KTM's Gibbs and Styke ready for MX Nats Rd6
With five rounds in the 2015 series to go, two enthralling contests are underway for KTM's premier class riders, Kirk Gibbs and Luke Styke.
MX 1 championship leader Gibbs stretched his lead out to a formidable 52 points when the series reached its halfway point at Coolum in May: 341 points to Styke's 289. The Queensland-based South Australian is looking more polished and more like champion material than ever before, but Gibbs is the first to remind anyone counting chickens that motocross is a risky game and anything can and often does happen.
Kirk Gibbs - "Once we got back from Manji I got back into my routine. I had a big couple of weeks of work, won a local state race here, and then just kept on training hard. Finally I've just completed a week off the bike, and I think I needed that to really get excited about going into the second half of the season. At worked. I've been itching to get back on the bike and I'm going to head out tomorrow for the first ride. I'm really looking forward to it.
"The last couple of years at Raymond Terrace I have struggled, but this year I feel like I'm ready to turn that around."
Current second in the championship, Luke Styke has three riders within eight points of his position, so a DNF at Raymond Terrace or the rounds that follow could not only scupper his own championship hopes, but also any hope of a KTM 1-2 finish to the championship. The 23-year-old's focus is still forwards rather than backwards as he hunts for a second round win for his rookie season.
Luke Styke - "After Manji [Manjimup] I had about a week and a half off the bike, and since then we've just been putting in some solid days. We played around with the bike a little bit and got it working better I feel, and I'm looking forward to Raymond Terrace.
"There's a few guys close to me on points so I'm looking forward to a good battle on the weekend and I feel like if I can get a really good start I can get the win. I won last time I raced there. I'll just concentrate on putting myself in a good position in the first few laps and riding my own race - hopefully I can put it on the podium."
Rob Twyerould, KTM Motocross Racing Team Manager - "Kirk has done some Queensland events and Stykesy has been training hard, so it's been a good solid five weeks for the boys, they've had a nice break to regroup and heal any injuries they might have had.
"It's business as usual for Kirk as he tries to keep extending that lead, but there will be some great competition for that second position in the championship, and Luke is looking forward to the challenge. I went out to Appin on Tuesday with him and he's looking really comfortable - riding the 450 the best I've ever seen him in fact."
Round 6 of the 2015 MX Nationals will take place at Raymond Terrace, near Newcastle, NSW. Practise starts from approx. 8:30AM, with racing starting at 10:40AM approx. For further details on the series, go to mxnationals.com.au
For more details on KTM and the KTM Motocross Racing Team, go to:ktm.com.au
images: Jeff Crow / Sport The Library
