News 12 Apr 2015

Race Feed: 2015 MX Nationals Rd2 Appin

A moto-by-moto account from Appin's second round.

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.

Image: Jeff Crow.

Image: Jeff Crow.

Motul MX2 qualifying:
Luke Clout claimed the pole position in MX2 with a 1m52.858s lap, almost a full three seconds faster than Jay Wilson, with Rhys Carter third. The track started out reasonably muddy but soon started tacking up with lines forming, which will have it near perfect come time for the motos. Completing the top five was Caleb Ward and Taka Katsuya, while Dylan Wills, Hamish Harwood, red plate holder Jed Beaton, Wade Hunter and Nathan Crawford completed the top 10. Notable names further down the order included Luke Arbon (11th), Geran Stapleton (16th), Jack Simpson (22nd) and Keiron Hall (31st) in his return to the nationals.

Monster Energy MX1 qualifying:
Series leader Kirk Gibbs continued his dominance in the MX1 qualifying session, topping the session by 2.3 seconds with a 1m48.032s before he was joined by top five placers Lawson Bopping, Jesse Dobson, Kale Makeham and Adam Monea in GoPro Super Pole – the big news again that Matt Moss missed a top five spot. In Super Pole it was Gibbs again who posted the fastest lap, trailed by a charging Monea, Bopping, Makeham and Dobson. Completing the top 10 was Cody Cooper, Moss, Luke Styke, Kade Mosig and Ford Dale. Kiwi John Phillips was 11th, just ahead of Dan Reardon, Dylan Long and Daniel McCoy following.

Pirelli MXD qualifying:
Wilson Todd was the fastest of the Under 19s in qualifying with a 1m58.350s best lap, followed by Jayden Rykers – the pair being the lone riders beneath the 2m00s bracket during the session. Behind them was Bailey Coxon, Kaleb Barham and Jesse Madden inside the top five. Championship leader Jordan Hill – winner of the one moto at Horsham – was sixth to start this weekend, with Jonte Reynders, Connor Tierney, Wayde Carter and Zak Small rounding out the top 10.

Motul MX2 moto one:
Jay Wilson claimed an inspired opening moto victory for JCR Yamaha, fending off defending champion Luke Clout in the closing laps to open his account for the year. Wilson led early before Clout made his way through, however he soon stalled and allowed Wilson back in front. From there over the final laps it was a tight battle for victory, but Wilson was able to remain composed and stretch a slight advantage in the closing two laps for the moto. Behind them, Nathan Crawford rebounded from two early crashes for third, while Jed Beaton made his way through the pack from well back to fourth. Kiwi Rhys Carter was next best in fifth with a consistent effort, trailed by Hamish Harwood, Dylan Wills was was third early before a light crash, Wade Hunter, an impressive Dylan Gosling and Taka Katusya, who came from the rear of the field to 10th. It was a disastrous moto for title threat Caleb Ward, who pulled out of the moto in the opening laps.

Monster Energy MX1 moto one:
A dramatic start to the opening premier class moto saw reigning number one plate holder Matt Moss go down in the first turn, out of the race and transported to hospital for scans after undergoing treatment from Suzuki RACESAFE. The win eventually went to Kade Mosig in another strong showing for CDR, finishing near four seconds ahead of Luke Styke and Kirk Gibbs, a further two seconds back. Gibbs put in an exceptional performance to come from the rear of the field for third after he too was caught up in the first turn incident. Fourth was teenager Jesse Dobson on his Husqvarna, while longtime leader Lawson Bopping was forced to settle for fifth at the close of the moto. Completing the top 10 were Dan Reardon, Dylan Long, Adam Monea, Cody Cooper and Kale Makeham, who was also a fast starter.

Pirelli MXD moto one:
Kaleb Barhem won his first-career MXD moto in a charging performance, finishing nine seconds ahead of Jesse Madden and Wilson Todd, who was a further 30 seconds on a technical and commanding circuit this afternoon at Appin. Bailey Coxon and Toby Stevens were in fourth and fifth at the end of the moto, while Connor Tierney, Zak Small, Jordan Hill, Blake Parker and Lachlan Davis rounded out the top 10. Horsham round winner Jordan Hill was eighth, while Jayden Rykers who was second in qualifying earlier today ended up 35th after a difficult moto.

Motul MX2 moto two:
An incredible second moto went to Luke Clout, who shadowed Jay Wilson for much of the moto before overtaking him in the final laps for the race and overall victory – his second consecutive at Appin. The win sees Clout regain the red plate, after Jed Beaton had another bad start to end up sixth this time around. Completing the race podium was Taka Katsuya in yet another convincing performance, with Nathan Crawford and Wade Hunter filling the top five positions. Behind sixth-placed Beaton was fast-starter Rhys Carter, Dylan Wills, Dylan Leary in his best result of the season to date and Hamish Harwood. Caleb Ward was a non-starter after exiting moto one, due to undergo scans on a knee injury next week. Overall it was Clout the victor from Wilson and Crawford.

Monster Energy MX1 moto two:
The second MX1 moto was all Dan Reardon at the front, dominating from the outset to hold Kirk Gibbs at bay for his first race win upon return to racing. Behind Reardon and Gibbs was the ever-consistent Luke Styke third, while fourth for Reardon’s CDR Yamaha teammate Kade Mosig secured him the overall round win. Fifth was Jesse Dobson in another exceptional ride for the round, trailed by Lawson Bopping, Kale Makeham, Adam Monea, Dylan Long and Cody Cooper the top 10. The overall podium eventually resulted in Mosig with the overall from Gibbs, who got the better of teammate Styke on countback – the same trio that were on the podium at Horsham a fortnight ago!

Pirelli MXD moto two:
GYTR Yamaha rider Wilson Todd won the second MXD moto by 12 seconds ahead of Toby Stevens and Connor Tierney, while Ryan Shadbolt and Jonte Reynders completed the top five for the moto. Positions sixth through 10th belonged to Jayden Rykers, Bailey Coxon, Joel Meikle, Jesse Madden and Zak Small. Overall the round victory went to Todd, who took charge of the championship leader’s red plate in the process. Behind him in second this weekend on the podium was Stevens and Tierney in third – the same trio in that order for the standings.

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