News 17 May 2015

Race Feed: 2015 MX Nationals Rd4 Murray Bridge

A moto-by-moto account from Murray Bridge's fourth 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:
Riders took to the immaculately-prepared Murray Bridge circuit this morning for MX2 practice and qualifying first up, with defending champion Luke Clout claiming the top spot ahead of title rival Jay Wilson and Nathan Crawford, who is back from a shoulder injury this weekend. South Australians Luke Arbon and Riley Graham were fourth and fifth, with Caleb Ward returning for sixth after missing Broadford. The top 10 spots were filled by Taka Katsuya, Dylan Wills, Jack Simpson and Dean Porter.

Monster Energy MX1 qualifying:
NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Monea claimed the GoPro Super Pole in SA, his 1m40.092s a full two seconds quicker than Lawson Bopping in the second position and series leader Kirk Gibbs, third. Cody Cooper and Kade Mosig filled the top five slots, all in the 1m42s bracket. Behind the Super Pole starters, completing the top 10 results, was Dan Reardon, Dylan Long, Kale Makeham, Luke Styke and Ford Dale in a real mixture of talent across the field tat signifies the depth of this year’s series.

Pirelli MXD qualifying:
Red plate holder Wilson Todd was the best of the MXD field in this morning’s qualifying session for pole position, leading Jayden Rykers and Wayde Carter in the top three. Next up in fourth was Connor Tierney in position four, Bailey Coxon in fifth, then Zak Small, Joel Meikle, Jesse Madden, Jordan Hill and Kaleb Barham leading finishing the top 10.

Motul MX2 moto one:
KTM’s Caleb Ward took a breakthrough win in the opening 30-minute moto at Murray Bridge, working his way past early leader Geran Stapleton in the opening laps and then running away at the front. Second was Luke Arbon in what was also an improved performance from him this year, holding a fast-finishing Taka Katsuya at bay on the final lap, while Jay Wilson overcame a smoking YZ250F for fourth. Stapleton eventually crossed the line fifth, while Nathan Crawford, Kyle Webster, Wade Hunter, Jed Beaton and Luke Clout rounded out the top 10. Series points leader Clout was down the order after he went down heavily in qualifying earlier today.

Monster Energy MX1 moto one:
Kirk Gibbs led on the opening lap early before Dan Reardon took charge, but it was Gibbs who soon reclaimed the lead and went on to lead the entire moto for the victory. Reardon sat second until a few minutes remaining, when teammate Kade Mosig made his way through, bumping Reardon back to third. A late charge from Mosig saw him fall short of the victory, seeing Gibbs the winner from Mosig, Reardon, Adam Monea, Luke Styke, Dylan Long, Cody Cooper, Lawson Bopping, Jesse Dobson and local standout James Booth-Elliott.

Pirelli MXD moto one:
Wilson Todd extended his series lead with the opening moto win at Murray Bridge in MXD this afternoon, heading home Connor Tierney, who led during the moto and put an a major challenge on board his Husqvarna all the way to the finish line, and Jordan Hill, Jayden Rykers, and Wayde Carter, who was in the battle for a podium early continues his run of mid-season form. Filling out the top 10 placings were Jesse Madden, Zak Small, Bailey Coxon, Seigah Ward and Lachlan Davis.

Motul MX2 moto two:
It was privateer standout Riley Graham who led out of the blocks in moto two and maintained that position for a number of laps, before Luke Arbon took charge and led the mid-stages of the moto. Arbon came under fire from moto one winner Caleb Ward, who was able to work his way to the front in the final laps for the clean-sweep and overall victory. In the moto it was Ward the victor ahead of Arbon, Wade Hunter, Kyle Webster, Taka Katsuya, Dean Porter, Jay Wilson, Graham, Luke Clout and Geran Stapleton. Overall it was Ward with the sweep, from Arbon and Katsuya in yet another consistent podium finish.

Monster Energy MX1 moto two:
The final moto victory in the premier class went to Super Pole winner Adam Monea, who was able to make his way past Kirk Gibbs in the middle stages of the moto and controlled it from there. In the end Monea won the race from Gibbs, whose second place was good enough to secure the overall win. Third for the moto and overall for the round was Dan Reardon, while Lawson Bopping and Jesse Dobson filled the top five places in moto two this afternoon. Positions six through 10 featured Kade Mosig after he went down in the whoops, Luke Styke, Dylan Long, John Phillips and Aaron Tanti.

Pirelli MXD moto two:
Moto two of the MXD class went to Connor Tierney in another strong showing for the round, leading second-placed Jayden Rykers and Jesse Madden in an improved second moto. Jordan Hill raced to fourth and Wayde Carter fifth, while the top 10 was rounded out by Zak Small, Bailey Coxon, Ryan Shadbolt, Jonte Reynders and Lachlan Holroyd. Overall it was Tierney from Rykers and Hill.

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