For the first time in three years, South Australia and the Gillman MRA Club welcomed professional motocross racing back to the incredible venue, as they hosted four of the 2022 Australian ProMX Championships.
In what could only be described as a riders’ dream race track, the rain leading into the event combined with the sandy surface to create incredible conditions, allowing close battles and amazing on track action.
MX1 CLASS
Once again the MX1 class field came into round four with everything to play for with just one point separating the leader’s red plate holder of Husqvarna Australia’s Todd Waters and CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Aaron Tanti.
Tanti sent a message to the field in the morning claiming the fastest time in the AMX Superstores Top Ten Pole Shootout.
In the opening MX1 moto, it was South Australian Motocross legend Brett Metcalfe on the GO24 KTM who took the holeshot to the delight of the hometown fans. Dean Ferris on the HRC Honda Factory Racing machine quickly mounted an attack, passing into the lead in turn three of the opening lap.
As the field settled into track position, Metcalfe made his intentions to the hometown crowd clear, passing Ferris back for first place. Metcalfe proceeded to shift another gear and check out from the MX1 field.
Ferris began to shuffle back through the field, with Tanti moving to second, KTM Australia’s Kirk Gibbs moving to third and setting his sights on Tanti.
The cluster of MX1 superstars remained in this procession, with Ferris in 4th and Waters in 5th for the majority of the opening moto.
Towards the end, Waters would pass Ferris for fourth as Metcalfe took the win at the chequered flag, with Tanti second and Gibbs in third.
Ferris rocketed out of the gate to the holeshot in race two before Aaron Tanti passed for the lead in the opening lap.
As Tanti established a strong track position out front, Ferris and Metcalfe ran in formation for 15 minutes with Metcalfe mounting attack after attack on Ferris without success.
With six minutes to go, Metcalfe finally made the pass stick on Ferris into second position and set his sights on Tanti.
A lap later, Gibbs made the pass on Ferris into third and also joined the battle for the lead.
A game of cat and mouse would ensue in the final two laps as Metcalfe would attack Tanti and then Gibbs tried to counter Metcalfe. Down the stretch it was Tanti who rode flawlessly and did not crack under relentless pressure to take the win with Metcalfe in second and Gibbs in third.
Ferris and Waters rounded out the top five positions.
Tanti took the overall win for the round with 2-1 moto scores and also the coveted MX1 plate. Metcalfe matched points with Tanti but claimed second overall on the count-back with Gibbs third overall.
MX1 Overall:
1st – Aaron Tanti
2nd – Brett Metcalfe
3rd – Kirk Gibbs
MX2 CLASS
Honda’s Wilson Todd (pictured above) had a point to prove at Gillman after conceding his first loss of the season at the previous Round in Wodonga and this was evident from the very first time the MX2 class riders hit the track.
Taking out the fastest qualifying time in the MX2 qualifying session, Todd capitalised on great track position in race one to dominate every lap of the moto en route to the chequered flag and the moto win.
Behind Todd, Empire Kawasaki’s Haruki Yokoyama battled up front early as Serco Yamaha’s Bailey Malkiewicz crashed out of the moto at the end of lap one in spectacular fashion.
The Yamalube Yamaha mounted team-mates of Alex Larwood and Rhys Budd moved consistently towards the front, with SA local Larwood in second and Budd third at the finish.
Ride Red Honda’s Liam Andrews rode to another impressive performance in 4th position with the WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha Rider Ryder Kingsford charging from a bad start back to 5th position.
Race two saw Yokoyama holeshot and lead on lap one before a freight train of Budd and Gas Gas Australia’s Noah Ferguson battled past Yokoyama, as the pair fought hard for the lead position in the opening laps.
Todd mounted a clinical attack on the MX2 field, clawing through from a bad start to pass into the lead position at the halfway point.
As the race progressed, Todd decimated the field by extending a huge lead by the chequered flag. Budd and Ferguson continued their epic battle all the way to the finish, with Budd just pinching second position at the flag.
Ferguson finished third, with Ryder Kingsford fourth and Jesse Dobson on the Serco Yamaha in fifth.
In the overall standings, Todd took maximum points to the overall win with Budd in second and Kingsford in third, who capitalised on a chain issue for Alex Larwood in the closing laps to lock in the final podium overall spot.
MX2 Overall:
1st – Wilson Todd
2nd – Rhys Budd
3rd – Ryder Kingsford
WOMEN’S CLASS
The women’s (MXW) class returned for their second round of the season at Gillman to the delight of the South Australian fans.
It was Yamalube Yamaha’s Charli Cannon who picked up right where she left off at Wonthaggi for round one, absolutely dominating the field from the very first laps on the track, setting the fastest time in MXW qualifying.
In race one, Cannon took the holeshot and began to pull ahead of the field. Ride Red Honda’s Emma Milesevic tried her best to maintain vision of Cannon whilst riding strong in second.
Taylor Thompson rode in third until the very last lap of race one, falling from position and handing Ride Red Honda’s Maddy Brown the podium spot.
race two saw a repeat with Cannon and Milesevic running first and second to the chequered flag, with Brown a strong third.
MXW Overall:
1st – Charli Cannon
2nd – Emma Milesevic
3rd – Maddy Brown
2022 ProMX Championships calendar:
Round 1 – Wonthaggi VIC, 27th March
Round 2 – Mackay QLD, 10th April
Round 3 – Wodonga VIC, 1st May
Round 4 – Gillman SA, 29th May
Round 5 – Maitland NSW, 26th June
Round 6 – Coffs Harbour NSW, 24th July
Round 7 – QLD Moto Park, 14th August
Round 8 – Coolum QLD, 20-21st August
