It’s time to break out the sweatbands, aviator sunglasses, mullets, and ghetto blasters, because we’re going retro for Sunday’s Toowoomba round of the 2024 Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores! Words: ProMX
Spectators are in for a visual spectacle this weekend as Australia’s biggest motocross stars converge on the beautiful Echo Valley circuit, equipped with special livery bikes and riding gear to celebrate the rich heritage of our sport.
Toowoomba is a real favourite with the racers, with its dramatic elevation changes, soaring jumps, and technical turns that often develop multiple racing lines throughout the day.
Located on the outskirts of one of Queensland’s largest inland cities, Echo Valley is easily accessible and presents the first opportunity that the Sunshine State has had to catch the 2024 ProMX Championship first-hand.
Headlining the action will be the Thor MX1 and Pirelli MX2 Championships, while the MAXXIS MX3 Championship and EZILIFT MXW Championship will guarantee intense racing from the moment the gates open.
THOR MX1
Normally a seven-point lead would be regarded as slender at best, but with the way the 2024 Thor MX1 Championship is playing out, the gulf is slowly widening between our top two contenders.
Off the back of a double-moto win at Murray Bridge and having just returned from a successful two-week stint racing in the United States, Boost Mobile Honda Racing’s Kyle Webster currently sits in the box seat.
Webster’s confidence increases as he ticks off each round, and he’s proven that his fitness and speed are world-class. Another round win on the most undulating track on the schedule could see him extend his points lead into double digits.
There’s just one thing standing in Webster’s way, however, being CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Jed Beaton. If the experienced former MXGP racer wants to keep within striking distance of his main title rival, it’s crucial that he bounces back with a Toowoomba win.
Meanwhile, third-placed Nathan Crawford will like his chances of causing more upsets as the championship heads to his home state. The KTM Racing Team rider has claimed two moto wins already this year – the only rider besides Webster and Beaton to have achieved this – and he has an intimate knowledge of Echo Valley.
But he’s not the only one who’ll have home-ground advantage: two Queensland-based former MX1 champions, Kirk Gibbs (GASGAS Racing Team) and Todd Waters (Raceline Husqvarna Racing Team) are placed fourth and fifth in the championship battle and both have experienced their fair share of success on Toowoomba’s red clay.
Another wild-card factor to keep tabs on is Empire Kawasaki’s Luke Clout, who’s eager to bounce back from a disappointing previous round at Murray Bridge and start logging the top results he’s capable of.
Pirelli MX2
Despite a difficult Maitland outing that saw him give up most of his points lead, Polyflor Honda Racing’s Brodie Connolly has again resumed his position as the man to beat in the Pirelli MX2 class.
A 1-2 result at the fifth round at Murray Bridge – tying on points, but losing on countback to his Honda Racing teammate Alex Larwood – saw the Kiwi again build a handy 30-point lead over his main rivals, and ensure he remains the rider to beat as the series heads into the final three rounds.
A tight scrap is emerging for the minor placings though, with Ryder Kingsford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), Noah Ferguson (Boost Mobile Honda Racing), and KTM Racing Team’s Kayden Minear only separated by 12 points.
There will be plenty of eyes on Froth Honda Racing’s Larwood, to see if he can continue his strong mid-season form on the hard-pack, hillside circuit. The South Australian has finished on the podium in four of his past five races after returning from injury, and another good points haul this weekend could see him sneak into the top five standings.
It’s also worth keeping an eye on rookie Byron Dennis (GASGAS Racing Team) who returns from injury this weekend, as well as local racers Jayce Cosford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), and Rhys Budd (Raceline Husqvarna Racing Team).
MAXXIS MX3
We have a serious championship fight on our hands in the MAXXIS MX3 class, with Honda Racing Australia’s Jake Cannon continuing his impressive come-from-behind campaign and leaping into P2 in the overall standings at Murray Bridge.
Entering Toowoomba, Cannon is 12 points behind championship leader Koby Hantis (WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha), but he’s made relentless moves up the leaderboard with each round.
Fellow WBR Yamaha riders Kobe Drew and Kayd Kingsford are just a couple of markers further back, meaning there’s everything to both lose and gain for every rider in the top four this weekend.
Further back, GASGAS racer Ky Woods put in a storming performance last time out at Murray Bridge, taking a double-moto victory. Another showing like that could further complicate title aspirations for the top four riders, especially as we head into the back-end of this year’s series.
EZILIFT MXW
Even though we’re only two rounds into the four-round EZILIFT MXW Championship, there’s only one real question remaining to be answered – can anyone beat Charli Cannon?
The SCT Logistics Honda Racing rider has comfortably claimed all four moto wins so far this year and Toowoomba fans will be watching closely to see if she can continue her perfect streak. If it proves to be the case, Cannon will be squarely in the box seat to again defend her MXW title.
But make no mistake, the likes of Husqvarna rider Taylor Thompson and Honda’s Emma Milesevic will be determined to cause an upset of sorts to earn their share of victories before the season ends, and that work begins on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Yamaha-backed teenager Danielle McDonald currently sits in third and has impressed many with her speed this year, while Madison Healey (GASGAS) and Tahlia O’Hare (KTM) will also be keen to prove their worth this weekend.
Image: ProMX
