Emerging Yamalube Yamaha Racing MX2 talent Alex Larwood put on an impressive display at Wonthaggi, keeping double champion Wilson Todd under pressure in each moto and gaining a confidence boost from the opening round.

Larwood, 18, made the switch from the WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha team for 2022, and highlighted his potential 2-2 results and second overall on Sunday, notably finishing within 1.2 seconds of Todd – who has returned from Europe – in both outings.

“I have been told before by Ross [Beaton], if I can get onto the back of him [Wilson Todd] and just stay with him, I might be able to put some pressure on him,” Larwood told MotoOnline. “He rode really well on the weekend.

“I was really happy with myself and the team were really happy with how I could stick with Wilson for virtually the whole moto, and the most gap I got between him and myself I think was 1.5 seconds. I was really chuffed to keep a really consistent gap, not let him get away.”

In both races, Todd got the holeshot while Larwood had to work his way up from as low as seventh to within a second of Todd at times. To Todd’s credit, he handled the constant pressure near faultlessly, not giving Larwood a chance to make a move.

“I feel like we are pretty identical in speed – he might be better at some rounds or I might even, but you never know,” Larwood added. “I feel like I could make a pass if I was there and if I feel like I am a little bit faster, but at the moment I feel like I am in a good spot and can’t really complain about it.

“My goal for this season is mainly to be really consistent and try to get on the podium every round. I’m not putting a lot of pressure on myself to be ‘right I need to try and when all these races’. I just want to be really consistent at each race and aim for top three’s and if not, top five’s at each round.”