A moto-by-moto account from Horsham's Australian Motocross opener.
Race Feed will compliment our Livestream posts in 2015, for those who can’t follow it throughout the day. All you have to do is refresh this page as the MX1, MX2 and MXD motos pass by. But remember, this feature depends on the availability of internet coverage at the circuit – something we haven’t always been able to rely on in recent seasons. If we disappear, that’s why! Either way, we’ll log our brief reports and upload as soon as we can.
Motul MX2 qualifying:
Jed Beaton’s debut in the MX2 ranks came with the first pole position of 2015, leading Serco Yamaha teammate Luke Clout and top of the two-strokes, Dylan Wills in a solid third overall. The top 10 was completed by Jay Wilson, Rhys Carter, Caleb Ward, Hamish Harwood, Wade Hunter, Takeshi Katsuya and Nathan Crowford.
Monster Energy MX1 qualifying:
Lawson Bopping led the way in regular qualifying, but after the top five GoPro Super Pole was complete it was Ford Dale on pole for Penrite Honda to score the first points lead of the season ahead of Kirk Gibbs, Lawson Bopping, Kade Mosig and Dan Reardon in his first appearance for CDR. The top 10, riders outside of Super Pole, was completed by Matt Moss, Luke Styke, Adam Monea, Cody Cooper and Dylan Long.
Pirelli MXD qualifying:
In his first MXD appearance for GYTR Yamaha, Mitch Evans qualified fastest with a time that would have put him seventh in MX2, leading teammate Wilson Todd, Jayden Rykers, Wayde Carter, Dylan Wilson, Jordan Hill, Toby Stevens, Zak Small, Bailey Coxon and Joel Meikle.
Motul MX2 moto one:
Moto one of the MX2 class delivered, eventually won by defending champion Clout in a huge statement to start his title defence. Clout won the moto despite crashing at one point, winning ahead of veteran Kawasaki pilot Katsuya, class rookie Beaton, newly-crowned New Zealand MX2 Champion Wilson, Nathan Crawford, Riley Graham who led the race early on, Dylan Wills, Wade Hunter, Carter and Geran Stapleton.
Monster Energy MX1 moto one:
Gibbs won the opening MX1 moto ahead of teammate Styke in a dominant 1-2 for KTM, while the race behind them was a mega one to kick-off the season. Mosig worked his way into position to finish third after overcoming Bopping, while fifth was Reardon in an impressive comeback to the nationals – tangling with Monea on the opening lap and then working his way through the field to the very end of he moto. Sixth was Kiwi champion Cooper, while Monea made a late move on the fast-starting Long for position seven. Behind Long top complete the top 10 was Dale after a mid-moto incident and McCoy. It was a disastrous start for Team Motul Suzuki as both Kale Makeham and Moss had troubles in the early laps, eventually rebounding to 11th and 14th respectively. Fill-in Kawasaki factory rider John Phillips was a non-starter.
Pirelli MXD moto one:
New South Wales newcomer Jordan Hill won the first MXD race of the year, comfortably ahead of Dylan Wilson, who crashed while leading early on and fought back to second, and Rykers in third. Todd was first of the factory GYTR Yamahas in fourth, while teammate Mitch Evans crashed and was ruled out on his debut. Carter charged to fifth from the rear of the pack in a stunning ride, while Trent Wheatley, Toby Stevens, Jonte Reynders, Bailey Coxon and Connor Tierney filled the top 10.
Motul MX2 moto two:
Rookie talent Beaton dominated moto number two for the round, heading Serco Yamaha teammate Luke Clout in the 20-minute moto, however the latter was docked 10 seconds for cutting the circuit according to race officials, demoting him to position four. That moved Wilson up to second in the moto, while Katsuya was again strong for third. Caleb Ward improved to fifth in race two after a troublesome opening affair earlier today, leading Crawford, Arbon, Hunter, Wills and Carter inside the top 10. Overall it was Beaton the victor on debut from Clout and Katsuya.
Monster Energy MX1 moto two:
KTM’s Gibbs made it a double to open the 2015 season, winning both motos and the overall for an early championship lead exiting Horsham. Gibbs won the second moto ahead of the fast-finishing Mosig, whose fitness was highlighted in the closing laps, while Cody Cooper took advantage of a holeshot to finish third this time out. Behind the leading trio, Bopping and Styke were in positions four and five, while Monea moved to sixth despite crashing in the first turn on the opening lap! Long, Dale, Cheyne Boyd and Jesse Dobson rounded out the top 10. The big news was defending champion Moss’ unfortunate result of 14th and a lap down – a major dent in his title defence this early in the season. Reardon was a non-finisher with what looked to be bike troubles.
Pirelli MXD moto two:
Race declared following critical incident. Further information will be shared via the website or social media when available.