KTM Motocross Racing Team duo Gibbs and Clout round out the podium.
Image: Marc Jones (Foremost Media).
CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team’s Dean Ferris has strengthened his points lead and continued his dominance in the Pirelli MX Nationals, clinching two commanding race victories at Appin’s second round of the series in New South Wales today.
After missing out on Super Pole earlier this morning and qualifying an uncharacteristic sixth, defending champion Ferris got out front early in MX1 moto one and that’s where he remained.
Ferris came under pressure early from Super Pole winner Brett Metcalfe (Penrite Honda Racing), however eventually etched away to a 16.334s victory from a fast-finishing Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team) and Metcalfe, who was passed on the final turn – the difference between them just 0.007s at race’s end.
Fourth was Dylan Long (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team), comfortably ahead of Luke Clout (KTM Motocross Racing Team) and Kade Mosig (DPH Motorsport Husqvarna), who got the better of Kiwi Rhys Carter (Complete Parts Kawasaki Racing), directly ahead of newcomer Caleb Ward (Davey Motorsports Husqvarna).
Another rookie in Mitch Evans (Raceline Pirelli KTM) crashed heavily on the opening lap, but clawed his was back to salvage ninth, with Connor Tierney (Yamaha) rounding out the top 10.
The second of the premier class motos was stopped around 10 minutes in when Lachlan Davis went down, restarted in staggered form with Clout at the head of the pack. Behind him though was Ferris, who again shadowed the talented Clout in his home round and made his move count as the laps ticked down.
From there Ferris sprinted away to a 10.366s win, ahead of Clout and the impressive Long, completing the race podium, narrowly ahead of Gibbs – again pushing to the end – by only 0.015s. Gibbs again got the better of Metcalfe for position in fourth and fifth, as the top 10 places were filled by Ward, Carter, Mosig, Tierney and Evans.
Overall on the podium it was Ferris who increased his advantage in the points atop the podium, leading Gibbs and Clout in a rewarding home podium for the Sydney-based factory KTM organisation. The MX Nationals will now head to Wonthaggi in Victoria for the third round of the series on 19-20 May, marking the first double-header of the year.
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