South Australian rookie Kirk Gibbs displayed the progress he has made in his first MX1 season of the Monster Energy MX Nationals, rewarding Motorex KTM’s selection by scoring a first career 450 victory in moto two at Toowoomba.

The multiple-time MX2 runner-up had struggled to land an MX1 seat until 2013, when the new-look factory KTM effort signed him to race alongside title contender Todd Waters.

Since then Gibbs has gone on to podium at Broadford, Appin, Swan Hill and Toowoomba, elevating him to one of the classes elite aboard the 450 SX-F.

Gibbs’ runaway win in moto two after fending off an early challenge from series leader Matt Moss will be the platform he needs to challenge for wins consistently upon return next season.

“It feels great to get that first win,” Gibbs said. “Two holeshots helped today, you can’t start much better. In the second race the track got hard and it was slipperier than it looked. Strange, I didn’t feel like I went that hard in that one, I felt like I was pushing harder in the first.

“In the last laps of that second race, once I had a decent lead I was just saying to myself, ‘just don’t stuff up, get it to the finish’.”

Gibbs has worked closely with the Motorex KTM team throughout 2013, as well as his family, thankful for their support in his maiden 450 campaign.

“I really want to thank everybody involved,” he added. “My mechanic Kyle [Blunden], my mum and dad, and particularly KTM because a lot of teams never gave me the chance to ride a 450 and KTM gave me the opportunity when I needed it most.”

Following his success at Toowoomba, Gibbs sits fifth in the MX1 standings, just three points outside of the fourth position.