It looks like it could be Kiwi champions two years in a row across the Tasman after the latest round of the Australian Motocross Championships at Swan Hill, Victoria, at the weekend.

The eighth round of 10 in the Australian Motocross Championships on Sunday saw Matt Moss, Luke Styke and Hamish Harwood emerge as the big winners and, while most consider the MX1 and MX2 classes the prime concerns, New Zealand interest is also high in the MX Development (Under-19) class.

Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont won the MXD title in Australia last season and this year it could be heading the way of Takaka’s Harwood after the young KTM rider produced another stunning display of riding on Sunday.

Suzuki’s Moss claimed victory in the Monster Energy MX1 ranks, extending his series lead to 11 points in the process with just two rounds remaining. The win marked Moss’ third of the season to date.

Moss won both 30-minute motos at Swan Hill for the overall, heading home title rival Todd Waters (Motorex KTM) on both occasions. Waters challenged Moss in the first outing, before being forced to recover from a poor start in the second as he climbed to the runner-up position.

Completing the podium was Waters’ team-mate Kirk Gibbs, the South Australian finishing third in both motos. Internationals Billy Mackenzie (CDR Yamaha) and Gareth Swanepoel (Carlton Dry Honda) were fourth and fifth respectively.

New Zealand’s Cody Cooper (Suzuki) finished the day seventh overall in the MX1 class and he remains fourth in the championship standings.

Yamaha’s Styke continued his march toward the MX2 class title with his seventh overall win of the season, coming via a commending 1-1 result at Swan Hill. Now 103 points ahead of the field, he’s on track to clinch the title with one round to spare.

A pair of KTM two-strokes joined Styke on the podium, with Brock Winston (Choice Motorsports KTM) second and Kale Makeham (Tune Tech KTM) third. Makeham was on par for the runner-up until he experienced a deflating tyre during moto two.

Another rookie in Dylan Long (KTM) claimed a season-best fourth, while experienced former national champion Ryan Marmont (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) raced to fifth.

Kiwi riders and soon-to-be Motocross of Nations team-mates Rhys Carter and Kayne Lamont finished the day sixth equal overall in MX2. They are ranked eighth and tenth respectively in the standings.

MXD class leader Harwood (CMR Red Bull KTM) extended his lead in the competition, going 1-3 for the overall. Behind Harwood was Hervey Bay winner Jay Wilson (GYTR Yamaha).

Completing the podium was Crazy Dogs Kawasaki’s Jesse Dobson, who was eighth in moto one, but broke through to win the second Under 19s race of the weekend. Harwood now enjoys a commanding 37-point lead over early leader Jack Simpson (KTM), who finished fourth overall.

The Monster Energy MX Nationals will resume when Toowoomba, Queensland, returns to the national calendar with the penultimate round on Sunday, August 25.

 

MX1 overall results:

1. Matt Moss 75

2. Todd Waters 66

3. Kirk Gibbs 64

4. Billy Mackenzie 56

5. Gareth Swanepoel 51

6. Jay Marmont 47

7. Cody Cooper 47

8. Cheyne Boyd 46

9. Jake Moss 45

10. Sam Martin 45

 

MX1 championship standings (round eight of 10):

1. Matt Moss 511

2. Todd Waters 500

3. Billy Mackenzie 461

4. Cody Cooper 429

5. Lawson Bopping 407

6. Kirk Gibbs 407

7. Jake Moss 388

8. Jay Marmont 333

9. Adam Monea 323

10. Tye Simmonds 273

 

MX2 overall results:

1. Luke Styke 70

2. Brock Winston 60

3. Kale Makeham 58

4. Dylan Long 57

5. Ryan Marmont 52

6. Rhys Carter 51

7. Kayne Lamont 51

8. GeranStapleton 45

9. Takeshi Katsuya 44

10. Beau Ralston 44

 

MX2 championship standings (round eight of 10):

1. Luke Styke 543

2. Kale Makeham 440

3. Brock Winston 414

4. Ryan Marmont 349

5. Geran Stapleton 349

6. Dylan Long 331

7. Takeshi Katsuya 324

8. Rhys Carter 306

9. Josh Cachia 305

10. Kayne Lamont 298

 

MXD (Under-19) overall results:

1. Hamish Harwood 65

2. Jay Wilson 62

3. Jesse Dobson 58

4. Jack Simpson 56

5. Joel Wightman 50

6. Jake Emanuelli 50

7. Dylan Wills 48

8. Corey James 48

9. Joel Dinsdale 45

10. Nathan Trigg 43

 

MXD (under-19) championship standings (round six of eight):

1. Hamish Harwood   372

2. Jack Simpson   335

3. Jay Wilson   319

4. Jesse Dobson   302

5. Joel Dinsdale   301

6. Corey James   276

7. Joel Wightman   271

8. Logan Blackburn   237

9. Jake Emanuelli   230

10. Dakota Court   192