Brief all category recap from ProMX Round Seven at QMP

2022 Penrite ProMX Championship
Round Seven – QMP

Race fans, including a few famous ones, flocked to Queensland Moto Park (QMP) to witness the first of two epic weekends of back-to-back ProMX racing action.

Thor MX1 Race One

In the opening THOR MX1 Moto, it was yet again another trademark Holeshot from Dean Ferris on the HRC Honda Racing Australia CRF450R. Behind Ferris, the tone for the day was set, with Red Plate Holder Aaron Tanti of the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team in 2nd place in the opening laps.

As the battle developed giving the fans everything they wanted to see, the two Championship heavy weights maintaining close track position for the majority of the race.

With a race track proving one lined at times in the opening races due to heavy rain on Saturday, the majority of the top placings would remain relatively unchanged throughout the first half of the Moto, before riders began to find their flow.

A hard charging Brett Metcalfe on the GO24 KTM caught fire at the halfway mark, passing from the back side of the top 10 on the opening laps all the way through to 3rd position.

Ferris began to edge away from Tanti over the final laps and took the chequered flag with a comfortable margin.

Husqvarna Australia’s Todd Waters in 4th and a very impressive 5th position for the THOR MX1 debut of newly crowned Pirelli MX2 class Champion, HRC Honda Racing Australia’s Wilson Todd, fresh not only from winning the MX2 Championship, but he also showed the MX1 boys up with pole position from the AMX Superstores Top Ten Shootout.

Thor MX1 Race One Results

Thor MX1 Race Two Part One

Welcoming the return of the back-to-back racing format for the second Moto of THOR MX1, starts and track position were crucial with riders being presented with an extremely rough and challenging race track for the afternoon at QMP.

Dean Ferris wasted no time executing another perfect Holeshot in Part 1 of the back-to-back Moto’s, leading wire-to-wire in the shorter race format to claim an all important win, setting himself up in a great position for the lowest combined points score of the two back-to-back Moto’s and an overall win on the day.

Behind Ferris, KTM Australia’s Kirk Gibbs found form, following Ferris closely to 2nd position with Aaron Tanti a consistent 3rd.

RelatedPosts

Honda Racing boss honours the quiet champions and riders

August 27, 2024

Recapping the Australian ProMX finale from QLD Moto Park

August 19, 2024

Thor MX1 Race Two Part One Results

Thor MX1 Race Two Part Two

In Part 2 of the back-to-back Moto’s, Wilson Todd emerged as the Holeshot winner out of turn 1, as Ferris tangled bars with a number of riders.

Gibbs sprinted to the front of the field early, passing Todd for the lead and did not look back as he logged clean laps to take the chequered flag.

Ferris and Tanti mounted charges on each other and inch towards Gibbs, but ultimately had to settle for 2nd and 3rd in the Moto, respectively.

With 2-1 Moto scores in the back-to-back’s, Gibbs scored lowest points and took the overall win for the combined race.

But the overall win on the day belonged to Ferris, who clawed back valuable Championship points on Tanti, who was second overall while Gibbs completed the round podium.

Thor MX1 Race Two Part Two Results

Thor MX1 Round Points

Rider Quotes

Dean Ferris – P1

“I did everything that I could and we claimed another overall win. It is not over and I will do everything that I can to win the final round and let what happens behind me be whatever it is going to be.”

Kirk Gibbs – P3

“I had a pretty good feeling when we first got out on the track, felt like I was going to be able to ride quite well today. I had a pretty big crash in superpole, which scared me a little bit… I got out of it really well, but it was pretty gnarly! First moto I just got a pretty bad start, just got pinched out, and the way the track formed it was super-hard to pass. Everyone is going super-fast these days, which made it tough. We made a couple of little changes before the last two-part moto, where I got really good starts and put myself in good positions to go 2-1 in those. It’s a lot easier out the front when you get to ride your own race and it just felt like I was at the practice track, so I’m happy to finish on a really good result and finally get a race win!”

Wilson Todd – P5

“We made the late decision to race moto one in the MX2 class. The original plan was that I was only going to race in the MX1 class. It was my decision and I paid the price; I was definitely feeling beaten up by the end of the day. I will race in the MX1 class only this weekend and will make sure that I rest this week to be better prepared for the challenge on my CRF450R.”

Todd Waters – P6

“It was another tough day for us. Moto one in P4 was okay and I was hoping to mount and charge for a podium this afternoon, but it didn’t come together. Unfortunately, a crash in the last corner of the final race didn’t help our overall position, but I’m focused now on next weekend at Coolum and achieving a strong result at a track that I like to conclude the season.”

Hayden Mellross – P13

“I was riding really well and felt like it was coming to me easy and I could really maintain that pace for the whole race. Unfortunately, as I was going past a lapped rider they got out of control in the whoops and their bike ran into the side of my front wheel and sent me over the handlebars. That was tough, being in such a good position and working so hard to get there but when I landed I hurt my hand and my ribs, and whole left side of the body was in pain. Tried to rest up as best as I could for the back to backs and first part of moto two wasn’t ideal, but the second one was much better. Reflecting on the day, when I look at my laptimes throughout the motos versus the person who won the moto, I’m within a second with my fastest time. We know we have got what it takes, just need to work on getting a little bit of luck!”

Thor MX1 Championship Points

Pirelli MX2

Kaleb Barham on the MPE Husqvarna brought the momentum and speed he gained at Coffs Harbour right into QMP with a Holeshot and flawless opening laps to lead the field until the half-way point. Yamalube Yamaha’s Rhys Budd ran in 2nd place with the Championship on the line, as Red Plate holder, HRC Honda Racing Australia’s Wilson Todd started in 5th position.

Todd did not look rushed as he slowly worked his way forward, eventually passing Yamaha privateer Jayce Cosford for fourth. With 4th position being more than enough to clinch the title in the opening Moto, Todd was crowned the Pirelli MX2 Class Champion at the chequered flag, to the delight of the entire HRC Team.

As the Moto played out in front of Todd, it was KTM Australia’s Nathan Crawford who worked his way forward to pass Budd, and then Barham for the Moto win. Budd finishing in 2nd and Barham holding onto 3rd ahead of newly crowned Champion, Wilson Todd.

Pirelli MX2 Race One Results

Pirelli MX2 Race Two

Wilson Todd elected to focus on his THOR MX1 racing commitments for the afternoon, leaving the class wide open.

Nathan Crawford took the Holeshot, with WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha’s Levi Rogers in 2nd and KTM privateer Reid Taylor in 3rd in the opening laps. These three riders rode in close proximity for the first half of the moto before the Serco Yamaha freight train of Bailey Malkiewicz and Jesse Dobson put on a charge to the front. Moving towards the top 3, Dobson would eventually pass his team-mate and sethis sights firmly set on the front, passing Rogers for 2nd in the closing laps.

At the chequered flag it was Crawford with perfect 1-1 Moto scores and the overall win. Dobson in 2nd and Rogers 3rd.

Pirelli MX2 Race Two Results

Pirelli MX2 Round Points

Rider Quotes

Nathan Crawford – P1

“I’m really happy to get this first win with the KTM Racing Team! The day sort of started off a little bit slow for me, I got sixth in qualifying which was obviously not ideal. We sorted it out for the motos, made a couple of bike changes and got the double win. I pulled a holeshot in the last race, which made that race feel a lot easier. It was a really good day, I can’t really ask for much more – going 1-1 is basically perfect in our eyes, so keen to keep the ball rolling into Coolum next weekend.”

Pirelli MX2 Championship Points

Maxxis MX3 Moto One

KTM Australia’s Ryan Alexanderson has emerged as a late season sensation in the class, showing speed, consistency and maturity in the second half of the season to, at times, dominate the MAXXIS MX3 class. QMP was no different.

Early race leader and pace setter Connor Towill on the KTM Newcastle machine gapped the field early on before an unfortunate crash saw him unable to finish.

As the field regrouped, it was Alexanderson who passed Red Plate holder, KTM Australia’s Kayden Minear into the top 5, before working his way through to the Moto win.

Ryley Fitzpatrick on the Rising Motorsports Gas Gas in 2nd, Yamaha’s Cooper Holroyd in 3rd, GAS GAS Australia’s Byron Dennis in 4th and Minear in 5th at the flag.

Maxxis MX3 Moto One Results

Maxxis MX3 Moto Two

Young Byron Dennis scored the Holeshot but it wasn’t long before Western Australia’s Myles Gilmore hit the lead.

As the race took shape, Alexanderson moved up to second while Yamaha Australia Junior Racing’s Jake Cannon slotted in to 3rd. These three riders battled but eventually Alexanderson proved too strong, passing Gilmore on the closing laps to take a perfect 1-1 Moto score on the day and the overall win.

Gilmore would take a fantastic 2nd in the Moto, with Cannon 3rd. Overall contenders Dennis and Fitzpatrick would finish 5th and 6th respectively with Red Plate Holder, Minear going 5-8 on the day.

Maxxis MX3 Moto Two Results

Maxxis MX3 Round Points

Maxxis MX3 Championship Points

Yamaha bLU cRU YZ65 Cup

The next generation of Australian Motocross talent put on an incredible show at QMP for the Yamaha bLU cRU YZ65 Cup.

Heath Davy continued his dominance from earlier in the season at Maitland, with a perfect day and 1-1 Moto scores to take the overall victory.

Behind Davy, Deegan Fort and Jaggar Townley would trade podium positions in both Moto’s, with Fort claiming 2nd overall and Townley 3rd.

Yamaha bLU cRU YZ65 Cup Moto One Results

Yamaha bLU cRU YZ65 Cup Moto Two Results

Yamaha bLU cRU YZ65 Cup Championship Points

The Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores now heads to Coolum, Queensland for the final Round 8 on August 20th and 21st. Get your tickets here.

2021 Australian ProMX Championship Calendar

1. March 27 – Wonthaggi, VIC
2. April 10 – Mackay, QLD
3. May 1 – Wodonga, VIC
4. May 29 – Gillman, SA
5. June 26 – Maitland, NSW
6. July 24 – Coffs Harbour, NSW
7. August 14 – QLD Moto Park, QLD
8. August 20-21 – Coolum, QLD