Serco Yamaha’s Jesse Dobson has shaken off a challenging week of injury, illness and crashes to claim third place at round seven of the ProMX MX2 championship on his YZ250F.
The previous week saw Dobson fall at a state-based event injuring his shoulder that saw him withdraw from racing there and under a cloud coming into the QMP round. But Dobson was able to pull it together on the day and despite some issues in practice and race one, was able to land on the podium for the day and maintain his third place in the championship.To view the Serco Yamaha bLU cRU round recall: https://youtu.be/O1OgjcOwfQQ
Dobson was involved in all kinds of first turn carnage in race one that saw him complete the first lap outside the top 20 and desperate to make up ground in the early stages. With the field still bunched, he charged his way forward passing riders at will. His charge came to halt on lap 10 when he moved into eighth place and with the leaders spread out, he was unable to make any further passes. Still, it was a valiant charge that proved worthwhile later in the day.
The second race saw Dobson get through the opening lap unscathed and inside the top 10. As the race settled down, it was Dobson who began to pour on the pressure. He slowly but surely began to move forward, passing one rider at a time until he found himself in third place with two laps remaining.
He closed in on fellow Yamaha rider, Levi Rogers, and with half a lap remaining was able to make the pass and in turn give him the final podium position for the day.
“It’s been a tough week and just as tough on the weekend but I’m pretty happy now that I was able to turn all that into a podium here today,” Dobson explains.
“I had a shoulder issue, some issues in qualifying, a crash and an eighth in the first race so to end up with third for the day, I’m satisfied and thankful to the Serco Yamaha team as I made them work all day.
“The track was pretty gnarly in the last moto and I felt really good as the race went on. I seemed to find a good flow and was able to make up ground on the riders in front of me and then get passed them quickly which was important.
“One round to go and its on my home track so looking forward to a big finish there with lots of friends and family in support.”
The day also proved to be a consistent one for teammate, Bailey Malkiewicz. Still not quite at 100% with his knee, Malkiewicz was able to put together a 6-4 day to finish fourth for the round. He remains in fourth in the MX2 championship, just 10-points behind Dobson in third.
The first moto start wasn’t the best for Malkiewicz and he was left to find his way forward on a wet and tricky track. He was able to find his way to sixth place at the end of the 25-minute race.
The second race saw him in the lead group but just unable to match it with the pace of the leaders. He toiled away for the full race length but came up short of the podium with a fourth.
“It was a good day without being a great day,” he laments. “I wasn’t at the speed of the top guys today and when I tried to push a little harder, just couldn’t make it happen for long enough to be a threat for a race win. I got one more chance to get a win and that this weekend at Coolum which is a track I like and have done well at before.
“Thanks to Paul and the Serco Yamaha team for a big effort on the weekend and I will be all out to get on the podium at the final round,” Bailey signs off.
ProMX Results
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ProMX Results
QMP – MX2
1st Nathan Crawford – 50
2nd Rhys Budd – 38
3rd Jesse Dobson – 35 (Serco Yamaha)
4th Bailey Malkiewicz – 33 (Serco Yamaha)
5th Levi Rogers – 31
6th Kaleb Barham – 30
7th Jayce Cosford – 28
8th Haruki Yokoyama – 24
9th Isaac Ferguson – 22
10th Jai Constantinou – 21
MX2 Championship Standings
1st Wilson Todd – 311
2nd Rhys Budd – 233 (Yamaha YZ250F)
3rd Jesse Dobson – 217 (Yamaha YZ250F)
4th Bailey Malkiewicz – 207 (Yamaha YZ250F)
5th Haruki Yokoyama – 187
6th Noah Ferguson – 180
7th Jai Constantinou – 147
8th Alex Larwood – 132 (Yamaha YZ250F)
9th Jayce Cosford – 126 (Yamaha YZ250F)
10th Kaleb Barham - 126