25 Jul 2011

Serco Yoshimura Yamaha pilot Kirk Gibbs has closed within 33 points of the Pro Lites championship lead after a victorious round eight of the 2011 Rockstar MX Nationals at the Moree over the weekend.

Gibbs entered the Moree event 58 points behind championship leader Matt Moss and desperate for a good round to have any chance of snaring the 2011 national crown. Gibbs delivered and took his second round win of the year with 3-1-2-2 results in the four motos using good speed, smart race craft and a calm head.

“My goal was to win the round and do the best I could, so I’m happy to have done that today,” Gibbs said from the podium. “In the process I was also able to peg back some points on Matt.”

“My bike was great today and on a track like this which can be hard to pass, you have to make the most of your opportunities and my Serco Yamaha worked well in the ruts and also on the hard pack.”

The round win for Gibbs now makes for an exciting finish to the championship where it will come down to the final round this weekend in Coolum to determine a winner.

“My plan for the week doesn’t change. I can only win the round and whatever happens after that is a bonus,” Gibbs finishes.

Guest rider Luke Styke produced a top 10 finish in his first outing for the Yamaha factory Lites team, taking ninth overall for the round. Styke qualified in fifth place and gelled instantly with the Serco machine, but didn’t quite match that pace in race conditions.

He was a little disappointed after the event but looked forward to the Coolum round to finish on a high note.

“I had a goal to run inside the top six this weekend and was on track after qualifying. I didn’t quite get the starts I needed and couldn’t get in the freight train of the lead pack early in the race.”

“But the Serco experience has been great and the bike is awesome so hopefully I can repay them with a good weekend at Coolum.”

So, after 32 motos, the Pro Lites championship heads for a climax this weekend at Coolum, in Queensland with Gibbs looking to secure his first professional national championship.

For more information and full results, www.mxnationals.com.au

Round Eight Results – Moree
Pro Lites

 
Championship Standings – One Round Remaining
1st Matt Moss -567
2nd Kirk Gibbs - 534
3rd Brendan Harrison - 478
4th Phil Nicoletti - 477
5th Daniel McCoy - 461
6th Kade Mosig - 440
7th Josh Cachia - 423
8th Cody Mackie - 419
9th Justin Mackie – 403
10th Luke Styke - 372