Australasia’s top motocross riders are all keenly looking forward to the first major track surface change of the season in Australia’s Monster Energy MX Nationals series with the famous Victorian sand track of Wonthaggi this weekend.

Not far from another famous motor racing circuit, that of superbikes venue Phillip Island, Wonthaggi promises a tough workout, as the soft surface gives way to energy-sapping bumps and whoops.

Husqvarna’s newly-crowned Queensland motocross champions Brock Winston (MX1, pictured here) and Nick Sutherland (MX2) have particular reason for increased confidence, then new titles having come from mastery of the Coolum sand track on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Kiwi Kayne Lamont – currently ranked fourth in the MX2 standings – also loves a day at the beach and the dominant force in the MX2 class at round one is nearing full fitness after an early season troubled by his requiring emergency surgery to remove his appendix.

Fellow New Zealanders Rhys Carter (6th in MX1), Brad Groombridge (12th in MX1), Cody Cooper (MX1), Hamish Harwood (2nd in MX2) and Hamish Dobbyn (13th in MX2) will also prefer the sandy surface of Wonthaggi.

New Zealand MX1 champion Cooper crashed out of round one and required facial surgery after a marker post speared through the eye space in his helmet, shattering his eye socket. He is expected to line up to race this weekend.

“I can’t wait to get out there and actually get a race under my belt,” Cooper said. “It has been really tough sitting out the past two rounds. The doctors here in New Zealand have cleared me to race and I have been riding at home for the past few days.

“I feel pretty good, the niggling thing is my finger, which still gets a bit sore towards the end of a session. The Wonthaggi track always provides some great racing, it has good soil and there are a lot of passing opportunities.”

Husqvarna team manager Craig Anderson was in a positive frame of mind ahead of the weekend.

“I think Nick and Brock will have a lot more confidence after Coolum, being close to the terrain that Wonthaggi is. But it’s easy to get ahead of yourself, so we’ll just try to keep the ball rolling. Wonthaggi will be tough, both with the track and because it’s usually cold and windy there, where you get that southern breeze right off the ocean.”

Winston (FC450 – MX1) said he was looking forward to the racing.

“I’ve been to Wonthaggi a couple of times. I like that track more than the first two, and I’m looking forward to it. I rested up after the Queensland titles because I had a decent crash there at the end, and now I’m down at Ando’s to test a new engine for the race bike. We just moved the power spread around a little bit and hopefully now I’ll get off the line better. If I can keep moving forward this weekend, I’ll be happy.”

Lamont (TX250 – MX2) was also in a positive mood.

“Things are looking a bit better for me now, I’ve been able to get on the bike more in this week than any other during the series. I’ve also worked a bit with my trainer so I’m confident coming in to Wonthaggi and have high expectations, hoping for a repeat of round one. Plus, I like riding the sand so I’m looking forward to both Wonthaggi and Murray Bridge. I think the body is only about a week or two from being completely back to normal so I can’t wait to get back to my routine.”

Monster Energy standings after two rounds:

MX1:

1. Matt Moss 173, 2. Kirk Gibbs 153, 3. Adam Monea 140, 4. Jake Moss 139, 5. Billy MacKenzie 125, 6. Kade Mosig 120, 7. Rhys Carter 120, 8. Jay Marmont 115, 9. Hayden Mellross 114, 10. Jacob Wright 105, 11. Brock Winston 99

MX2:

1. Luke Clout 146, 2. Hamish Harwood 132, 3. Brenden Harrison 130, 4. Kayne Lamont 127, 5. Kale Makeham 121, 6. Ryan Marmont 115, 7. Wade Hunter 114, 8. Jay Wilson 104, 9. Nick Scott 97, 10. Daniel McCoy 91, 11. Caleb Ward 90, 12. Errol Willis 89, 13. Hamish Dobbyn 89, 14. Luke Arbon 86, 15. Nick Sutherland 79

MX Development:

1. Jed Beaton 156, 2. Egan Mastin 155, 3. Jack Simpson 152, 4. Nathan Crawford 145, 5. Wilson Todd 125, 6. Jayden Rykers 106, 7. Brock McLeary 101, 8. Jarrod Kelly 96, 9. Jesse McNally 95, 10. Kyle Webster 90

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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