MX Nationals Shepparton Images Gallery A
MX Nationals Shepparton Images Gallery A – Images by Trevor Hedge
CDR Yamaha’s Mosig takes MX Nationals round win at Shepparton
CDR Yamaha’s Kade Mosig returned to the podium in Shepparton today, taking the overall win in what was an eventful round seven for the Monster Energy MX1 Class.
With riders forced to brave below freezing conditions, the MX1 class tackled the Shepparton circuit. Constructed in the middle of a flat paddock, the venue provided spectators with good viewing areas with parking conveniently close to the circuit.
Before race action got underway the circuit was rocked by a collision between Matt Moss and a bobcat. The incident occurred during the Superpole session, after the host club had erroneously directed the bobcat operator onto the circuit, without the knowledge of Williams Event Management, the long-time MX Nationals promoter.
Matt Moss cleared a jump to be greeted with a bobcat in the middle of the track, just below the down ramp. Moss landed only a couple of feet before the bobcat, he had threw the RM-Z450 sideways to try and break the impact but the reigning champion still suffered a sickening collision, the bobcat side-on to Moss as he careered head first into it.
Moss was taken away to hospital to investigate the extend of his injuries and took no further part in proceedings. Best wishes to Mossy in his recovery from what was a shocking blow, that could have been much worse. Although I am sure he takes cold comfort in that fact as he nurses a very sore body this evening.
When racing did get underway with moto one, it was CDR Yamaha’s Dan Reardon who claimed the first hole shot of the day, before going head to head with team mate Kade Mosig in what looked to be a repeat of round three.
Reardon, who looked comfortable in the number one position early in the moto, held the race lead until the charge of DPH Motorsports Lawson Bopping proved too strong – Bopping taking the race lead from Reardon, leaving the CDR team mates to battle for second.
Mosig then inherited second place when Reardon went down after the 15-minute mark.
With a clear track ahead of him, Mosig set his sights on Bopping and in one swift move the lead was his.
Mosig then carried his confident momentum to the finish line, claiming the opening race honors ahead of KTM duo, Luke Styke and Kirk Gibbs, second and third respectively.
Daniel McCoy fired off the concrete starting gates like a scalded cat in the second moto. It was McCoy’s machine and his period Thor gear, complete with period painted helmet, and his SFC crew also in retro styled clothing, that carried off the retro theme the best at Shepparton.
McCoy started well and looked the business but was quickly overhauled by the series front runners with NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Monea and CDR Yamaha’s Dan Reardon leading the charge up front.
With six changes to the race lead across 30 minutes, Monea managed to get the job done for the Victorians, eventually crossing the line first ahead of Reardon – Despite having a fall with only a few laps to run which allowed Reardon to pass Monea for the lead, but Monea remounted and chase Reardon down once again and overhaul him for a clear win.
With Reardon finishing in second place, third was then collected by teammate Kade Mosig.
When the overall points for round seven were calculated, CDR Yamaha returned to the podium with Mosig collecting his second overall win for 2015 ahead of NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Monea, followed by series leader Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team) who finished third overall for the round.
Monster Energy MX1 round seven overall winner – Kade Mosig – CDR Yamaha (1st, 3rd – 65 Points) – “I just did what I had to do today, and a one, three result is my best result in this class, and we’re taking steps forward,” he said.
“I’m really happy with the result and we’re working towards going one, one and having a perfect day.
“We made some good championship points this weekend, and I’m really happy.
“The whole team – Dacka, Brad, Mike, they work really hard and they give me an awesome package so it’s day’s like these that it’s awesome that I can reward them with a win.”
The round win by Mosig put a smile on Craig Dack’s face and left him buoyed for the final rounds of the championship.
Craig Dack – “It was pleasing to see Kade took on board our thoughts and was rewarded with the round win. I have no doubt we have two riders fit enough and fast enough to win races but we needed to reduce the small mistakes. Kade did that today and deserved his round victory. Dan just had the issue in race one otherwise both riders should have been on the podium. I can sense his frustration as he is trying so hard to win but he is a smart racer and he will get it sorted for the remaining rounds.”
Adam Monea – “I was so determined for a good result after the first race. In the second race I started off well and I picked up the pace by finding a couple of good lines. I just had to keep calm and ride some clean laps. I tipped over though and made it harder for myself, but I finished on top in the end. After the first moto I was a bit over not getting a podium so to come out like that in the second race, it was great to prove to myself again that I can do it. I couldn’t have done it without the team and everyone involved including the fans and my family who all made the effort to come out, especially my mum who makes the most noise and is my number one believer. The win has given a great boost of confidence in myself and the team who made the right decisions with adjustments made to the bike for the second moto.”
Dylan Long – “Overall I am happy with how I went today. I struggled with my starts and the track getting rougher as the day went on, but that’s about it. It definitely was a tough track and I am still getting used to the bike. The ruts were crazy, the bottom of my forks and pegs were hitting the sides in the second moto so I had to adapt to that. Otherwise I am still aiming for top 10 and that’s where I was today.”
NPS Kawasaki Team Manager, Troy Carroll – “It was a great round, we had the pace in the first moto but didn’t get the result so we analysed a few things before the second race and adapted to the track to come away with the win. The team is working really well this year and it was good to see one of Dylan’s strongest rides today which is encouraging seeing as it is only his second round on the factory Kawasaki KX450F. We are looking forward to the improvements from him in every round and the team is really happy for him.”
Dan Reardon – “Coulda, woulda, shoulda! It’s been the story of my season so far and I need to stay focused and put a full day of racing together,” Reardon explains. “The frustrating thing is that I’m putting myself in the right positions to do well, only to make a mistake and throw it all away. We have three rounds left and my goal is to have all remaining six races inside the top three.”
Jesse Dobson – FC 450: “It was a good day but the result there doesn’t really show that. In the first one I think I was a little bit too patient, I was behind Stykey for a bit, and I just kind of had my skirt on a little bit. So I was disappointed about that. An the second one I was up there but I had a crash and hit my head pretty hard and it took me a little bit to recover – I felt like I was riding cross-eyed for about half a lap! After that I just kind of chipped away at it. I was riding good but I just lost a bit of intensity on the boys. I’m a bit disappointed in the overall result, I thought it would have been a little bit better, but I feel that we’re making progress and I’m happy with that.”
Aaron Tanti – FC 350: “I was really hoping to get up in the top 10 today because it’s coming to the last few rounds and really want to gain those extra few points. I’m sitting 11th after this weekend, but Kale pulled away just that little bit more. In the first moto I just spun off the concrete. I went back to 13th, I think I was running 10th or something and then I had a pretty nice off. After I got back up I was in 15th or something and finished the race there. I definitely struggled, the track was like the deepest rutted track either ridden, I think. The ruts were crazy, definitely something new. The corner ruts would start on the straight and wouldn’t end until the next straight. It’s something I’ve never really ridden on.”
Monster Energy MX1 round seven overall points
1) Kade Mosig 65
2) Adam Monea 60
3) Kirk Gibbs 58
4) Luke Styke 57
5) Daniel Reardon 54
6) Jesse Dobson 52
7) Lawson Bopping 51
8) Dylan Long 47
9) Cody Cooper 46
10) Kale Makeham 41
Monster Energy MX1 championship points
1) Kirk Gibbs 471
2) Luke Styke 408
3) Kade Mosig 397
4) Adam Monea 394
5) Lawson Bopping 375
6) Daniel Reardon 340
7) Jesse Dobson 338
8) Dylan Long 331
9) Cody Cooper 313
10) Kale Makeham 262
Caleb Ward makes it four in a row in Shepparton
KTM Australia’s Caleb Ward has collected four overall wins in a row after taking round seven of the 2015 MX Nationals in Shepparton.
After starting the morning in freezing conditions, the Motul MX2 class were the first riders brave enough to take to the track for round seven, in what shaped up to be an action packed day of racing in country Victoria.
In moto one, series points leader Jay Wilson (JCR Yamaha) scored the first hole shot for the round, before SD3 Husqvarna’s Luke Arbon applied the pressure on the red plate holder for the race lead.
However it would be neither rider who would take the opening moto win.
After coming from an eighth place start, Kawasaki Australia’s Takeshi Katsuya managed to pass the likes of Wilson and Arbon, before moving into the race lead – which he did not relinquish.
The 35-year-old former Japanese champ, checked out on the field, as the battles raged behind him – Katsuya collecting his first ever MX Nationals race win, ahead of KTM’s Caleb Ward and Husqvarna’s Nathan Crawford, second and third respectively.
In race number two, it was once again the red plate holder Jay Wilson who scored his second hole shot of the day, before Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout launched to the race lead, setting the pair up for one of the greatest battles the class has dished out.
For 20 minutes, former teammates Clout and Wilson went head to head, and when the chequered flag flew, it was Clout who had the winning determination required – crossing this line ahead of Wilson, followed by KTM’s Caleb Ward who claimed third, on one of the most technical circuits on the MX Nationals calendar.
When points were tallied, a mere five points separated the top five for the round overall. Ward once again proving he has some serious momentum, taking round seven honors ahead of Kawasaki mounted Takeshi Katsuya in second, and JCR Yamaha’s Wilson who rounded out the podium in third.
Motul MX2 Round seven overall winner – Caleb Ward– KTM Racing Team (2nd, 3rd – 62 Points)
“It’s awesome to get another overall that’s for sure,” he said.
“In that second race, I actually didn’t realise I was in third position and I hadn’t been reading my pit board so I was a bit surprised when I came in.
“The track was really tough today, it got really technical out there so I’m happy to come away with the overall.
“I have to give a massive thanks to KTM and all of my sponsors for helping me out, I can’t thank them enough for today.”
Luke Arbon – FC 250 “Pretty bad really, I just struggled all day with arm pump. I got a good lap in at the start of practice which helped. Fifth is like qualifying first to me, I normally suck at it! First moto I came out second behind Jay and felt like I could win the moto, but after about four laps I pumped up real bad, and was just trying to stay on the bike, pretty much. It makes it so hard when you pump up, it’s like someone else steering the bike. I tried to regroup for the next moto but I got a terrible start. I got into third eventually, but around the 10 minute mark I just tightened up a little bit, made a couple of poor line choices and I dropped back to 6th. Better, but it’s not what I’m capable of so it’s pretty frustrating. The speed is there when the arms are there.”
Nathan Crawford – FC250 “Fifth wasn’t too bad for me today. A better weekend than the last couple I’ve had that’s for sure, but I guess I definitely wanted to be on the box. The points on the day were pretty tight, so third and fourth was okay. It was pretty rutty and technical here, but it was something different and I adapted pretty quickly. The concrete start was a bit of a challenge but my start a pretty decent. That was good in the first Moto, I felt like I could maybe have done better in the second Moto but we’ll take the positives and move on.”
Connor Tierney – TC 250 “Finishing 3, 4 wasn’t the day I was looking for, but I didn’t actually lose any points in the championship, so I can’t complain really. I got the holeshot in the first one and then in the second one got a really bad start and had to make my way through. Shepparton was different, I’ve never seen anything like it, they ripped it so deep, I struggled a little bit with it. But it’s all a bit of a learning experience this year so you’ve got to take the goods with the bads, and go back to the drawing board for the next round.”
Motul MX2 round seven overall points
1) Caleb Ward 62
2) Takeshi Katsuya 61
3) Jay Wilson 60
4) Luke Clout 59
5) Nathan Crawford 58
6) Jed Beaton 49
7) Dylan Wills 49
8) Luke Arbon 48
9) Riley Graham 43
10) Wade Hunter 41
Motul MX2 championship standings
1) Jay Wilson 403
2) Luke Clout 397
3) Takeshi Katsuya 384
4) Jed Beaton 349
5) Wade Hunter 329
6) Luke Arbon 327
7) Caleb Ward 311
8) Nathan Crawford 292
9) Geran Stapleton 277
10) Dylan Wills 273
MXD
KTM Australia’s Jayden Rykers put on a stellar performance in Shepparton today, taking two race wins, and the overall round victort in the Pirelli MXD class, at round seven of the MX Nationals.
With the track forming up to be the most technically challenging so far this year, the young guns of the MX Nationals took to the circuit like true professionals, putting on a show for the hundreds of fans and spectators who flocked to the event.
In race number one, it was the KTM machine of Jayden Rykers who took the first hole shot in the Pirelli MXD class – launching himself in to the race one lead, one which he would hold on to for the entire moto.
With Rykers out in front and with a comfortable race lead, the attention shifted to the battle for positions behind him.
With red plate holder Wilson Todd (GYTR Yamaha) starting outside the top ten, and suffering a 10 second penalty for riding inside a track marker, teammate Mitchell Evans proved in race one that the young gun is back to form.
After holding a solid second position for the entire moto, Evans crossed the line in second ahead of Husqvarna’s Connor Tierney who collected third, while race one honors were handed to Rykers.
In race two, Rykers once again took the race lead. While Yamaha mounted Todd was out for redemption, his assault on Rykers proved not to be strong enough.
Although the pair battled for a good portion of the moto, with Wilson leading for a period of time, Rykers was able to cross the line in first position and hold off the MXD series leader Todd, who finished second, followed by his team mate Mitchell Evans who finished race two in third.
At the conclusion of the day, Rykers recorded a perfect round seven result, going 1-1 in both motos and claiming the top step on the Pirelli MXD podium.
GYTR Yamaha filled all remaining positions on the podium in Shepparton, with Mitchell Evans collecting second, ahead of teammate and red plate holder Wilson Todd who finished in third.
Pirelli MXD round seven overall winner – Jayden Rykers – KTM Australia – (1st, 1st – 70 Points)
“I’ve been working on my starts a lot, and I just tried to put myself in good positions all day so I could get a good result,” he said.
“I made up a few points today which was good – I just need to carry that momentum and keep trying to chase down that red plate.
“I’ll go away now and watch the footage back and see what I need to work on, and keep charging from now until Coolum.”
Pirelli MXD round seven overall results
1) Jayden Rykers 70
2) Mitchell Evans 62
3) Wilson Todd 58
4) Connor Tierney 58
5) Bailey Coxon 50
6) Lachlan Davis 47
7) Zak Small 44
8) Lochie Latimer 44
9) Toby Stevens 43
10) Blake Parker 42
Pirelli MXD championship points
1) Wilson Todd 387
2) Connor Tierney 377
3) Jayden Rykers 363
4) Jesse Madden 320
5) Bailey Coxon 311
6) Lachlan Davis 257
7) Jordan Hill 254
8) Jonte Reynders 243
9) Kaleb Barham 243
10) Toby Stevens 241
