.mxnationals.com.au.