Yamaha Motor Australia press release:

It’s been eight rounds in the making but Serco Yamaha’s Nathan Crawford has finally made it to the top step of the podium at round eight of the 2019 MX Nationals.
Crawford has been on a slow build since returning to racing after all but missing the 2018 season due to injury, but the last few rounds have seen the 21 year old Queenslander getting back to his best form and become a podium regular again in the MX2 category (250cc) but he hadn’t quite hit the top of the box, until now.

Racing at Moree, in north western NSW, Crawford finished the shortened race day with 2-1 results in the back to back sprint motos before the final 20 minute race scheduled for the afternoon was cancelled due to the overload on the medical team at the track and in town.

But there was no denying Crawford and he was elated to break his winning draught and take a round victory for the first time since April 2018.

“Since the half way break, things have been going really well and my riding has progressed back to where I believe it should be,” Nathan explains. “I have been on or around the podium since then and been in contention for every moto and that’s what it takes to race for championships at a professional level.

“Today I had to work for it as there were bikes going everywhere at the start of moto one, then in moto two, all the top riders were inside the top five and I was able to get through for the win.

“The championship is still a long shot with two rounds to go but I will keep charging to the very end and try and win every race I go in and see where it puts me,” Crawford ends.

For team mate Aaron Tanti has frustrating run of fourth place round finishes continues. Tanti has a streak of fourth places finishes which for many riders would be a great result, but Tanti has had enough and wants to be on the podium.

He finished in fourth place in both motos and was tied for third for the day with Wilson Todd, but Todd had the stronger finish in the second moto and therefore gets awarded third.

“I am sick of fourth place and not getting on the podium. The last three rounds I have been in fourth and missed out on the podium which also means I’m missing out on money. I feel like I have been riding well and been really consistent the while championship, but I just haven’t been able to break through and get a race win which really kicks in the big points.

“We have two rounds remaining and that’s two opportunities to get on the podium. The championship is out of reach for me so there’s nothing to lose and I’m all in for Coolum,” he says determinedly.

The final weekend of the MX Nationals hits the black sand of Coolum, on the Sunshine Coast this weekend and the MX2 championship is well and truly up for grabs. 53 points separate the top four riders and with 140 points on offer, it is sure to be an intense weekend of racing that will see a full round of action on both Saturday and Sunday.