2013 MX Nationals - Round 3 - MX2 & MXD
Going into this round, the MX2 series leader was Serco Yamaha's Luke Styke, who was still recovering from a crash at the previous round at Murray Bridge. In the MXD development class, Jack Simpson (Bolton KTM Motorcycles) led the way from New Zealand KTM privateer Hamish Harwood after the Under 19's first round at Raymond Terrace.
The loose, loamy track at Wonthaggi is a favourite with a number of riders, and the Dandenong Motorcycle Club again prepared a top track for this meeting.
MX2
So far this season, Serco Yamaha has been the team to beat in MX2, and qualifying did nothing to suggest things might change at Wonthaggi. Styke and team mate Luke Clout (who won the last round at Murray Bridge) recorded the fastest times, followed by Josh Cachia (Carlton Dry Honda Racing), Kade Mosig (Team 07 Kawasaki) and Kale Makeham (Tunetech Racing KTM).
The opening MX2 moto saw a big collision at the first corner, with a number of riders going down, including Cachia and his younger brother Tristen Cachia (Honda SMART Racing Serco), Mosig, Kayne Lamont (Choice Motorsport KTM) and Ryan Marmont (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki). Mosig was the worst affected, lying prone on the track until attended by the Suzuki RaceSafe medical team. Josh Cachia struggled to get going after the accident, but was able to rejoin the field in a distant last place.
Avoiding the drama, Makeham was the early race leader from Styke, Clout and KTM privateer, Brock Winston. Close behind were the CDP Racing Suzuki pair of Wade Hunter and Zak Newsome.
By mid-race distance, Styke had taken the lead, with Clout slotting into second place ahead of Makeham. Further back, Josh Cachia was carving his way through the field, making up more than twenty places to be inside the top ten in the closing stages.
The moto 1 win went to Styke, from Clout and Makeham, with Geran Stapleton (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) and Winston completing the top five. Josh Cachia finished an impressive ninth, with younger brother Tristen claiming 15th. Caught up in the same opening corner incident as the Cachia brothers, MX2 regular Marmont, who has switched to Suzuki for this season, finished well down the field in 17th.
With the Wonthaggi truck rutting up nicely, the second MX2 race got underway to a much cleaner start this time around, with Josh Cachia securing the holeshot.
Benefitting from his clean start, Cachia soon opened a lead on the following Clout, Styke, Scrivens Honda's Matt Ryan and Marmont. Styke passed Clout for second soon after, while Marmont was also making up places to be on the trail of the leading quartet of riders.
The leading group then settled into a rhythm, with Cachia maintaining good pace, and neither Styke nor Clout able to close the gap. Despite having to deal with lapped riders throughout the second half of the moto, the leaders positions remained unchanged to the chequered flag, with Cachia winning from Styke and Clout, followed by Makeham and Marmont.
1-2 results means Styke maintains his series leader's red plate, and actually extends his championship lead to 18 points from 13 after Murray Bridge.
"I wasn't able to ride at all this week after my crash last week at Murray Bridge so it was good to be able to come away with a win despite not getting a full week of training in," Styke explains.
"Race one was good and my teammate kept the pressure on the whole race which was great, then race two wasn't quite as good as I didn't change my lines on the track from moto one and as a result, could generate the speed I needed to win the race."
MXD
In the big MXD field, Simpson qualified fastest, followed by Jesse Dobson (Factory Kawasaki), Joel Dinsdale (GYTR Yamaha), Jake Emanuelli (Yamaha), Nick Scott (MXRP Honda) and Harwood.
In the opening moto, Simpson showed his class by opening a gap on the rest of the field by the first corner. From there, the Victorian rookie was unstoppable, comfortably holding off Harwood, Scott, Corey James (Tee n Cee Graphics Yamaha), and later, Emanuelli to record the win. Harwood and James completed the moto 1 podium, while Scoot dropped back to finish sixth.
In moto 2, Simpson struggle outing of the starting gate, and was soon swallowed up by the chasing pack. Dinsdale got a better strat this time around, and was soon leading the field. Near the finish, the GYTR Yamaha rider was holding a lead over Harwood and Simpson.
These positions were unchanged at the end of the moto, with Logan Blackburn (DMR Racing Yamaha) and Scott completing the top five for the race. The sole female in the field, Kawasaki's Meghan Rutledge, finished 17th and 22nd in each moto.
"It's another good finish to the weekend and really good to be getting these points early on - consistency will win this championship," Simpson said on the podium.
While other classes have clear leaders, the MXD title is still tight after two rounds, with Simpson claiming the round win at Wonthaggi by a solitary point over Harwood, while the margin in the championship is a slim 12 points.
The Monster Energy MX Nationals stays in Victoria for the next round, which will take place at Broadford on May 19. For more details and series news, go to www.mxnationals.com.au
RESULTS - 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship. Round 3 - Wonthaggi, VIC.
MX2 round results:
1. Luke Styke 67
2. Luke Clout 62
3. Kale Makeham 58
4. Josh Cachia 57
5. Brock Winston 51
6. Matt Ryan 47
7. Rhys Carter 46
8. Kayne Lamont 44
9. Dylan Long 43
10. Geran Stapleton 42
MX2 championship standings (after three of 10 rounds):
1. Luke Styke 202
2. Luke Clout 184
3. Kale Makeham 170
4. Brock Winston 160
5. Josh Cachia 145
MXD round results:
1. Jack Simpson 65
2. Hamish Harwood 64
3. Joel Dinsdale 59
4. Nick Scott 51
5. Jay Wilson 50
6. Jake Emanuelli 47
7. Logan Blackburn 44
8. Jesse Dobson 44
9. Joel Wightman 42
10. Dakota Court 40
MXD championship standings (after two of nine rounds):
1. Jack Simpson 132
2. Hamish Harwood 120
3. Jesse Dobson 109
4. Nick Scott 103
=5. Jay Wilson 91
=5. Jake Emanuelli 91
Images: Shayne Rice and JUST BIKES
