A DNF in moto two at Queensland Moto Park dashes the title hopes of reigning Penrite ProMX champion Aaron Tanti, with the chances of the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy rider retaining the MX1 championship this year over with one round to go.

Tanti entered the penultimate stop of the series 20 points down on red plate-holder Dean Ferris, outlining that QMP was ‘now or never’ in terms of making serious inroads on the points deficit.

The YZ450F rider underlined his intentions by qualifying fastest at round seven and finishing P2 in the top 10 shootout, but a tough opening lap in moto one left him with work to do, ultimately managing to take the checkered flag in P5

In moto two Tanti was clearly on a mission, taking to the lead and opening up an eight-second advantage, but tangled with a lapped rider and fell. The incident left him with a hole in his radiator and he was forced to retire from the race.

“Yesterday started off really good qualifying fastest,” Tanti told MotoOnline. “The first moto was a bit rough, I got a little tangled up off the start and had to claw my way back, but only managed to get back to fifth. I was struggling with a bit of bike setup and line selection and things like that.

“We turned it around for moto two though, we made some changes to the bike and I got off to a good start. I was riding my own race and felt really good, I was creeping away from them every lap and opened up an eight-second lead.

“I came into some lappers, I went to follow one into a rut and had another on my outside and he hit a line that cut back across the track and just t-boned me. The hit actually punched a hole in my radiator and I watched the coolant pour out. It’s upsetting because that moto was going to put me on the box and keep me in the title hunt, but now I’m fourth in points and only really have a chance at finishing third in the championship.”

Following the QMP misfortunate, Tanti is now fourth in the MX1 standings and 54 points from leader Ferris. That said, third place is within striking distance as he sits just five points back from KTM Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs ahead of the final round at Coolum this weekend.