Solid Start for Serco Yamaha

Media Information: 29 March 2022

Both riders raced with street smarts and good consistency to have themselves well placed after round one with both tied on points, with Malkiewicz claiming third and Dobson in fourth on a count back.

To view a video on Serco Yamaha from round one: https://youtu.be/qPeTzP_Ph8g

Malkiewicz started the day strongly posting fast lap times in qualifying and finish the session in P3 and well within striking distance of those ahead. But fast lap times mean little if you are buried in the pack and Bailey didn’t execute is start well in the first race and on the first lap was as low as ninth place.

He made some moves early and clawed his way back to fifth fourth place on lap five and that’s where he remained for the rest of the race. He was stuck with no real pressure coming from behind and the lead group of three had broken away. 

The second moto saw hm get a much better start and stay in touch with the leaders on the early laps. As the race settled, Malkiewicz slotted into third place and again it was a lonely ride to the finish. His 3-4 results were good enough to take third for the round and leave in a good frame of mind.

“The opening round went well, “he muses. “There were a few things I did well and a few things I think I need to improve on before the coming rounds so I will get to work on those and try and get a little better at Mackay.

“It was my first real hit-out with the full team and the truck and everything worked well. Happy with the bike, happy with the team and looking forward to getting down to business and chasing this championship with Serco Yamaha.”

The day for teammate Jesse Dobson was a mirror image of Malkiewicz. Dobson went 3-4 for the day, against Malkiewicz’s 4-3 with Bailey getting the final position on the podium by virtue of the better finish in moto two.

Dobson was rock solid in moto one with a good start and well-constructed laps, his only blemish was some early moto pace that saw him drop a few spots before getting his momentum back and moving forward again.

“The goal of the first round of any championship is to put together a consistent weekend with good points and assess how you, the team and the bike are travelling and I think we achieved that. I would clearly like to be on the podium, but I still see it as a good start to the Pro MX Championship and feel there are a few things I can take from it that will hold me in a good place moving forward.

“Wonthaggi is never an easy place to ride and it gives you a clear indication of how things are with your bike and fitness. I think I just needed some more sprint pace in the early laps of race two and my day would have finished a little better, but we move on to Mackay now and try and be better than we I was here,” Dobson said. 

Round two moves north to Gum Valley near Mackay in Queensland on April 10 and it’s combined with a round of the Australian Off Road Championship to make it a huge dirt bike weekend in the tropics.