Yamaha Racing Out in Force at 2021 MX Season Opener

Over 500 riders filled the showground for the annual event that brings riders from far and wide. It also provides the first hit out for the year with many riders debuting their new teams and bikes.

Yamaha stacked the field in both the pro classes with Luke Clout having his first ride back with the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team in the MX1 division, while the MX2 was a full Yamaha affair with class heavy hitters of Jay Wilson, Jesse Dobson, Levi Rogers and Rhys Budd all lined up behind the gates. Add to that the Queensland and New South Wales contingent of Yamaha Junior Racing and the off road gurus of Jess Gardiner and Jeremy Carpentier and it was wall to wall Yamaha in most classes.

The premier class of the night was the MX1 race and it proved to be all about Luke Clout. After a full season in the US racing supercross, Clout was right at home on the rutted and technical Coffs Harbour Stadium motocross track and simply powered away from his rivals. He won all three races contested on the night and also took the shootout win after going handlebar to handlebar with Jay Wilson. Second in MX1 was Yamaha mounted Matt Moss, who enjoyed his first rider back and showed he still has what it takes.

The MX2 class was a flex of muscle by the bLU cRU with Yamaha riders taking the first four spots after some tight racing that saw each of the top guys make a mistake at least once during the night. At the end of three intense races, Jesse Dobson took the win with 1-3-2 results, ahead of Jay Wilson with 7-1-1 finishes. Third pace was Rhys Budd who came home with 2-2-7 and Levi Rogers improved as the night went on to claim fourth with a 6-4-3 result.

Jeremy Carpentier swapped the trees for the tight confines of the show grounds and took his headlight mounted WR450f to victory in the A grade Open class. Carpentier finished with 1-3-1 results and rode at a solid pace all day. His partner is crime, Jess Gardiner, also jumped in for some stadium action and acquitted herself well showing she isn’t just an off road specialist with the win in the Women’s.

The newly formed MX3 class was contested for the first time on Saturday night and it was Yamaha Junior Racing star, Ryder Kingsford, that took the win and showed he was very comfortable on the smaller track. He backed that up with a class win in the 15 years 250cc event as well.

Charli Cannon took the win in the junior girls class with her usual polished performance, finishing clear of fellow Yamaha mounted, Tayla Thompson while Seth Burchell claimed the win in the 14-1 15years 125cc.

In the 85cc division, Jake Cannon and Kayd Kingsford piloted their GYTR – YJR YZ85s to second and third respectively in the 13 years class, while Heath Davy took the win in the both the 65 and 85cc classes he contested.