Hill and Styke win dramatic Mt Gambier Supercross

Monday 14 October: Mt Gambier’s Borderline Speedway played host to a thrilling weekend of Supercross action, which saw race favourites come to grief in both the Pro Open and Pro Lites class of Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championship.

Hart and Huntington / InsureMyRide / DPH Motorsports rider Josh Hill scored his first podium of the season, winning the Pro Open final ahead of Carlton Dry Honda rider Weston Peick and Campbell Mining Suzuki rider Jake Moss.

"It feels good to come out here and get the win,” Hill said. "We worked really hard in the month break since Darwin to get the bike where it needed to be.

"My mechanic really went to town on the bike. I told him what I wanted and he made me a bike similar to what I have back in the states motor wise.

"I can't thank him enough I was a lot more comfortable this weekend because I had confidence in the bike,” Hill admitted.

Fellow American, Weston Peick was also pleased with the improvements made by the Carlton Dry Honda Racing team but said they weren’t quite there yet.

"I had a good night,” Peick said. "I tried to stay as consistent as possible but the track really started to break up towards the main event.

"I think we have a few more changes to make before we can get up there on the number one spot on the podium.

"The championship has definitely tightened up with moss boys going down, but consistency is going to be the key,” Peick continued.

Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Matt Moss led Hill over the early laps of the 20-lap final before crashing heavily and dropping back through the order.
Moss worked his way back to fifth and heads to Round 4 and 5 of the series at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix with a four-point lead over his twin bother Jake.

Top Ten Pro Open Round Results - Mt Gambier

1. Josh HILL (Suzuki) 25, 2. Weston PEICK (Honda) 22, 3. Jake MOSS (Suzuki) 20, 4. Daniel McCOY (KTM) 18, 5. Matt MOSS (Suzuki) 16, 6. Sam MARTIN (Suzuki) 15, 7. Kade MOSIG (Yamaha) 14, 8. Jay MARMONT (Kawasaki) 13, 9. Jacob WRIGHT (Honda) 12, 10. Hayden MELLROSS (Honda) 11

Top Ten Pro Open Championship Standings (After Rd 3 of 6)

1. Matt MOSS (Suzuki) 66, 2. Jake MOSS (Suzuki) 62, 3. Weston PEICK (Honda) 58, 4. Josh HILL (Suzuki) 56, 5. Daniel McCOY (KTM) 49, 6. Jay MARMONT (Kawasaki) 48, 7. Kade MOSIG (Yamaha) 40, 8. Sam MARTIN (Suzuki) 34, 9. Kirk GIBBS (KTM) 31, 10. Lawson BOPPING (Yamaha) 28

Josh Hill won the Pro Open Final. Image - Shayne Rice

Pro Lites Class

Serco Yamaha’s Luke Styke extended his championship lead after being gifted the race win when Carlton Dry Honda Racing’s Gavin Faith washed out on the final lap of the 15-lap final.

"It’s not over until it’s over,” Styke said. "I stuck in there and rode my own race.

"I made a few silly mistakes in the back half of the race and Gavin was doing a really good job but made a mistake right at the end and I was there to capitalise.

In just his second race meeting in two years, Choice Motorsports KTM mounted Brendan Harrison stood proudly on the second step of the dais.

"I really can’t thank my team enough,” Harrison said. "Hard work does pay off, it is hard to believe I was lying in a hospital bed not long ago. "My fitness was pretty good, this is only my second race meeting in two years I can’t wait for the next event now.”

The Under 19’s final was won by GTYR Yamaha rider Jay Wilson with Raceline Suzuki's Jake Emanuelli second and Berry Sweet Yamaha rider Corey James third.

Rounds 4 and 5 of the Terex Australian Supercross Championship will be run alongside the Moto GP at next weekends Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Top Ten Pro LiItes Round Results - Mt Gambier

1. Luke STYKE (Yamaha) 25, 2. Brenden HARRISON (KTM) 22, 3. Ryan MARMONT (Suzuki) 20, 4. Gavin FAITH (Honda) 18, 5. Taylor POTTER (Honda) 16, 6. Nickolas SUTHERLAND (KTM) 15, 7. Luke ARBON (Yamaha) 14, 8. Dylan LONG (KTM) 13, 9. Kayne LAMONT (KTM) 12, 10. Tristen CACHIA (Honda) 11

Top Ten Pro Lites Championship Standings (After Rd 3 of 6)

1. Luke STYKE (Yamaha) 72, 2. Gavin FAITH (Honda) 65, 3. Ryan MARMONT (Suzuki)58, 4. Luke ARBON (Yamaha) 48, 5. Dylan LONG (KTM) 48, 6. Nickolas SUTHERLAND (KTM) 42, 7. Taylor POTTER (Honda) 40, 8 Kayne LAMONT (KTM) 39, 9. Brenden HARRISON (KTM) 31, 10. Kale MAKEHAM (KTM) 31

Luke Styke won the Pro Lites Final. Image - Shayne Rice

From KTM Australia: Disappointment for Kirk Gibbs at Mt Gambier. He gave it everything but Motorex KTM rider Kirk Gibbs was unable to give his home fans the show he wanted to at tonight’s third round of the Australian Supercross Championship at Mt. Gambier in South Australia.Gibbs crashed out of the night’s main event and was taken to hospital with a possible punctured lung.

Narrowly missing out on the podium was Motorex KTM’s Daniel McCoy who was the fastest qualifier on the night, but was pushed wide at the first corner and had to come through the pack.

McCoy came from ninth through to fourth and was coming home like a train toward the podium finishers when the chequered flag fell.

In the SX Lites final Choice Motorsports KTM's Brenden Harrison made a welcome return to the podium finishing just 1.3 seconds behind winner Luke Styke, with Ryan Marmont third. Dylan Long (8th) and Kayne Lamont (9th) both grabbed top ten finishes while Tune Tech Racing KTM’s Kale Makeham was unfortunate to suffer a shoulder injury in the first heat of the night.

The next round of the Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championships will be a double-header held at Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit on October 18-20.

Rob Twyerould, Motorex KTM Team Manager: "The night started well for us with Kirk the first rider into the 49s and Daniel qualifying fastest on the last lap. However third and fourth in the heats meant we had 6^th and 8^th pick of the gate which was not a fantastic pick. DMC got an unbelievable jump but then got pinched out wide and had to come from 9^th. He just worked his way through which was tough initially, but as the race wore on he was able to pick the positions off through to 4^th and was picking third off at a second a lap. He rode very solid but just gave away too much at the start. Gibbsy rode in behind Matt Moss off the start but when Moss doubled Gibbs launched around and into the face of the berm and stopped dead, dropping to last. Then about six laps in he went over the bars the bike landed on him, so right now he’s on his way to hospital and we’re hoping he doesn’t have a punctured lung."

Daniel McCoy: "Qualifying went real good, it’s something I’ve been working on lately, but the heat result killed me, just not getting a good gate pick – I was wide and I got blocked at Turn 1, and I just need a better heat to get a better start. A lot of guys were crashing and the track got quite rough with the soft dirt. Coming through the pack – it’s nice to know that you’ve got good speed but it’s tough to be the fastest qualifier and finish fourth.”

Kirk Kirk Gibbs - Image Shayne Rice

From Monster Energy Kawasaki:

After showing good pace and form during practice at the 3rd round of the 2013 Terex AustralianSupercross Championship at Mt Gambier, SA, Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jay Marmont had to settle for an 8th place finish after crashing on the slick track that took many riders down. Team mate Adam Monea is still sidelined with a shoulder injury. Image - Shayne Rice.

From Carlton Dry Honda: Weston Peick has reduced the points gap to championship leader Matt Moss with a solid second place finish in last nights third round of Milwaukee presents the Terex Australian Supercross Championship.

Peick's Pro Open teammate Hayden Mellross, achieved his goal of a top ten finish but it was heartbreak for Gavin Faith who washed out on the last lap of the 15-lap Pro Lites final, whilst in the lead.

Peick, who was pleased with the improvements made by the Carlton Dry Honda Racing team, said they would work on a few more changes ahead of next weekends event at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Weston Peick: "I had a good night. I tried to stay as consistent as possible but the track really started to break up towards the main event. I think we have a few more changes to make before we can get up there on the number one spot on the podium.
The championship has definitely tightened up with moss boys going down, but consistency is going to be the key.”

Just four points seperate Peick from second placed Jake Moss with twin Matt Moss a further four points ahead in the championship standings.

Whilst disappointed at crashing out on the final lap of the race, Faith, who had dominated the final, finished fourth and maintains second in the championship standings.

Gavin Faith: "I am so disappointed in myself. I didn't get the best start but I put the power down and moved into the lead on the opening lap. I had a comfortable lead but I hit that corner and the front just washed out. I got back up and finished fourth but that is cold comfort."

Weston Peick. Image - Shayne Rice.

Gavin Faith. Image - Shayne Rice.