It might be a new circuit on the ProMX calendar, but all the ingredients are there for Gympie to be one of the most crucial rounds of the 2024 Penrite ProMX Championship hosted by AMX Superstores. Words: ProMX
The spectacular MX Farm track hasn’t hosted a round of the Australian Motocross Championship since 2019, and this weekend’s penultimate round will be its first showing under the ProMX banner.
And Sunday’s stakes couldn’t be higher, as two of the classes – Thor MX1 and MAXXIS MX3 – see margins of just seven points separating the top two contenders, while MX Farm has become a must-win round for Pirelli MX2 hopefuls.
The hardpack circuit is draped across a gently rolling hillside, providing spectators with plenty of near-perfect vantage points to follow the action. Fans will be treated to intense racing from the moment the gates open, with the Thor MX1, Pirelli MX2, MAXXIS MX3 and KTM Group MX65 Futures classes all hitting the track.
For the current standings in all classes, please click here.
THOR MX1
It’s crunch time in the Thor MX1 championship hunt, especially if you have the number 14 on the front of your CDR Yamaha Monster Energy. With just four motos left to run, Jed Beaton finds himself seven points behind series leader Kyle Webster (Boost Mobile Honda Racing).
That means Beaton faces a situation where he must finish ahead of Webster in at least three of the remaining races (providing Webster finishes runner-up in each) to snatch the title lead.
There’s no denying the two front-runners have been the class of the MX1 field, and the intense, clean racing we’ve seen between them over the past six rounds has been nothing short of spectacular.
Behind Webster and Beaton are a raft of Queensland-based racers who have spun countless laps around the MX Farm circuit, and would love nothing more than to spoil the party.
Leading that charge is KTM Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford, who finds himself in a relatively safe P3. At the same time, a trio of former MX1 champions in Kirk Gibbs (GASGAS Racing Team), Todd Waters (Raceline Husqvarna Racing), and Luke Clout (Empire Kawasaki) are also based in Queensland and are striving to finish their seasons on a high note.
Whichever way the chips fall on Sunday, we’re guaranteed a thrilling round that will have huge implications for the final round at Queensland Moto Park (QMP), just one week later.
Pirelli MX2
Sunday’s job is clear-cut for Brodie Connolly, the runaway leader of the Pirelli MX2 class. The Polyflor Honda Racing rider just needs to finish ahead of his two nearest title rivals in order to claim the championship with a round to spare.
Having claimed five of the six rounds overall so far, the New Zealander currently holds a 54-point series lead, and if he can carry his streak of hot form through Gympie, he stands a great chance of becoming our first 2024 Penrite ProMX championship winner.
The mission is equally clear for Ryder Kingsford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) and Noah Ferguson (Boost Mobile Honda Racing) – they need to beat Connolly at all costs.
Both racers are hard-pack specialists, with Kingsford holding the bragging rights of being the only racer to steal a round win from Connolly this year at Maitland. However, Ferguson also has the added hometown advantage, having grown up in Gympie and also being well-experienced around MX Farm.
A list of other racers are also eyeing up a solid result on Sunday, as KTM Racing Team’s Kayden Minear sits just three points behind Ferguson in the standings, while Jayce Cosford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), Reid Taylor (Empire Kawasaki) and Toowoomba moto winner Kaleb Barham (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) will be determined to continue their run of late-season form.
MAXXIS MX3
All eyes will be on the top three MAXXIS MX3 racers as the title fight tightens up heading into the home stretch. Just 11 points separate red plate-holder Koby Hantis and his third-placed WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha teammate Kobe Drew, but it’s second-placed Jake Cannon who carries the momentum into his home round.
Mongrel Boots Honda Racing rider Cannon has made a dramatic surge up the rankings and now finds himself seven points off the series lead with two rounds left to run.
If he can stand atop the podium at MX Farm, there’s a decent chance that he’ll head to QMP with the red plate, especially with how unpredictable and intense this year’s MX3 racing has been.
For Hantis, he just needs to keep Cannon in his rear-view mirror so that he gives himself the best chance possible of winning the championship next weekend.
Drew will also be looking forward to a strong result at his home round, and could well play the role of spoiler against Hantis and Cannon if those two become embroiled in a battle for points.
Meanwhile, Drew’s WBR teammate, Kayd Kingsford, and KTM rider Deacon Paice will need to make the most of their traditional fast starts if they want to keep themselves in contention for a top-three championship finish.
KTM Group MX65 Futures
After a thrilling first outing at Maitland, our youngest future stars will return for the second stop of their three-round KTM Group MX65 Futures series this weekend.
At the opening round, Husqvarna rider Lewis-Jay Carafa and Yamaha-mounted Blake Bohannon split moto wins, with Carafa taking first-round honours on countback.
You can expect the same entertaining action from the youngsters as they hit the same full-sized track as their heroes on Sunday, before they back it up next weekend for the two-day ProMX finale at QMP.
Image: Honda Australia
