Everything seems to be falling into place at the moment for New Zealand’s Kayne Lamont.

The BikesportNZ.com-supported rider from Mangakino, near Taupo, won the weekend’s third round of 10 in the Australian Motocross Championships, topping the podium in the fiercely-fought MX Development Under-19 class.

Lamont raced a KTM 250 SX two-stroke for the first time, having only collected the bike earlier in the week, but the 18-year-old adapted quickly and his consistent 2-1-7 results have kept him well in contention for the Australian national title.

“I’m really enjoying the new power of the two-stroke and it seems to get good starts – except for the last race,” Lamont said after switching from a four-stroke recently.

“Qualifying went well for me. I was fourth fastest with two laps to go and then I put in a fast one and ended up qualifying fastest. Having the first gate pick helped a lot.

“The track was quite similar to Whakatane … the sand perhaps just a bit deeper.

“I had a moment in the first race and crashed, dropping to eighth. I got up to second.

“In race two I got the holeshot and led from start to finish to win it.

“In the third race I was 25th through the first turn and got back into the top 10, finishing seventh, so it was a good result.”

Yamaha’s Sam Martin raced to his second podium of the year, finishing second overall after winning race two, edging out another KTM rider in Kale Makeham for that position on the podium.

Series leader Dylan Long (KTM) won the final moto and took fifth overall for the day to hold onto the leader’s red number plate, one position behind round-two winner Dylan Leary (KTM).

It is tight at the top with Lamont now just 13 points off the lead.

“I’ve caught up a lot of points now after a disastrous second round (when he ended the day down in eighth position). Bad starts cost me at round two but I’m much happier on the two-stroke.”

The series will next head west to Wanneroo in Western Australia on May 12-13 for the fourth round of 10 in the championship.

Lamont will remain in Melbourne and practice ahead of the Wanneroo round.

“I really want to thank the Cachia family for looking after me and to Cannon Smith of the CMR Red Bull KTM Team who made everything happen.”

 
MXD Under-19 Overall Results:
1. Kayne Lamont (NZ) 61
2. Sam Martin 57
3. Kale Makeham 56
4. Dylan Leary 53
5. Dylan Long 44
6. Ben George 43
7. Joel Milesevic 39
8. Jay Wilson 39
9. John Phillips (NZ) 36
10. Mitch Budd 36

Also: 16th Dion Picard (NZ) 16 points; 23rd Micah McGoldrick (NZ) 5.

MXD Under-19 Championship Standings (after 3 of 10 rounds):
1. Dylan Long 168
2. Sam Martin 157
3. Dylan leary 157
4. Kayne Lamont (NZ) 155
5. Kale Makeham 152
6. Joel Milesevic 131
7. Jay Wilson 128
8. Mitch Norris 123
9. Mitch Budd 90
10. Dylan Wills 87

Also: 13th Dion Picard (NZ) 68 points; 14th John Phillips (NZ) 63; 21st Micah McGoldrick (NZ) 28.

Photo courtesy Simon Makker/Makkreative.com