Australian MX Nationals rolls on to South Australia

Predictions and rivalries

	Image - Jeff Crow - Media Explorer

With riders and teams into the full swing of the motocross season, many would say it’s make or break time when it comes to putting the pieces of this years championship together.

Today, we caught up with the top three names from the MX1 and MX2 class, to gain some insight as to who they think is their biggest threat, and what we can expect from a huge round four of the MX Nationals in South Australia.

Monster MX1

Kirk Gibbs

Expectations heading to Murray Bridge?

I just want to go there and ride my best – I believe I’m a podium guy every weekend no matter what track it is and I think I’m in a good position right now heading into Murray Bridge. I grew up on similar surfaces so I’ve had some experience on tracks like that and I’m comfortable there. I’m riding well and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my career, so if I can ride smart and get good starts I feel like I can be on the podium.

Biggest threat?

My biggest threat at the moment would have to be my teammate Luke Styke. The CDR guys are riding really well and they’re getting off to good starts, but my teammate has been on the podium every round so far and he’s sitting in second in the championship. He’s a very consistent rider and I believe that he rides the loamier, sandier soil very well so I’ll be looking at him over the next few rounds. I’m not too sure about the communication over at CDR, but I know that no matter what Luke and I won’t be trading too much paint between the orange bikes.

Luke Styke

Expectations heading to Murray Bridge?

I’m looking for the same thing that I’ve been looking for all year and that’s just to stay on the podium at Murray Bridge. I raced a state title there last weekend and I felt really good. I’m just going to be looking to get a good start and put myself into a good position in that first lap of every race, other than that I just want to ride smart. The conditions at Murray Bridge are going to suit me 100 per cent. I wasn’t too keen on the first three tracks but we’re getting into some tracks now that I’m familiar with and I obviously really do like the sand, I ride better in those conditions so I’m looking forward to it.

Biggest threat?

Kirk Gibbs is clearly my biggest competition at the moment but there are definitely a few other guys that on their good days have what it takes too. It’s a bit too early for me to say exactly but at the moment Gibbsy and I are definitely two riders with the exact same goal. In saying that, we have a lot of trust in each other and if he’s faster than me he can pass me and vice versa. We definitely won’t be taking risks or pulling stupid moves, we have respect for each other - I think it’s an awesome thing for KTM to be in that one, two position and we plan on keeping it like that. I push him and he pushes me, so we’ll just race clean and race hard and I’m sure the best man will win at the end of the year.

Kade Mosig

Expectations heading to Murray Bridge?

I'm looking forward to Murray Bridge, I really like that track and I think having a few weeks to sort of get ready has been good. I'm pretty excited just to go racing again actually, having two weekends off I didn't really know what to do with myself (laughs). Obviously at Murray Bridge I just want to rebound from Broadford. That was not a good day and I just want to get back to where I should be. I think at this point in my career with where I'm at the moment, that it doesn't matter what type of surface you grew up on, you need to be adaptable to every track. I might be a little more comfortable on sand but it shouldn't really matter what surface you're riding on, you have to have the same preparation, the same mentality and which track I'm racing on doesn't really doesn't bother me.

Biggest threat?

I would definitely say Gibbsy (Kirk Gibbs) is my toughest opponent at this stage. He's very consistent and he's been runner up to Matt Moss last year. With Mossy out, Gibbsy is next in line so I think he's the most solid out there. Luke Styke is very solid as well, and he's had a good preparation like myself and Gibbsy so I think he's definitely going to be there, I just don't think he's as solid as Gibbsy.

Motul MX2

Luke Clout

Expectations heading to Murray Bridge?

I’m really excited to head to Murray Bridge; I think it’s without a doubt the best track on the circuit and it’s also my favorite track. I’ve had success there and it’s been good racing there in the past so I think it should be an awesome round four. The goal for me next weekend is to keep building on what I’ve already been doing, and I won’t be happy with anything other than first place – so I just want to keep gaining more confidence and I don’t want anything other than a win next weekend - hopefully I can get another repeat of Broadford. The surface at Murray Bridge is definitely my type of track – it’s got that really nice sandy topsoil, and a hard base, which is what I enjoy. I’ve been working hard at riding sand so I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and keep showing everyone what I’ve got.

Biggest threat?

It’s hard to say who exactly is my toughest competitor this year – everyone in the MX2 class riding really well and they’re definitely keeping me on my toes. As of right now, it’s between Jay Wilson and Jed Beaton. I can’t really pick one of the two. They have both shown that they can get decent starts, and both have the pace to win races. Honestly, I also see myself as my toughest opponent. It’s all up to me, and I just need to make sure I minimize mistakes and keep racing like I know how to.

Jed Beaton

Expectations heading to Murray Bridge?

I really want to get a good start at Murray Bridge and come out on top. I really need to get a round win so that Luke doesn’t get too far ahead of me in the points so I’ll definitely be looking for that at round four. I have been riding a lot of dirt similar to Murray Bridge lately, so hopefully that will give me a bit of extra confidence next weekend. Last year when I rode at Murray Bridge I got fourth, but in saying that I had my appendix out the week before. I don’t have an appendix anymore so next weekend should be a good one (laughs).

Biggest threat?

Luke (Clout) and Jay (Wilson) are obviously my biggest competition. Jay, because he is just so consistent and that’s what wins championships. Luke is just not afraid, like not afraid at all. Even when there are sketchy parts of the track he is just not afraid to hit it tapped and that’s obviously why he’s leading this years championship at the moment.

Jay Wilson

Expectations heading to Murray Bridge?

I’m heading to Murray Bridge looking for a solid result and to make up some championship points.  I may not win every race but I believe that consistency wins championships, and my goal is to try and be on the podium every weekend.
Obviously not having had much time to get the bike set up and tested, and then having a lot of time off the bike after what happened with my brother, has made things a bit difficult, but I also know that I haven’t yet shown my full potential. When I ride like I know that I can, I have the ability to win races. I’m traditionally a hard pack track sort of rider, but I know that I’m more than capable of adapting to differing track conditions, so there’s no reason why Murray Bridge won’t suit me and I’m looking forward to it.

I don’t regard any rider as my main competition, everyone out there is a competitor and there are plenty of fast guys this year. Luke Clout is obviously leading this years championship and the both of us seem to be battling pretty much every race, so if I had to say someone it would be him. Jed Beaton is obviously right there too. He’s shown he definitely has the speed to be a front-runner in his rookie year, but there are still about four of us out there who have what it takes win races and rounds.