What did happen to those Aussie KTM boys at Round 3?
Wednesday 12 March: KTM Motocross Racing Team riders Kirk Gibbs and Ford Dale hope that they’ve used up their year’s supply of bad luck at the Pukekohe MCC's track at Harrisville.
In
a difficult day results-wise at Pukekohe, both riders nonetheless
reiterated their race-leading pace, but random acts of misfortune kept
both away from the podium, Gibbs with one DNF, and Dale with two
including a visit to the PukeMX Medics.
New
Zealand’s Cody Cooper won the day from Brad Groombridge and Billy
Mackenzie, while Gibbs fared the best of the KTM team riders in fifth
overall, after an impressive second placing and a spectacular race win
from the last two motos.
Earlier,
Gibbs had been running second in the restarted opening moto when he
fell on a jump, cartwheeling his KTM 450 SX-F into a ditch from where it
took four men to extricate it!
Kirk Gibbs - photo courtesy of Phil Smith - aka clmintiepix
Kirk Gibbs: DNF - 2nd -1st.
Overall 5th.
"There
was a bit of carnage everywhere today I think. Race One, me and Ford
were one, two but then they red flagged it, and in the
restart I was pushing hard over a table top into a gully when I tucked
it on the upramp and cartwheeled the bike. I tried a different technique
for the second start, but got wheel-spin and had to fight my way back
to
second. I knew my speed was pretty good and I feel like I'm just
inching closer every time I get on a bike so in Race 3 when Ford handed
me the lead I thought that if I held my lines I could hold Cooper off.
In the last couple of laps I hit them really good and gapped Coops which
was really good for my confidence and a good note to end the day on.
I'm looking forward to being fit and ready for the Nats (Aust) so I can
take it
to everyone and show them that racing over here helps.”
Ford Dale: 8th - DNF - DNF
"I qualified second and felt real good, but when I went to
pass Coops in the first one I made a mistake and winded myself badly.
In the second I hit a fallen rider and my disk got bent and I couldn't
ride without the front wheel locking all the time so I had to pull out.
In the third I had an awesome start, I'd made some changes to the bike
and they were really paying off. I lead half the race, but I made a
little mistake and smacked my chin into the bars pretty hard, so I
decided to call it a day. I'm gutted with the outcome, I’ve been
working really hard at home and I had the speed to be up front but just
not the luck. Hopefully we get rid of all the bad luck over here before
we start nationals! I want to say thanks to the boys in the team, I
really appreciate their support and I couldn't be happier being part of
the team. Today's results didn't show it, but I feel like I'm riding
better than I ever have.”
Rob Twyerould: "Well hopefully after today we've used up our year's supply of bad luck. The
day started well - one, two around the corner but then it got red
flagged and basically it went downhill from there.
In Race 1 Ford had a
big lose and got the 'bar in his chest, winding him badly enough that he
needed to pull over. He continued for eighth while Gibbsy in second
lost the front on an upramp, got thrown over the bars and the bike went 5
metres into a hole full of logs. It took four guys to get it out, but
he'd damaged the muffler and subframe and it took some work to get it
ready for race two.
In the second race there was a first turn
crash, Kirk made his way around but Ford went in pretty hard and wedged
his front wheel between the guy’s back tyre and guard. Kirk worked his
way up to second which is great, but Ford’s front disc was bent so he
couldn't ride it safely.
In the third the boys were one, two again,
but 10 minutes in Ford washed the front on an upramp, landed awkwardly
with his foot off the peg and smashed his chin on the bars. The Medics were worried that the swelling might have affected his
airway but he’s okay now. Meanwhile Kirk took over the lead and rode
really beautifully on a technical and slippy track and pulled away from
Coops to win by a couple of seconds.
The heroes today were Apro and
Kyle who had to keep bikes clean in all the clay as well as make
significant repairs with nowhere near the turnaround time we get in
Australia. The main thing is the boys are okay and both showed good
speed today, especially Kirk to beat Coops who is really on a roll over
here. That will be good for his confidence.”
Inset pics from Alan H. Copy courtesy of John Pinnell for KTM Australia