Gibbs and Ward take Murray Bridge MX Nationals honours
Kirk Gibbs charges to home round victory at Murray Bridge
KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs has recorded a satisfying finish to his home round outing today, taking the top step on the Monster MX1 podium and further extending his championship lead.
With friends and family looking on, Gibbs was determined to get the job done from the minute bikes hit the track, however with NPS Monster Energy Kawaski’s Adam Monea finally finding his form, the job was not to be easy.
In moto one, KTM’s Kirk Gibbs took the holeshot and only gave up the lead to Daniel Reardon for a few turns on lap one, showcasing his talent to his home crowd supporters.
With Gibbs in the lead for the majority of the moto, all eyes were on CDR Yamaha teammates Dan Reardon and Kade Mosig (CDR Yamaha) who had commenced their battle for second. With an incident at round three in the back of their minds, Mosig managed to make a clean pass on teammate Reardon, handing CDR Yamaha second and third for race one.
In moto two, Gibbs once again took the holeshot and early race lead. However with Monea looking to turn his season around, he hunted Gibbs down and took the lead – taking control of race two in spectacular fashion.
With Monea’s Kawasaki machine crossing the line first, Gibbs followed comfortably in second, while third place for race two was claimed by CDR Yamaha’s Daniel Reardon, in a satisfying outing for the former retiree.
When racing concluded and points were tallied the grin could not be wiped from KTM riders face. Gibbs claiming the home round win for the second year running, and taking top step on the podium ahead on NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Monea, followed by CDR Yamaha’s Daniel Reardon in third.
Monster Energy MX1 round four overall winner – Kirk Gibbs – KTM Motocross Racing Team (1st, 2nd – 67 Points)
“I got two really good starts today which I’m really happy about, and I felt very comfortable out there all day,” he said.
“Adam was riding very well in that second race, and I made a couple of small mistakes but all in all I can’t ask for much better today.
“Big picture, I’m really happy with how everything went today, and it’s awesome to be able to get the overall win in front of a home crowd again.”
GoPro Superpole
1) Adam Monea (1:40.092)
2) Lawson Bopping (1:42.172)
3) Kirk Gibbs (1:42.361)
4) Cody Cooper (1:42.410)
5) Kade Mosig (1:42.513)
Monster Energy MX1 round four overall results
1) Kirk Gibbs 67
2) Adam Monea 63
3) Daniel Reardon 60
4) Kade Mosig 57
5) Lawson Bopping 51
6) Luke Styke 50
7) Jesse Dobson 48
8) Dylan Long 48
9) James Booth Elliot 41
10) Aaron Tanti 50
Monster Energy MX1 championship points
1) Kirk Gibbs 274
2) Luke Styke 235
3) Adam Monea 227
4) Kade Mosig 227
5) Lawson Bopping 213
6) Dylan Long 192
7) Jesse Dobson 188
8) Daniel Reardon 184
9) Cody Cooper 177
10) Kale Makeham 152
Fairy tale comeback for Caleb Ward at Murray Bridge
KTM Australia’s Caleb Ward has taken two from two motos, and claimed his first overall win for 2015, in what was a championship-changing day for the Motul MX2 class at Murray Bridge.
Shaken up was the theme for the class at round four, with an epic return to racing for KTM’s Ward, a first podium appearance for Luke Arbon (SD3 Husqvarna), while Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout was forced into championship damage control.
Clout, who entered round four with a comfortable championship lead, headed out for MX2 qualifying confident – however a small mistake in the rhythm section before the finish sent the Yamaha rider over the handlebars during qualifying, in a huge upset for Serco Yamaha.
In moto one, KTM’s Ward took his return to racing to a whole new level. After grabbing the first hole shot of the day, Ward had no need to look back. Checking out on the entire field, Ward crossed the line in first position, letting the MX2 class know that the young Queenslander is back in business.
Finishing a close second to Ward in race one, was South Australian local SD3 Husqvarna’s Luke Arbon, followed by Kawasaki Australia’s Takeshi Katsuya who claimed third.
For Red plate holder Clout, he was lucky to line up for moto one – however the series points leader managed to circulate for the entire 30 minutes and cross the line in tenth allowing him to continue to defend his championship, despite now nursing an injury.
In moto two, the shake up continued – a first turn pile up seeing Serco Yamaha’s Jed Beaton go down along with JCR Yamaha’s Jay Wilson, putting the championship front runners at the back of the pack.
However all eyes were once again on Arbon and Ward who went head to head for the entire 30 minute moto. Ward eventually passing Arbon for the lead just before the last lap board, was all that was requried in order to collect his first round overall for 2015.
With racing wrapped up, the top step on the podium was deservingly claimed by KTM’s Ward, while local Arbon, (SD3 Husqvarna) settled for second ahead of Kawasaki Australia’s Takeshi Katsuya in third.
Motul MX2 Round four overall winner – Caleb Ward– KTM Racing Team (1st, 1st – 70 Points) – “It feels awesome to get this win under the belt. I’ve spent a lot of time on the couch with my injury so to come out and get the win first race back is pretty cool,” he said.
“I really wanted to show everyone that I have the speed to win races and also that I can ride a four stroke too.
“Everyone has worked really hard to make this happen, so todays win is definitely for all of the people who have supported me to get me here.”
Motul MX2 Round four overall results
1) Caleb Ward 70
2) Luke Arbon 64
3) Takeshi Katsuya 56
4) Wade Hunter 53
5) Kyle Webster 52
6) Jay Wilson 52
7) Geran Stapleton 47
8) Dean Porter 44
9) Nathan Crawford 44
10) Luke Clout 43
Motul MX2 championship standings
1) Luke Clout 243
2) Takeshi Katsuya 227
3) Jay Wilson 227
4) Jed Beaton 202
5) Wade Hunter 198
6) Luke Arbon 179
7) Geran Stapleton 157
8) Hamish Harwood 156
9) Riley Graham 154
10) Nathan Crawford 153
Husqvarna’s Connor Tierney celebrates, with career first win at round four
Husqvarna mounted Connor Tierney (Craig Anderson Racing Team) dominated the Pirelli MXD class today, recording a second and a first across two motos, to claim a career first overall round win at Murray Bridge.
On undoubtedly one of the toughest tracks on the MX Nationals calendar, the Pirelli MXD field went head to head across two motos, with the sandy circuit sorting the boys from men early in the day.
In moto one, Raceline PirellI Suzuki’s Jesse Madden pulled a huge hole shot, before Motorex KTM Australia’s Wade Carter snatched the lead, followed by Tierney in second and series points leader Wilson Todd in third.
However after ten minutes the race order changed, with GYTR Yamaha’s Todd taking the lead from Carter – Tierney and KTM’s Jayden Rykers following suit and also making their way around Carter’s KTM machine.
By the time the chequered flag flew, Todd continued his championship charge, taking the moto one win ahead of Tierney in second, and Jordan Hill (Yamaha) in third.
Race two of the day was where Tierney’s consistency truly paid off.
The hole shot once again was claimed by Suzuki mounted Madden, however Tierney proved to be too quick – taking the race lead early in the moto, a lead which he did not relinquish.
With Tierney checked out, the battle was on for second place – Todd, Rykers and Madden all fighting for the same position.
However luck was not on Todd’s side, the series points leader crashing hard just before the finish, meaning Rykers and Madden inherited second and third places respectively – Todd managing to recover and merely circulate for points.
At the conclusion of the round, the top step on the Pirelli MXD podium was claimed by Husqvarna’s Tierney – collecting his first overall round win for 2015. Second place on the box was taken by KTM’s Rykers, ahead of Yamaha mounted Hill who finished the round in third place respectively.
Pirell MXD round four overall winner – Connor Tierney – Craig Anderson Husqvarna Racing (2nd, 1st – 67 Points) – “Today was a good day, I worked really hard to get that win in the second moto and I’m stoked to get an overall win for the team,” he said.
“I’ve had a good three weeks training leading up to this round, and I’m a big fan of Murray Bridge so it’s awesome to get the win here, I couldn’t be happier.
“I just want to give a huge, huge thanks to Husqvarna for making today happen – it’s been a lot of hard work but we got it done.”
Pirelli MXD round four overall results
1) Connor Tierney 67
2) Jayden Rykers 60
3) Jordan Hill 58
4) Jesse Madden 55
5) Wayde Carter 52
6) Zak Small 49
7) Bailey Coxon 47
8) Jamie Harvey 39
9) Travis Silk 39
10) Lachlan Davis 39
Pirelli MXD championship points
1) Wilson Todd 197
2) Connor Tierney 189
3) Jesse Madden 187
4) Wayde Carter 174
5) Jayden Rykers 171
6) Bailey Coxon 165
7) Jonte Reynders 149
8) Lachlan Davis 135
9) Jordan Hill 135
10) Zak Small 132
