GYTR Rockstar Yamaha team rider Luke Arbon and Shaun Redhead commenced their 2011 Under 19s title chase with a pair of podium finishes in Broadford’s opening round of the MX Nationals on Sunday.

Arbon unleashed his new ride for the upstart Yamaha team and promptly went about establishing himself as the man to beat in this years’ championship. After qualifying ninth, Arbon had race finishes of 2-1-1-2 to take the overall.

“Round one is always tough and I entered it with a plan to run inside the top five every moto and put myself in contention, so to come away with a couple of race wins and the overall for the round is unreal,” Arbon said.

“The bike was perfect all day and the team behind me did a great job. It’s nice to get a reward for the work we all put in and win in front of my friends, family and team sponsors. The championship has just begun and we all must keep our heads down.”

Teammate Redhead promised he would contender in 2011 and he certainly made good on that promise if round one is to go by with a tough and determined performance.

Redhead qualified fourth in the morning practice session and finished with 3-16-4-6 results despite twisting his ankle early in the round.

“I thought I broke my ankle in the first race,” Redhead revealed. “I felt this jolt of pain, then I had pins and needles down there and struggled to feel the brake pedal. But I was able to get through the day, score some handy points and get my first podium finish in Under 19s.”

The teams’ head technician, Darren Thompson, came away from the event impressed with the boys’ performance and buoyant about the coming rounds.

“It was a strong performance today from both riders,” he said. “Both were in a positive frame of mind entering the day and rode with plenty of heart and spirit to achieve a 1-3 finish.

“We now move our attention to the Appin round and look to continue the positive start to the season.”

Round two of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals takes place at Appin in NSW on 3 April.