Current MX2 championship leader Wilson Todd says he tried to crush the thought of wrapping up the title at Gladstone’s penultimate round of the Pirelli MX Nationals on Sunday, acknowledging a number of events would have to fall his way to gain a large enough advantage.

The Serco Yamaha ace needed to extend his points lead from 57 to 71 by the conclusion of the weekend’s racing, however his 6-1 scorecard for third overall saw him exit the central Queensland venue without making any ground on second and third’s Aaron Tanti (Complete Parts Kawasaki Racing) and Hamish Harwood (Davey Motorsport KTM).

“Although it was possible to win the championship today, I tried not to think about it and I knew a lot of things had to go my way for that to happen,” Todd explained. “So I just tried to ride the best I could and let the results take care of themselves. I got a great start in the first race and moved into the lead only to fall in a turn out the back.

“I pulled through to sixth which wasn’t grea,t but was good enough to get some points but I was also able to have a good look at the track and a few new lines for moto two. Moto two was better – I got another good start and was in front right away. I could see Jay behind me and tried to keep him at a safe distance.

“He put in a big charge on the last few laps, but I was able to hang on for the win and to finish up on the podium was pretty good. I will try and take the same mindset into the last round – I want to ride well as I like riding Coolum and there is always a good crowd and atmosphere there.”

Todd enters this weekend’s finale at Coolum in a vastly different situation to 2017, where he held a three-point advantage heading into the event before falling short of the title to Egan Mastin (KTM Motocross Racing Team) by five points.