Regardless of whether the country’s best motocross racers want to extend points leads, strike back or find winning form, this weekend’s third round of the 2024 Penrite ProMX Championship, presented by AMX Superstores, is shaping up to be pivotal for every category. Words: Press Release
Located just 20 minutes north of Adelaide’s city centre, the vastly popular Gillman circuit’s sandy loam and numerous man-made jumps make it a favourite for the riders.
Headlining the action will be the Thor MX1 and Pirelli MX2 Championships, while the MAXXIS MX3 Championship and Fox Racing MX85 Cup will ensure spectators are guaranteed non-stop action with ample viewing opportunities throughout the day.
Download the official event program for Gillman here.
To view provisional results for all classes, please click here.
Thor MX1
So far, we’ve seen three winners from four races in this year’s Thor MX1 Championship, but the consistency and strength of CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Jed Beaton has seen him build a slender five-point lead over the rest of the field.
But Beaton certainly won’t be sleeping easy heading into this weekend’s Gillman round – the softer terrain plays right into the hands of his nearest rival Kyle Webster, who swept both motos at the series opener in Wonthaggi.
The Boost Mobile Honda Racing rider also has recent history in his favour – last year Webster stormed the rain-affected Gillman round to take his first double-moto MX1 victory, while Beaton also had a good weekend in third.
Speaking of third, KTM Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford currently holds P3 in the MX1 points chase, and a first-ever MX1 moto victory last time out at Horsham has given him a real injection of confidence. Another strong showing on Sunday could be a real catalyst for a break-out season for him.
For four-time and defending national champion Dean Ferris, Gillman has now become a must-win event. Already 23 points behind his red plate-holding CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team-mate, Ferris needs to find the form and speed that saw him emerge victorious last year if he wants to avoid losing more ground.
There’s no shortage of talent behind Ferris, either; Empire Kawasaki’s Luke Clout was unlucky to not take a race win or podium at Horsham, while South Australia’s own Kirk Gibbs (GASGAS Racing Team) and long-time international Brett Metcalfe (GO24 Racing Kawasaki) – potentially in his final season of professional competition – will be eager to lock in good results on home soil.
Pirelli MX2
Who can stop Honda Racing Australia? That’s the question everyone’s asking as the two red riders, Brodie Connolly and Noah Ferguson, find themselves at the top of the Pirelli MX2 leaderboard.
Last year’s Gillman results also throw additional fuel on that fire, with Ferguson ending the day third and Connolly fourth, but the two 2023 front-runners – Wilson Todd and Nathan Crawford – have both moved up to the MX1 class.
Connolly was near flawless en route to a double moto victory and a 26-point lead at Horsham, while crashes hindered Ferguson’s results in the opening race, before a late moto charge in the second saw him come desperately close to beating the New Zealander at the chequered flag.
Yamalube Yamaha Racing’s Ryder Kingsford currently sits third in the points, just five markers behind Ferguson. After a confidence-inspiring podium at Wonthaggi, Kingsford also suffered a difficult first moto at Horsham but rebounded to take third in the second outing.
After two unpredictable rounds of racing, the rest of the top 10 is separated by just 16 points. This group is spear-headed by Raceline Husqvarna Racing Team’s Rhys Budd, who secured a round podium at Horsham, with teenagers Kayden Minear (KTM Racing Team) and Byron Dennis (GASGAS Racing Team) at his heels.
MAXXIS MX3
Tight, elbows-out racing has been the main feature of this year’s MAXXIS MX3 Championship, with three different riders claiming moto victories so far, and just 10 points separating the top five contenders.
WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha’s Koby Hantis currently holds a six-point lead in the championship over his team-mate Kayd Kingsford, courtesy of winning two of the four motos (one at both Wonthaggi and Horsham) that have played out so far.
KTM Racing Team-supported rider Jet Alsop put in an impressive performance to claim overall honours at Horsham and sits third, but tied on points with Kingsford.
Another WBR Yamaha-supported rider, Kobe Drew, sits just one point further back, ahead of Horsham race winner Deacon Paice (KTM).
All of the ingredients are there for Gillman to be a pivotal round in this year’s MX3 Championship.
Fox Racing MX85 Cup
The second of the three-race Fox Racing MX85 Cup will be held at Gillman, as the youngsters battle it out to qualify for Team Australia at the FIM World Junior Motocross Championship (WJMX).
However, it was New Zealander Levi Townley who stole the show last time out at Horsham as he amassed a huge 33-second lead over the field in the final race.
After that performance, the son of former world champion Ben Townley has set a high benchmark to try and beat, but Horsham’s first-moto winner Heath Davy and third-placed Cooper Danaher have set their sights on the Kiwi.
The young Australians will be fired up entering Gillman as the WJMX Qualifier series hits the halfway mark, and will leave nothing on the track in their bid to represent their country later this year.
Get your tickets to the ProMX round at Gillman here!
Lead Image: CDR Yamaha
