The fourth round of 10 in this season’s Australian Motocross Championships is fast approaching and it is perhaps time for title hopefuls to make an impact before the class leaders get too far out of reach.

Yamaha’s Dean Ferris leads defending champion KTM’s Kirk Gibbs by just one point in the premier MX1 class, while Suzuki’s Todd Waters is third and just seven points further back. Former champion Matt Moss completes the top four, only another five points behind Waters, so it will be all on next weekend at Murray Bridge.

New Zealand’s Michael Menchi is 11th overall in the MX1 standings.

It is tight at the top also in the MX2 class, with just 11 points to separate the top four – Jed Beaton, Nathan Crawford, Luke Arbon and Jake Moss respectively.

New Zealand’s Hamish Harwood (pictured above) is the sole Kiwi in the MX2 championships and he is currently 11th overall in the class, 48 points adrift of leader Beaton, the rider he beat to take the New Zealand MX2 crown earlier this year.

Murray Bridge in South Australia has long been a favourite destination of Australia’s Motocross Championships, the Motul MX Nationals, and in 2016, the partnership with the series and the local council is set to continue with The Rural City of Murray Bridge Council confirming their support of round four.

After a number of years visiting the iconic venue in South Australia, the council has continued to recognise the huge economic impact that the Motul MX Nationals has on the region and the local community, and will welcome back the series once again on Sunday, May 22.

Mayor of the Rural City of Murray Bridge, Brenton Lewis spoke of the council’s support of the MX Nationals series again this year, and is looking forward to its return.

“It is fantastic to see the return of this event (the Motul MX Nationals) which has been successfully held at our magnificent site at Monarto for the past two years,” said Mayor Lewis.

“It’s events such as these that promotes our region as the Regional Events Capital in South Australia.

“I have no doubt that with the growing popularity of motocross around the country, that this event will embrace the qualities of competitiveness, sportsmanship and friendship.

“The Rural City of Murray Bridge has a proud history of hosting and producing world class sporting events and the 2016 Motul MX Nationals is no exception.”

With the continuation of council support, Motul MX Nationals Series Promoter Kevin Williams shared that he’s once again looking forward to making the trip back to Murray Bridge in South Australia.

“Murray Bridge has always been a favourite venue of the series, so to have the Rural City of Murray Bridge Council’s backing once again this year is very exciting,” he said.

“The Motul MX Nationals has grown to a point where one single visit can inject more than a quarter of a million dollars into the local economy, and we expect that Murray Bridge will be able to capitalise on our visit.

“Through our live streaming service NRGTV, and our digital magazine Inside Dirt, Murray Bridge is showcased on the world stage. Last year alone we reached more than a quarter of a million people in 135 different countries, which is a fantastic opportunity for regional areas where our events are held.

“The team and I at the Motul MX Nationals are committed to creating long standing partnerships, and are pleased that through the series, we can provide significant opportunities to increase growth in rural areas including Murray Bridge in 2016.”

Thor MX1 Championship Standings After Round 3 of 10

1. Dean Ferris – 190 Pts
2. Kirk Gibbs – 189 Pts
3. Todd Waters – 182 Pts
4. Matt Moss – 177 Pts
5. Brett Metcalfe – 165 Pts
6. Daniel Reardon – 146 Pts
7. Dylan Long – 139 Pts
8. Jay Wilson – 133 Pts
9. Kade Mosig – 130 Pts
10. Jacob Wright – 106 Pts
11. Michael Menchi – 104 Pts
12. Kurt Wightman – 98 Pts
13. Daniel Banks – 93 Pts
14. Matthew Toth – 89 Pts
15. Lawson Bopping – 85 Pts
16. Michael Mahon – 84 Pts
17. Izak Maule – 67 Pts
18. Jesse Dobson – 57 Pts
19. Joel Milesevic – 53 Pts
20. James Alen – 52 Pts

Motul MX2 Championship Standings After Round 3 of 10

1. Jed Beaton – 172 Pts
2. Nathan Crawford – 169 Pts
3. Luke Arbon – 161 Pts
4. Jake Moss – 161 Pts
5. Wilson Todd – 148 Pts
6. Jayden Rykers – 144 Pts
7. Caleb Ward – 142 Pts
8. Kyle Webster – 138 Pts
9. Kale Makeham – 134 Pts
10. Wade Hunter – 130 Pts
11. Hamish Harwood – 124 Pts
12. Dylan Wills – 124 Pts
13. Richie Evans – 121 Pts
14. Joel Wightman – 112 Pts
15. Dean Porter – 103 Pts
16. Aaron Tanti – 84 Pts
17. Kurt Gow – 79 Pts
18. Ricky Latimer – 71 Pts
19. Nick Sutherland – 55 Pts
20. Josh Adams – 44 Pts

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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