Release from 28.05.2023
The day got off to a disappointing start for the former Australian MX1 champion Waters after he just missed out on progressing through to the Top 10 Pole Shootout, finishing the first MX1 qualifying session in 11th.
Eager to bounce back, Waters and his 2023 Husqvarna FC 450 leapt into the top five early in the opening MX1 race, but some costly little errors saw him drop to ninth where he’d eventually finish the moto.
Waters again got a good start in the rain-affected second race and held down a solid P5 result for the vast majority of the moto, before losing two positions on the final laps to finish seventh and eighth overall for the day. Waters remains in seventh in the championship standings with three rounds remaining.
Todd Waters: “It was an average day for us today. I went the wrong way with my bike set-up in the first moto, and after a good start I sort of got flustered and rode terribly. In the second race I got off to a better start, then it poured down with rain. I had a goggle problem and some bad mistakes made me lose two positions late in the race, which I’m pretty angry at myself about. Gillman is one of those tracks that has never been good to me and I’ve never really done well there, so I’m looking forward to finishing the series on home ground in Queensland.”
In the MX2 class, Fox put in a solid riding display on his way to his best results so far this year. Fox onboard his 2023 Husqvarna FC 250 rode to the seventh-fastest qualifying time, then he clawed his way back from an average start in the opening moto to finish 16th. In the second MX2 race, he enjoyed a good jump off the gate and, despite suffering a flat rear tyre in the latter stages, held on to finish a season-best 10th. Fox finished the day 13th overall and is now 18th in the MX2 standings.
Blake Fox: “Today went well and we took some good steps forward. I had a really good qualifying session, and that made my gate-pick for the two races a lot easier. In the first moto I had an average start, struggled to pass on a track that was a bit one-lined, and I pumped up a little towards the end. I felt really good on the bike in the second moto and made a few moves forward, but then ended up with a flat rear tyre and had to really fight to the end. All in all, my riding was better and we made a couple of good changes to the bike for this round that I really liked.”
In the MX3 class, teenage talent Mather experienced an up-and-down day on his way to fourth overall. After a promising fifth-fastest time in qualifying, Mather crashed twice in his opening moto, but was able to recover to a spirited P10 result. A better start to the final race saw him riding inside the top 10 and he made some calculated passes on his way to a P4 finish. Mather still sits in second in the MX3 championship points standings.
The sixth round of the 2023 Australian ProMX Championship will be held at Toowoomba, QLD, on 25 June.
2023 ProMX Championship – Gillman, SA.
MX1 round five results:
1. Kyle Webster (Honda) 50
2. Aaron Tanti (Yamaha) 44
3. Jed Beaton (Honda) 36
4. Kirk Gibbs (KTM) 35
5. Luke Clout (Yamaha) 30
8. Todd Waters (Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing) 26
MX1 championship standings:
1. Jed Beaton (Honda) 172
2. Dean Ferris (Yamaha) 171
3. Aaron Tanti (Yamaha) 163
4. Kirk Gibbs (KTM) 154
5. Luke Clout (Yamaha) 144
7. Todd Waters (Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing) 126
MX2 round five results:
1. Wilson Todd (Honda) 50
2. Nathan Crawford (KTM) 44
3. Noah Ferguson (GASGAS) 38
4. Brodie Connolly (Honda) 35
5. Rhys Budd (Yamaha) 34
13. Blake Fox (Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing) 16
MX2 championship standings:
1. Wilson Todd (Honda) 197
2. Nathan Crawford (KTM) 160
3. Brodie Connolly (Honda) 155
4. Rhys Budd (Yamaha) 142
5. Jesse Dobson (Yamaha) 128
18. Blake Fox (Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing) 34
MX3 round five results:
1. Jake Cannon (Yamaha) 47
2. Byron Dennis (GASGAS) 47
3. Kayd Kingsford (Yamaha) 31
4. Jack Mather (Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing) 29
5. Seth Burchell (Yamaha) 28
MX3 championship standings:
1. Byron Dennis (GASGAS) 186
2. Jack Mather (Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing) 164
3. Jake Cannon (Yamaha) 141
4. Cambell Williams (Kawasaki) 138
5. Kobe Drew (Yamaha) 119